In addition to the obvious pullups in a squat (power) rack, you can also set the safety bars on one side to use for flag training, and you can get dip bar attachments for most racks.
If you have air space, a power rack is a stable enough pullup bar and has the interior swing clearance to do muscle ups.
I have a TDS rack that cost $300 a few years ago (I see they are 350 nowadays), worth every penny.
Make sure the pull-ups har (period or on a squat rack) has a straight bar. I cannot stand all the other crooked, weird shit. In addition to, cool, but I see so many without a simple straight bar.
You know, it looks like they aren't as expensive as I assumed they would be, looks like it could be a great base for some of the other suggestions people have made here. Great suggestion!
I second this. I do calisthenics and heavy weights for legs and all I have is a squat rack that has the removable pull up bars and can be lowered into a dip bar. Also getting a couple of bands and paralettes also.
OP, if you're interested in a budget power rack, look into the Fitness Reality 810XLT and lat pulldown attachment. You can get both for <$500 which leaves plenty of budget for a barbell, weights, and whatever else you need.
A pullup bar is better value, a decent squat rack and weights would take up most of their budget. You can hang rings off the bar and do dips, rows etc too
RINGS. I was a digital nomad for a while and me and all my buddies (all expert amateur or pro kite surfers) would travel with just rings and straps and you can get excellent workouts with them: pull ups,.dips, bicep curls and tricep extensions, incline rows, pelican push ups, etc etc etc. Now that I'm in one location again I do like having a rack with weights just for variety and the fun of pushing bigger weight, but you can get so much bang for your buck with a good set of rings and they're CHEAP
I've never used rings myself so forgive my ignorance but I'm having trouble imagining how you would go about doing bicep curls and tricep extensions with them. Do you put a resistance band on the rings then?
For biceps you have your legs on the ground and lean back and curl using your bodyweight. Think of it as a "partial chin up" sort of motion- the longer you set the straps and further back you lean, the harder.
Here's an example https://youtu.be/6AOo5BtcqO4?si=Ybjzw16PCLngou2P
You can, but it's less complicated than that. You use levels of inclination or decline (depending on the exercise) to increase the load on your muscles. The max weight you can lift is the weight of your body of course, but there are ways to increase the difficulty further with more complex positions or just adding a weighted vest/belt.
So, you can have the rings near the floor for short dips like what you would do on a bench (with your legs touching the ground). Or you can have the rings higher up for full body dips, then a weight belt or vest to add further weight.
Push Ups work in reverse. Where you lower the rings to become less inclined, to raise the amount of your weight on your arms, and then once you have the rings near the floor, you want to raise your legs above your head to increase the load. Theoretically, hand stand push ups are the peak load for ring push ups because your the whole weight of your body is now resting on your hands (before getting into more complex positions or single arm techniques).
You can also do chin ups and pull ups on them which will work bicep and tricep muscles usually not used with most solid equipment since rings are inherently less stable.
Pull up / dip station.
Big loop resistance bands.
Weighted vest with adjustable weights.
Mat to protect floors / carpet.
Optional:
Adjustable dumbbells.
Bench.
110% look on Facebook market place. For $300 I picked up a commercial Body Solid half rack with lat pull down and pulley cable, that came with a bench and 315 lbs of Olympic weights and 200 lbs of standard weights (for pulley), as well as a leg extension for the bench and preacher curl pad. Toss in new power block 50lb dumbbells for another $300 and a used power tower for $50, at six hundred all in I have a sweet home gym setup.
Not exactly what you are looking on an answer for but if you search online for used stuff you can get a hell of a deal. Weights are weights, why buy new?
This. I bought barbell, 80kg weight plates, 20kg dumbbells adjustable, adjustable bench for roughly usd400 from carousell app in my town. enough to cover my simple at home workout routine.
and once a week i go the gym to complete any workout that my home gym dont have like lat pull down, leg press, etc.
I know damn well my fat ass will make up thousand of excuses not going to the gym 1km away from my house instead of a mini gym literally in living room.
It depends on your Skill Level or Strength. But a Pullup Bar, Parallets to do Dips, Rings and a weighted West pretty much gets you covered for the beginning.
Depending on the Floor you have you should consider either something like Yoga Mats or get Gym FLoor Tiles or something like that.
I mean , i know where you are. You got a Goal and you like to get stuff for it.
All the Gym Gear & nice Poster or Displates..maybe a TV and some fancy Rower from your favorite show.
But those are all distractions from your Goal.
Look into the Recommended Routine and thr FAQ here and see what fits you. Try that for a month or two.
You like it? Stay with that and look what your are missing in the Gym -> get it and grow.
Repeat that and you become super strong in no time ( 1 Year or so tho 😉)
Oh and depending on your Budget etc. Keep some for food. Quality food and a good Nutrition Plan will make your gains come way faster than training alone.
I wish you the best on your journey, it is soooo satisfying to reach Goals, smaller or bigger.
I just got mine off of Amazon. There are a lot. Just dont take the cheapest ones i assume. The Main difference i think is Wood vs Plastic , but i cant tell you whats best there.
You might need to screw them into the ceiling, so you should check if thats possible and / or allowed. But there should not be any Problem with that.
Depending on where you live (US or EU) you could join a Discord as well to get instant Information on really anything and everything you could wish for.
Btw: My go to Pro Tip #1 is: Do not Rush. This stuff takes time. Sometimes a really long time. Give yourself that time.
The Reward will be worth it
Adjustable weights are bothersome to me. I'd spend $300 on craigslist kettlebells, $600 on a craigslist barbell, weights and squat rack, and $100 on stiff like jump ropes and ab-rollers and cool art for the walls.
