Looking for home gym

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ignign0kt

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I'm limited on space, and I wouldn't have a spotter. I have considered machines like Total Gym, VigorFit, and Total Trainer, but realized they don't offer nearly the amount of resistance they advertise. Naturally I would choose free weights, but they are such a hassle to move around, and like I said I don't have much space.
Any suggestions? I'm looking for something that offers a lot of weight/resistance. I guess there's no magic solution so I don't have my hopes up...
 
You might want to look at some .
 
I second the powerblocks, if you can afford them. You can exercise your whole body with them, see
for exercises for any part of your body with different type of equipment, including, of course, dumbbells.

I agree they might not be optimal for some muscles (legs come to mind), perhaps if you get the heaviest powerblocks (up to 130 lbs per dumbell, $848 )this might not be an issue
 
how limited are you? not enough room for a cage or rack with a barbell? the total gym is skinny but can take up a fair amount of room when stretched out (ive got one too).
 
PowerBlocks looks look kinda awkward to hold, is this not the case? It looks like the bars would prevent you from holding it certain ways.
Also.. are using lower weight dumbells as effective as benching a barbell?
For exmaple if I was benching a barball with 120, if I wanted to get a similar workout with dumbells, how much weight would I need? Becuase I couldn't hold 60 pound dumbells, or even 50 for that matter, haha.
So maybe I can get a bench with a leg attatchment for my legs, and then barbells for my upperbody? But then what about lats? I don't really have a place for pullups. And I don't want an un-even workout.
What do you think?

Also, Is there anything similar to powerblock dumbells but cheaper? The price is a little ridiculous... a little bench and 2 dumbells that support 45lbs... over $600
 
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ignign0kt said:
Also, Is there anything similar to powerblock dumbells but cheaper? The price is a little ridiculous... a little bench and 2 dumbells that support 45lbs... over $600
Click to expand...

I agree with this statement, that's why I don't have powerblocks myself. Bowflex makes a similar set of dumbells (called "selecttech"), but they go up to 52.5 pounds only. At $400, they aren't that cheap either.
 
I know what you mean by limited space.
My home gym is set up in a room about 8 1/2-9feet wide and about 10-11 feet long

I have an olympic weight bench that comes with the leg extensions and the squat bar not to mention the 7foot barbell ;)

I manage, like when i need to do squats i just push the whole damn big ass bench forward against the wall and when i need to do leg extensions i just push it the opposite way

with a standard size bench and weight set you could easily do it in a 7foot wide 9foot long room though it would be cramped you could do it easily enough
cost 100-135 for the weight bench and another 100-125 for weight set "likely in the 215 pound range"
 
I have a bowflex extreme 2, and have been very happy with it!
No spotter, no problem.
Nothing against other machines or free weights, but I do like working with it!
2 1/2yrs, no problems, using 3 times a week.
Figure on the 410 lb upgrade for average or stronger male user.
 
Well.. I don't see myself spending over $500, the cheaper the better. If I can get a good workout with just dumbells, I might consider just getting some. I found some cheaper dumbells ( )
Is bench pressing with a barbell more effective than using dumbells? I don't really want a barbell because it takes up a lot of space and like I said I wouldn't have a spotter.
 
ignign0kt said:
Well.. I don't see myself spending over $500, the cheaper the better. If I can get a good workout with just dumbells, I might consider just getting some. I found some cheaper dumbells ( )
Is bench pressing with a barbell more effective than using dumbells? I don't really want a barbell because it takes up a lot of space and like I said I wouldn't have a spotter.
Click to expand...

I hate spotters, never use one and i bench my max at home alone.

HOLY CRAP that is high and you only get ONE bar for almost 300...can you say throwing money out the window?
Go down to a local sporting good store and you can pickup TWO dumbbells and the weight for less then half of that price.


some people consider dumbbells to be an even better workout initially because it stress more stabilizer muscles, however down the line your arm,chest strength is going to out pace your grip strength so at sometime or another if you continue to try to get stronger you will need a barbell.
 
It's $290 for a PAIR of those DB's, not one. I might just get those and a dumbell bench. Do any dumbells benches come with leg attatchments? Gotta have a way to work out my lowerbody too
Thanks
 
ignign0kt said:
It's $290 for a PAIR of those DB's, not one. I might just get those and a dumbell bench. Do any dumbells benches come with leg attatchments? Gotta have a way to work out my lowerbody too
Thanks
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Oh my bad then still thats over priced.
those weights that come with those dumbells will not work on a leg attachment.

so you would also have to buy weights just for the leg extensions and you would want at least a 100 pounds for that.

again it just makes more sense to go get two standard dumbbells and some weights with the bench and still come out costing less then just that dumbbell set from dicks.
 
dswithers said:
You might want to look at these guys dumbells also. They are a little more expensive, but appear to be much better quality:
Click to expand...

Those look like a good deal, only $29 more than the selecttechs, up to 75 lbs per dumbbell, plus they include a stand.

If I had $429 to blow, I would order them.
 
To be honest I can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on dumbells. I think I would be satisfied with regular ones and a dumbell bench.

I just got back from Dicks checking out the gyms. I didn't really like the variable dumbells. I tried out the Weider Crossbow and it seems like it's limited to exercises, although it is cheap. That's probably the only resistance gym I would consider. I also tried out the TotalGyms, they would be great if they had about 5 times the resistance haha. And the other freeweight olympic benches are nice but are too big for my room.
Anyways thanks for all the help.
 
ignign0kt said:
To be honest I can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on dumbells. I think I would be satisfied with regular ones and a dumbell bench.

I just got back from Dicks checking out the gyms. I didn't really like the variable dumbells. I tried out the Weider Crossbow and it seems like it's limited to exercises, although it is cheap. That's probably the only resistance gym I would consider. I also tried out the TotalGyms, they would be great if they had about 5 times the resistance haha. And the other freeweight olympic benches are nice but are too big for my room.
Anyways thanks for all the help.
Click to expand...

If you like the TotalGym but want more resistance, get the VigorFit. It has plenty of resistance and is better quality (imo) than the TotalGym.
 
Well, I'm afraid that the extra resistance bands on the VigorFit don't provide a constant resistance. For exmaple, like bowflex, the resistance changes throughout the movement. Also, they are just basically bunjee cords aren't they? Which means they will be less effective over time.
I just wish I could use the VigorFit before I bought one. It also seems like from using the TotalGym, no matter the resistance it just doesn't feel like it's as good as a workout as freeweights.

Oh yeah... midlifecrisis, do you own a VigorFit?
I read a review on it that says you don't actually get 70% of your body weight because of the pulleys. And they said it's more like 40%.
 
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Eraser said:
I agree with this statement, that's why I don't have powerblocks myself. Bowflex makes a similar set of dumbells (called "selecttech"), but they go up to 52.5 pounds only. At $400, they aren't that cheap either.
Click to expand...

Check out "Play It Again Sports" for some std DB bars. For the plates, you would need:

4x2.5lb
4x5lb

The rest as 10lb plates. Be sure to get long handles. Some can hold as many as 6-7 plates per side (120-140lbs/DB).

If you can't find long handles at PIAS, then buy the handles online, but get the plates at PIAS.
 
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