Thanks for the insights, Brandon. I recently fell down the powerlifting rabbit hole and am in the process of building out my home gym. I'm a big fan of "buy once, cry once" and I'll hopefully be picking up a RML-490 in their upcoming Matte Black Friday sale.
cool ruler : I bought all my weights and most of my dumbbells off Craigslist. Saved a pretty penny, and I could have purchased much more that route if needed (benches, bars, even belts)
Not Telling I honestly got all northern lights stuff from fitness depot.. Racks, rubber weights, benches and ghd machine... I'm venture tho its cheaper than this stuff it has been bomb proof none the less
emailjwr Hey, No regrets at all.. The newer northern lights stuff is almost as good as some of the rogue equipment.. I got their squat cage, Olympic bars, rubber plates and hex rubber dumbells, lat pull down tower, captains chair, seated calf and ghd ham raise.. No issues what so ever a year in at 3/4 days a week use.. Just make sure on the benches u step up to their more commercial pieces.. No complaints and I saved thousands as opposed to going bigger brand. 👍
Not sure if you have made an update to this video, but would love to see one. Your home gym has evolved into a masterpiece since this video was made. I am curious what you would change now as to compared to the information you have here. I am tired of paying for a gym membership so I am about to drop some coin on a PR-5000 6 post with the Ares from REP. I have roughly 16’ x 24’ space to work with in my garage. I will start laying the flooring down here in May. Love the content! Thanks for all the great work! V/R Shane
A point about having a smaller power rack: If you stored your plates on the rear post of a 4-post rack like you showed in your picture, then you must either move ALL the weights off the rack each time you squat, or be VERY CAREFUL never to get so close to those weights that the weights you're lifting hit them. Smashing unexpectedly into an immovable object while squatting could wreck you.
Good video. Would be great if you'd consider including some high resolution drone footage of you pouring yourself a bowl of cereal, for your next edit, perhaps in slow mo. Thanks bro. Stay big.
Most useful vid yet, tx. As for everyone who thinks you spend too much and worry too much about brands, they're forgetting a crucial part of the lifting gear equation: confidence. If you can afford nice kit, and are committed to years of lifting, owning a high quality home set-up will encourage you to train consistently and intensely. Yes, there are much cheaper options - but when a challenging session awaits, it's a good feeling to know you've got schmick equipment to use that looks good, works as it should and won't break. It makes a significant psychological difference over the long-term, something the young fellas don't undertstand yet. And what you can lift when you're 20-30 years old doesn't matter much. If you're still lifting when you're 50-60 you'vve paid your dues and can feel free to lecture others about their gear choices.
Yes im in europe and initially i wanted to buy the rogue rml 490 but i bought instead the atx 770 rack for half the price witheven with safety straps. Rogue is to expensive in europe.. 1400€ for the rml 490 without eve spotter arms is to much. The atx has the same steel thickness and dimensions Only con of the atx is no westside spacing but with the safety straps i can adjust it better than with pins and it is good enough.
KM Seraphin Campbell, this is hands down the most correct and dialed in comments regarding home gym mistakes for people who actually use their equipment. It almost goes without saying that buying equipment you can’t/don’t/won’t use is a clear mistake. But after that, you nailed it. I have the RML-490, and I also have 12ft of platform. I built an 8x8 initially, then pulled the rack off there and then added a 4x4 extension without the mats on the gutters outside the rack. Both times I put wood under the rack, and I have added the same roll of grip tape to keep footing. The plates are always a question, and we all over spend on weight it seems. And buying more rack than necessary is a typical compulsive behavior for folks who have no qualms buying nicer things. Lastly, I’ll add that one of my interesting triumphs was removing my fat/skinny bar, moving to a multigrip, and then securing the rack to a wall (on the side) using that fat/skinny between the mid top of the rack and the wall’s studs. It gave me a new pull-up location when a friend might visit AND it created another stabilizing anchor to limit any possible wiggle at the top of the rack. Keep up the good work, and look forward to the new gym build at the new house.
I'm building my home gym currently. Thanks for the input on the size of the platform. I was debating doing a 12'x8' platform vs just stall mats under rack & a 4'x8' platform. Glad I could learn from your "mistake". Platform looks amazing though.
@@BasementBrandon would you consider not even placing a wooden platform in a gym, in case you're not doing oly lifting but just regular strength and conditioning? I am not familiar with weights and actually don't see pros in having a platform other than it being nice and compliant with competition surfaces in case one is competing.
I've had my home gym for over 2 years now. Years prior, I collected gym equipment and stored it. When I bought my first power rack, my home gym came to life quickly. I have: power rack, plate loaded pec deck, heavy duty adjustable rolling bench, 45 lb barbell, 600 lbs in olympic plates, 2" weight tree, 1" weight tree with 200 lbs in plates, custom made cable pulley system, set of fixed dumbbells to 50 lbs; build your own after, all the cable attachments, EZ and straight 1" curl bars, all rubber floor, mirrors, and a very loud sound system. I love having my own gym. But still, there are some key equipment I require from a commercial gym. Mainly, their leg and back machines. Machines like this would cost 30K. I hate to say it, but Planet Fitness has all the leg and back machines as well as good cardio equipment for $10. The rest of PF goes without saying. Home gym is, by far, more useful for the other body parts.
Quick tip on the wood surface… Bare wood, especially sanded, can be slippery. Try wiping it with water. You may find that it raises the grain some, and helps provide some grip. IF that’s the case, that’s a good reason to hit it with a thinned out poly. You can also sand it with a really coarse sandpaper and try again… sometimes that’s enough. If those fail, you can mix fine sand into some varnish.
Great and informative as always man, thank you! Also, I'm really glad to see that Walgreens sponsors your hats now. Keep it up, and you'll get that full ride from CVS.
Hey man, it was a new learning experience for you. But you made the smart choice, went straight for the power rack, bench, olympic bar and plates, all the basic essentials.
I bought a RML-690 with a 30" front cage instead of the 43" version. Just as effective for me and saves a lot of space. It was just as expensive as the regular version though. Also I build a foldable lifting platform with hinges in the middle, which I can just fold in half and store away.
Instead of grip tape, if you take a can of polyurethane and shake the crap out of it and then apply it to the wood, you will get an air bubble filled finish that produces tons of grippy bumps.
To big of a coincidence. We planned a homegym yesterday: went for the 490C, the calibrated kg rogue powerlifting plates, stall mat underneath the rack and a separate deadlift platform. Nice to hear those were good choices!
I am currently building my home gym and you video was helpful in avoiding some purchases that may not have been best for my situation. The rack I decided on is the RML-390c 30 inch interior version. I didn't have space for a larger rack but have plenty of room to do everything I need inside the cage. I upgraded the pipes for strap safeties and use the spotter arms outside the cage for benching. I turned to Vulcan Strength their commercial rated Standard bar and the Vulcan alpha bumper plates. Vulcan quality is on par and perhaps better than Rogue but with free shipping to my area it was a no brainer. I use 3/4 inch stall mats over the entire gym floor and was able to get them for $30 apiece at a local farm equipment dealer (10 bucks cheaper than tractor supply in our area). I bought a full set of dumbbells (Iron hexagon 15-50lbs) from a buddy with a rack for $250. I use a Fitness Reality power tower for dips, leg lifts, pull ups and push ups with a set of rings to supplement body weight strength and flexibility exercises. I just need to install some mirrors and a white board to keep track of progress. I recently lost 35 lbs and no longer wanted to pay gym dues and now that we have a home gym my wife feels comfortable weight training in private. I should have invested in this years ago. Thanks again for all your tips in other videos too!
Maybe it's just me, but I would have seen that power rack as a waste of money and space from the jump. A basic power rack is all that's needed, like what elitefts sells for their garage gym line is perfect. That's what I have, but I'm fortunate that my best friend is a welder and just happens to be good friends with Louis Simmons and Dave Tate, so he was able to build an exact replica for $100. Same with my flat bench. I got cheap bars from a sporting goods store along with used weights. There is no reason to spend a ton of money on top of the line weights and bars unless you are running a gym or holding competitions. I my a platform out of plywood with rubber mats covering it for grip and to keep the wood from being damaged during deadlifts. This is just basic stuff and can be really cheap if you know what you're doing. What you did can't even classify as a rookie mistake. Almost everything I have is used, except for elitefts GHR and lat pulldown machine, which again, is also cheap. I train everyday and built a 500lbs bench, 750lbs squat and 575lbs deadlift in my basement. Even with all the weight being dropped and thrown around, my cheap equipment has lasted almost 20 years. There is not much wear and tear on it because I'm literally the only one that uses my gym. And I know I will get many more years of use out of it.