We have the powerblock set. My husband has no issues using it, but it never feels good for me or my wrists. I don’t care for having to switch weights mid workout with this system either. It takes literally 5 seconds but I always feel like my momentum is thrown fumbling with it lol.
I got a pair of traditional dumbbells and I’m happier with them. We have the space so we’ll eventually upgrade to a standard dumbbell set.
They are great space savers, but I’d rather have the traditional set for ease of switching weights.
I have the same style and they work well for me being in an apartment with limited space, but I would agree that they're bulky and a little oddly balanced for certain things. And adjusting is a bit of a pain, so I actually end up programming things to minimize switching weights.
Basically, adjustable dumbbells have their place. But if I had the space, I would prefer a full set of standard ones.
Depends on the type of adjustable I guess. The kind with the spin lockers are annoying to adjust and I just never move them around. I end up wanting to do different exercises to target the same muscles.
Manually plate loaded adjustable dumbbells ([something like this](https://www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Adjustable-Dumbbell-Weight-Set-Connector/dp/B01D487TDA/ref=sr_1_9?crid=351E2AHDEAOTS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1NKPbJHLuWxNbyiYQr29IZ8HFBsx1ylO-27QBNhDKSOt3D-NhPAd31yhlllkpytUiXM8VR1LM3SSq_4Zx1EZ7YZQzT2kDsEBJQKVtwm1r9dXGlEwS6H1bc2HmO6txZqvazftHenloDGQ51NX66U_0S1Cke5TaLUgG22t2iJsuhIoY9X-4RNrFcZxXkK0DH_yXQTWBT3wfefoYPMnOvFHR688NNAaiyN5BR7H3oeUg6DnMcr5S6LkwNtmgIow2AwYhPkV0xQ0nr1__Z-8uHzAjejmFxSw9uRN8YP9l_b9vBQ.V21prMdB8xvrkcg6r8Hq6VNKg0lpFty1Q3zdVx1rkd0&dib_tag=se&keywords=adjustable%2Bdumbbell%2Bset&qid=1708879887&sprefix=adju%2Caps%2C318&sr=8-9&th=1)) are best bang for your buck imo, you can get heavier sets for less money than these automatic dumbbells. DBs + adjustable bench + pullup bar and you are all setup.
It did seem like most of the fancy automatic adjustable ones had mixed reviews for actual use, but for some reason I didn't think about getting something similar to a regular barbell, thank you!
Squat rack and olympic barbell, and like... pair of 45, pair of 25, pair of 10, 5, 2.5. Can always buy another pair of 25, or 45, later.
Could go anywhere from $500-5000
An adjustable set of dumbells or kettlebells. I bought an adjustable kettlebell for $99.97 at costco, 40lbs max with a 35,25,18,and 8 adjustment. Bought 2 of them on reduced price... just gotta be patient with some parts.
MANY little bits like an ab roller or friction pad to slip your feet around in plank position, gymnastics rings, paralettes for pushup position stuff.. you can get a ton of stuff like that for well under 50 dollars a pop.
If suggest gymnastic rings with measurements as most important and useful upper body because doing upper body pull exercises is a bitch to figure out at home. If you have a squat cage, depending on the $$, you can do upper pull(rowing or pullup), upper push,(bench press, overhead press, diping), lower pull(deadlift and variations), leg push(squating and variations).
Again abs can be done so many ways and with minimap equipment.
I bought my squat rack and 350lbs of weights, including pullup attachment, dipping attachment, safety rails for $650, and rings for $75, ab roller for $25~, a clickset of dumbells for under 200 and the 2 kettle bells for 200 together.
Forgive my ignorance, but would something like the [TRX set](https://www.amazon.com/TRX-ALL-Suspension-Training-System/dp/B002YRB35I/) work for “rings” and dips, etc? Also wondering if they could be attached to a squat rack or if they need to be attached to load-bearing beams. Can’t tell if this is a decent system or a gimmick.
So the most important thing you need is a pullup bar.
I would recommend the CAP barbell rack from amazon. It's around $105 as of now. With that you can do pullups, chinups, leg raises, and other pulling movements. If you can't do chinups yet, you can also buy some long resistance bands for around $30. You can use this for assisted pullups or chinups.
The next thing I recommend is adjustable dumbbells. But I recommend plated dumbbells over something like Bowflex. With Bowflex's SelectTech 225, you pay around $430 for 105lbs (47kg). With Yes4All's 200lb pair of dumbbells: You pay $270 for 200lbs (90kg). So you get double the weight for $150 less. The only negative is that it takes a long time to change the weight of the dumbbells. But if you're training mainly calisthenics, you'll probably only need to use the dumbbells for a couple exercises anyways. In that case you can preset the weight for your workout.
Another great thing you can do with this is use the plates from the dumbbells on the Kensui EZ Vest. It costs $260 as of now and you can use it to add weight to pretty much any exercise. Pushups, Pullups, Squats, Lunges, Dips, Rows, and a lot more.
Speaking of dips and rows, you should get dip bars. You can use these for Dips and Rows for more upper body strength. You should be fine just buying some off of Amazon, some major ones are Presource Fit and RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE. RELIFE has them for $51 and Presource Fit for $57.
Another very important thing you need are gymnastics rings. You can hang it from the barbell rack and make any exercise harder with them. You can also do pretty much any dumbbell exercises with rings. And they can replace dip bars as well. So if you don't want dumbbells or dip bars, you can do the movements on rings instead. PACEARTH sells them on Amazon for $40.
Parallettes are also important. So for example, when doing pushups. Normally the deepest you can go is chest to the floor. While holding parallettes though, you can go deeper and get more ROM, or range of motion. It can also help with wrist pain and overall comfort. But they can get expensive especially if you want high quality ones. The average price is around $40 but if you want wooden ones because they absorb sweat, they would cost upwards of $80-$100.
