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Setting Up a Home Gym
A lot of people get into a home gym by buying the latest machine or device that is supposed to be the next best thing. One thing I've found though, is that you can't beat the versatility and durability of a good old fashioned squat cage. If you have some basic knowledge of how to workout, you can set a squat cage up to spot you during your lifts so you don't have to worry about dropping a bar on your neck or collapsing under the weight during squats. With a good barbell, some weights, and a squat cage, you can get in about 80% of your gym exercises. And some would argue, 100% of the results.
It's important to get the right type of bar. Some barbells support more weight than others, while some come with spinning sleeves. For instance, if you're going to be lifting relatively light weight, you can get away with spending less money on a bar, but I'd still recommend that you get one that has bearings in the sleeves so that there is less wear and tear on your joints. I have a few links down below of some bars and racks that seem to like a pretty good deal. Do your research, and these links are by now means the only or best options for you. They are a starting place for you to find the right piece of equipment for you.
It's important to get the right type of bar. Some barbells support more weight than others, while some come with spinning sleeves. For instance, if you're going to be lifting relatively light weight, you can get away with spending less money on a bar, but I'd still recommend that you get one that has bearings in the sleeves so that there is less wear and tear on your joints. I have a few links down below of some bars and racks that seem to like a pretty good deal. Do your research, and these links are by now means the only or best options for you. They are a starting place for you to find the right piece of equipment for you.
The Bench
The bench is probably the most identifiable part of a gym. Everyone knows what a benchpress is, and the most common question people ask someone when they see that they workout is, "How much do you bench?" So, on that note, when buying a bench, make sure that whatever you get is first sturdy and able to take at least 700 lbs or so of pressure. Secondly, it is able to adjust from incline to flat. After all, in a home gym set up, you're going to have a limits on how much room you can use. If you have a versatile bench, you'll not only be able to use it for different angles, but you'll be able to actually MOVE around your gym because you'll have more space. If you have limitless space, then I'd recommend that you have separate benches for separate purposes-it'll save you from moving the benches around. Most of us aren't lucky enough to be able to afford that much space though. So if this is the case, then go for a sturdy and adjustable bench like the one down below. This bench is a suggestion only, and if you read the reviews, it seems as if it meets the specifications I'm speaking of. Take a look by clicking on it if you wish and read the reviews on Amazon.