I disagree, I went with Rogue as I wanted as high of quality as possible, my goal in building this gym wasn't to be cheap and settle for things I didn't want. The elite rack that's comparable, when shipped, isn't much of a cost savings over this rack (about $300). Factor in I was already getting most of my other stuff from Rogue and it didn't make sense. My goal was to create as close to meet conditions as possible, which for me means a stiff power bar and calibrated plates. While there are some things I'd change if I did it again, I have no regrets.
Yeah I'm going to agree more with Brandon here. I think there are certainly cost-effective things out there, and Rogue isn't the most cost-effective, "cheap" can be total garbage and often in the pursuit of trying to save a few bucks you make horrible compromises on quality or end up spending more in the long-run. Plus, name brands also sell on the aftermarket higher and better as well, Rogue is a brand that pretty much all used-equipment vendors will take in. I definitely wouldn't go with a cheap bar though. Cost-effective, sure, but not cheap. I literally almost snapped my wrist on a cheap bar that was bent and the collar didn't spin while doing a power clean. Deadlifts aren't the same with a cheap bar. Squats and bench are usually OK with cheaper bars but several lifts aren't. Not to mention "cheap" 20 years ago with American steel is different than cheap now, a modern cheap bar would literally snap in half with 500 pounds on it.
A cheap bar is still fine for most people because they will never put 500lbs or even 300lbs on the bar. Although actually I've seen some of those bargain bars don't even have proper knurling so maybe not. But the behavior under high weights isn't a concern for most people who buy barbells, that's why manufacturers can get away with making them weak.
I bought my home gym for $300. Went on Craigslist, some guy was going off to college and the mom didn’t want it in her garage anymore. It came with the whole power rack, 4x45lb, 2x35, 2x25, 2x10, 2x5, And 2x2.5 plates as well as an Olympic 45lb barbell with the plate holders. I’d say it was a really good deal. I’ve been using it for the past year and haven’t had any problems with anything. Takes up very little space, is very sturdy, has a pull-up bar with it. Always check sites like craigslist
I think for me the biggest detractor on the r-3 is that it's only 24" deep. To me this would make squatting pretty difficult and I'd probably want to pick up spotter arms to squat outside of the rack.
Grrrr… wish I had seen this video a month ago. My RML-690 just arrived over the last week. Key for me was the plate storage and I looked at several different Rogue options before settling on my beautiful red behemoth. Putting it together after my mats air out. :) Wish me luck!
I bought a squat rack with a bench and pullies and 350lbs in plates for $50 on Craigslist. I can't lift as much as you but I do what I can with what I got. Thanks to the guy that sold me my gym
You could get the same gym with half the cost if you weren't so impressed with logos. I got a Fitness Reality 1000lb capacity squat cage, 12 position bench, 300lbs of Cap Iron weights ( oddly enough the 25 lb plate weighs 25 lbs, just like your expensive ones)24 foam interlocking floor pads, a 7 ft bar and a pair of shoes for half what you paid.
Incorrect, you could get a "gym" for much less, but nothing that comes close to comparing to the quality of what I have here. If you think otherwise you don't have enough experience with gym equipment.
So wrong. Yes you can get stuff at half the cost but then the quality between the 2 is apples to oranges. BTW I bought and owned a R4 but after a couple of years needed more room and since I am strictly calithenics sold it and got a squat rack with attachments so I can do pull-ups rows dips and so on and takes up half the room.
Great equipment! My biggest gripe of building my home gym was I'm pressed for space . I planned mine to a T and took me 2 years to build it and patience. I bought and resold gym equipment to fund my own gym. I have all Ironmaster equipment , powerblock u90 and a hoist v6 functional trainer . All great quality equipment all made to accommodate space.
I just found this video and your comment. Coincidentally, I just ordered a RML-490C in green! Hope you’re enjoying it and I don’t see a reply from you saying you regret the purchase!😂
Great video, bro. I agree w/ you no the smaller racks vs the bigger ones. The difference for me in the bigger rack is the ability to have 2 bars loaded at the same time, rack space to store stuff, and extra pull-up area. Cheers!
Best things you taught me were: Buy 2 of the Rogue mini jack for deadlifts, which I did. The spud pulley isn't worth the money so I bought some top quality pulleys and bought my own cable wire and wire claps. Thanks Brandon
I bought everything second hand... it gave me a chance to see what I really needed. Second hand gear then sells for pretty much exactly what you paid - so no loss except time. And what you lose in time you gain in experience and certainty when it comes to refit everything. When you do refit, you know exactly what you want to spend more space/money on - and what you don't. Going second hand is also ideal if you're new to training. So many people give up within a year and sell up (it's why there's always a steady stream of second hand gear) ... so, unless you're a long-standing gym-monkey, going second hand means you don't get stung if you give up on the idea. Even if you stick with it, your needs will change drastically within the first year. Stuff that served you well when you were starting out and bulking up, is often no longer suitable when it comes to getting more serious. Gains are so easy at first - but you're going to want more flexibility as you start to isolate specific muscles and trying to hit them from different angles. You may need heavier or more versatile equipment and may want to re-prioritise space as your routine changes. So, unless you're already a long term fitness freak who knows exactly what they want - do NOT buy new. Make your mistakes early and make them cheaply. The world is full of gym gear people bought new and are now desperate to get rid of.
I agree to an extent. A lot of it does come with how patient you can be going that route. But making informed decisions and buying new can also be just as fruitful. I sold almost the entire set up in this video and came close to breaking even 5 years after having bought most of it (actually made money on some of the stuff).
Hi Brandon (BTW, loving the channel) I agree, if someone knows exactly what they want they should go for new. But that's kind of my point ... the advice is good only for those who already know, not only what they need, but how they'll be using it 12-24 months from now. I can't help but feel you've been quite lucky to almost break even after 5 years of use. I think it's fair to say that most people who get rid of gym gear make a significant loss over the new price. Of course, the more recognisable and professional the gear you buy, the better it holds value. But second hand gear typically performs far better in terms of depreciation as the 'new premium' is the first and most significant value lost over the life of a product. I wholeheartedly endorse buying new (and buying a universally well recognised and sought after brand) for anyone who's confident in their space and needs. For anyone going new, taking strong home gym advice from folks like yourself is absolutely invaluable : ) For those just starting out, it may be worth considering whether it is better to stay flexible and not over commit on equipment too early on. But at the end of the day, the important thing is getting the right equipment and just making the commitment to yourself. If you're committed, it doesn't matter if all you can afford are some freeweights and a bench... you're going to get value. However you do it, just do it! And have fun : )
Yo Brandon I been watching you’re squat videos and I have noticed one of you’re J-Cups has a roller which there are use on combo squat rack. Where can I snag a pair?
Bought me a Walmart power rack, adjustable bench, olympic bar, and various plates/bells etc (all good to at least 500 lbs) for a few hundred bucks. It’s actually rigid quality and beautiful. I love it. Got rid of all my gym memberships.
Hola Mamacita I'm a female BTW. With smith machine you can do various exercises: shoulder press, hip thrust... etc. the only thing I don't like about, The motion isn't real especially for squat and hip thrust..
martyjanderson For me it was between the rogue adjustable bench and the iron master. I chose the rogue bench due to bench height while flat. It's an overbuilt tank of a bench, and I have zero complaints other than the cost.
I'm conflicted here. I think I could have done fine with just a flat bench. For awhile I wasn't using the incline at all but recently started reincorporating it.
I think if you cant do standing press an incline bench has more worth, since it is now the only way to do a shoulder press. I too am conflicted still, i am pretty sure i wont be able to do standing press as well, but the adjustable bench is basically double the price
Brandon Campbell Diamond I have the t3 and haven't had a single issue. To me the only difference between that and the rogue is the paint job... But then again I'm not throwing up insane weight inside it either.