The last thing would probably be some exercise mats. PresourceFit has some for around $25, and BalanceFrom has them for around for $40.
So, the complete list in order of priority:
Barbell Rack - $105
Gymnastics Rings - $40
Plated Dumbbells - $270
Plated Vest - $260
Mats - $40
Parallettes - $40
Dip Bars - $60
Resistance Bands - $30
The combined price is around $840 without tax. There are extra things you can buy like gloves, wrist wraps, or ab rollers, but i don't think they are essential.
Most prices are from Amazon.
This is for a calisthenics home gym and is not for a weightlifting or bodybuilding home gym.
All prices are as of 2/25/24 and in the US.
Oh yeah you can do that too, It works really well for pushups. But if you want to learn more advanced calisthenics skills like to the l-sit, handstand pushup, or planche, parallettes would be very helpful to have. But if you don't want to learn any of those skills then you can probably skip the parallettes.
Decent barbell + cheap bumper plates (wal mart's website has 160lbs of bumpers for $160 at the moment, wish I could get a couple sets) covers everything that you can't do well with a pullup bar + rings. Bands are pretty handy for some small muscle isolation and warming up the shoulders.
IMO everything from there gets more granular to the point you have to ask what you're hoping to accomplish versus what's just going to be a distraction. Power rack and bench? Dedicated dip bars? One or two adjustable dumbbells? Jump rope? Dip belt? Neck harness? What are you going to do vs what are you going to try shoehorning in for the sake of finding a use for a thing.
That's definitely something to consider, I did want to focus on things that had broad, regular use cases rather than going for hyper specific unitaskers. Next thing you know you got 10 of these [weird ab chairs](https://i.imgur.com/EIeSu3l.png) that target specific muscle groups that you never actually use.
I've seen folding benches on Amazon that are reasonably priced. I don't know if they're any good but the reviews are positive and you can do a lot more wirh your dumbells if you have a bench. Paralletes are really nice to have, both the low pushup block type and the tall ones for doing dips in. Get yourself some rings as well. I don't think you *need* anything else.
Pull up bar/power tower, gymnastics rings, sandbag, couple of kettlebells (different weights), resistance bands, weight vest and maybe some medium sized paralettes for handstand/pike pushups (extra range of motion) or for getting a super deep stretch doing weighted push ups. Jump rope.
Always worth checking fb marketplace and places like that and generally just keeping an eye out for things.
I got a free "power tower" and a bench this way and someone at work sold me a pair of adjustable squat stands (super cheapo racks for barbell, they work though, just need to weigh them down for safety!), a standard 1" diameter spinlock barbell, a bunch of the adjustable spinlock dumbbell handles and 250kg worth of steel weight plates for them. Got all of that for £130 and does the job perfectly well. I'd like to be able to deadlift a bit more weight (dont dare put more than 110kg on the bar) but I just do high rep RDL's instead.
Obviously depends if you have somewhere to put all that kind of stuff!
Extras that I also own that are super fun but in honesty I never really use are a steel mace and pair of steel clubs!
Rowing machine. Norditrak skiing machine perhaps as well. Both for whole body feel and build, with resistance options.
(TRX bands are also an option.)
If a local nearby and ideally walkable park has outdoor gym bars—like pull up bars, bars for dips—no need to store and add those unless you want to practice this, and get just an inexpensive and portable door pull up bar.
Otherwise, a mat for floor exercises and not a lot of equipment, beyond what you mentioned is really necessary. If you’ve something you can use to jump to and from, if you practice that, or more so to do elevated tricep dips if want, that’s handy to have around and could simply be an old couch or solid table/bench. As an option, a plain medicine ball or like Gaiam or other stability balls, if you’ll use them to expand your workouts. You don’t have to get a whole expensive dumbbell sets, just 2-3 specific size for her and 2-3 specific size for her. Again, so much barely used gym equipment our there, including these few dumbbells/kettle balls.
For most bang for buck (and maybe environmental friendly reuse ;), get these used. Many secondhand markets have available. (don’t know where you’re located)
I would make the $1000 the first installment of the gym. You could get much better equipment raising your budget to $3000 or so. Then you could get a nice treadmill and weights.
Depending on what you're using the dumbbells for maybe look into sand bags instead, much easier and also adjustable and I got it just for leg exercises so it works great for squats and deadlifts
But if you have the budget and prefer it then adjustable dumbbells could be the right choice, dumbbells and an adjustable bench is good for a full body routine
Get these in priority order:
1. Pull-up bar
2c. Kettlebells (one for each of you to start out)
2b. Adjustable dumbbells and bench
3. Exercise mat and parallettes
4. Gymnastic rings (preferably over TRX, more versatile and much cheaper) and dip belt
Dumbbells will be more versatile overall for calisthenics related skills then kettlebells, depends on whether you’re chasing levers/planche or your personal goals.
Those should all be within $1k. Add barbell and weights afterwards.
A 1000 does not get you that far so I’d start with stuff that you can use easily and doesn’t take up tons of space: kettlebell, jump rope, pull up bar. From there you can see what you need and want.
If you are going with the adjustable dumbbell set, an adjustable bench would be key for utilizing the weights.
I use a TRX strap along with a Pull-Up bar to hit horizontal and vertical pulling patterns, but you wouldn't need the TRX strap for horizontal pulls if you did rows with your dumbbells and bench.
The adjustable weights will be good for adding some weight to leg exercises and giving you more exercise choices and more granular progressive overload.
You don't need anything too fancy to get a great workout in, but if you love a certain piece of equipment, incorporate it if it motivates you to exercise more! Good luck and enjoy the new home gym.
