My Next 6 Home Gym Purchases (Budget Version)

Introduction

The first six home gym purchases were easy to list, but these next six were pretty tricky, and some of these items can easily be subbed out for different options.

With that being said, here is what we have:

Adding this to my first six home gym purchases, which were basically the essentials, will give me more variety in my training in a cost effective way. The cost (including some of the best adjustable dumbbells) comes at just under $1,700.

If you were to follow this advice it will allow you to build an inexpensive, affordable, and helpful home gym. Also, keep in mind that this would likely happen over months or even years with budget in mind.

7. Stall Mats

Your goal when buying stall mats for your gym should be to cover your entire gym floor with mats. This will give you a uniform surface to lift on. It will also protect you, your equipment, and your floors from unfortunate mishaps. That being said, as you are most likely on a budget, and this is the budget list, my #7 purchase for your gym will require four horse stall mats from Tractor Supply Company. The four mats will be enough to cover the area where you are lifting. The rest can be covered one at a time or when you have the money.

Mats are continuing to increase in price, and they are currently about $56/mat. Buying four will cost over $200.

*Here are a few horse stall mat tips. Air them out for a few days before installation, tape your seems with Gorilla Tape, and buy smooth top/button bottom mats.

8. Nuobells

There are cheaper adjustable dumbbells, but being that I am not a massive fan of Powerblocks (I don’t hate them, but I don’t prefer them), I would say this is an area where you just get some of the best/most convenient set of adjustables that are available – Nuobells.

I am also a big fan of dumbbells like Pepins or others with similar designs. Still, with the amount of time to switch weights and there only being a couple of hundred dollar price difference, I’m going to say go with Nuobells in this situation. 0-80 lbs would be better, but for this budget, the list gets the 0-50 lb set for $595.

9. Monkey Feet

When it comes to training outside of a commercial setting, having different ways of working in accessory movements can help keep things fresh, fun, and ever-changing. Monkey Feet are a great tool to add if you have dumbbells. It allows you to work in countless lower-body accessory movements without the need for big commercial machines.

Monkey Feet are an inexpensive addition that doesn’t take up any space and allows you to add a ton of movements. If you have dumbbells, I recommend spending the $80 and adding one to your space.

10. REP SSB

The REP SSB is going to be the first specialty bar we add. This will help me squat more comfortably than with a straight bar.

A safety squat bar is the #1 bar the majority of people add to their gym space, and this one comes as a recommendation from Jake as the right one to add because of its features and price. For $329, the number 10 item I am adding to my home gym is this new release from REP Fitness.

11. Titan Curl Bar

Another item that will bring some variety to your accessory movements is a curl bar. I always suggest going with a rackable curl bar. When you are in your gym, it’s nice to use your rack.

The Titan curl bar is an excellent cheap option. At $120, it will bring in some variations to your gym. I use it quite often.

12. Bells of Steel Functional Tower

I listed the cable attachment for your rack in my first six home gym purchases. That cable attachment is great for any movements from a high or low anchor point, but adding a functional tower will allow you to move that anchor point from top to bottom and everywhere in between. The Bells of Steel Functional Tower also give you two attachment points to lift single-handed or with both hands.

This functional tower is plate loaded, and it costs $339. I’d choose this option to save money instead of the selectorized choice. Plus, I already have plates for it.

Final Cost

That’s it. The total cost for my subsequent six gym purchases is under $1,700.

If you remember the first six purchases being under $1,750, the total for all 12 home gym purchases stays under $3,500. Some people will spend that total on their rack and a single barbell.

When you think you can’t afford a home gym because of the elaborate examples on social media, here is a reminder that you can have a complete gym reasonably priced.

A Few Things to Preface

This home gym could work for a considerable portion of the population who trains at home, but there are a few things to discuss while making a list where you add one thing at a time.

The first thing to consider is that if you don’t have enough weight to max out your current or near-future lifts, adding more weight becomes a higher priority than adding these new implements.

The dumbbells were an important addition. You can train without dumbbells, but having the option takes your gym to the next level. Adding the Nuobells to this budget list was tough, but they are worth spending the extra $200 on. That said, heavier dumbbells (rather than 50lbs) may be necessary. In that case, check out the 0-80 lb Nuobells. If they are too expensive, adjustable like Pepin/Badass/etc. can get you heavier options for less.

This list also is outside of the ‘necessary’ home gym items. This is purely a personal take on the following six purchases while staying within a budget. Home gyms don’t need a curl bar or even a few other items. The purpose of these is to add low-cost variety to your training.

Conclusion

The initial six purchases were essential home gym items that would allow you to start a fully functional home gym for under $1,700. These subsequent six purchases take that gym to the next level for a similar cost. If you were to buy this gym using these 12 purchases, you would have spent under $3,500 and could get a ton of use from these items.

Again, it’s also important to keep in mind that this process would likely take me a few years to accomplish with budget in mind.

With That being said, here are my first 12 again:

Rogue Ohio Bar (boneyard)
NEXO Matte Black Bumper Plates (GGE10 saves you 10%)
REP PR 1100
REP AB 3000
Titan Olympic Rings
Lat/Low Row Attachment from REP
Stall mats: Tractor Supply Company
Adjustable Dumbbells: Nuobells 0-50 lbs
Monkey Feet: Animal House
REP SSB
Titan Rackable Curl Bar
BOS Functional Cable Tower

Garage Gym Experiment