Looking to buy some weights etc..

[magby]

I figured this would be the best place to put this. I need a full weight set. The closest gym to me is a 25 minute drive, and with school/family thats impossible. Could someone tell me the specific items I need ? I google'd this and just got a whole bunch of garbage. thanks in advance

 

[HodgeMN]

Forget weights - you need the Total Gym........Actually, a power rack, bench and some olympic weights will get you very far. If you can, spring for a set of dumbells. This set up will cost you much less than bowflex or some other variation of the latest infomercial crap people are peddling these days.....

 

[magby]

So basically all I need is the following:

Power Rack
Bench
Olympic Weights
Possibly Dumbbells


I suppose my local Sports Authority would have this, or should I buy online?

 

[HodgeMN]

They might. I would check around and maybe try craigslist for some used stuff. YOU can always order form new your barbells (google them) - they have great stuff, prices and service.

 

[s8nlilhlpr2]

So basically all I need is the following:

Power Rack
Bench
Olympic Weights
Possibly Dumbbells


I suppose my local Sports Authority would have this, or should I buy online?

Yes, this is correct. I doubt you will need dumbells if you are just getting started, mine sit and collect dust. If you REALLY want to be cheap, just buy a walmart 300lb olympic barbell set. Its crappy equipment, but its simple and will get the job done.

The BEST place to get good priced equipment IMO is garage sales or a used sporting goods store. LOTS of idiots buy gym equipment in Dec/Jan planning for the "new year resolution" and never touch the stuff. 6 months later the spouse tells them to sell it to make room for more crap....

 

[Cynical Simian]

For the bench/rack:

Midwest Barbell
http://store01.prostores.com/servlet/midwestbarbell/StoreFront

New York Barbell
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/

Another good option for the power rack is the basic PowerTec rack that's available at a bunch of different fitness equipment websites.

I'd recommend buying the Olympic weight set (bar + plates) locally. If you don't see anything in the papers or on craigslist and just want to get stuff at a store, Play It Again Sports has good prices on both new and used plates (and, IMO, better-looking plates than the brand Sports Authority carries in my area), as well as "specialty" bars you might want for some isolation exercises (EZ bar, adjustable dumbbell handles if you don't want to shell out for a full set or PowerBlocks). Dumbbells give you a few more options, but they really aren't essential; you could make excellent progress with just the barbell set.

 

[musclemom]

This discussion has come up on the board hundreds of times. Don't dismiss dumbells, they can be a terrific resource if you're going to be working out alone and they work the hell out of the stabilizers. And don't cheap out on the bench, get a solid one that inclines and declines and can take trays, and if you like them, has a preacher or even lat attachment (that's easy to put on/take off). And if you can find them used, never forget that you can never have enough plates, especially in the smaller sizes if you are going to use dumbbells.

In terms of "home gyms" I used a Bowflex at a hotel gym and utterly hated it, the action is really weird. Don't get yourself that kind of equipment without trying it out first.

 

[magby]

loads of info, thanks guys and gals = ]

edit:

these are within my budget:

For the Bench
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/95003.html

Power Rack
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/92552.html

so many weights, what in the world do i pick?

any thoughts, suggestions, random commentary is greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[Sculelos]

I would definitely get round weights probably make sure your at least getting.

2 - 2 1/2lb weights
2 - 5lb weights
4 - 10lb weights
2 - 25lb weights
6 - 45lb weights

thats what I would get anyways if I was setting up my own lifting area, unfortinitely I don't have the room in my house.

 

[musclemom]

loads of info, thanks guys and gals = ]

edit:

these are within my budget:

For the Bench
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/95003.html

Power Rack
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/92552.html

so many weights, what in the world do i pick?

any thoughts, suggestions, random commentary is greatly appreciated. thanks

If you're going to use that power rack then save yourself a couple of bucks and get this bench:

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/5950.html

You don't have safety bars with the bench you picked. You can bench in your rack since it's your gym and you don't have to switch the bar between the bench and the power cage.

As for the weights, just get a set, the bar by itself can be close to $50 if you buy pieces separately, and weights go by the pound. Sears.com has a 300 lb oly set for $189: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...SEARS&sid=IDx20060511x0000041&pid=00615739000

That's more than enough to get you started. If you check a local sears you may even find a set cheaper. I've gotten some great deals on fitness stuff at sears, late summer/fall is really good, they start blowing end of season stuff out just before gearing up for the holidays.

 

[Cynical Simian]

If you're going to use that power rack then save yourself a couple of bucks and get this bench:

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/5950.html

You don't have safety bars with the bench you picked. You can bench in your rack since it's your gym and you don't have to switch the bar between the bench and the power cage.

Definitely do this.

As for weights, a basic 300-lb Olympic weight set will have all the plates you need to load any weight ending in 5 or 0 between 45 (the bar) and 300. (In this context, 'Olympic' refers to the diameter of the bar and, by extension, the holes in the plates that go on said bar. 'Standard' is a smaller bar, which you don't want.) The link below is what you need, although, as already mentioned, see if you can buy it locally so you don't get killed on shipping charges:

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/im-5315.html

 

[musclemom]

Definitely do this.

As for weights, a basic 300-lb Olympic weight set will have all the plates you need to load any weight ending in 5 or 0 between 45 (the bar) and 300. (In this context, 'Olympic' refers to the diameter of the bar and, by extension, the holes in the plates that go on said bar. 'Standard' is a smaller bar, which you don't want.) The link below is what you need, although, as already mentioned, see if you can buy it locally so you don't get killed on shipping charges:
http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/im-5315.html

I've ordered some stuff from NYBarbell in the past, I have no complaints, but you gotta laugh at shit like this: the oly set is $129 ... the SHIPPING on that bad boy is $198

I'm glad you brought up the points about olympic versus standard, Cynical. I have a pair of standard dumbbells that I take on vacation and they are very uncomfortable. I can't imagine trying to bench or, heaven forbid, squat a standard bar.

 

[magby]

http://www.amazon.com/Powertec-Powe...6383947-3907642?ie=UTF8&qid=1185477129&sr=8-5
does that have it all ?

 

[magby]

do i need that pec machine thing?

 

[Cynical Simian]

No. Just get a basic power rack without a lat attachment like the one in the picture on the left on this page:

http://www.newyorkbarbells.com/92563.html