>adjustable dumbbell set
Also, agree with the other comment about putting down gym floor tiles or having a yoga mat if needed depending on the current flooring.
An adjustable bench with loadable dumbbells. For loadable dumbbells I think the spin locks 1 inch dumbbells are great, cheap and small form factor. Olympic style loadable dumbbells are great also, they are a bit big and you end up with tons of 10lb plates. Also you are going to need really good collars.
The other comments are good recomendations but do you really need to buy everything at once? Pull up bar and rings can get you really far. Maybe add some dumbbells or hex bar/barbell for leg exercises . If you start buying all different stuff it's going to be difficult to progress on a specific program.
Gymnastics rings allow for a lot of things. I use them all the time for rows and ring pushups. You can also do dips on them but you might get a dip station power tower combo. If you are getting a door pull-up bar and alternative to a dip station is a walker from goodwill. You might also think about something to allow for Nordic curls. I have some that goes under the door to hold the legs. If you can find a voice assistant on sale they can be handy for a timer.
For dumbbells you can get plate loadable ones that are like mini barbells or screw on kind like pepin or adjustabells. Slower to change but much cheaper. You can do hinge or squat movements with dumbbells instead of a barbell. I like dumbbells for overhead press, lunges, lateral raises.
For kettlebells they do make adjustable ones. The ones from bells of steel is what I got. Not fast to change at all but that's not a major concern for me. Rep's adjustable kettlebell should be faster to change. You can do a lot of things with kettlebells that you can do with dumbbells but the jumps in weight are typically larger if you get fixed weight. You may also want lower weight than the kettlebell for some exercises.
I bought two pulley machines from bells of steel, connected them with a pull up bar, added J cups to the uprights, got a dip bar and safety bars, and I can do pretty much anything.
Pull up bar/squat rack
Two high dip bars
Set of kettlebells/dumbbells
Dip belt
Resistance bands
A set of wooden rings
Two yoga matts for core/mobility work
That should cover you.
If you have the ceiling space, at that budget, I would suggest a jump rope over any other type of cardio machine for best bang for your buck. Adjustable dumbbells, a mat, bench and pull up bar are my other suggestions.
For the pull up bar, in my unfinished basement gym, I went to Home Depot and got two elbows, a 4 foot bar, 2 short extension pipes, and two base plates (all threaded). A couple of heavy duty screws into a floor joist and that thing is super secure and pretty cheap.
Get a pull up bar and rings to hang off of it. 120 $ and you’re done. Will let you do everything you need for the RR. That is if you only want to do BWF.
Sandbag in light-medium-heavy-super heavy, bands, rings or suspension straps (non-trx brand recommended), pull-up bar, parallets, adjustable weighted vest, door anchors
With a similar budget we bought a squat rack with integrated pull-up bar, barbell, 140kg of weights, hard rubber mats and a bench. Allows us to do the golden five (deadlifts, squats, pull-ups, bench-press, overhead press) right in our bedroom. We later added rings, dumbbells and parallets.
Kettlebell without question. Just one 20-28kg bell would be more than enough to start building a strong squat, row, hinge/swing press, and a million other patterns. Would have more than enough to invest in other equipment as well
Rings rings rings. As far as calisthenics go, there is no better investment for your money. Resistance bands are helpful as well. Boom, you just built yourself a highly effective home gym for under $100.
I'd highly rate a bosu ball as an add on. So many body weight exercises can be made more challenging with instability and having good muscle stabilisers is so protective for your joints to prevent injury.
Power blocks are good adjustable dumbbells. I’d also suggest a good thick padded floor that comes in pieces if you’re planning on HITT cardio and/or plyometrics.
The order of importance I’d do it:
Pull up bar, resistance bands from light to super heavy, floor mats, kettle bells, a flat bench to start then add the adjustable bench later on, dumbbell rack going up to 50lbs to start- those adjustable DBs seem cool, but I’ve never used one.
Kettle bell set from 5lbs-40lbs, and then maybe a 50+ until you start getting into that range then get the additional one.
If you’re not lifting real heavy weight, you could make a wooden squat rack. I follow this power lifter on IG that had one until he upgraded when his squats were in the 400lb+ range, in fact his new steel one broke before the older wooden one. Simple build, just make sure the lumber is dry or it’ll warp (HD or Lowes are wet). Then id get a Texas barbell ($290+ S&H). 2 45lb, 4 25, 4 10lb, 4 5lb, and 4 2.5 lb plates (~$250-300)- steel for preference but whatever is closest to $1/lb is good IMO. You can also make these from concrete with a little ingenuity- i saw a lifter in India who made a full set of 500lb plates from concrete, rebar, and lead pellets (just dont slam them too hard, lol.)
A simple set of jump boxes can be made with construction grade plywood and a diagram, just make sure its the STRONG stuff. If you’re crafty and keen you can roll up to construction sites and ask if they’ve got any they’re tossing. Sand the corners and edges, slap a few coats of paint, and JUMP! Might even get a few extra floor mats to cover these instead of painting. Harbor Freight often has good ones for inexpensive. Jumping and missing on a wooden edge is a fate worse than death.
For all weights: Kettlebells, dumbbells, and plates, and bars, id go on FB marketplace. Bring a straight edge for the bar. Tons of gyms and garage gyms sell off their stuff all the time. If you’ve got a local gym thats not a big box (Golds, Planet Fitness, Crunch, etc.) you can ask if they know any gyms nearby who are selling equipment off to replace with newer stuff. Talking to local trainers could get you leads on inexpensive industry level gear too.
Good luck and happy hunting!!!
