Weights for home gym
Discussion
Hi all
I'm setting up a home gym with some weights, primarily for my rugby playing son to work out on but also for the rest of us to do some light weight work. The son (18) is trying to advise me on what to buy but he's easily influenced by what he sees on the 'web. We've already got a Strength Shop cage and some dumbbells so it's a barbell and plates we're after. As I'm new to this I'm a bit confused by 6' bars vs 7' bars, cast iron vs steel vs rubber vs bumper plates, "normal" vs "Olympic" and so on, and what combination of plates to get.
Can anyone recommend something for home gym use? I was looking at 150kg bumper plate sets but prices seem to vary a lot. The boy can deadlift 260kg but I've told him he's got to go to a proper gym to do weightlifting, the home setup is for weight training and the rest of us.
The floor of the gym is solid concrete with a LVT top and we'll be putting a mat on top of that (actually, any recommendations for a mat gratefully received too).
Cheers
I'm setting up a home gym with some weights, primarily for my rugby playing son to work out on but also for the rest of us to do some light weight work. The son (18) is trying to advise me on what to buy but he's easily influenced by what he sees on the 'web. We've already got a Strength Shop cage and some dumbbells so it's a barbell and plates we're after. As I'm new to this I'm a bit confused by 6' bars vs 7' bars, cast iron vs steel vs rubber vs bumper plates, "normal" vs "Olympic" and so on, and what combination of plates to get.
Can anyone recommend something for home gym use? I was looking at 150kg bumper plate sets but prices seem to vary a lot. The boy can deadlift 260kg but I've told him he's got to go to a proper gym to do weightlifting, the home setup is for weight training and the rest of us.
The floor of the gym is solid concrete with a LVT top and we'll be putting a mat on top of that (actually, any recommendations for a mat gratefully received too).
Cheers
Where are you located? I’ve got a Strength Shop 20kg bar, 100kg of Strength Shop cast iron plates, and 70kg of Again Faster bumper plates, plus collars etc, that I’m looking to offload.
I’m just outside Birmingham and can work out a price if you’re interested?
A 7 foot 20kg bar is the standard Olympic size for a man. Cast iron plates would usually be used for exercises where you’re not going to drop the bar, bumper plates where you might or will. ‘Normal’ plates and bars use a 1in hole in the bar, and corresponding bar size. Olympic plates have a 2in/50mm hole, and the bar 50mm sleeves to suit.
For the floor, I built a lifting platform out of ply and horse stall mats.
I’m just outside Birmingham and can work out a price if you’re interested?
A 7 foot 20kg bar is the standard Olympic size for a man. Cast iron plates would usually be used for exercises where you’re not going to drop the bar, bumper plates where you might or will. ‘Normal’ plates and bars use a 1in hole in the bar, and corresponding bar size. Olympic plates have a 2in/50mm hole, and the bar 50mm sleeves to suit.
For the floor, I built a lifting platform out of ply and horse stall mats.
Edited by CheesecakeRunner on Saturday 14th January 13:04
If the lad's deadlifitng at home you'll need the bumper plates on an olympic bar. Plus a platform.
If you're going to that extent you may as well get a squat rack (with safety bars) as he's going to want to do that.
Personally I'd get him a gym membership for the heavy lifting and see how regularly he goes. Puregym is £25 a month if there's one near you and they will be equipped way better than any home gym can be unless you're wanting to spend big bucks.
Otherwise some hex dumbells will be fine at an appropriate range of weights for your family.
Most rugby clubs usually have some sort of facilites as it's the nature of the sport.
BTW, 260kg is a lot, really a lot of weight. I'm 53 (75kg) and I deadlift 140kg but for reps, 5x5 usually. But based on that my one rep max would be circa 165kg.
Anything above 2.5x you're own bodyweight for a deadlift is approaching high/elite level. So I guess he must be a bit of a lump - (110kg) 16-17st?
If you're going to that extent you may as well get a squat rack (with safety bars) as he's going to want to do that.