Was gonna say I have had a t2 short rack for a couple years now. I do squat, shoulder press, incline, bench on it. Does great. Nothing rattles or feels loose after a couple years of racking weight on it. I feel I'm putting good weight on it too. 255 for reps on incline and 315 for flat bench. Not a big squat gut but I'm racking 350 for squats. So to me it's taking and withstanding a lot of weight and hasn't failed me yet.
Biggest mistake was hemming and hawing about building a home gym until COVID hit, and it was/is a seller's market. The great advice of buying all at once wasn't possible since March; so, I regret impulse-buying a few things. Buying Hi-Temp bumpers, which I sold for cost during COVID as well. Also, totally agree about the wood platform under the rack. It eventually becomes slippery, and I feel like I would be just fine on the slightly raised stall mats that TSC sells (likely to home gym builders primarily right now).
They are young ones of cows. In a calf raise machine , you put calves weighing around 80 kgs on a machine , and then attempt to raise them .Calves can also be substituted for donkeys as a variation. Cool machine , but rarely used.
Just done mine, don't need as much weight as you , got a ctx5 which is a much cheaper rebrand of Force USA G9, the rack, with cables, Smith,pull up, low row, seemed a good use of space compared to a stand alone rack
EyeQueOneFourSix the point is to build a set up that I wanted with the equipment I wanted. Can’t do that for $100. Would rather go to a gym then train on your $100 set up.
Well obviously you wanted it my good man.. you would have to be some special kind of moron to buy a gym you did not want. I get the feeling communication with you is a waste of my time. In the interest of education I spent so little on my gym because a fishing trip to thailand and a stag party were scheduled and I knew I had to attend both or regret it I then saw the crap I would end up with if I spent $2000 or less. This forced me to fall back on military ethos and combine it with strongman disciplines. I started to really look hard at what I needed and what I could use. In the end I used tree trunks, rocks/boulders, cement, sand, steel bars, water and barrels plus some rope, iron wall mounts and a load of assorted junk. My rack is my wall( 18 inch granite blocks), barbell is a 5 inch washing line with changeable concrete plates and collars( how is that any less functional?) the water forces my stabilizers do go into overdrive, the 5 inch bars and sand bags force my grip to evolve! I garauntee you your mind and body would be shocked and you would get my point! shame about yours... take care now.
It sounds like if you had the extra money you would have spent it on nice gym equipment; in this case you didn't and decided to do something else with the money. Which makes it seem you are missing his point and his first response is valid. And his second response explains why he built his dream setup because that's what he wanted - he didn't want a setup like yours. You built yours because that's what your situation lead you too. Both fun setups in their own right, but you seem better as there is no shame in his setup, or yours.
I hear what you’re saying about the 690 vs the 490, but I feel like if you’re going to remove the built-in plate storage on the 690 you have to balance that with the space/money that separate plate storage is going to take up on another purchase. I just purchased a 690 (matte black) because 1) I didn’t want to wait for Rep to get the PR4000s in stock and 2) it has storage built in. If I had more money I would have gotten my plates through Rogue too, but their stock was low and I caught Rep right when their black bumpers came in...and they kinda look sick. That said, the bumpers just came in about a month later than the rack. Having everything together instead of waiting for a weight tree in a separate purchase is nice.
Been training in my homemade power rack with metal plates and some cheap rubber mats for 15 years. All you need is something heavy to lift and the mentality to go with it.
Agreed on the platform. I feel the same way in my garage. Also moisture has caused my platform to warp a bit causing the bar to roll. I wonder if a couple layers of stall mat would have worked better
Good information thanks! Disagree on one thing though - storing weights on a smaller rack one section rack is not possible. If stored on the rear posts, you'd likely hit them when benching, and they limit the available space to squat in, length wise. At best, you can have just a single peg, down low, on the inner side. Possibly one super-low on the outside, depending on bench height and your arch/physical build (there's room for one full size plate under the lowest point I reach, when benching). Both are a good idea for smaller racks, it weighs them down. So, the space saved, is partially lost to the need for separate weight storage. That can be placed where space is available, but then you have to carry the weights around more, i.e. cardio *gasp*. I have a smaller Powertec rack, and I will probably extend it backwards, to look a bit like yours, for weight storage. My space is SMALL, about 9x14', 126sqft/12sqm, and I actually want to store my weights on the rack to SAVE space. Separate weight storage thingies are always pretty low/short = a lot of unused space above them. The only other alternative I am personally considering is putting weight pegs on the wall. Or maybe more or less like two boxes on the floor, right beside the rack on each side, to drop the weights down into. Personally, I've just built a fixed bench, because my adjustable one is too wiggly, too soft, and not wide enough. So now I carry TWO benches around and in and out of my little micro gym (the missus likes the soft wiggly one). Should've just bought a fixed flat one, I never incline/decline.
You can fix that issue by having the bench racked on the opposite side of plate storage (like Bryce Lewis does in his home gym). The rack now is 43" on the inside so I don't believe I'd have any issues squatting either, however some racks are only 30" deep and it could def be a problem there.
True, if one is brave or have a rack with spotter arms. Or have a larger home gym than mine, so that the rack doesn't have be up against a wall. I like using my safety bars when benching, i.e. benching "inside", and because the gym is so tiny, no option to do it "backwards". In a home gym, no one can hear you scream ;)
GoodMorningMommies it is worth it if you like working out alone. I for one hate working out in a gym because I do not like to see anyone when I am working out.
GoodMorningMommies Another important factor is the time saved by not commuting back and forth to and from the gym, which allows you to spend more time at home with your loved ones.
@@kingucrimson5383 He trains for powerlifting. Different goals. Most powerlifters don't end up looking jacked because they aren't really training for hypertrophy.
I did made the "buy nice or buy twice" mistake. When I started, I didn't know anything about weights, barbell or even training. So I have a lot of standard weights that I don't use for big mouvement.
I also upgraded my home gym... i got a folding rack, its awesome and saves space when needed also got tri-grip bumper plates which have more uses than just on a barbell.
Nice gym. All I have is a great set of PowerBlocks I've had for almost 20 years, a cheap adjustable bench from K-Mart, and a pull up,dip combo unit. It's called my pocket gym.
Hey Brandon, really enjoy your videos. So I recently purchased a Fitness Reality rack.. and for the most part it is a solid rack. Heavy, can handle a ton of weight, etc. However, I did that without researching.. as it just looked like a great buy, 2x3 steel, etc. Then I started reading posts on forums and watching videos, and discovered rogue, titan, etc. Your videos included. The two main problems with the reality rack is they use 2x3 posts with 1" holes, but as I found out today when I tried "adapting" the Rogue Monster Monolift with 1" pins.. they are not even 1" holes. So.. after much pain and several hours to assemble, I am sending it back, and purchased the Rogue RM-4 Monster 2.0 rack. So the reason I comment on this is two of your 3 issues I am actually doing.. partly from your video, but also financially it made sense for me now. I dont see a good use for the back side of the 690 area like you noted. I have a tree for weights, which is fine and may get another if it makes sense. I also opted for just the regular crossmembers. I have in my save list the safety straps 2.0 version, and the monkey bar looking crossbar. But what I really wanted to ask was.. the platform area. I bought some cheap 3/4" foam 4x6 puzzle mats.. and like my rack realized that was not the right stuff. It actually does OK, and I think for under neat the rack it will be fine. But for dead lifts/cleans/etc, I wanted to build something like what you have. I am not sure however if you are saying to do away with the wood completely, or just use a thinner bit of it and more horse mat around it? I would think just an area with the 3/4" 4x6 horse mat would be big enough for that purpose? Does it help to have the 3/4" plywood underneath? I did buy a set of bumpers, but also a few steel plates and plan to add more later. Anyway.. thought I would share.. appreciate your videos and insight, and get your feedback on a dead/clean lifting platform.
Appreciate the feedback and insight. I've recently redone my space and one away with most of the "platform". I do still however have more stall mats for general flooring. In your situation I would likely grab 2 stall mats for under the rack (this will give you a 6'x8' coverage which will be more than enough). and then maybe build a separate deadlift platform with plywood as a base and more matting on top. If you want to discuss more in-depth, shoot me an email (it's in the description).