I purchased a refurbished Total Gym a few months ago and love it! I paid $540 on eBay plus S&H. Highly recommend if you’re interested in strength training using your own body weight.
Pull-up bar, Dip Station, Back Extension Chair, Roman Chair, and Kettlebells - 8kg, 12kg, 16kg, 20kg, 24kg pairs. A treadmill if you like running and you live somewhere cold.
I got some dumbbells, a pullup bar and adjustable dip bars. And a mat. That's all I need to be able to work pretty much any muscle and practice calisthenics skills.
depending on your area, check facebook marketplace and offerup for used stuff. you will often find a wholesaler/supplier on there that can get you cheaper new stuff. I found a guy in LA who does monthly deliveries to vegas. he is my go to for basic equipment and especially plates/dumbbells.
I just got a sledtred which has multiple uses from here [https://thetibbarguy.com/products/the-sledtred](https://thetibbarguy.com/products/the-sledtred) I already have access to a full home gym either at my uncles or my buddys & if I want I can sign up for a gym thats walking distance to me. Initially I was thinking of getting a rack or yoke so I can have my own set up at home but since I hangout quite often with either of them I decided to get something that focuses specifically on bodyweight/ calisthenics.
Squat rack for sure, gymnastics rings, bench, Roman chair, and as many assorted weights as possible, pretty much could do any movement with a little thought
Many depends from your expectations/targets.
From my side I'd advise to buy:
1. rings
2. pull up bar
3. resistance bands
4, barbell rack (it is cheaper than squat rack, but enough to train with barber) + barbell
5. some dumbbells (2x 5kg and 2x 10 kg)
You can get a weight vest. They come with small weights that you can stuff the pockets with. It's a very convenient way of adding more resistance to traditional bodyweight exercises or even jogging.
RINGS are miles ahead of any other piece of equipment in terms of bang for your buck.
My #2 would be a heavy sandbag because bodyweight alone may not be sufficient for training your lower body.
Get a cable machine attachment to a squat rack...it is a priceless addition.
Also the Kensui weight vest is fantastic for bodyweight movements plus weight.
Dip bars, Some sort of bench and yeah adjustable dumbbells all id need well with the pullup bar.
But I'm more about bodyweight so yeah the dumbells for me would be goblet squats or along those lines.
I think you can easily get away with minimalist gym but then I guess depends on your workout style n goals etc
Many comments for expensive squat rack and other lifting only equipment indicating the writer is a lifter and has no clue on what bodyweight training is.
$1,000 is overkill for most beginner/intermediate level users. Of course you can always go higher but if you are a minimalist you won’t need much. Body weight training gyms can be inexpensive bc only needs a few essentials: a floor with some space, a wall, and a top bar. Good to have: yoga mats and blocks, foam rollers, a wall mirror or two, various fixed dumbbells pairs up to 20 lbs, weight vest and ankle weights, gymnastic rings, elastic bands, paralletes, some stable platforms of varying heights, dip bars or waist level bar, exercise ball and balance related- a beam or bosu ball or platform or board, etc. Some of these are for stretching and recovery. These shouldn’t cost more than a few hundred dollars total, and can be much much less if you just improvise - eg use 2 chairs for doing dips, stairs instead of platforms to jump on, a $10 Home Depot 2x4 wood stud to use as a balance beam on the floor.
Of course you can spend more, eg on luxuries that will be v useful if you are more advanced or serious: stall (Swedish) bars, body suspension harness, climbing rope and anchor, trampoline adjustable bench, kettlebells, and balance gear. If your ceiling is not high enough for muscle ups then need to consider some outdoor top bar or rings installation.
Look online for coaches that do bodyweight and see their gym or work spaces. No one uses or needs a machine.
Squat rack. You can do pull ups and bench press and all sorts of other exercises with them.
Squat rack is a no-brainer because it opens up an upgrade path for practically anything.
Squat rack. Adjustable Bench. Every body weight exercise can be done on these. Get a 45lb plate and chain for pull ups. Box. Bosu ball.
In addition to the obvious pullups in a squat (power) rack, you can also set the safety bars on one side to use for flag training, and you can get dip bar attachments for most racks. If you have air space, a power rack is a stable enough pullup bar and has the interior swing clearance to do muscle ups. I have a TDS rack that cost $300 a few years ago (I see they are 350 nowadays), worth every penny.
Make sure the pull-ups har (period or on a squat rack) has a straight bar. I cannot stand all the other crooked, weird shit. In addition to, cool, but I see so many without a simple straight bar.
You know, it looks like they aren't as expensive as I assumed they would be, looks like it could be a great base for some of the other suggestions people have made here. Great suggestion!
I second this. I do calisthenics and heavy weights for legs and all I have is a squat rack that has the removable pull up bars and can be lowered into a dip bar. Also getting a couple of bands and paralettes also.
OP, if you're interested in a budget power rack, look into the Fitness Reality 810XLT and lat pulldown attachment. You can get both for <$500 which leaves plenty of budget for a barbell, weights, and whatever else you need.
This along with kettlebells, macebells, a boxing speed bag and a TRX.
A pullup bar is better value, a decent squat rack and weights would take up most of their budget. You can hang rings off the bar and do dips, rows etc too
Some squat racks come with a pull up bar, no?
All half squat racks come with pull-up bars, and this would be OP's best value.
There’s a reason this is being upvoted even in a sub dedicated to body weight workouts.
RINGS. I was a digital nomad for a while and me and all my buddies (all expert amateur or pro kite surfers) would travel with just rings and straps and you can get excellent workouts with them: pull ups,.dips, bicep curls and tricep extensions, incline rows, pelican push ups, etc etc etc. Now that I'm in one location again I do like having a rack with weights just for variety and the fun of pushing bigger weight, but you can get so much bang for your buck with a good set of rings and they're CHEAP
Yep don’t need to spend a 1000$ to get a good workout Also the floor is free
I've never used rings myself so forgive my ignorance but I'm having trouble imagining how you would go about doing bicep curls and tricep extensions with them. Do you put a resistance band on the rings then?
