T Nation

Question About Home Gyms

Bodybuilding
#1

I am thinking about upping my home gym. Right now I have a pretty simple bench that allows me to well…Bench =P, legs and an addon that lets me do dips. I have 200lbs of freeweights (plenty for me right now), and a bunch of dumbbell bars (the small ones…heh)

My buddy says I need more (not so sure) and says I should get a boxflex. I’m not so sure if those type of gyms are what I should be using. Should I look further into this bowflex? Any of you guys use them? Need some expert advice so I posted here.

#2

People here will probably tell you to get an olympic bar and a squat rack or power rack.

My recommendation, as usual, is to find a way to do deads, chins, dips, squats and benches.

I have some crappy weights at home, but I haven’t used them since I progressed to the free weights section of the gym.

#3

Don’t get a Bowflex, they are crap. This is a good place to start:

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/frames.asp?cid=120

#4

[quote]boo wrote:
I am thinking about upping my home gym. Right now I have a pretty simple bench that allows me to well…Bench =P, legs and an addon that lets me do dips. I have 200lbs of freeweights (plenty for me right now), and a bunch of dumbbell bars (the small ones…heh)

My buddy says I need more (not so sure) and says I should get a boxflex. I’m not so sure if those type of gyms are what I should be using. Should I look further into this bowflex? Any of you guys use them? Need some expert advice so I posted here.[/quote]

A pretty simple bench?! Is it pink with nice pretty stripes? Screw the Bowflex!

#5

hehe…yeah we all make spelling and grammar mistakes…

Yeah…It’s black with pink flowers on it…actually it’s steel with a whole crapload of stickers on it. You see my son loves thinking it’s his sticker book. =) Man…sooo many stickers…

#6

make a sand bag.

get a kerb stone.

cheap!

#7

Definitely get a squat rack and an olympic barbell. With a good squat rack, you can do just about anything. Get a second set of J-Hooks and a some band hooks or a second set of pins and you’re set.

The Elite FTS stuff is top-notch, but if you can’t afford top-notch, you can also check out http://www.newyorkbarbells.tv/

#8

Even with an olympic set, you can do Deadlifts, presses, cleans, bench, rows. If you can afford it, get a rack. If not, save, borrow, beg or steal to get one.