Home Gym Advice

mitch212k

mitch212k

mitch212k

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Joined
27 Nov 2007
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Location
Manchester
Hi,

I'm interested in getting a home gym setup, I'm after the following:
-Bench
-Olympic weights (~140kg to begin with)
-Power cage

I'm on a budget and trying to do all 3 for <£500.

Due to size I think I'll have to get the power cage delivered (so new), I don't mind going used for the other items. I was intending to get the Bodymax CF375 but having done some research it seems it's not as sturdy as I'd assumed. There are also mixed reviews about the Bodymax CF475, can anyone advise on this? If not, can anyone give any recommendations for another power cage in this budget?

Thanks
 
I've got the first one and we have one in the strongman gym I'm using also.
It might not be rated for much but it's more than good enough for your usage tbh :)

You'll struggle to get a good rower and bench and weights, with a new cage, under £500 tbh.

If you will really really use it all then fair enough, otherwise you sound perfect for a proper gym.
 
Hi,
I've got a CF475, bought quite recently. Very happy with it, seems solid.
What mixed reviews have you seen? If you've got any questions about it, I'll be happy to answer :)
 
@ Morba - Thanks for that. I was going to the uni gym but overcrowding is a real problem hence I'm considering getting my own kit.

@ Ricko - That's reassuring. I found some mixed opinions on bodymax cages across the net. One of the things being wobble when using the pull up bar, is this something you've found?

One of the first links after googling for a review of it : http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=123957191&page=1. I appreciate a lot of force went onto the hollow bars.

I'm currently considering the following:

- Bodymax CF375 - £190 delivered from powerhouse
- York bench - £65 del. from the rainforest. Max load 200kg and incline positions.
- ~145kg Olympic plates + 7ft bar - Can be had on an auction site for ~£200 delivered.

That comes to £455, I'd get some rubber floor guards and in the future get a curl bar/dumbell bars or similar.

Other possibilities include the CF475, or variants on ebay (~£300) which also include the pulley system.

I'll keep my eye on ebay for any local weights/bench auctions to save some more cash.
 
Local only auctions tend to end up cheaper on ebay, well worth keeping your eyes open for :)
 
I don't like the look of the hollow safety bars no wonder it bent.

I had a Bodysolid Powerack and that had solid safety bars no way they would bend.

I would save a bit more and get a Bodysolid or Powertec tbh.
 
Muppet dropping weights will cause damage.
Honestly, the rack is fine though of course you can buy new safety bars.
I've rack pulled over 200kg off those though and see no damage :)
 
mitch212k said:
@ Ricko - That's reassuring. I found some mixed opinions on bodymax cages across the net. One of the things being wobble when using the pull up bar, is this something you've found?
Click to expand...

That's a good question. I haven't done a pull up yet as it isn't in my current routine :o The handles themselves are pretty heavy and solid, and they're bolted into the main frame, so I be surprised if there was much wobble.
I'll try it out tomorrow for you!
 
Nice thread, i was going to start something similar as im looking for something to enable me to keep progressing on the squats in the 5x5 stronglifts program, i was looking at getting a squat rack like this for home

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk...oogle&utm_medium=Froogle&utm_campaign=Froogle

Thinking about it, maybe a power rack would be better long term?
Mitch you mention the Bodymax CF475 is £190 at powerhouse, but it seems to be £285 on their site, am i looking at the wrong place?
 
Morba said:
i'm over 120kg, i can do chins on the attached bars without wobble.
Click to expand...

Cheers, that'll do!

@ kimi - powerhouse currently have a 10% summer promo (it's on a banner at the top of the page - "summer10"), that brings the prices down to what I'd mentioned. About the rack you linked to, I've read that for some people it isn't really tall enough, plus the CF375 is only £60 more and much more useful (imo) so makes it well worth it.
If you do decide you want that squat rack they're always being sold on ebay, used.
 
Ah that is one thing. Over head pressing in the rack could be hard due to its height. Can easily lift outside thought :)
 
mitch212k said:
Cheers, that'll do!

@ kimi - powerhouse currently have a 10% summer promo (it's on a banner at the top of the page - "summer10"), that brings the prices down to what I'd mentioned. About the rack you linked to, I've read that for some people it isn't really tall enough, plus the CF375 is only £60 more and much more useful (imo) so makes it well worth it.
If you do decide you want that squat rack they're always being sold on ebay, used.
Click to expand...

Ah ha, i see what you mean, and for £60 it would be worth going up to the heavy one. With a power rack, what other exercises can i do, apart from squats and the pull ups? ive already got a weights bench, and some weights, they are not Olympic tho, the barbell is just the one that came with the bench
 
Off the top of my head: overhead press, shrugs, upright row, most can have a dip bar attachment added, some can have a pulley added for lat pulldowns/seated rows/tricep+bicep exercises etc.

with the bench you can do your standard bench/incline/decline press etc.
 
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