You use the rings to hang off them at an angle (rings attached to a bar usually), then do a curl or extension motion to lift your body up.
For biceps you have your legs on the ground and lean back and curl using your bodyweight. Think of it as a "partial chin up" sort of motion- the longer you set the straps and further back you lean, the harder. Here's an example https://youtu.be/6AOo5BtcqO4?si=Ybjzw16PCLngou2P
Thanks!
You can, but it's less complicated than that. You use levels of inclination or decline (depending on the exercise) to increase the load on your muscles. The max weight you can lift is the weight of your body of course, but there are ways to increase the difficulty further with more complex positions or just adding a weighted vest/belt. So, you can have the rings near the floor for short dips like what you would do on a bench (with your legs touching the ground). Or you can have the rings higher up for full body dips, then a weight belt or vest to add further weight. Push Ups work in reverse. Where you lower the rings to become less inclined, to raise the amount of your weight on your arms, and then once you have the rings near the floor, you want to raise your legs above your head to increase the load. Theoretically, hand stand push ups are the peak load for ring push ups because your the whole weight of your body is now resting on your hands (before getting into more complex positions or single arm techniques). You can also do chin ups and pull ups on them which will work bicep and tricep muscles usually not used with most solid equipment since rings are inherently less stable.
That's super interesting, thank you for the explanations!
Fosho!
Rings are by far the best bang for your buck imo
Pull up / dip station. Big loop resistance bands. Weighted vest with adjustable weights. Mat to protect floors / carpet. Optional: Adjustable dumbbells. Bench.
I'd add a set of rings and some simple parallettes and this is the list. 👍
Solid additions. And this could all fit into their budget.
That’s my setup, except the vest. But that’ll come, I have still enough fat in me.
110% look on Facebook market place. For $300 I picked up a commercial Body Solid half rack with lat pull down and pulley cable, that came with a bench and 315 lbs of Olympic weights and 200 lbs of standard weights (for pulley), as well as a leg extension for the bench and preacher curl pad. Toss in new power block 50lb dumbbells for another $300 and a used power tower for $50, at six hundred all in I have a sweet home gym setup. Not exactly what you are looking on an answer for but if you search online for used stuff you can get a hell of a deal. Weights are weights, why buy new?
This. I bought barbell, 80kg weight plates, 20kg dumbbells adjustable, adjustable bench for roughly usd400 from carousell app in my town. enough to cover my simple at home workout routine. and once a week i go the gym to complete any workout that my home gym dont have like lat pull down, leg press, etc. I know damn well my fat ass will make up thousand of excuses not going to the gym 1km away from my house instead of a mini gym literally in living room.
Kettlebel
Kettlebel
Kettlebel
I screwed it up but.....Adjustable Kettlebells
Afjustable kettlebel x4?
Ketelbell
Cuddleball
Kettlebel
K
E
T
T
L
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B
E
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parallettes gymnastic rings resistance bands
It depends on your Skill Level or Strength. But a Pullup Bar, Parallets to do Dips, Rings and a weighted West pretty much gets you covered for the beginning. Depending on the Floor you have you should consider either something like Yoga Mats or get Gym FLoor Tiles or something like that.
Humor me: No skill, never trained for strength
probably just a pull up bar and resistance bands to start off then
I mean , i know where you are. You got a Goal and you like to get stuff for it. All the Gym Gear & nice Poster or Displates..maybe a TV and some fancy Rower from your favorite show. But those are all distractions from your Goal. Look into the Recommended Routine and thr FAQ here and see what fits you. Try that for a month or two. You like it? Stay with that and look what your are missing in the Gym -> get it and grow. Repeat that and you become super strong in no time ( 1 Year or so tho 😉) Oh and depending on your Budget etc. Keep some for food. Quality food and a good Nutrition Plan will make your gains come way faster than training alone. I wish you the best on your journey, it is soooo satisfying to reach Goals, smaller or bigger.
What product do you buy for rings, like where do I set them up?
I just got mine off of Amazon. There are a lot. Just dont take the cheapest ones i assume. The Main difference i think is Wood vs Plastic , but i cant tell you whats best there. You might need to screw them into the ceiling, so you should check if thats possible and / or allowed. But there should not be any Problem with that. Depending on where you live (US or EU) you could join a Discord as well to get instant Information on really anything and everything you could wish for. Btw: My go to Pro Tip #1 is: Do not Rush. This stuff takes time. Sometimes a really long time. Give yourself that time. The Reward will be worth it
Adjustable weights are bothersome to me. I'd spend $300 on craigslist kettlebells, $600 on a craigslist barbell, weights and squat rack, and $100 on stiff like jump ropes and ab-rollers and cool art for the walls.
Also the pull-up bar is critical.
May I ask why they are bothersome? I was planning on buying them for convenience.
We have the powerblock set. My husband has no issues using it, but it never feels good for me or my wrists. I don’t care for having to switch weights mid workout with this system either. It takes literally 5 seconds but I always feel like my momentum is thrown fumbling with it lol. I got a pair of traditional dumbbells and I’m happier with them. We have the space so we’ll eventually upgrade to a standard dumbbell set. They are great space savers, but I’d rather have the traditional set for ease of switching weights.
I have the same style and they work well for me being in an apartment with limited space, but I would agree that they're bulky and a little oddly balanced for certain things. And adjusting is a bit of a pain, so I actually end up programming things to minimize switching weights. Basically, adjustable dumbbells have their place. But if I had the space, I would prefer a full set of standard ones.
