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Some advice would be great

J

JimboJones

New member
Hi All,

Been lurking around this site for a little while now, using the Exercise Guide and reading people's logs and what not.

I am looking to setup myself a home gym.

To give you some background, I'm 32 and just starting to get back into weight training. I haven't been big into it since I was playing rugby some odd 18years ago.

However, given my age, I have crossed that bridge where safety is my main concern (I'm not that young spring chicken anymore). I have been going to the local gym fairly regular and had 1/2 a doz odd PT sessions to check my form and guidance in that dept.

I would like to buy a full rack setup, firstly for pure safety, second due to timing with work commitments, when I get to the gym, there always happens to be a group of kids (sorry, 'younger athletes' haha) seem to have the rack... If ya can't beat them, screw em and buy my own..

Based upon much trawling in the threads on this site;

Ok, now that's the story, out of the way.. The gear I am looking at;

Starting off with the 7 Package Deal_ Commercial Power Rack + Bench + Heavy Duty Olympic Bar + 175kg Rubber Olympic plates package from GymDirect.

Would change the weights, dump the 25's and 15's and get more 20's.

Reasons for the commercial over the standard would be for sheer bulk and 'apparent' safety of it - I understand weight ratings of the standard rack, but for me, it just 'looks' safer. Kinda like a Volvo vs a Hummer, the Volvo is probably as safe, if not safer, but the hummer looks safer.. If I have more confidence in it the better. Also like the convenient weight storage and after reading many posts, the general advice I have seen is "buy quality, buy once - if you can't afford wait till you can" type thing.

However, after reading a few posts here, I have seen bantered around that even the upgraded 600kg bars are not that good. Can someone throw some advice

Also, I have seen many posts on Benches. Are the ones from GymDirect worth upgrading? Is the ASFID any good?

Space is not a problem.

I will also need some flooring.

I suppose, if you had a 3k budget, what would you recommend for a full rack setup? I would obviously like to spend less, but I'm willing to go around that mark

Any advice you can offer this noob old bloke would be great.
 
JimboJones said:
Hi All,


Reasons for the commercial over the standard would be for sheer bulk and 'apparent' safety of it - I understand weight ratings of the standard rack, but for me, it just 'looks' safer. Kinda like a Volvo vs a Hummer, the Volvo is probably as safe, if not safer, but the hummer looks safer.. If I have more confidence in it the better. Also like the convenient weight storage and after reading many posts, the general advice I have seen is "buy quality, buy once - if you can't afford wait till you can" type thing.

However, after reading a few posts here, I have seen bantered around that even the upgraded 600kg bars are not that good. Can someone throw some advice
Click to expand...

Commercial rack is overkill IMO better off with a decent bar and the MM home rack. It is plenty beast you won't hurt yourself cause of the rack, you'll hurt yourself cause of shitty form or going to hard.

Welcome to the board.
 
Fluffy said:
Commercial rack is overkill IMO better off with a decent bar and the MM home rack. It is plenty beast you won't hurt yourself cause of the rack, you'll hurt yourself cause of shitty form or going to hard.

Welcome to the board.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome :)

With the rack, it's more of a mental thing, I would personally feel more comfortable in one that just 'looks' safer. I know it sounds lame, but that's me. More than happy to look around thou.

As for the bar, what do you suggest? I see the line "get a better bar" bantered all over the place, but honestly have no idea what actually makes a good bar over a bad one.
 
Only because it sounds like you got the money to spare.....I'm going the other way... I like the commercial rack cause you can hang your weights on it...

For the barbell Go for the black nitrate ABC bop220 bar... Ask them to give you the same nurling that sticky gets!!! Costs around $550 delivered...
 
Like Nazzy said ABC bop220. Texas bar might be a bit extreme if your not after agressive knurling.
 
as for weights id only drop the 25s, and still keep the 15s, at the end of the day it will just come down to personal preference but we always seem to be fighting over the 15s at the gym i train at hahaha
 
callan said:
as for weights id only drop the 25s, and still keep the 15s, at the end of the day it will just come down to personal preference but we always seem to be fighting over the 15s at the gym i train at hahaha
Click to expand...

10+5 = 15 You can thank me later.
 
not sure if saying i owned you, or you owned me

futurama-fry-billy-west.jpg
 
If I was setting up a home gym, money no object, I would get the following:

Rogue R4 power rack, bolted to the floor:
ROGUE R-4 POWER RACK - Rogue Fitness Australia

ABC BOP220 Barbell:
Australian Barbell Company |

If you wanted bumper plates I'd go with the Pendlay Elites:
muscledriveraus.com

If you wanted metal plates I'd go with Ivanko calibrated competition plates:
Australian Barbell Company |

Iron mind Super bench:
Ironmaster Super Bench

GHR:
Force USA - Glute Ham Raise Machine

A set of dumbells would be nice but they are really expensive new.

If money is an object, I'd get a second hand rack/plates and spend the money on the barbell/bench because a good barbell is worth the investment, and most benches you come across will have a split (I like the ironmaster because it is a single unit while still allowing incline/decline). GHR is more a want than a necessity.
 
Rogue gear is exorbitantly priced, probably because Rogue is a crossfit gym in US.

Similarly pendlay plates (but not for the same reason, of course).
 
wingman said:
Rogue gear is exorbitantly priced, probably because Rogue is a crossfit gym in US.

Similarly pendlay plates (but not for the same reason, of course).
Click to expand...

They are expensive, yes. Thus the 'money no object' list.

I have neither, as I am a poor uni student.
 
money is no object?

want to blow a good 10/20k on a full set up?

buy eleiko.


i sleep with my bar... ill need a bigger bed when my set gets here muhuhahaha who needs bitched when you have eleiko
 
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