A Home Gym Doesn’t Have to be Expensive
There are many options for workouts. Some people go to the gym, and some work out at home. Most people would love to own a home gym, but the prospective price is difficult to justify. However, there is a low-cost option that many people just have not investigated. This article will explain this low-cost option.
Training at home can be difficult. Many people lack exercise equipment and ideas, or so they think. In their minds, a home or garage gym is just out of reach for them. In reality, all anyone needs is some space on the floor and a chair/couch/bed to start training. Calisthenics is a beneficial option for beginners and intermediates. Exercises like push-ups and squats are always available if someone has some space. And obviously, a program to follow is helpful as well. Sometimes, people want more options, however. So, what can they do?
Home gym equipment can be expensive. A $700 power rack is hard to justify, but much like a gaming pc, some creativity and research can save a lot of money. Investing in some calisthenics equipment can offer far more options at a lower price. For starters, a pull-up station can cost $80 at the lowest on amazon. Included with most pull-up stations are handles for dips or leg raises. A pull-up station alone adds many options to your training routine at a reasonable cost. Also, a pull-up station takes up very little room, so they are viable to place in smaller living spaces. Now, why a pull-up station instead of a pull-up bar? There is nothing wrong with buying a pull-up bar. A pull-up bar will allow for many new options for training, but it will still be less than a pull-up station with dip bars. Additionally, the pull-up station provides the capability for many exercises like dips, leg-raises, knee-raises, pull-ups, chin-ups, planches, and many more movements. A pull-up station is a valuable investment for those looking for a home gym on a budget, but a standard pull-up bar offers many similar options.
To add to the value of a pull-up bar or station, it would be a great idea to purchase a set of Olympic rings. While many think that TRX bands would be the better option, TRX bands are far more expensive. Olympic rings are $25 at the lower. As this article is about creating a budget home gym, Olympic rings are the obvious choice. Why pick Olympic rings? It may be silly since most people are not looking to do any ring gymnastics, but Olympic rings, like TRX bands, allow for even more options. By attaching Olympic rings to a pull-up bar or station, individuals will now have access to body weight curls, bodyweight tricep extensions, inverted rows, suspended push-ups, assisted pistol squats, Olympic ring dips (if strong enough), and many more exercises.
So, at the moment, for $105 at the bare minimum, this is a pretty impressive home gym, yet there is more to add. One option is an investment in a weight vest, but those can be expensive, and some do not come with the option to add weight. Instead, a heavy-duty backpack or duffle bag might be better. Since most people already have one, this is not a bad option, but why a backpack or duffle bag? For a few dollars, someone can purchase some small fillable bags to create sandbags (Amazon sells fillable sandbags for $20–40 packs of sandbags). To create sandbags, fill small canvas bags with sand or other materials, which are dirt cheap (pun intended) at a local hardware store. Weighted calisthenics is the evolution of basic and advanced bodyweight movements. One of the most economical ways to add weight to calisthenics is by using a backpack and sandbags. Should an individual live near a junkyard, chains might be an option instead of using sandbags as their additional weight. There are dozens of videos on sandbag creation for a low price, so it will not be detailed here. The great thing about these weights is that they work well with every exercise. Weighted bags can change a bodyweight squat to a weighted squat. Push-ups can become weighted push-ups. Weighted dips and weighted pull-ups will now be an option. Every calisthenics exercise can be improved with weight, allowing for progressive overload.
Finally, resistance bands are a very cheap option; and are compatible with most exercises. While they offer a unique strength curve that does not apply to straight weight, they are better for warm-up or to assist in demanding movements such as the dip or pull-up. For example, a variety of resistance bands can help in the pull-up. As the individual improves, they can use lighter and lighter resistance bands until they are ready to do pull-ups. Vice versa, bands can increase the difficulty of exercises attached differently. While it is discouraged to use bands instead of the weighted option just mentioned, they can be a valuable tool for a low price of about $20–25 per 5 pack.
It is vital to note that by investing more money, a lifter can get far more out of this equipment. For $120–140, you can get a pull-up station with multiple pull-up grips, padding, and resistance band attachments. For even more, you might get a pull-up station with a bench press attachment for when you do have a barbell and weight. Of course, this requires far more room, but it is an option. If you are willing to spend more money, you can get a TRX band instead of Olympic rings, but I would not recommend those. They are more money for a brand than a strict increase in value. When looking for additional weights, official sandbags made by companies like Rogue may offer a more convenient approach since some come pre-filled for a higher price. Chains are also an option. Weighted chains exist for weight training purposes, but since they have a designated weight, for many, those are a worthy option for additional weight. And heavier resistance bands are always an option. Finally, there’s always just buying a squat rack, bench, and some weight at the end of the day. It will be pricey but offer many options as well.
While a fancy home or garage gym setup is the desired dream, home gym equipment does not need to be expensive. With creativity and calisthenics knowledge, anyone can have an effective home gym for less than $300.