Personally I'd get him a gym membership for the heavy lifting and see how regularly he goes. Puregym is £25 a month if there's one near you and they will be equipped way better than any home gym can be unless you're wanting to spend big bucks.
Otherwise some hex dumbells will be fine at an appropriate range of weights for your family.
Most rugby clubs usually have some sort of facilites as it's the nature of the sport.
BTW, 260kg is a lot, really a lot of weight. I'm 53 (75kg) and I deadlift 140kg but for reps, 5x5 usually. But based on that my one rep max would be circa 165kg.
Anything above 2.5x you're own bodyweight for a deadlift is approaching high/elite level. So I guess he must be a bit of a lump - (110kg) 16-17st?
Edited by 21ATS on Saturday 14th January 15:05
Yes he joined a gym at 14, he’s been very careful and progressive with his buildup. We’ve banned him from considering any supplements, so it’s all natural. My wife is a lapsed but trained nutritionist so we foolishly told him he could get all the calories & nutrition he needs from a proper diet. This means we spend x2 what we used to on food for a family if 5!
He has gone to the gym 5 times a week every week except during lockdowns. Yes he’s a lump, 6’3” and 95kg of lean muscle. He plays on the wing for his club, they are built very differently these days, that would have scared the heck out of me in my playing days.
260kg is his PB for a single “hero” deadlift. Not sure what he reps with.
Tell me more about these platforms - how are they used? I know very little about this stuff!
He has gone to the gym 5 times a week every week except during lockdowns. Yes he’s a lump, 6’3” and 95kg of lean muscle. He plays on the wing for his club, they are built very differently these days, that would have scared the heck out of me in my playing days.
260kg is his PB for a single “hero” deadlift. Not sure what he reps with.
Tell me more about these platforms - how are they used? I know very little about this stuff!
PhilboSE said:
Thanks - so I’ve got a metric vs imperial thing going on for the bar & plates?
When would you drop the bar (bumper) vs use metal? Would you not buy just a set of bumper plates for both jobs?
I’m about 2 hrs away from Birmingham.
The whole 2in/50mm thing doesn’t need to be worried about. Everything is the same size, mostly just American refer to imperial sizes and everyone else uses metric. When would you drop the bar (bumper) vs use metal? Would you not buy just a set of bumper plates for both jobs?
I’m about 2 hrs away from Birmingham.
There are differences between metric and imperial plates though 44lbs v 20kg for example but you’re unlikely to find imperial plates in the UK.
As far as bumper v metal plates. Bumpers are used for Olympic movements such as snatch and sometimes deadlift. Metal for things like bench and overhead press. Metal plates take up a lot less room on the bar, so if you’re lifting very heavy you often need to use metal to get enough plates on the bar. Personally I deadlift with bumpers even though I control the bar down just in case I drop it. But I’m a wimp.
Check out Mirafit, their prices have started to come back down after everything got inflated due to COVID. I've got one of their benches and bench/squat racks.
Will be buying a 7ft 20kg bar and weights once I've sorted the new home gym. I'm going to use 18mm stable mats for the floor.
Will be buying a 7ft 20kg bar and weights once I've sorted the new home gym. I'm going to use 18mm stable mats for the floor.
Get an olympic bar. Steel weights are fine as long as you're not doing squats or dead lifts, otherwise get bumper plates which are easier on your floor but a little more expensive. I picked up a 300lbs set of steel weights for just about $300 just before Covid and it's been more than I will ever need
I do 5x5 stronglifts and have a power rack (CF475 from powerhouse fitness), 7’ Olympic bar and a load of bumper/iron weight plates.
It has cost a lot all in, but the convenience of having everything a ten second walk away really helps me stay committed.
I have a C2 rower as well for cardio.
Gave up a CrossFit membership for it and I’ve probably made my money back within a year.
It has cost a lot all in, but the convenience of having everything a ten second walk away really helps me stay committed.
I have a C2 rower as well for cardio.
Gave up a CrossFit membership for it and I’ve probably made my money back within a year.