I'm in Etobicoke, Ontario. There's a place here that sells okay equipment at a really good price. I'm picking up a cage for about $500 and a cable machine for a little under $800. I bought a squat stand for $300 and I've had it for 6 years and it still holds up. Look for a company called Amstaff.
I can see why you think a smaller rack would be better, but I think the weights next to the bar would interfere with racking and un-racking of the bar. I have the rogue weight tree for my weights and it works great. However, two small post on the rack for the 2.5 and 5lbs weights would be nice.
Not sure if you could unscrew the rattling caps on the weight plates but if you could, wrapping plumbing tapes in the thread and screwing them back may solve the rattling problem 😀
The only thing in my home gym that doesn't fit in the closet is a pullup bar, which has a pretty small footprint. But I've found I can get a great workout by using a variety of body weight exercises, mixed in with resistance bands, a weighted vest ,adjustable dumbells and some gymnist rings.
Curious why folks use wood in the base and then add anti-slip tape. I just have a rubber mat throughout, not sponginess, not slip - just great traction for squats etc.
Man, and here I am with my plates and rack bought off craigs list for 300 bucks. I did buy new power bar and bench, but almost everything else is used. It's worked great for me. For my platform, I used epoxy then threw some salt all over it to give it some grip.
That's solid. Everyone has different needs, wants, and budget. This is the one area of life where I spend more money on, not cars, going out, clothes, vacations, etc .
I appreciate the no-nonsense tips. My question is - why not just buy used olympic weights? Seems like a quarter a pound is a lot better price. Is there really that much difference between a used plate and one of those expensive "brand-name" plates?
For the average lifter you're right. My reasoning is that I compete with these same plates, my goal was to emulate meet conditions as much as possible. It used to be very difficult training on regular plates, then going to a competition and using calibrated plates. They looked like they weighed less than a regular set, but were so much heavier.
Don't you ever get mad or annoyed that you have to take weights off and back on again just to go from Squats to presses? And you have to worry about hitting the bar each time you do pullups since where the pull up bar is pretty much right above here the bar catches are. I know I did, hence now I got a squat rack where I can squat inside the cage and bench on the outside (both inside and outside have safeties as well).
"I like to have everything at my fingertips, sort of like a commercial gym. Just walk to one machine to another, to another." So you are one of those people who never put your bars or weights away at a commercial gym?
Interesting. I started with a 4-post and ended up adding the 6-post extension for plate storage and other things. Seemed like the better solution for getting the most out of that space behind the rack. Plates were getting in the way on bench press and I don't have the feet or arms to do it on the outside of the rack.
It's all come full circle. We sold this house (and I sold most of my equipment) and downsized in our new place for a bit, but now I'm at a modified 6 post with a 30" main section lol.
Most people don’t need calibrated competition weight. I purchased all my bumper plates on amazon for a little over $1 per lb and they were great, you can weigh them out for piece of mind and you’ll find them all to be within 1/10th of a lb or less etc. I ended up piecing together a decent home gym and spent the majority of the time just going to a the gym. I missed the atmosphere of the gym and didn’t enjoy training alone.
It's overkill for 99% of the people for sure, but I'd rather train at home using this stuff than any other gym in the state, so it was a worthwhile investment!
God - I can only imagine if I had this much space for my home gym. Here in the northeast, we have brownstone buildings with tiny basements. My basement has a maximum clearance of 72", but realistically more like 71.5 or 71 5/8 because of how the drywall slopes a bit. I am currently waiting on the 71" Titan Fitness T-2 Power Rack to become available again and that's the best I'll be able to do for now.
Another mistake - not enough mirrors so you can check your gains, especially when you are curling in the squat rack.
TFW no gains to look at
😂
Hey now... my rack is litterally the only space I have😐 so I have to do everything in the rack or go to the park!
It's spelt 'gainz' bruh. Git it right.
Curling in the squat rack is a must....every day
"Buy it nice or buy it twice"
....and here's all the nice things I bought that I'm buying twice lol
i have the luxury of upgrading and trying similar products to make reviews for people ;)
That's one peice of advice that I wish I had heard a long time ago.
@@BasementBrandon hmm
Hmmm
He did buy nice. Problem is he bought too nice. Too big. Realized he didnt need that much.
Wasting money is probably one of my greatest skills. If anyone out there is looking to waste some money, hit me up.
Lol I feel ya!
"Buy high, sell low" is how I roll
Shop sales and buy online. I ended up reselling my whole Home gym and made over $500 selling it. Only value I added was assembling everything.
Lol
Can you waste my sadness?
Those are really minor issues, your home gym is outstanding.
Thanks, a work in progress!
Hi
Agreed!
Thanks for the insights, Brandon. I recently fell down the powerlifting rabbit hole and am in the process of building out my home gym. I'm a big fan of "buy once, cry once" and I'll hopefully be picking up a RML-490 in their upcoming Matte Black Friday sale.
Usually offer free shipping that day, would save a good amount of money!
Biggest mistake people make is buying equipment they don't already use on any regular basis. So much cheap barely used equipment on Craigslist lol
True that
cool ruler : I bought all my weights and most of my dumbbells off Craigslist. Saved a pretty penny, and I could have purchased much more that route if needed (benches, bars, even belts)
Not Telling I honestly got all northern lights stuff from fitness depot.. Racks, rubber weights, benches and ghd machine... I'm venture tho its cheaper than this stuff it has been bomb proof none the less
Trevor Bohnsack - I'm thinking of doing the same thing, update on how they're holding up? Any regrets? Thanks
emailjwr Hey, No regrets at all.. The newer northern lights stuff is almost as good as some of the rogue equipment.. I got their squat cage, Olympic bars, rubber plates and hex rubber dumbells, lat pull down tower, captains chair, seated calf and ghd ham raise.. No issues what so ever a year in at 3/4 days a week use.. Just make sure on the benches u step up to their more commercial pieces.. No complaints and I saved thousands as opposed to going bigger brand. 👍
Not sure if you have made an update to this video, but would love to see one. Your home gym has evolved into a masterpiece since this video was made. I am curious what you would change now as to compared to the information you have here. I am tired of paying for a gym membership so I am about to drop some coin on a PR-5000 6 post with the Ares from REP. I have roughly 16’ x 24’ space to work with in my garage. I will start laying the flooring down here in May. Love the content! Thanks for all the great work! V/R Shane
Thanks Shane! I should do another one of these, still prob a lot I'd consider doing over 😅
That diy platform is awesome but I can see how that would be a major aggravation for foot slippage during the bench.
Yeah, at least it wasn't too expensive to build so I don't feel as bad!
I think you can resolve the slipping issue by applying a polyurethane clear coat on top plus wearing shoes with a rubber sole
Informative video brother ! Loved it
Thanks my dude!
@@BasementBrandon hey what would kinda heater would you recommend for cold winters in Michigan
@@acecool72 Depends on size and location (garage vs basement)
A point about having a smaller power rack: If you stored your plates on the rear post of a 4-post rack like you showed in your picture, then you must either move ALL the weights off the rack each time you squat, or be VERY CAREFUL never to get so close to those weights that the weights you're lifting hit them. Smashing unexpectedly into an immovable object while squatting could wreck you.
Just squat out of the opposite posts, no issues.
Good video. Would be great if you'd consider including some high resolution drone footage of you pouring yourself a bowl of cereal, for your next edit, perhaps in slow mo. Thanks bro. Stay big.
DYB ever flaccid bro
I tried to do that but crashed the drone into my head, which in turn cost me all my hair.
Lololol
Most useful vid yet, tx. As for everyone who thinks you spend too much and worry too much about brands, they're forgetting a crucial part of the lifting gear equation: confidence. If you can afford nice kit, and are committed to years of lifting, owning a high quality home set-up will encourage you to train consistently and intensely. Yes, there are much cheaper options - but when a challenging session awaits, it's a good feeling to know you've got schmick equipment to use that looks good, works as it should and won't break. It makes a significant psychological difference over the long-term, something the young fellas don't undertstand yet. And what you can lift when you're 20-30 years old doesn't matter much. If you're still lifting when you're 50-60 you'vve paid your dues and can feel free to lecture others about their gear choices.
Thanks, appreciate the feedback and agree completely!
first statement is so true about buying good stuff
but you get what you can afford first and make sure you stick to it. then try and upgrade...bro
I think for some things that makes sense, for others not as much!
