Official Home Gym Building Thread

dave28 · 24 Jul 2021 at 14:53

christ some of you guys have very nice set ups

Cadder · 24 Jul 2021 at 22:32

Got the stable mats down and moved everything around in the garage/gym today. It's a lot better set up and those mats are awesome. Not fussed about dropping things or dragging them round now.

Will have to get a photo taken when I have it exactly how I like it. Need to sell some stuff and make some space...

Cadder · 26 Jul 2021 at 09:20

The immediate availability of this is tempting me - https://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-solid-pro-lat-machine-plate-loading-1.html

It would match my rack too.

The ATX one certainly looks better. I don't see any functional benefits over the Body-Solid unit. They seem functionally identical.

Dominic-Toretto · 26 Jul 2021 at 15:35

Cadder said:
The immediate availability of this is tempting me - https://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/body-solid-pro-lat-machine-plate-loading-1.html
It would match my rack too.
The ATX one certainly looks better. I don't see any functional benefits over the Body-Solid unit. They seem functionally identical.

The ATX pulldown is taller, heavier, and no doubt smoother. It also has an 180KG weight capacity on the pulldown, vs 136kg.

Depends if these difference are worth it to you....

uncle_rufus · 26 Jul 2021 at 20:48

Squidward said:
The ATX pulldown is taller, heavier, and no doubt smoother. It also has an 180KG weight capacity on the pulldown, vs 136kg.

Depends if these difference are worth it to you....

It's okay, I only weigh 90kg

The Chemist · 28 Jul 2021 at 16:49

In hindsight I should have gone for a full rack and not the half foldable as it's a faff to fold away and since installation I've never needed to put away. Waiting for my shelf unit to come this week so I can tidy up the weights off the floor

utajoker · 30 Jul 2021 at 23:11

Everything arrived over Weds/Thurs and i got built today!

Took up more floor space than i realised but the garage just needs an organise now and i need a trip to the tip with all the empty boxes!

Cadder · 30 Jul 2021 at 23:15

Some really good looking setups here!

I missed the boat on the ATX lat pulldown preorder. I only realise how much I want something when the decision is taken from me. There is another unit, a primal fitness one - here - but it's too tall for my gym...

So back to the body-solid idea. Squidward won't be impressed with my hesitation but their unit is as cheap as £371 delivered if ordered direct from their site with their discount code.

At least it will match my rack :rolleyes:

dod · 2 Aug 2021 at 11:06

Cadder said:
I bought some stable mats today. They're going over the painted concrete garage floor. Is it best to leave the deadlift/squat area as hard concrete or just do them on the mats?

which ones did you go for?

Cadder · 2 Aug 2021 at 11:09

dod said:
which ones did you go for?

Someone local was selling them on FB marketplace. I think they're 18mm thick and each mat is about the size of a standard plywood sheet (2.4m x 1.2m very rough estimate). They have longitudinal channels on the underside and very slight raised circles in a pattern on the top. They are really good - while they look worn they look like they will last decades. I was also pleasantly surprised with how easy they were to cut with a stanley knife to notch around a column at the wall. My only regret is that I bought 4 instead of the ideal 6.

So if you have a home gym in a standard sized single garage, I'd go for 6. Even with a workbench and shelving unit in there.

dod · 2 Aug 2021 at 11:18

thanks, going into a room in the house so 4 would be enough I think. So many types available

uncle_rufus · 2 Aug 2021 at 11:20

I got 7 for mine which did the entire single garage leaving enough offcuts to make a couple of DIY deadlift pads

Cadder · 2 Aug 2021 at 11:32

uncle_rufus said:
I got 7 for mine which did the entire single garage leaving enough offcuts to make a couple of DIY deadlift pads

Ah man I wish I knew this before haha. At £25 a mat they were a bargain. No surprise they had none left when I went back.

LiE · 3 Aug 2021 at 16:28

Finally got my hands on the leg pad for my bench to allow decline pressing/sit ups.

Cadder · 3 Aug 2021 at 16:36

LiE said:
Finally got my hands on the leg pad for my bench to allow decline pressing/sit ups.

That is a really nice looking bench. Since we have most of what we need, we're now looking to replace the cheaper tat we started with - ie the Men's Health bench. Where is yours from?

LiE · 3 Aug 2021 at 17:37

Cadder said:
That is a really nice looking bench. Since we have most of what we need, we're now looking to replace the cheaper tat we started with - ie the Men's Health bench. Where is yours from?

Bulldog gear - https://bulldoggear.com/collections/adjustable-benches

They have free shipping on the benches currently. Mines the adjustable 2.0.

Cadder · 3 Aug 2021 at 18:35

LiE said:
Bulldog gear - https://bulldoggear.com/collections/adjustable-benches

They have free shipping on the benches currently. Mines the adjustable 2.0.

Thanks! First impression is that the price is a steep jump from the lower end stuff. How do you rate the quality? Commercial gym grade?

Looks great.

LiE · 3 Aug 2021 at 19:05

Cadder said:
Thanks! First impression is that the price is a steep jump from the lower end stuff. How do you rate the quality? Commercial gym grade?

Looks great.

Its really good, absolute tank at 50kg. It’s as good as benches I’ve used in commercial gyms.

Dominic-Toretto · 5 Aug 2021 at 23:21

The Chemist said:
Snip
In hindsight I should have gone for a full rack and not the half foldable as it's a faff to fold away and since installation I've never needed to put away. Waiting for my shelf unit to come this week so I can tidy up the weights off the floor

Nice setup, flooring is clean.

Cadder said:
Some really good looking setups here!

I missed the boat on the ATX lat pulldown preorder. I only realise how much I want something when the decision is taken from me. There is another unit, a primal fitness one - here - but it's too tall for my gym...

So back to the body-solid idea. Squidward won't be impressed with my hesitation but their unit is as cheap as £371 delivered if ordered direct from their site with their discount code.

At least it will match my rack

If you are happy with the body solid solution then get that

.

LiE said:
Finally got my hands on the leg pad for my bench to allow decline pressing/sit ups.

Make sure to regularly check your screws and bolts on this bench. I literally had bolts falling out of mine on the silver plates on the side from regular usage. Bulldog gear stated this was normal.

Cadder said:
Thanks! First impression is that the price is a steep jump from the lower end stuff. How do you rate the quality? Commercial gym grade?
Looks great.

I also have this bench. It is very heavy duty and defo feels commercial grade. I am pretty sure it is from China (it's actually a rep of the Rep Fitness AP5000), Again faster (linked below) sell the exact same bench. Also see my above note, can't say I am impressed with bulldogs customer care. Its a very heavy bench, feels solid when using. Aside from bolts and screws falling out my only complaint is the adjustment for the front seat slider (horizontal not tilt) is screw fit where the rest of the bench is push pin.

Edit: Again faster bench cheaper than bulldog
https://againfaster.eu/en_gb/streng...ompetition-elite-adjustable-weight-bench.html

Cadder · 6 Aug 2021 at 07:12

Squidward said:
If you are happy with the body solid solution then get that .

I'm more annoyed with myself for missing out on the ATX machine preorder. I almost bought the Primal Strength lat pulldown machine but it's too tall.

All else I could find was the Body-Solid for £400 or this:
https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf660-plate-loading-lat-pulldown-low-pulley-sebr3459

I can't find anything else like the ATX machine.