Affordable Home Gyms
July 26, 2010,
By Steve McFarlane
0 comments
For a complete workout on your own terms, a home gym is the perfect solution. Of course, you will need some basic gear ideas to get you started on your home gym project. The good news is that you can build an affordable home gym for as low as $1,000. The following is a list of items to get you started.
- The Power Rack. A favorite for hardcore strength lifters, the power rack can lead to outstanding strength gains. The key feature of the power rack is the safety spot pins; these are basically two iron rods that slide into any one of the several holes on each side of the rack’s support beams. This will protect you from dropping a missed lift. In essence, the support beams work like a spotter, by allowing the weights to crash on the safety pins should you need to drop them. There are several other features of the power rack, which will eliminate the need to purchase additional pieces of equipment. You can store your weight plates, it comes with a chin lift, and you can stow some of your basic gear on it. This will be one of the most expensive pieces of equipment for your home gym, but it is worth the expense. Anticipate prices to range from $320 for a basic Bodyline Power Rack
to a steep $2,500 for an Elite Pro Power Rack
.
- Weights: Barbells and Curl Bars. You will need a weight set to do free weight exercises. All weight sets include barbells so there will be no need to purchase them separately. If you have a power rack, then you will need an Olympic barbell
or two. On the other hand, curl bars are a separate buy. If you are just starting out in your exercise regime, don't buy very heavy weights, as you may not need them at the start. The recommendation from fitness experts is to start out with 100 lb. to 150 lb. On average, you can expect to pay a dollar for every pound of weight you purchase.
- Adjustable Bench. An adjustable bench
is a must-have as it allows you to work your muscles at different angles. Buy a basic adjustable bench without unnecessary additions. If you need to work your legs or any other body part, you can do it with other exercises. Look forward to spending $120- $355 for an adjustable bench.
- Rubber Flooring. Using rubber flooring
has many advantages: it protects your wooden floors from scuffing or your carpets from tearing, it makes doing floor exercises easier on your body by absorbing the shock your joints experience during workouts, it's resistant to odors and water can be easily wiped after a gym session and it's relatively inexpensive and should last for a very long time. Be careful not to leave heavy objects like your weights on the flooring overnight though, as this can leave deep impressions in the rubber. To prevent this from happening, put away your weights after you use them. The color of mat will affect the price, however you can find black rubber flooring for $1.55 per square foot.
- Punching Bag. For manly cardio exercise, a punching bag beats the treadmill and the stair climber any day. The punching bag is great for cardio exercise, and it also works the core and your upper body. Hang it on your power rack and refold it when you are finished. Try a 50 or a 100-lb. bag for a nice workout. The usual price for a 100 lb. heavy vinyl bag
is between $75- $120.
- Skipping Rope. For less than $10 you can purchase a jump rope, which can give you a complete body workout session. Jumping rope works your legs, core, and arms – no wonder boxers like it. Jumping rope is another superior way to build endurance and to work up a sweat.
Having a home gym gives the flexibility of working out on your own schedule, but putting together an affordable home gym can be challenging. To save money, you can start out by getting only those items that are crucial to your fitness goals for the first six months and then you can add to your gym over time to keep the workouts interesting.
Steve McFarlane is a contributor to Six Apart Media.
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