Yes im in europe and initially i wanted to buy the rogue rml 490 but i bought instead the atx 770 rack for half the price witheven with safety straps. Rogue is to expensive in europe.. 1400€ for the rml 490 without eve spotter arms is to much. The atx has the same steel thickness and dimensions Only con of the atx is no westside spacing but with the safety straps i can adjust it better than with pins and it is good enough.
KM Seraphin
Campbell, this is hands down the most correct and dialed in comments regarding home gym mistakes for people who actually use their equipment.
It almost goes without saying that buying equipment you can’t/don’t/won’t use is a clear mistake. But after that, you nailed it.
I have the RML-490, and I also have 12ft of platform. I built an 8x8 initially, then pulled the rack off there and then added a 4x4 extension without the mats on the gutters outside the rack. Both times I put wood under the rack, and I have added the same roll of grip tape to keep footing.
The plates are always a question, and we all over spend on weight it seems. And buying more rack than necessary is a typical compulsive behavior for folks who have no qualms buying nicer things.
Lastly, I’ll add that one of my interesting triumphs was removing my fat/skinny bar, moving to a multigrip, and then securing the rack to a wall (on the side) using that fat/skinny between the mid top of the rack and the wall’s studs. It gave me a new pull-up location when a friend might visit AND it created another stabilizing anchor to limit any possible wiggle at the top of the rack.
Keep up the good work, and look forward to the new gym build at the new house.
Sounds like a great set up! I should do an updated one of these as I just sold everything lol
I'm building my home gym currently. Thanks for the input on the size of the platform. I was debating doing a 12'x8' platform vs just stall mats under rack & a 4'x8' platform. Glad I could learn from your "mistake". Platform looks amazing though.
I think if you're doing Oly lifting a bigger platform might make more sense, but not for most people.
@@BasementBrandon would you consider not even placing a wooden platform in a gym, in case you're not doing oly lifting but just regular strength and conditioning? I am not familiar with weights and actually don't see pros in having a platform other than it being nice and compliant with competition surfaces in case one is competing.
@@marcopaugym1604 I built a new home gym and ditched all the wood!
I've had my home gym for over 2 years now. Years prior, I collected gym equipment and stored it. When I bought my first power rack, my home gym came to life quickly. I have: power rack, plate loaded pec deck, heavy duty adjustable rolling bench, 45 lb barbell, 600 lbs in olympic plates, 2" weight tree, 1" weight tree with 200 lbs in plates, custom made cable pulley system, set of fixed dumbbells to 50 lbs; build your own after, all the cable attachments, EZ and straight 1" curl bars, all rubber floor, mirrors, and a very loud sound system.
I love having my own gym. But still, there are some key equipment I require from a commercial gym. Mainly, their leg and back machines. Machines like this would cost 30K. I hate to say it, but Planet Fitness has all the leg and back machines as well as good cardio equipment for $10. The rest of PF goes without saying. Home gym is, by far, more useful for the other body parts.
Right on!
My girlfriend dumped me, so I'm looking for a new rack.
ayyy
Lol
Quick tip on the wood surface…
Bare wood, especially sanded, can be slippery. Try wiping it with water. You may find that it raises the grain some, and helps provide some grip. IF that’s the case, that’s a good reason to hit it with a thinned out poly. You can also sand it with a really coarse sandpaper and try again… sometimes that’s enough.
If those fail, you can mix fine sand into some varnish.
appreciate the tips!
Great and informative as always man, thank you! Also, I'm really glad to see that Walgreens sponsors your hats now. Keep it up, and you'll get that full ride from CVS.
go nats!
Man F Walgreens. TEAM CVS!
Hey man, it was a new learning experience for you. But you made the smart choice, went straight for the power rack, bench, olympic bar and plates, all the basic essentials.
Thanks!
Great pointers man. Thanks for showing us how to learn from your mistakes. I will definitely be applying your advice.
Thanks David.
I bought a RML-690 with a 30" front cage instead of the 43" version. Just as effective for me and saves a lot of space. It was just as expensive as the regular version though.
Also I build a foldable lifting platform with hinges in the middle, which I can just fold in half and store away.
I was going to say I don't remember seeing a 30" version
Those rouge plates are an awesome price
Really can't beat them!
Instead of grip tape, if you take a can of polyurethane and shake the crap out of it and then apply it to the wood, you will get an air bubble filled finish that produces tons of grippy bumps.
The wood has polyurethane on it already
Or just sand it to any desired roughness. (Lower grit = rougher surface.)
To big of a coincidence. We planned a homegym yesterday: went for the 490C, the calibrated kg rogue powerlifting plates, stall mat underneath the rack and a separate deadlift platform. Nice to hear those were good choices!
Damn, that's right on point lol.
I am currently building my home gym and you video was helpful in avoiding some purchases that may not have been best for my situation. The rack I decided on is the RML-390c 30 inch interior version. I didn't have space for a larger rack but have plenty of room to do everything I need inside the cage. I upgraded the pipes for strap safeties and use the spotter arms outside the cage for benching. I turned to Vulcan Strength their commercial rated Standard bar and the Vulcan alpha bumper plates. Vulcan quality is on par and perhaps better than Rogue but with free shipping to my area it was a no brainer. I use 3/4 inch stall mats over the entire gym floor and was able to get them for $30 apiece at a local farm equipment dealer (10 bucks cheaper than tractor supply in our area). I bought a full set of dumbbells (Iron hexagon 15-50lbs) from a buddy with a rack for $250. I use a Fitness Reality power tower for dips, leg lifts, pull ups and push ups with a set of rings to supplement body weight strength and flexibility exercises. I just need to install some mirrors and a white board to keep track of progress. I recently lost 35 lbs and no longer wanted to pay gym dues and now that we have a home gym my wife feels comfortable weight training in private. I should have invested in this years ago. Thanks again for all your tips in other videos too!
sounds like a nice setup!
Maybe it's just me, but I would have seen that power rack as a waste of money and space from the jump. A basic power rack is all that's needed, like what elitefts sells for their garage gym line is perfect. That's what I have, but I'm fortunate that my best friend is a welder and just happens to be good friends with Louis Simmons and Dave Tate, so he was able to build an exact replica for $100. Same with my flat bench. I got cheap bars from a sporting goods store along with used weights. There is no reason to spend a ton of money on top of the line weights and bars unless you are running a gym or holding competitions. I my a platform out of plywood with rubber mats covering it for grip and to keep the wood from being damaged during deadlifts. This is just basic stuff and can be really cheap if you know what you're doing. What you did can't even classify as a rookie mistake. Almost everything I have is used, except for elitefts GHR and lat pulldown machine, which again, is also cheap. I train everyday and built a 500lbs bench, 750lbs squat and 575lbs deadlift in my basement. Even with all the weight being dropped and thrown around, my cheap equipment has lasted almost 20 years. There is not much wear and tear on it because I'm literally the only one that uses my gym. And I know I will get many more years of use out of it.
I disagree, I went with Rogue as I wanted as high of quality as possible, my goal in building this gym wasn't to be cheap and settle for things I didn't want. The elite rack that's comparable, when shipped, isn't much of a cost savings over this rack (about $300). Factor in I was already getting most of my other stuff from Rogue and it didn't make sense. My goal was to create as close to meet conditions as possible, which for me means a stiff power bar and calibrated plates. While there are some things I'd change if I did it again, I have no regrets.
You sound like you enjoyed cheap low quality crap. Good for you. People that aren't broke generally like nice stuff.
Whatever floats your boats but isn’t lifting about getting stronger not about who has the prettiest gym
Yeah I'm going to agree more with Brandon here. I think there are certainly cost-effective things out there, and Rogue isn't the most cost-effective, "cheap" can be total garbage and often in the pursuit of trying to save a few bucks you make horrible compromises on quality or end up spending more in the long-run. Plus, name brands also sell on the aftermarket higher and better as well, Rogue is a brand that pretty much all used-equipment vendors will take in.
I definitely wouldn't go with a cheap bar though. Cost-effective, sure, but not cheap. I literally almost snapped my wrist on a cheap bar that was bent and the collar didn't spin while doing a power clean. Deadlifts aren't the same with a cheap bar. Squats and bench are usually OK with cheaper bars but several lifts aren't. Not to mention "cheap" 20 years ago with American steel is different than cheap now, a modern cheap bar would literally snap in half with 500 pounds on it.
