Jake Jaworski
I started Garage Gym Experiment back in 2017 after realizing the benefits of having a home gym and not seeing a whole lot of content out there. This was also after learning from a few other similar projects that failed. I’m also a husband, father of 1 with another on the way, Colts/Pacers/Cubs fan, and spend the rest of my time running GGE. Before this, I spent several years working with Marketing Analytics.
I started my home gym after my first daughter was born. It felt wrong to leave to go to the gym before she was awake and not come home until dinner time. During this time, I started working out from home and haven’t looked back since. Without the time saved from having a home gym, GGE wouldn’t be where it is today.
My biggest mistake was not getting quality flooring earlier on. I used a mix of carpet and puzzle mats for far too long before finally investing in some horse stall mats.
I’m not going to lie. I have a lot of gym equipment, and my favorite “home gym purchase” is changing all of the time. As of July 2021, it is currently the Concept 2 SkiErg.
The most important piece of advice I can give is to emphasize a long-term approach while also keeping in mind your primary goals. You are most likely not going to have unlimited space or budget, so each purchase is important. There are times to save, and many budget-friendly options will do the trick, but most of your gym equipment purchases have the potential to last a lifetime, so keep in mind overall value rather than just “lowest price.”
The Chicken
Hey guys, I am the chicken. You can find me on YouTube playing mobile games. I am most well known for eating onions.
The main reason I started a home gym was time. Time is your most valuable resource. To me, it came down to this: do you get an energy boost working out around other people? Yes, for sure – but is that worth driving an extra 40 minutes each time I wanted to workout? No.
My favourite home gym purchase so far I would have to say is my half rack. I live in a hundred-year-old home with the basement as the home gym. The main issue for me is always ceiling height, given it is barely over 72 inches (6’). The half rack provides an area to safely squat, bench, and do accessories without taking up a massive footprint.
The biggest mistake I’ve made in my home gym was covering my floor with the classic horse stall mats. This might seem like an odd thing to say for most of you reading this. Since my basement tends to get very wet and is not 100% waterproofed yet I had an issue with the mats becoming very wet without being noticeable. The combination of wet horse stall mats in a dark and cool area made a perfect home for critters I didn’t want around.
The most important piece of advice I can give for starting your home gym is to start small. A home gym is never complete, build it over time and try not to guess on whether or not you will use the equipment before purchasing.
Kyle Divine
I’ve been woodworking for six years and lifting weights for about two and a half. During the pandemic, I realized I could combine these two passions into something that other people could benefit from.
I started my home gym because it was the only way for me to work out consistently. I tried gym memberships but never lasted more than a couple of months. Everything from the time to travel to the gym, to the people, to the equipment, was just a turn-off. Building a home gym and finding the home gym community online was a life changer.
My favorite home gym purchase was my mitre saw. With this single tool I have been able to make so many DIY pieces of equipment, and I can customize them to fit my exact needs.
My biggest mistake was thinking I could be content with only using 1/4 of my basement for my gym. I didn’t realize that the process of building a home gym really never ends and that I would eventually take up the entire basement.
The most important piece of advice I can give is to start off with the basics and don’t skimp on quality. You can accomplish a lot with a good rack, barbell, bench, and weights.
Matt Pendergraph
What’s going on everyone?! My name is Matt Pendergraph and I love ALL things fitness equipment-related! I’m a husband and father of two. When I’m not enjoying time with my family, I can usually be found tinkering around out in my garage gym!
My main reason for starting a home gym is because most all the commercial gyms in my area frown upon me taking apart their machines and reconfiguring them in various ways to see what other movements I can execute (I like to experiment). Seriously though, I enjoy the ability to work out anytime I want simply by walking into my garage! Having a home gym also allows me to make “working out” a family event, rather than a solo activity!
My absolute best home gym purchase is, without a doubt, my Rogue Monster Rack (specifically an RM-6 that I’ve since converted into something far beyond the imagination)! The 4-way hole pattern across all uprights/crossmembers of the rack offers me the ability to add numerous attachments that might otherwise normally only exist as standalone stations (dip bars, trolley arms, pulley systems, pull up stations, etc.).
The biggest home gym mistake I made was probably becoming fixated on a single brand rather than being more open-minded. While I LOVE my Rogue equipment, there are SEVERAL other awesome manufactures in existence (now more than ever). I basically had tunnel vision while making the majority of my initial purchases, thus missing out on the opportunity to explore other companies’ offerings. I know this might seem silly to some, but I’ve literally spent so much more time/money in the long run “swapping out/rebuying” equipment than necessary! While I’m a FIRM believer in the “buy once, cry once” mindset, I also feel just as strongly nowadays about “exploring all options” before making ANY gym-related purchase!
The best advice I can possibly give to anyone starting a home gym is to plan out EVERYTHING. Before spending a single dollar, you first need to have a clear understanding of what your goals are (what kind of exercises do you plan on performing). Going forward, I’d suggest calculating your budget, make a list of your absolute/most needed pieces, then measure out the space to see what you can actually accommodate within that area. Prioritizing is ESSENTIAL! I highly suggest focusing on multi-use equipment (such as power racks, barbells, weight plates, dumbbells, etc.) rather than specialized (such as a calf machine, preacher curl, leg extension, etc.). Obliviously everyone’s needs will NOT be the same, therefore find the right equipment specific to your own personal goals.
Adam Pittman
I started working for GGE back in 2017, but stepped away shortly after my son was born. I started back up with the company in 2020, and am now a father of two. I love being active, and I love consuming all things equipment, training, and fitness.
I started my home gym when my wife was pregnant and I was training Olympic weightlifting. I knew there were going to be days where I couldn’t (or didn’t want to) spend hours away from home. It all started with a bar and bumper plates, and I quickly fell in love with growing my space. I’m addicted.
My biggest mistake was not seeing how much space my growing gym would need. When we moved into my new Midwest home from the Carolina coast I moved my gym from a humid garage to a temperate basement (good move), but unfortunately, I claimed a small area, and my wife and I designated larger spaces for future finished spaces. Big mistake.
My favorite home gym purchase would have to be my Pendlay bumper plates. They were the very first thing I bought. I found a used equipment company that would buy items from closed gyms. This company was contacted by the old Muscle Driver gym when they were going out of business and they had the opportunity to buy all of their unsold bumpers. When I saw all the pallets stacked with brand new pates, my jaw dropped.
The most important piece of advice is you don’t need the best of everything. Think about the things that are most important to you and your training; that’s where you should spend the most money. If you have other wants and needs, it’s ok to buy a little cheaper. Just make sure you have realistic expectations with what you’re buying and where it is coming from.
