posted Tue, 03/23/2021 - 15:50
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Inexpensive free weights and gym equipment
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My wife and I recently started converting a room in our house into a home gym. We have about a $3000 budget we’d like to stay around. We want to put rubber mats down, hang mirrors the whole nine. We’re really thinking Olympic plates with a bench rack/squat rack combo is the route we would like to go. The problem is all workout equipment has gotten ridiculously expensive. I’m sure it’s due to supplier side challenges due to Covid as well as everyone in lockdown trying to do the same thing at their home.
Does anyone have any sources they’ve found for cheap gym equipment? I’d even be happy with used, commercial grade equipment. Maybe we can get a dialogue started and share some ideas on home gyms. Looking forward to hearing everyone’s ideas!
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StevebYeah the last few times I was emailing them to check when stuff would be in stock. It was the only way to get stuff before everyone else. A lot of people just buy their stuff and resell it for more. If you need pro style handles to make pairs of 100s let me know I have a few.
I already have the 100's. I did end up finding a size 2 extra bar out in the garage. And I had an extra 30 already. Ended up take the 5lb bells apart and put together two 25's. Now my set os complete 5-100
Mate I've pretty much always trained at home - Love it, wouldn't have it any other way. I have a powerack / cage, competition spec fixed flat bench, dip station, 2 olympic bars, Deadlift bar, EZ barbell, about 340kg in plates, deadlift blocks, bands. Rest as long as you want between sets, do it when you want and no driving to and from the gym. If you prefer the basic heavy compound lifts and just want to get stronger this is the way to do it, however I would say if you are purely bodybuilding based the gym is still much better as you have a much bigger range of equipment to use such as plate machines, cables, dumbells etc.
Bigun2Yea I’m definitely just going for strength/aesthetics. I’ve never competed so having every cable machine isn’t that big of a deal to me. I’ve always been into heavy, compound movements so hopefully I can put together a nice little setup that serves our needs. I also agree that the convenience is a huge plus.
AnonGarage sales brother. I have built up a nice selection of dumbbells and even a good bench from garage sales. Always stop at garage sales bro. This would be my old lady's department, but there is some way to check online to see where and when garage sales are. I find them if they have signs up and I drive by. She finds them on her phone and then we go on a mission.
Bigun2Bro this is a great idea! I’m sure there is probably an app that one could locate the yard sales with. I’ll look into it!
Buddy, try Facebook market place or Craig’s list. You’ll have to be checking often, but boy you can get some great deals.
AnonNextdoor is good too
Bigun2I don’t have fb, I’ll have the missus check there. I’ve been looking on Clist. Cheapest I’ve found is $500 for 300# of plates. Not horrible, but I just feel like there are better deals out there.
Surprisingly pre-covid that market was dead but now !! Holy crap I wish I would of invested some money in free weights or in the home gym area in general.
3k would get you a little decent gym and you can always add equipment yearly.
Bigun2That’s what I was thinking as well. It’s basically a 10x12 bedroom we aren’t using. It has a treadmill and big tv in there already. I also have a pair of Bowtech adjustable dumbbells. Not my favorite but they work and conserve space.
We want to pull carpet and put rubber mats down. Then get ab 300 lbs of plates. Long bar. Maybe a curl bar. Then I have a bench. Just need the squat/bench rack. Like you said start small and work our way up.