A cheap bar is still fine for most people because they will never put 500lbs or even 300lbs on the bar. Although actually I've seen some of those bargain bars don't even have proper knurling so maybe not. But the behavior under high weights isn't a concern for most people who buy barbells, that's why manufacturers can get away with making them weak.
I bought my home gym for $300. Went on Craigslist, some guy was going off to college and the mom didn’t want it in her garage anymore. It came with the whole power rack, 4x45lb, 2x35, 2x25, 2x10, 2x5, And 2x2.5 plates as well as an Olympic 45lb barbell with the plate holders. I’d say it was a really good deal. I’ve been using it for the past year and haven’t had any problems with anything. Takes up very little space, is very sturdy, has a pull-up bar with it. Always check sites like craigslist
Nice!
Live and learn man! Good video as usual
thanks homie
Agreed! I ended up cutting a stall mat put over the wood inside my rack. I hated benching on the wood.
Smart thinking!
Thanks for this. Liked the thoughts on the rack and platform were appreciated. What are your opinions on the Rogue R-3 vs RML-490
I think for me the biggest detractor on the r-3 is that it's only 24" deep. To me this would make squatting pretty difficult and I'd probably want to pick up spotter arms to squat outside of the rack.
Grrrr… wish I had seen this video a month ago. My RML-690 just arrived over the last week. Key for me was the plate storage and I looked at several different Rogue options before settling on my beautiful red behemoth. Putting it together after my mats air out. :) Wish me luck!
Best of luck! You'll love it.
Definitely feel like I would have been just fine having stall mats and no wood at all.
agreed!
I bought a squat rack with a bench and pullies and 350lbs in plates for $50 on Craigslist. I can't lift as much as you but I do what I can with what I got. Thanks to the guy that sold me my gym
Nice!
You could get the same gym with half the cost if you weren't so impressed with logos.
I got a Fitness Reality 1000lb capacity squat cage, 12 position bench, 300lbs of Cap Iron weights ( oddly enough the 25 lb plate weighs 25 lbs, just like your expensive ones)24 foam interlocking floor pads, a 7 ft bar and a pair of shoes for half what you paid.
Incorrect, you could get a "gym" for much less, but nothing that comes close to comparing to the quality of what I have here. If you think otherwise you don't have enough experience with gym equipment.
That fitness reality cage is good shit, never had mine give so much as a creak or wobble, no matter what I do to it.
So wrong. Yes you can get stuff at half the cost but then the quality between the 2 is apples to oranges. BTW I bought and owned a R4 but after a couple of years needed more room and since I am strictly calithenics sold it and got a squat rack with attachments so I can do pull-ups rows dips and so on and takes up half the room.
Fitness Reality cage is best deal on a cage and would cost at least $1000 if made by an overhyped company like Rogue!!!
Impressed enough to comment right asshat?
Great equipment! My biggest gripe of building my home gym was I'm pressed for space . I planned mine to a T and took me 2 years to build it and patience. I bought and resold gym equipment to fund my own gym. I have all Ironmaster equipment , powerblock u90 and a hoist v6 functional trainer . All great quality equipment all made to accommodate space.
Right on!
And thus, I ordered the RML-490C in bright blue! (Brandon's video talked me out of the RML-690C)
I think you'll be very happy with the purchase.
I just found this video and your comment. Coincidentally, I just ordered a RML-490C in green! Hope you’re enjoying it and I don’t see a reply from you saying you regret the purchase!😂
Damn brandon, just discovered your channel and its a little gem of the fitness industry. You have alot to offer and very knowledgable!
Many thanks dude
What is the point of having the wood in the middle? Why not just have all rubber mat?
I think the idea is the firmer the surface the less energy is lost through transfer.
The wood in the middle is so your feet can slide when jerking.
Great video, bro. I agree w/ you no the smaller racks vs the bigger ones. The difference for me in the bigger rack is the ability to have 2 bars loaded at the same time, rack space to store stuff, and extra pull-up area. Cheers!
Very good point
Hey Brandon. Question: Why use WD-40 when cutting stall mats, I have some to cut soon. Looking for pointers.
helps the blade cut more smoothly
Best things you taught me were: Buy 2 of the Rogue mini jack for deadlifts, which I did. The spud pulley isn't worth the money so I bought some top quality pulleys and bought my own cable wire and wire claps. Thanks Brandon
Dope!
Thanks dad
ayyy
Cherry red beamer.
I bought everything second hand... it gave me a chance to see what I really needed. Second hand gear then sells for pretty much exactly what you paid - so no loss except time. And what you lose in time you gain in experience and certainty when it comes to refit everything. When you do refit, you know exactly what you want to spend more space/money on - and what you don't.
Going second hand is also ideal if you're new to training. So many people give up within a year and sell up (it's why there's always a steady stream of second hand gear) ... so, unless you're a long-standing gym-monkey, going second hand means you don't get stung if you give up on the idea.
Even if you stick with it, your needs will change drastically within the first year. Stuff that served you well when you were starting out and bulking up, is often no longer suitable when it comes to getting more serious. Gains are so easy at first - but you're going to want more flexibility as you start to isolate specific muscles and trying to hit them from different angles. You may need heavier or more versatile equipment and may want to re-prioritise space as your routine changes.
So, unless you're already a long term fitness freak who knows exactly what they want - do NOT buy new. Make your mistakes early and make them cheaply.
The world is full of gym gear people bought new and are now desperate to get rid of.
I agree to an extent. A lot of it does come with how patient you can be going that route. But making informed decisions and buying new can also be just as fruitful. I sold almost the entire set up in this video and came close to breaking even 5 years after having bought most of it (actually made money on some of the stuff).
Hi Brandon (BTW, loving the channel)
I agree, if someone knows exactly what they want they should go for new. But that's kind of my point ... the advice is good only for those who already know, not only what they need, but how they'll be using it 12-24 months from now.
I can't help but feel you've been quite lucky to almost break even after 5 years of use. I think it's fair to say that most people who get rid of gym gear make a significant loss over the new price. Of course, the more recognisable and professional the gear you buy, the better it holds value. But second hand gear typically performs far better in terms of depreciation as the 'new premium' is the first and most significant value lost over the life of a product.
I wholeheartedly endorse buying new (and buying a universally well recognised and sought after brand) for anyone who's confident in their space and needs. For anyone going new, taking strong home gym advice from folks like yourself is absolutely invaluable : )
For those just starting out, it may be worth considering whether it is better to stay flexible and not over commit on equipment too early on.
But at the end of the day, the important thing is getting the right equipment and just making the commitment to yourself. If you're committed, it doesn't matter if all you can afford are some freeweights and a bench... you're going to get value.
However you do it, just do it! And have fun : )
Yo Brandon I been watching you’re squat videos and I have noticed one of you’re J-Cups has a roller which there are use on combo squat rack.
Where can I snag a pair?
They're a work in progress, hope to have some news on them soon.
Bought me a Walmart power rack, adjustable bench, olympic bar, and various plates/bells etc (all good to at least 500 lbs) for a few hundred bucks. It’s actually rigid quality and beautiful. I love it. Got rid of all my gym memberships.
Nice, just depends on what you're going for. I routinely squat more than that, so it wouldn't work for me.
My biggest mistake was buying a decent power rack and bar when I could have went with a smith machine
henry109947 Yeah, it doesn't count unless it's on the smith machine. You're an idiot for not getting the smith machine. I would feel stupid too.
Now you'll never be able to do proper throw curls.
Smith machine is very useful but I'm confused between them and squat rack :(
Ala'a If you're actually being serious go with the squat rack
Hola Mamacita I'm a female BTW. With smith machine you can do various exercises: shoulder press, hip thrust... etc. the only thing I don't like about, The motion isn't real especially for squat and hip thrust..
Great video! Short, yet full of information and well organized.
Thank you!
Thanks for taking a look!
What about the rogue adjustable bench....? Is it worth the cost over just a good flat bench?
martyjanderson For me it was between the rogue adjustable bench and the iron master. I chose the rogue bench due to bench height while flat.
It's an overbuilt tank of a bench, and I have zero complaints other than the cost.
