So my garage is getting closer to done (Drywall going in today finally) and I am starting to think about equipment to outfit the 11x13 gym I have built. I currently have a bike on a trainer and a treadmill (for my wife). I have a exercise ball, resistance bands, balance board, hand resistance trainers, yoga mat, and gyro ball thingy. With it not being a big space, I am not sure I have to much room for more large equipment beyond the bike and treadmill while still leaving room for basis workouts (leg lifts, yoga, stretching, pushups, etc).
What equipment do people recommend? I was thinking kettlebells, some small dumbbells, ankle weights, jump rope, maybe a punching bag but unsure on that. Any other recommendations? It will have A/C. I have a small TV to put in and I have picked out some gym flooring for it.
Edit: I am looking to build this more around working towards a lean athletic type build rather then power lifter type build. A focus on flexibility, cardio and leg and core strength for biking and ultimate frisbee
Things that are as multi-purpose and adjustable/modular as possible.
Gymnastics rings or TRX straps.
Adjustable bench.
Adjustable dumbells.
Multi-height plyo box.
I'd get rid of one of the machines and replace it with a squat stand, barbell, and weight plates.
Instead of foam gym floor. Buy cheap horse stall mats.
In reply to Beer Baron :
Thanks for the suggestions. Some good stuff. Are those horse stall mats able to be cut to size?
Neither of those machines is going though. I hate treadmills but my wife uses it a lot and vice versa with the bike and honestly cardio is more of a focus for both of us then weight training tbh. The gym is going to have to work around those. Although with the bike trainer, I could take the bike off the trainer, hang it up and move the trainer. It is a big pain though so the likelihood of me actually doing that is low.
In reply to 93EXCivic :
Horse stall mats can be cut. Box cutter and several passes. There are also 3' x 4' mats, but they're a different thickness.
Without space for a barbell, I'd definitely go adjustable dumbbells. They're not cheap at first blush, until you add up what it would cost for individual dumbbells in all those different weights. Also less storage space. There are other designs that use a twist to select the weight. My wife and I prefer the power bricks though.
My cardio is just running the dog.
What do you enjoy doing in the gym? Its gotta be fun or you wont do it.
I would agree that versatility is key, but some people struggle with pushing themselves to get the most out of workouts with a 15lb kettlebell or some resistance bands for example.
In reply to ProDarwin :
I mean hate public gyms which is why I am building an at home one. But my current workout routine is generally 2-3 rides on the trainer a week (30-45 minutes), 1-2 outdoor rides a week (either MTB or gravel, 1.5-3 hours), 3ish sessions of stretching, yoga, some strength training like leg lifts, resistance bands, pushups, etc (30ish minute sessions) and other then the summer months a game of ultimate frisbee a week. I don't know I would say I enjoy the home workouts but I don't mind them if I have podcast or youtube videos playing and I feel better for doing them. Really being in shape makes my biking and ultimate frisbee much more enjoyable and helps prevent injury and so that is what really motivates me to work out. So with that in mind, cardio, core and leg strength and flexibility are really my big focus areas more then building upper body strength or lots of muscle mass. I think core strength is one thing I need to focus on a lot more then I have been. I have been pretty consistent this workout for the past years for the most part but the sessions of strength and stretching sometimes don't happen cause I kind of forget or get bored with them. So I need more variety and having a dedicated place to do them will help I think. A lot of times these workouts happen after the kid and wife do to bed so I can go hard so that will be another benefit of gym being able to push harder and add things like jump rope or box jumps to the routine. The one thing I have always hated is squats because it kills my knees
A punching bag sounds fun but I am kind of unsure if it makes sense, if I would use it enough and how to get a good work out with it.
STM317
PowerDork
1/20/23 5:09 p.m.
I can vouch for the Powerblock adjustable dumbells. They're just a bit awkward at first with more of the weight being in the center, but I adjusted really quickly. They're super versatile and take up very little space, even on a stand.
You can use them for squats, lunges, deadlifts, etc in addition to upper body or arm stuff.
I'd also try to figure out some way to do pullups.
I use a Bosu ball for most of my core work, and have been very happy with it. I also incorporate it into some of my lifts to add some instability which helps to spice up the routines from time to time.
Get a big tire, and flip it over, and over. When you get mad about that, hit it with a 5lb sledge. Repeat until strong.
I have a Stairmaster, a Gravitron and a few free weights. It accomplishes everything that I feel I need to accomplish and doesn't take up much space.
93EXCivic said:
In reply to ProDarwin :
3ish sessions of stretching, yoga, some strength training like leg lifts, resistance bands, pushups, etc (30ish minute sessions) and other then the summer months a game of ultimate frisbee a week. I don't know I would say I enjoy the home workouts but I don't mind them if I have podcast or youtube videos playing and I feel better for doing them. So with that in mind, cardio, core and leg strength and flexibility are really my big focus areas more then building upper body strength or lots of muscle mass. I think core strength is one thing I need to focus on a lot more then I have been.
Lower body is where a barbell excels. There is really no substitute for squats and deadlifts, and those really take a barbell to do properly. You don't need to want to get muscly. Just getting up to squatting your bodyweight and cranking out 8-10 reps is great.
With what you've said your goals and workout style is - I really think you'd like gymnastics rings. They're super versatile. I combine them with a ply box to elevate my feet so I can do pushups at different angles. Which is also a serious core workout. Then there are tons of simple and quick exercises that focus your core. Just a basic support position is work. Ramp it up by rotating your hands out. Then add in knee raises and leg lifts.
I get a feeling like you'd enjoy calisthenics for upper body and core, then add in a little barbell work for your legs.
If not barbell... start working on pistol squats. Then add a weight vest.
How much is price a limiting factor vs. space?
There are good options for fold-out weight racks that take up minimal space when in use and virtually none when stored. You can also store barbells and plates on a wall.
These will usually also provide a pull-up option.
PRX is the pioneer in this and very good quality. Probably the best design to easily tuck away.
Rogue has also gotten into the game. Probably sturdier and certainly more upgrade options, but more steps to stow.
I would skip a heavy bag. That's a lot of space for something that only does one job. You can get the same sort of fun cardio by putting on heavy gloves and shadow boxing a sturdy wall.
Beer Baron said:
PRX is the pioneer in this and very good quality. Probably the best design to easily tuck away.
I dig these racks, but holy crap hanging that much weight off a single stud scares me for some reason.
In reply to ProDarwin :
When they did this test, a bunch of the PRX staff came in to watch because they legit didn't know what would happen.
^That is a cool video.
That wasn't my concern though. The load in the rack is A) spread across multiple studs and B) goes nearly 100% directly into the floor.
I meant the weight storage racks. They look like they are on a single stud and would hold around 600-700lbs each. A 2x4 is only rated for 1000lbs in pure vertical compression. Their specs say "Two 45lb crumb rubber plates each peg (totaling 360lb)" so maybe they are implying a 360lb max. they also say "the thinner your plates, the more you can store. When installed properly, the only limiting factor is how much you can fit on each peg!"
I'm sure they are fine and also I doubt anyone actually fully loads them.
