Basic Home Gym

Hey fellas,

I'm looking to buy some gym equipment to set me up at home. I've read pretty much all the threads on here regarding what I'm concerned with but still can't get an opinion (i'm indecisive). I'm looking to get a decent power rack, bench and barbell/weights. I'm unsure which power rack to get, everyone recomends all the power racks they have/used!

In regards to the power rack, I've narrowed it down to a few options (no particular order)

1) R-3 Rogue Power Rack - $1,145
2) Aussie Strength SPX rack - $899 (http://aussiestrength.com.au/product/spx-rack/)
3) Powertec - $750
4) Muscle Motion - $595

As you can see there is a big difference in price between all of them. Obviously all of them have their benefits and cons, but I'm leaning towards the R-3 Rack but I can't really justify my preference based on it being nice and black and having a smaller footprint. Also I'll get the bench from wherever I get the rack.

In regards to a barbell, I'm also unsure how much to fork out for one. After reading the thread, it seems like the ABC barbell seems the one to get but it seems a bit dear now as its $570 on the site.

As you can see, I'm just confused with the overwhelming choices available... What do you guys think is sufficient for a beginner and hopefully to last a long time.

Cheers

Nev, the consensus on here appears to be that a very good, value for money rack is the Muscle Motion MMPR commercial rack which has weight storage, good chin up options and is very sturdy. It should certainly be in your considerations unless, as with me, the height or some other issue prevents you getting one.

I bought a $200 oly bar which had uneven knurling (sharp one side, smooth the other) which also protruded too far to the centre causing issues with deadlifts, wrong positioning of the rings and was 32mm. After two months I forked out $600 for a Texas Power Bar and regret not having bought this at the start.

If I was buying weights again, I'd strongly consider the Ironedge rubber coated plates.

Also, I believe you have to bolt the r3 to the ground (unless you want to build and install your own cross beams or a platform to bolt it to). Plenty around about that on the bodybuilding.com forums

Buy the MM rack

Match it with the ABC bop 220

A rack is a rack.... Save your money here... The MMPR is a bloody good rack...

An ABC bar is porn!!! There is a good reason why everyone on here froths about good barbells...

Although you probably won't see the value in the bar till you use a couple of different ones...

Yeah Im thinking of getting the BOP220, I think my old gym had that bar but since I always thought it was the standard I might not find it anything special. But I've also considered bars like Texas Power Bar, anyone used them before?

I have used both the Texas Power bar and the BOP220 (what I own) but with the price hike I'd rather have a Texas Power Bar for an extra $35. But for the basic home gym, spending under $200 on your first bar is what I'd suggest. If you ding it while doing something you won't hate yourself as much lol.

For the price the MMPR is the clear option. The powertec has worse chinup bar. The SPX is an Iron Edge Assault Rack rip off, albeit cheaper. The Rogue is too expensive for a "basic" home gym, and with what you save on the bar and rack you can buy a bench and accessories.

This might sound silly but one of the reasons that puts me off the MMPR is that its not black, only the commercial one is black which sucks

If you ring ABC the price is less then on the website they quoted me $430 on the phone last week.

W8PL8 Multi-function Power Rack Cage | Little Bloke Fitness


Or I'd get the MMPR, some primer and matte black paint =)

I'm leaning towards the powertec one, one downside of course is the chin up bar but its definetly not a deal breaker for me. Anyone have suggestions for weight plates?

I note that Trent just bought 4 more ABC bop220 bars in the black nitrade.... Although he got the cheese grater knurling....

Yeah I'm hoping to get one of the bars, I think i might steer away from cheese grater knurling.

While I like the cheese grater knurling... I'd probably go with stickys knurling for everyday lifting....

I've had a powertec rack for prob 5+ years now. The biggest annoyance is that it's very wide - pretty much collar to collar on a standard bar. Because of this I constantly knock the bar/plates unracking squats. The basic muscle motion racks we use at PTC are good basic racks - I've squatted 200+ inside them multiple times with no issues.

I'll be grabbing two R4 racks from Rogue, now that I'm upgrading. The R3 will be only 24 or 26 inches deep of actual space to move inside the uprights, keep that in mind.

Fluffy said:

If you ring ABC the price is less then on the website they quoted me $430 on the phone last week.

Click to expand...

bams_101 said:

I have used both the Texas Power bar and the BOP220 (what I own) but with the price hike I'd rather have a Texas Power Bar for an extra $35. But for the basic home gym, spending under $200 on your first bar is what I'd suggest. If you ding it while doing something you won't hate yourself as much lol.

For the price the MMPR is the clear option. The powertec has worse chinup bar. The SPX is an Iron Edge Assault Rack rip off, albeit cheaper. The Rogue is too expensive for a "basic" home gym, and with what you save on the bar and rack you can buy a bench and accessories.

Click to expand...

Agree with Fluffy, my ABC was $450 delivered to Brisbane not long ago.

Bazza said he bent his Texas bar in another thread... though I believe Bazza also deadlifts 270 and uses his bars for rack pulls / shrugs with as much weight as he can possibly fit on the thing. Probably 350kg+

They use MMPR racks at PTC Brisbane... if they are good enough for the guys there that squat and dead over 300, and bench over 200, they should be just fine for you. I would definitely get one if I could fit a rack somewhere. The musclemotion flat bench is good.

I would just get an ordinary bar if you're starting out though.... it should be fine. Depends how cashed up you are, if the $$$ isn't an issue and you're sure you'll be lifting in years to come get an ABC.

bams_101 said:

W8PL8 Multi-function Power Rack Cage | Little Bloke Fitness


Or I'd get the MMPR, some primer and matte black paint =)

Click to expand...

This looks like what I want, does anyone know the quality of this rack compared to the MMPR?

Ive decided what I want to get, somewhat...

Muscle Motion Commercial Flat Bench
MM Thrust Bearing bar
150kg Olympic Plates(Not sure where)

I find my R3 is deep enough to do good mornings, hip cleans and snatches off the pins, it is a lot deeper than people seem to think.

The hole spacings are also great for both the wife and I, you can set the pins pretty damn close to perfect for Benching even with a massive arch.

If you are keen on one though, shipping from Rogue Australia is very $$, you might be better served getting the Bolt together R3 from the states.

As for bolting down, I just build a nice Oly lifting platform a little longer than normal and bolted it to that, it is solid as a rock.

Nevick said:

This looks like what I want, does anyone know the quality of this rack compared to the MMPR?

Click to expand...

For that price its very good. Probably would've got it if it was available when I bought my rack. Their old model was just a single chin bar and I didn't like it. They updated the dip bars and J hooks as well.

For the bench, do you already have an FID? If not then go for the AFSID for $345 or FIBEV Bench for $275. I have the AFSID and love it.

bams_101 said:

For that price its very good. Probably would've got it if it was available when I bought my rack. Their old model was just a single chin bar and I didn't like it. They updated the dip bars and J hooks as well.

For the bench, do you already have an FID? If not then go for the AFSID for $345 or FIBEV Bench for $275. I have the AFSID and love it.

Click to expand...

I think I'm going with commercial flat bench, I like having a flat bench rather than using a adjustable one for flat.

I also just saw the Force USA power rack and that thing looks pretty beast, considering of getting that one aswell