I'm conflicted here. I think I could have done fine with just a flat bench. For awhile I wasn't using the incline at all but recently started reincorporating it.
I think if you cant do standing press an incline bench has more worth, since it is now the only way to do a shoulder press. I too am conflicted still, i am pretty sure i wont be able to do standing press as well, but the adjustable bench is basically double the price
Brandon Campbell Diamond and here I am with an expensive Rae Crowther (tank) bench and not using its decline setup 😂
Yeah I'll just stick with Rogue. Thanks for sharing!
yup
Or buy a Titan Fitness X3 rack for $499
Much lower quality, as I said, buy nice or buy twice :)
Brandon Campbell Diamond I have the t3 and haven't had a single issue. To me the only difference between that and the rogue is the paint job... But then again I'm not throwing up insane weight inside it either.
Was gonna say I have had a t2 short rack for a couple years now. I do squat, shoulder press, incline, bench on it. Does great. Nothing rattles or feels loose after a couple years of racking weight on it. I feel I'm putting good weight on it too. 255 for reps on incline and 315 for flat bench. Not a big squat gut but I'm racking 350 for squats. So to me it's taking and withstanding a lot of weight and hasn't failed me yet.
Biggest mistake was hemming and hawing about building a home gym until COVID hit, and it was/is a seller's market. The great advice of buying all at once wasn't possible since March; so, I regret impulse-buying a few things. Buying Hi-Temp bumpers, which I sold for cost during COVID as well.
Also, totally agree about the wood platform under the rack. It eventually becomes slippery, and I feel like I would be just fine on the slightly raised stall mats that TSC sells (likely to home gym builders primarily right now).
Yeah I can't imagine trying to do this during the current times
Dorian Yates pull over machine and a donkey calf raise machine are needed
what are calves?
They are young ones of cows. In a calf raise machine , you put calves weighing around 80 kgs on a machine , and then attempt to raise them .Calves can also be substituted for donkeys as a variation.
Cool machine , but rarely used.
both useless
Ask Omar... He knows.... Oh, wait? 🤔
Just done mine, don't need as much weight as you , got a ctx5 which is a much cheaper rebrand of Force USA G9, the rack, with cables, Smith,pull up, low row, seemed a good use of space compared to a stand alone rack
Nice set up!
My home gym cost me less than $100. whats the point of a home gym that costs 10 years gym membership?
If you're simply looking at costs then you're missing the point.
Brandon Campbell Diamond I just asked what the point is and your response is to tell me I did not get the point. big sigh.....
EyeQueOneFourSix the point is to build a set up that I wanted with the equipment I wanted. Can’t do that for $100. Would rather go to a gym then train on your $100 set up.
Well obviously you wanted it my good man.. you would have to be some special kind of moron to buy a gym you did not want. I get the feeling communication with you is a waste of my time. In the interest of education I spent so little on my gym because a fishing trip to thailand and a stag party were scheduled and I knew I had to attend both or regret it I then saw the crap I would end up with if I spent $2000 or less. This forced me to fall back on military ethos and combine it with strongman disciplines. I started to really look hard at what I needed and what I could use. In the end I used tree trunks, rocks/boulders, cement, sand, steel bars, water and barrels plus some rope, iron wall mounts and a load of assorted junk. My rack is my wall( 18 inch granite blocks), barbell is a 5 inch washing line with changeable concrete plates and collars( how is that any less functional?) the water forces my stabilizers do go into overdrive, the 5 inch bars and sand bags force my grip to evolve! I garauntee you your mind and body would be shocked and you would get my point! shame about yours... take care now.
It sounds like if you had the extra money you would have spent it on nice gym equipment; in this case you didn't and decided to do something else with the money. Which makes it seem you are missing his point and his first response is valid. And his second response explains why he built his dream setup because that's what he wanted - he didn't want a setup like yours. You built yours because that's what your situation lead you too. Both fun setups in their own right, but you seem better as there is no shame in his setup, or yours.
I hear what you’re saying about the 690 vs the 490, but I feel like if you’re going to remove the built-in plate storage on the 690 you have to balance that with the space/money that separate plate storage is going to take up on another purchase. I just purchased a 690 (matte black) because 1) I didn’t want to wait for Rep to get the PR4000s in stock and 2) it has storage built in. If I had more money I would have gotten my plates through Rogue too, but their stock was low and I caught Rep right when their black bumpers came in...and they kinda look sick. That said, the bumpers just came in about a month later than the rack. Having everything together instead of waiting for a weight tree in a separate purchase is nice.
Currently I have a RM3 with off rack storage and I don't really miss it TBH
Dude titan fitness is alot cheaper and have compact options
Not the same quality
Been training in my homemade power rack with metal plates and some cheap rubber mats for 15 years. All you need is something heavy to lift and the mentality to go with it.
I get you, but I prefer to invest in nicer things.
Why dont any of the guys you see with home gyms ever have any impressive physiques ?
You mean until you saw this video? Thanks!
Maybe you don’t spend enough time looking at men and asking where they work out? 🤔 Hmmmm... odd. 😏
Brandon Campbell Diamond ya buddy
lader baxter Juji Mufu does
NEVERsate started off as home gym. Very informative! Look him up.
Agreed on the platform. I feel the same way in my garage. Also moisture has caused my platform to warp a bit causing the bar to roll. I wonder if a couple layers of stall mat would have worked better
ah never thought about the moisture issue
Wow dude
Cap barbell and York get people strong
You love to waste money
Nah Cap is crap
Good information thanks! Disagree on one thing though - storing weights on a smaller rack one section rack is not possible. If stored on the rear posts, you'd likely hit them when benching, and they limit the available space to squat in, length wise. At best, you can have just a single peg, down low, on the inner side. Possibly one super-low on the outside, depending on bench height and your arch/physical build (there's room for one full size plate under the lowest point I reach, when benching). Both are a good idea for smaller racks, it weighs them down. So, the space saved, is partially lost to the need for separate weight storage. That can be placed where space is available, but then you have to carry the weights around more, i.e. cardio *gasp*. I have a smaller Powertec rack, and I will probably extend it backwards, to look a bit like yours, for weight storage. My space is SMALL, about 9x14', 126sqft/12sqm, and I actually want to store my weights on the rack to SAVE space. Separate weight storage thingies are always pretty low/short = a lot of unused space above them. The only other alternative I am personally considering is putting weight pegs on the wall. Or maybe more or less like two boxes on the floor, right beside the rack on each side, to drop the weights down into.
Personally, I've just built a fixed bench, because my adjustable one is too wiggly, too soft, and not wide enough. So now I carry TWO benches around and in and out of my little micro gym (the missus likes the soft wiggly one). Should've just bought a fixed flat one, I never incline/decline.
You can fix that issue by having the bench racked on the opposite side of plate storage (like Bryce Lewis does in his home gym). The rack now is 43" on the inside so I don't believe I'd have any issues squatting either, however some racks are only 30" deep and it could def be a problem there.
True, if one is brave or have a rack with spotter arms. Or have a larger home gym than mine, so that the rack doesn't have be up against a wall. I like using my safety bars when benching, i.e. benching "inside", and because the gym is so tiny, no option to do it "backwards". In a home gym, no one can hear you scream ;)
if your not a professional powerlifter spending this kind of money on weights in ridiculous!
Not true at all
Rollo Lawson
He spent $4300
Avg gym membership is like $30
4300/$30
143.5 months
11.95years
Yea it’s still not worth it.
GoodMorningMommies it is worth it if you like working out alone. I for one hate working out in a gym because I do not like to see anyone when I am working out.
GoodMorningMommies Another important factor is the time saved by not commuting back and forth to and from the gym, which allows you to spend more time at home with your loved ones.
I know i'm 5 years late to this, but this is rly good insight!
Appreciate it!
You lift?
No but I was thinking of starting soon.
Brandon Campbell Diamond best answer! 🤣💪😁👍👊
Great vid and great insight. I will definitely take these into consideration when putting together my home gym.
Good luck!
You got too much money bro
I don't have enough :(
"You got too much money bro"
Spoken like a true liberal.
thank you. please make an updated version of this video :)
I'll see what I can do.
So over priced
It's actually quite affordable compared to similar commercial grade equipment.
Yeah this is just embarrassing. This guy spent thousands of dollars on overpriced stuff and looks like he has been working out for only 2 months.