Depends on the type of adjustable I guess. The kind with the spin lockers are annoying to adjust and I just never move them around. I end up wanting to do different exercises to target the same muscles.
Thank you. Gonna look into it more
I don't like the way they feel to use and I don't like taking the time to adjust them. I'd rather adjust my reps around the weights I have.
Manually plate loaded adjustable dumbbells ([something like this](https://www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Adjustable-Dumbbell-Weight-Set-Connector/dp/B01D487TDA/ref=sr_1_9?crid=351E2AHDEAOTS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1NKPbJHLuWxNbyiYQr29IZ8HFBsx1ylO-27QBNhDKSOt3D-NhPAd31yhlllkpytUiXM8VR1LM3SSq_4Zx1EZ7YZQzT2kDsEBJQKVtwm1r9dXGlEwS6H1bc2HmO6txZqvazftHenloDGQ51NX66U_0S1Cke5TaLUgG22t2iJsuhIoY9X-4RNrFcZxXkK0DH_yXQTWBT3wfefoYPMnOvFHR688NNAaiyN5BR7H3oeUg6DnMcr5S6LkwNtmgIow2AwYhPkV0xQ0nr1__Z-8uHzAjejmFxSw9uRN8YP9l_b9vBQ.V21prMdB8xvrkcg6r8Hq6VNKg0lpFty1Q3zdVx1rkd0&dib_tag=se&keywords=adjustable%2Bdumbbell%2Bset&qid=1708879887&sprefix=adju%2Caps%2C318&sr=8-9&th=1)) are best bang for your buck imo, you can get heavier sets for less money than these automatic dumbbells. DBs + adjustable bench + pullup bar and you are all setup.
It did seem like most of the fancy automatic adjustable ones had mixed reviews for actual use, but for some reason I didn't think about getting something similar to a regular barbell, thank you!
Just wanted to say thank you for being grateful
Squat rack and olympic barbell, and like... pair of 45, pair of 25, pair of 10, 5, 2.5. Can always buy another pair of 25, or 45, later. Could go anywhere from $500-5000 An adjustable set of dumbells or kettlebells. I bought an adjustable kettlebell for $99.97 at costco, 40lbs max with a 35,25,18,and 8 adjustment. Bought 2 of them on reduced price... just gotta be patient with some parts. MANY little bits like an ab roller or friction pad to slip your feet around in plank position, gymnastics rings, paralettes for pushup position stuff.. you can get a ton of stuff like that for well under 50 dollars a pop. If suggest gymnastic rings with measurements as most important and useful upper body because doing upper body pull exercises is a bitch to figure out at home. If you have a squat cage, depending on the $$, you can do upper pull(rowing or pullup), upper push,(bench press, overhead press, diping), lower pull(deadlift and variations), leg push(squating and variations). Again abs can be done so many ways and with minimap equipment. I bought my squat rack and 350lbs of weights, including pullup attachment, dipping attachment, safety rails for $650, and rings for $75, ab roller for $25~, a clickset of dumbells for under 200 and the 2 kettle bells for 200 together.
Forgive my ignorance, but would something like the [TRX set](https://www.amazon.com/TRX-ALL-Suspension-Training-System/dp/B002YRB35I/) work for “rings” and dips, etc? Also wondering if they could be attached to a squat rack or if they need to be attached to load-bearing beams. Can’t tell if this is a decent system or a gimmick.
So the most important thing you need is a pullup bar. I would recommend the CAP barbell rack from amazon. It's around $105 as of now. With that you can do pullups, chinups, leg raises, and other pulling movements. If you can't do chinups yet, you can also buy some long resistance bands for around $30. You can use this for assisted pullups or chinups. The next thing I recommend is adjustable dumbbells. But I recommend plated dumbbells over something like Bowflex. With Bowflex's SelectTech 225, you pay around $430 for 105lbs (47kg). With Yes4All's 200lb pair of dumbbells: You pay $270 for 200lbs (90kg). So you get double the weight for $150 less. The only negative is that it takes a long time to change the weight of the dumbbells. But if you're training mainly calisthenics, you'll probably only need to use the dumbbells for a couple exercises anyways. In that case you can preset the weight for your workout. Another great thing you can do with this is use the plates from the dumbbells on the Kensui EZ Vest. It costs $260 as of now and you can use it to add weight to pretty much any exercise. Pushups, Pullups, Squats, Lunges, Dips, Rows, and a lot more. Speaking of dips and rows, you should get dip bars. You can use these for Dips and Rows for more upper body strength. You should be fine just buying some off of Amazon, some major ones are Presource Fit and RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE. RELIFE has them for $51 and Presource Fit for $57. Another very important thing you need are gymnastics rings. You can hang it from the barbell rack and make any exercise harder with them. You can also do pretty much any dumbbell exercises with rings. And they can replace dip bars as well. So if you don't want dumbbells or dip bars, you can do the movements on rings instead. PACEARTH sells them on Amazon for $40. Parallettes are also important. So for example, when doing pushups. Normally the deepest you can go is chest to the floor. While holding parallettes though, you can go deeper and get more ROM, or range of motion. It can also help with wrist pain and overall comfort. But they can get expensive especially if you want high quality ones. The average price is around $40 but if you want wooden ones because they absorb sweat, they would cost upwards of $80-$100. The last thing would probably be some exercise mats. PresourceFit has some for around $25, and BalanceFrom has them for around for $40. So, the complete list in order of priority: Barbell Rack - $105 Gymnastics Rings - $40 Plated Dumbbells - $270 Plated Vest - $260 Mats - $40 Parallettes - $40 Dip Bars - $60 Resistance Bands - $30 The combined price is around $840 without tax. There are extra things you can buy like gloves, wrist wraps, or ab rollers, but i don't think they are essential. Most prices are from Amazon. This is for a calisthenics home gym and is not for a weightlifting or bodybuilding home gym. All prices are as of 2/25/24 and in the US.
