9' by 9' room - what options do I have?

TriedandTested · 16 Apr 2011 at 13:18

In a few weeks I will have a spare room available with 9 foot squared of space and was wondering what my options were in terms of getting some weights/frame (home gym) in there? I'd like it to be a dedicated exercise area.

I already have an exercise bike so want this to focus on weights.

Are there any stand-out choices at the moment? Or best sites to look at that sell these setups.

TheBrooder · 16 Apr 2011 at 14:02

Most people will probably recommend a bench and a rack if you can fit it in.

icecold · 16 Apr 2011 at 14:20

^ that

I'm sure someone who's built their own setup will be along to recommend specifics.

Tom0 · 16 Apr 2011 at 14:54

Get a pool table and a bar in there.

icecold · 16 Apr 2011 at 15:02

like this guy for example

BennyC · 16 Apr 2011 at 16:24

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/premium-strength-package.php

I have this rack. Can't fault it. Also you the bars don't pull out the front they slide in very slightly from the front and then rotate down to lock in so you don't need masses of room to get them out. That and they're not bars, they're tubular steel

I have the pulley but haven't set it up yet due to room constraints so can't comment on it.

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf475-heavy-power-rack-with-latlow-pulley.php

Cage & Pulley on it's own.

willems · 16 Apr 2011 at 16:37

upstairs or down? whats the floor made of?

TriedandTested · 17 Apr 2011 at 10:50

It's an upstairs apartment, concrete floors all the way. Can get some mats or something to protect the finish.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. That rack with weights looks a good package, but can't see the specifications to see if it will fit nicely in the room.

Vanquished007 · 17 Apr 2011 at 12:44

BENCH/RACK/LAT PULLDOWN with some weights, and its a good start.

semi-pro waster · 17 Apr 2011 at 13:22

WeOwnTheSky said:
Thanks for the suggestions so far. That rack with weights looks a good package, but can't see the specifications to see if it will fit nicely in the room.

From the second link that BennyC posted:

1300L x 1160W x 2100H
Max. Weight Capacity for Power Rack. Can accomodate Olympic or Standard disc. 363Kg/800lbs, Max. Weight for Lat/Low Pulley 115Kg/400lbs

It's not listed in the specification but rather in the description. 210cm is about 7' give or take a little so if the room was 9'^3 then you'd be fine.

BennyC · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:13

The rack it's self is about 120/130 cm wide.

It's the bar which will be 7ft which is the widest point you need to worry about.

That and any headroom for chins/pullups. Thought you can install the beam the bars fix to back to front or upside down, it makes no difference, and would allow you to use them if you had a low ceiling.

Psycho Sonny · 17 Apr 2011 at 22:18

i was making a good post for home gyms, and i think it got deleted when i had to re-format due to my motherboard dying, i think i have an early copy of the post saved on 1 of my hard drives, if i do find it, ill have a look tomorrow, ill post it up, but i put a lot of effort and time into it and when my pc died i didnt wanna do it all over again, so it will have some holes, which i hope other users can contribute to.

or hopefully over time i can update/add to it here and there.

TriedandTested · 18 Apr 2011 at 12:50

Brilliant. Thanks for help. Looks like that rack is a winner then and will do quite nicely when this extra rooms gets sorted.

Psycho Sonny: would deffo be interested if you can find that post.

BennyC: any chance of a photo or two of what it looks like in your place?

Mansize_tissue · 18 Apr 2011 at 17:58

For what it's worth, here's a similarly sized power rack that I got from powerhouse fitness.

A 9ft wide room should give you ample clearance for loading weights onto a 7ft olympic bar.

BennyC · 18 Apr 2011 at 18:22

WeOwnTheSky said:
BennyC: any chance of a photo or two of what it looks like in your place?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18153774&highlight=Cf475

Mines side on as I use it just for squatting in. Though moving in to my own house in October so it'll be set up in the garage and will be making full use of it!

Zip · 19 Apr 2011 at 09:49

Does that Bench above rock when you use it?

Any Benches that ive used that has an adjustable back on it rocks like a boat!

Morba · 19 Apr 2011 at 11:11

Zip said:
Does that Bench above rock when you use it?

Any Benches that ive used that has an adjustable back on it rocks like a boat!

screw it tight and its fine, even with my weight on it.

BennyC · 19 Apr 2011 at 11:33

Mines solid as. We've Nautilus ones in the gym which cost far more and rock a little even when tight.

Mansize_tissue · 19 Apr 2011 at 12:27

I don't find it rocks at all. There's a little movement if I don't tighten it up, but once you're on it it's fine so I never bother to tighten it.

Psycho Sonny · 19 Apr 2011 at 23:40

Mansize_tissue said:
For what it's worth, here's a similarly sized power rack that I got from powerhouse fitness.

A 9ft wide room should give you ample clearance for loading weights onto a 7ft olympic bar.

if your gonna go for it make sure you get olympic weights with handles in them like the ones in these pictures, i have some with handles and without and i prefer tha handles, a hell of a lot easier to move them about and you will move them about a lot.

basics are

rack with lat pulley - i recommend the powertec one
decent bench - recommend body solid
olympic weight set
horse stall mats (company called endurance matz or something does them dirt cheap)

i'll find my word file tomorrow - i was away for a a couple of days so i havent had a chance to search for it on my 5/6 hard drives.