PhilboSE said:
Hi all
I'm setting up a home gym with some weights, primarily for my rugby playing son to work out on but also for the rest of us to do some light weight work. The son (18) is trying to advise me on what to buy but he's easily influenced by what he sees on the 'web. We've already got a Strength Shop cage and some dumbbells so it's a barbell and plates we're after. As I'm new to this I'm a bit confused by 6' bars vs 7' bars, cast iron vs steel vs rubber vs bumper plates, "normal" vs "Olympic" and so on, and what combination of plates to get.
Can anyone recommend something for home gym use? I was looking at 150kg bumper plate sets but prices seem to vary a lot. The boy can deadlift 260kg but I've told him he's got to go to a proper gym to do weightlifting, the home setup is for weight training and the rest of us.
The floor of the gym is solid concrete with a LVT top and we'll be putting a mat on top of that (actually, any recommendations for a mat gratefully received too).
Cheers
Definately get 50mm (same as 2 inch) size. The 25mm or 28mm bars have less expandability. I'm setting up a home gym with some weights, primarily for my rugby playing son to work out on but also for the rest of us to do some light weight work. The son (18) is trying to advise me on what to buy but he's easily influenced by what he sees on the 'web. We've already got a Strength Shop cage and some dumbbells so it's a barbell and plates we're after. As I'm new to this I'm a bit confused by 6' bars vs 7' bars, cast iron vs steel vs rubber vs bumper plates, "normal" vs "Olympic" and so on, and what combination of plates to get.
Can anyone recommend something for home gym use? I was looking at 150kg bumper plate sets but prices seem to vary a lot. The boy can deadlift 260kg but I've told him he's got to go to a proper gym to do weightlifting, the home setup is for weight training and the rest of us.
The floor of the gym is solid concrete with a LVT top and we'll be putting a mat on top of that (actually, any recommendations for a mat gratefully received too).
Cheers
7' v 6' bars - Obviously 7' takes more space and may cost more,but if you have space. It would be the one to get, because....it weighs 20kg, so easy to add up your weights (c.f. 6' bar weighing 15kg or 17.5kg). A 6' bar may lose inches in the gripped area (between the collars) which may hinder large people during the bench press when the grip is widest.
Weight material - cast iron, rubber coated cast iron, rubber bumper plates is mostly cost. The Olympic rubber plates are often calibrated and accurate in weight. The cheaper cast iron ones may be a less accurate weight.
Trigrip plates can be used as kettlebells.
I take your point but he doesn’t do as much research into things as I would - he might suggest the first overpriced branded product that had been pushed onto his tiktok feed, or buy whatever Thor was promoting.
I just wanted a sanity check to make sure we got the right things at the first attempt. As it happens it looks like he was correct - 7’ Olympic bar with 150kg metal plates. Looks like it’s going to cost about £500 though.
I just wanted a sanity check to make sure we got the right things at the first attempt. As it happens it looks like he was correct - 7’ Olympic bar with 150kg metal plates. Looks like it’s going to cost about £500 though.
Check these out
https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/olympic-weigh...
145kg 7' Olympic bar and cast iron trigrip weights for £279
Or Similar 145Kg but rubber coated Trigrip for £399 (This is what I bought last year- ex-display, but it was under 300)
(I would get the 100Kg 7' rubber coated set for £249, and buy extra weights on Gumtree/Facebook)
https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/olympic-weigh...
145kg 7' Olympic bar and cast iron trigrip weights for £279
Or Similar 145Kg but rubber coated Trigrip for £399 (This is what I bought last year- ex-display, but it was under 300)
(I would get the 100Kg 7' rubber coated set for £249, and buy extra weights on Gumtree/Facebook)
ExPat2B said:
With respect, if he has been weightlifting since 14 and can deadlift 260 KG, he probably knows exactly what he wants and you should listen to him ?
Give him a budget and ask him to work out what he needs.
Exactly this, if he really deadlifts 260kg at 95kg bw, then he knows fine what he needs, that doesn't happen by accident; give him a budget and tell him to come back with what he wants.Give him a budget and ask him to work out what he needs.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff