Suggestions on building a home gym...

[SonnieP]

We live in a fairly remote area of Alabama where the only fitness center/gym is poorly run and maintained. I have been a member there for almost two years and am tired of paying for tore up machines and funk odored equipment and floors that have not been mopped in a year.

My wife and I have decided to use a small room we have (12' x 13.5') to build a small home gym. We are willing to spend as much as $5-10K... we want it to be nice. We want a weight-lifting system (not free weights because we will not have spotters)... a treadmill and a recumbent bike.

The treadmill we have chosen is the Sole F85. I like to jog/run, and at 225/6'1", this machine should work well. It seems to have very good reviews. It also folds up, so that may help with space constraints in the room. Right now we can grab that machine shipped from Sole for about $1800 and then we get $144 back via Bing cashback... net $1656. We really like their warranty too.

As far as recumbent bikes, we are not sure. I ride at the gym 5 days a week from 20 minutes to an hour on a LifeCycle. If it were more comfortable, I would ride longer more often. I always ride at least 20 minutes before my workout. I like the Star Trac P-RB Recumbent Bike, but the best price shipped I have found is $2070... I am not sure that might be a bit expensive, but it might also end up being well worth it for all it's features and apparent comfort.

The toughest decision might be the home gym system. We would like some type of weight system similar to either the Body Solid 7 Smith Gym (300lb Pack $2700) or one of the RockSolid systems... like maybe their RS-MGVS MultiSports Gym ($2200)... or maybe one of their nicer systems if we have enough room.

We like the RockSolid system better because it has so many more features and more than one person can work out on it at one time, although that may not be often. I workout very early, the wife sleeps in. We can probably go with a larger system provided we can still accommodate the treadmill and a recumbent bike in the room.

So... basically we do not want to make any serious mistakes. I know many times it is a matter of opinion and what a person likes, but their may be some good deals, advise, recommendations, etc., that someone here may can share with us. We will certainly appreciate any help we can get.

Thanks!

 

[Big A]

you dont need a spotter for free weights, you should incorporate this in, not just do machine work, it wont get you very far.What are your goals? dont spend 10 000, you can get an pretty solid gym set up for much less.

 

[SonnieP]

Basically we are trying to stay fit and tone.

We will probably have some free weights such as dumbbells, but I will not do free weights such as bench press without a spotter.

My wife is also particular fond of the pec fly and ab crunch, which are included on many of the home gym systems.

 

[bblazer]

You don't need spotters for free weight work. That is why God invented the power rack as seen here. The pins act as your spotter, and will give you all the safety you need. Add an adjustable incline bench, and you have all you need.

Also remember, as Mark Rippetoe says, "There is no such thing as firmer and toner, there is only stronger and weaker."

If you are looking for someone here to be supportive of something like the Bowflex, I don't think you will. The reasons are long and varied, but trust me you don't want something like that.

B-

 

[joe d]

get a squat rack, bench, cginup bar, something to do dips on, a belt to hang weights from, some dumbbells and plenty of weights. thats all you need for a perfect gym. if you want to get into high pulls and stuff like that just take the bar and weights out side in the grass.

 

[SonnieP]

The Body Solid 7 is hardly a Bowflex system... and had I ask for support of it, I would have mentioned it.

We are not looking to do a free weight system, but thanks for the suggestions.

 

[bblazer]

Is this what you are looking at?

Is it the perceived safety of such a machine?

Do you have any experience with a power rack?

B-

 

[SaiBoT]

Yes B that's the one he mentioned but with a few more attachments like latpulldown and seated cable rows which is why the price is a bit up, that one it's actually great because it also works as a power rack, i've been around home gym equipment lately and that's a very good and robust piece. Powertec has also some good stuff, i got some nice equipment from Lou Ferrigno's brother he has the lowest prices for that mattter.

 

[ryansdad]

The Body Solid 7 is hardly a Bowflex system... and had I ask for support of it, I would have mentioned it.

We are not looking to do a free weight system, but thanks for the suggestions.

Sounds like you already have your mind made up. Enjoy your machine. Next time when you put "suggestions" in the the title, follow that up with "we're not taking any". Could save precious minutes out of peoples day.

 

[b fold the truth]

My first home gym was a $99 Weider power rack/bench and I used a pair of 55 gallon steel drums as squat racks.