@@kingucrimson5383 588 squat is pretty impressive
@@kingucrimson5383 He trains for powerlifting. Different goals. Most powerlifters don't end up looking jacked because they aren't really training for hypertrophy.
I did made the "buy nice or buy twice" mistake. When I started, I didn't know anything about weights, barbell or even training. So I have a lot of standard weights that I don't use for big mouvement.
ah I had some of those back in the day too!
"[The Rogue 690C power rack] is a joy to squat, bench, and do bicep curls in."
Lies. It's never a joy to squat.
lol
I also upgraded my home gym... i got a folding rack, its awesome and saves space when needed also got tri-grip bumper plates which have more uses than just on a barbell.
Right on
Rather get a gym membership or buy off Craigslist and use saved money for guns haha. That's alot of money.
Well worth the investment, there isn't a gym around I'd rather go to!
Nice gym. All I have is a great set of PowerBlocks I've had for almost 20 years, a cheap adjustable bench from K-Mart, and a pull up,dip combo unit. It's called my pocket gym.
Right on
Hey Brandon, really enjoy your videos. So I recently purchased a Fitness Reality rack.. and for the most part it is a solid rack. Heavy, can handle a ton of weight, etc. However, I did that without researching.. as it just looked like a great buy, 2x3 steel, etc. Then I started reading posts on forums and watching videos, and discovered rogue, titan, etc. Your videos included. The two main problems with the reality rack is they use 2x3 posts with 1" holes, but as I found out today when I tried "adapting" the Rogue Monster Monolift with 1" pins.. they are not even 1" holes. So.. after much pain and several hours to assemble, I am sending it back, and purchased the Rogue RM-4 Monster 2.0 rack. So the reason I comment on this is two of your 3 issues I am actually doing.. partly from your video, but also financially it made sense for me now. I dont see a good use for the back side of the 690 area like you noted. I have a tree for weights, which is fine and may get another if it makes sense. I also opted for just the regular crossmembers. I have in my save list the safety straps 2.0 version, and the monkey bar looking crossbar. But what I really wanted to ask was.. the platform area. I bought some cheap 3/4" foam 4x6 puzzle mats.. and like my rack realized that was not the right stuff. It actually does OK, and I think for under neat the rack it will be fine. But for dead lifts/cleans/etc, I wanted to build something like what you have. I am not sure however if you are saying to do away with the wood completely, or just use a thinner bit of it and more horse mat around it? I would think just an area with the 3/4" 4x6 horse mat would be big enough for that purpose? Does it help to have the 3/4" plywood underneath? I did buy a set of bumpers, but also a few steel plates and plan to add more later. Anyway.. thought I would share.. appreciate your videos and insight, and get your feedback on a dead/clean lifting platform.
Appreciate the feedback and insight. I've recently redone my space and one away with most of the "platform". I do still however have more stall mats for general flooring. In your situation I would likely grab 2 stall mats for under the rack (this will give you a 6'x8' coverage which will be more than enough). and then maybe build a separate deadlift platform with plywood as a base and more matting on top. If you want to discuss more in-depth, shoot me an email (it's in the description).
I'm in Etobicoke, Ontario. There's a place here that sells okay equipment at a really good price. I'm picking up a cage for about $500 and a cable machine for a little under $800. I bought a squat stand for $300 and I've had it for 6 years and it still holds up. Look for a company called Amstaff.
Nice!
These videos are great Brandon, very informative for when I purchase my own home gym. Thanks.
Glad you like em!
That "buy nice or buy twice" is a quote that we definitely use at my business.
Damn right!
I can see why you think a smaller rack would be better, but I think the weights next to the bar would interfere with racking and un-racking of the bar. I have the rogue weight tree for my weights and it works great. However, two small post on the rack for the 2.5 and 5lbs weights would be nice.
I would likely do all my racking/unracking on the side opposite the storage so it wouldn't interfere!
Not sure if you could unscrew the rattling caps on the weight plates but if you could, wrapping plumbing tapes in the thread and screwing them back may solve the rattling problem 😀
I think they're glued in
The only thing in my home gym that doesn't fit in the closet is a pullup bar, which has a pretty small footprint. But I've found I can get a great workout by using a variety of body weight exercises, mixed in with resistance bands, a weighted vest ,adjustable dumbells and some gymnist rings.
Right on!
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos Brandon. BIg help in my own home gym build.
No problem!
What I've read as a potential recommendation for the wood is to mix very fine sand with a finish to create a surface with more friction.
Interesting
You could buy an anti-slip polymer coating for the wood. Rustoleum even makes a spray version.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Curious why folks use wood in the base and then add anti-slip tape. I just have a rubber mat throughout, not sponginess, not slip - just great traction for squats etc.
Rubber can compress
These are hardly mistakes ,you have great equipment ,plently of space ,just enjoy what you have !
Haha grass is always greener on the other side!
Look into marine nonskid spray paint for the wood.
nice, thanks
Man, and here I am with my plates and rack bought off craigs list for 300 bucks. I did buy new power bar and bench, but almost everything else is used. It's worked great for me. For my platform, I used epoxy then threw some salt all over it to give it some grip.
That's solid. Everyone has different needs, wants, and budget. This is the one area of life where I spend more money on, not cars, going out, clothes, vacations, etc .
Thanks for the video. I’m looking into home gym builds
Any time!
For your plate storage you should swap the red and blues positions. It makes getting the reds off super easy!
I think it would give me OCD not having them in order lol
Getting ready to pull the trigger on the RM-390F tomorrow and have limited space and was the biggest I could get.
Right on!
my garage ceilings are too low for most power racks. I plan to put flooring down and use my larger room for a power rack.
You can always cut them down or buy shorter versions
Thank you for the awesome talk!
🫡
I appreciate the no-nonsense tips. My question is - why not just buy used olympic weights? Seems like a quarter a pound is a lot better price. Is there really that much difference between a used plate and one of those expensive "brand-name" plates?
For the average lifter you're right. My reasoning is that I compete with these same plates, my goal was to emulate meet conditions as much as possible. It used to be very difficult training on regular plates, then going to a competition and using calibrated plates. They looked like they weighed less than a regular set, but were so much heavier.
Don't you ever get mad or annoyed that you have to take weights off and back on again just to go from Squats to presses?
And you have to worry about hitting the bar each time you do pullups since where the pull up bar is pretty much right above here the bar catches are.
I know I did, hence now I got a squat rack where I can squat inside the cage and bench on the outside (both inside and outside have safeties as well).
Not really, I have to strip the bar anyways to warm up for the next exercise so I never minded.
Guess I'm just spoiled, I like to have everything at my fingertips, sort of like a commercial gym. Just walk to one machine to another, to another.
"I like to have everything at my fingertips, sort of like a commercial gym. Just walk to one machine to another, to another."
So you are one of those people who never put your bars or weights away at a commercial gym?
This is great, thanks for putting this out there 🙏🏽
Thanks for taking a look! Prob worth doing an updated one.
Really appreciate your effort thanks bro
No problem 👍
Interesting. I started with a 4-post and ended up adding the 6-post extension for plate storage and other things. Seemed like the better solution for getting the most out of that space behind the rack. Plates were getting in the way on bench press and I don't have the feet or arms to do it on the outside of the rack.
It's all come full circle. We sold this house (and I sold most of my equipment) and downsized in our new place for a bit, but now I'm at a modified 6 post with a 30" main section lol.
Most people don’t need calibrated competition weight. I purchased all my bumper plates on amazon for a little over $1 per lb and they were great, you can weigh them out for piece of mind and you’ll find them all to be within 1/10th of a lb or less etc. I ended up piecing together a decent home gym and spent the majority of the time just going to a the gym. I missed the atmosphere of the gym and didn’t enjoy training alone.
It's overkill for 99% of the people for sure, but I'd rather train at home using this stuff than any other gym in the state, so it was a worthwhile investment!
God - I can only imagine if I had this much space for my home gym. Here in the northeast, we have brownstone buildings with tiny basements. My basement has a maximum clearance of 72", but realistically more like 71.5 or 71 5/8 because of how the drywall slopes a bit. I am currently waiting on the 71" Titan Fitness T-2 Power Rack to become available again and that's the best I'll be able to do for now.
I'm in the northeast :)