Official Home Gym Building Thread

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Looks much better to me. You don't want a smith machine.

Personally I don't miss the pulley and like having the half rack so it doesn't dominate my garage quite so much but if you have the space that looks good.

You say you won't be lifting massive weights but if you get into a linear progression programme like stronglifts it really won't be long before you surprise yourself.
 
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I started out less than a year ago and bought that barbell but with 145kg set up (and have since added 25kg plates too). https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.u...-barbell-kit-with-7-ft-bar-and-spring-collars You will definitely want 20kg plates so I would upgrade now rather than quickly realise you needed them and not get the discount of a package.

Things like rows you will want the height and weight 20kg plates give basically immediately. If you don't want to spend more you could go cheaper on the bench.
 
Cheers for the replies Skidder, certainly helped!

Has anyone had any experience with powerhouse-fitness customer service? Reading online, they seem to get slated quite a bit
 
mingeroonie said:
Cheers for the replies Skidder, certainly helped!

Has anyone had any experience with powerhouse-fitness customer service? Reading online, they seem to get slated quite a bit
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I had my entire set up from them. Delivery was as promised and all good quality and as expected other than I had a bent stand for my slectable dumbells and contacted them to sort. They were a bit slow to respond on that and I had to chase a couple of times but got there in the end and didn't want the original one back (I bent the slightly damaged one back to shape and used that and sold the new one). Phone support was pretty poor but once I got the email address of someone everything was sorted. I have had a few more plates and smaller orders from them since with no issue.
 
mingeroonie said:
There goes a couple hours of browsing!
The final options seem to be:
https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf475-heavy-power-rack-with-lat-low-pulley
https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.u...-barbell-kit-with-7-ft-bar-and-spring-collars
https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf330-premium-weight-bench.php

I think that gives me a good base to build on, and can add bits as I need them.
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I really wouldnt bother with the pulley attachment, it takes up so much space and blocks you from comfortably doing other more necessary exercises in the rack. Plus if you need that motion just get some decent bands.
 
iamtheoneneo said:
I really wouldnt bother with the pulley attachment, it takes up so much space and blocks you from comfortably doing other more necessary exercises in the rack. Plus if you need that motion just get some decent bands.
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The pulley attachment is great, it brings the rack out from being flush against the wall by about 15inches at most. No idea what it could block you from doing in the squat rack, its never got in my way once.

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Went on live chat with them yesterday, and got another £100 off along with the 145Kg weight package and the Cf485
Happy so far, will post a pic when it all turns up!
 
Jumping in on this thread as its relevent to my needs! Recently moved house and have a large shed suitable for a home gym. Looking for something i can do 5x5 on. Also try to keep it relatively low cost for now. Thouths on the below setup?

Mirafit adjustable bench https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mirafit-Ful...ch-Flat-Incline-Dumbbell-Lifting/401917343208 £49
Mirafit adjustable squat rackhttps://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mirafit-Adj...l-Weight-Gym-Bench-Power-Lifting/331717188972 £89
Bodymax rubber 145kg 7ft barbell https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.u...-barbell-kit-with-7-ft-bar-and-spring-collars £249
 
dazzday said:
Jumping in on this thread as its relevent to my needs! Recently moved house and have a large shed suitable for a home gym. Looking for something i can do 5x5 on. Also try to keep it relatively low cost for now. Thouths on the below setup?

Mirafit adjustable bench https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mirafit-Ful...ch-Flat-Incline-Dumbbell-Lifting/401917343208 £49
Mirafit adjustable squat rackhttps://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mirafit-Adj...l-Weight-Gym-Bench-Power-Lifting/331717188972 £89
Bodymax rubber 145kg 7ft barbell https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.u...-barbell-kit-with-7-ft-bar-and-spring-collars £249
Click to expand...

I have those weights, they are fine but as above they are smaller than olympic. I have the 25kgs as well which are closer. I have some blocks with lips off eBay to deadlift from. They are decent weights.

Personally I would spend a bit more on a half rack or rack with a pull up bar. Worth it I think.
 
I have that Mirafit bench
get a different one haha

The mechanism that holds the back is really bad, you'll feel much more secure in something that doesn't allow as much movement/rocking
 
I don't think I ever posted this in here, but I built this last summer and just posted it in the 2020 Gym Rats thread:

I name this "The Forge", and it has a membership of one.

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It's impossible to photograph properly as it's so small, but it's just the perfect size to use the power rack properly and also use the fully adjustable bench in the open area next to it.

I have a barbell, EZ bar, up/down adjustable bench, high/low cable and many attachments, Ironmaster adjustable dumbbells and kettle bell with the 45lb extension weights, and more plate weight than I will ever lift.

I also have an airdyne air bike in the house for non-weight lifting days. I'm using a modified version of the Fierce 5 routine to have a dumbbell focused day and a barbell focused day as that's what I enjoy.

My goals this year are to get down to 70 kg (currently 77 kg) while maintaining 120 kg Squat and 90 kg Bench for 3x5.
 
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