Introduction
When building out a home gym, it is important that you buy the “essentials first.”
I will define the essentials as a barbell, plates, rack, dumbbells, and a bench.
With that equipment, you honestly have everything you NEED.
However, after that, you can add some additional tools to build a complete gym.
This next major purchase depends on your fitness goals & preferences, and there is not necessarily a “right” answer.
That said, Adam and I break down what we’d purchase with different budgets after already owning the essentials. There are thousands of options, but we try to be specific and thoughtful with our responses. It’s likely that we would both choose cable systems.
This is a fun topic; you can hear us discuss it in the video below.
Under $200
- Rings: These are well under $200, great to warm up with, can accomplish many movements, and can potentially be your kid’s favorite thing in the gym.
- Strongman Sandbags: Full body workouts can be accomplished with these bags & they can be a nice compliment to barbell workouts. High-quality sandbags will last a very long time and offer a very good overall value.
Around $500
- Universal Pulley System: This plate-loaded lat pulldown system is one of the most versatile pulley systems that can be moved around on your rack.
- REP/Low Row: This plate-loaded lat pulldown attaches to a PR-4000/PR-5000 Rack, taking up only a bit more space and functioning smoothly for many movements.
Under $1,000
- Single Sided Athena: This also attaches to a REP PR-4000/PR-5000 and adds a functional trainer like pulley to your power rack.
- Dialed Motion Trolley: Dialed motion offers several innovative pulley systems.
- Transformer Bar from Kabuki: This is the most versatile squat bar on the market. It can be shifted in 6 positions to perform hip hinge, back squat, SSB, Front Squat, and Goblet Squat.
- Rogue Echo Bike: The Rogue Echo Bike is smooth, beefy, and my favorite air bike I’ve tested.
Dream Item
- Prime Single Stack: Maybe the premier single stack option right now with a 350 lb weight stack, a high/low adjustable pulley and stationary high puelly, and available in a 2:1 or 4:1 ratio. It’s also incredibly compact for all it can accomplish.
- Rogue Lat/Low Row: Premium standalone lat/low row from Rogue.
- Adonis: This is now live on the REP website. Adam and I were both in agreement that this would likely be our top choice in a dream world.
- Wall Mounted Athena: This wall-mounted functional trainer also includes 3×3 posts so that other attachments can also be used.