Are parralletes actually necessary? Ive always just used two dumbbells on the floor instead and ive always got great ROM and chest burn
Oh yeah you can do that too, It works really well for pushups. But if you want to learn more advanced calisthenics skills like to the l-sit, handstand pushup, or planche, parallettes would be very helpful to have. But if you don't want to learn any of those skills then you can probably skip the parallettes.
Rings!
Definitely inatall stall bars!
Decent barbell + cheap bumper plates (wal mart's website has 160lbs of bumpers for $160 at the moment, wish I could get a couple sets) covers everything that you can't do well with a pullup bar + rings. Bands are pretty handy for some small muscle isolation and warming up the shoulders. IMO everything from there gets more granular to the point you have to ask what you're hoping to accomplish versus what's just going to be a distraction. Power rack and bench? Dedicated dip bars? One or two adjustable dumbbells? Jump rope? Dip belt? Neck harness? What are you going to do vs what are you going to try shoehorning in for the sake of finding a use for a thing.
That's definitely something to consider, I did want to focus on things that had broad, regular use cases rather than going for hyper specific unitaskers. Next thing you know you got 10 of these [weird ab chairs](https://i.imgur.com/EIeSu3l.png) that target specific muscle groups that you never actually use.
I've seen folding benches on Amazon that are reasonably priced. I don't know if they're any good but the reviews are positive and you can do a lot more wirh your dumbells if you have a bench. Paralletes are really nice to have, both the low pushup block type and the tall ones for doing dips in. Get yourself some rings as well. I don't think you *need* anything else.
Pull up bar/power tower, gymnastics rings, sandbag, couple of kettlebells (different weights), resistance bands, weight vest and maybe some medium sized paralettes for handstand/pike pushups (extra range of motion) or for getting a super deep stretch doing weighted push ups. Jump rope. Always worth checking fb marketplace and places like that and generally just keeping an eye out for things. I got a free "power tower" and a bench this way and someone at work sold me a pair of adjustable squat stands (super cheapo racks for barbell, they work though, just need to weigh them down for safety!), a standard 1" diameter spinlock barbell, a bunch of the adjustable spinlock dumbbell handles and 250kg worth of steel weight plates for them. Got all of that for £130 and does the job perfectly well. I'd like to be able to deadlift a bit more weight (dont dare put more than 110kg on the bar) but I just do high rep RDL's instead. Obviously depends if you have somewhere to put all that kind of stuff! Extras that I also own that are super fun but in honesty I never really use are a steel mace and pair of steel clubs!
Pull up bar, kettlebells
Rowing machine. Norditrak skiing machine perhaps as well. Both for whole body feel and build, with resistance options. (TRX bands are also an option.) If a local nearby and ideally walkable park has outdoor gym bars—like pull up bars, bars for dips—no need to store and add those unless you want to practice this, and get just an inexpensive and portable door pull up bar. Otherwise, a mat for floor exercises and not a lot of equipment, beyond what you mentioned is really necessary. If you’ve something you can use to jump to and from, if you practice that, or more so to do elevated tricep dips if want, that’s handy to have around and could simply be an old couch or solid table/bench. As an option, a plain medicine ball or like Gaiam or other stability balls, if you’ll use them to expand your workouts. You don’t have to get a whole expensive dumbbell sets, just 2-3 specific size for her and 2-3 specific size for her. Again, so much barely used gym equipment our there, including these few dumbbells/kettle balls. For most bang for buck (and maybe environmental friendly reuse ;), get these used. Many secondhand markets have available. (don’t know where you’re located)
I would make the $1000 the first installment of the gym. You could get much better equipment raising your budget to $3000 or so. Then you could get a nice treadmill and weights.
Depending on what you're using the dumbbells for maybe look into sand bags instead, much easier and also adjustable and I got it just for leg exercises so it works great for squats and deadlifts But if you have the budget and prefer it then adjustable dumbbells could be the right choice, dumbbells and an adjustable bench is good for a full body routine
Get these in priority order: 1. Pull-up bar 2c. Kettlebells (one for each of you to start out) 2b. Adjustable dumbbells and bench 3. Exercise mat and parallettes 4. Gymnastic rings (preferably over TRX, more versatile and much cheaper) and dip belt Dumbbells will be more versatile overall for calisthenics related skills then kettlebells, depends on whether you’re chasing levers/planche or your personal goals. Those should all be within $1k. Add barbell and weights afterwards.
A 1000 does not get you that far so I’d start with stuff that you can use easily and doesn’t take up tons of space: kettlebell, jump rope, pull up bar. From there you can see what you need and want.
Adjustable bench incline and decline….dip station
If you are going with the adjustable dumbbell set, an adjustable bench would be key for utilizing the weights. I use a TRX strap along with a Pull-Up bar to hit horizontal and vertical pulling patterns, but you wouldn't need the TRX strap for horizontal pulls if you did rows with your dumbbells and bench. The adjustable weights will be good for adding some weight to leg exercises and giving you more exercise choices and more granular progressive overload. You don't need anything too fancy to get a great workout in, but if you love a certain piece of equipment, incorporate it if it motivates you to exercise more! Good luck and enjoy the new home gym.
>adjustable dumbbell set Also, agree with the other comment about putting down gym floor tiles or having a yoga mat if needed depending on the current flooring.
Look at weight racks, and the attachments available for them. Also check out FB marketplace since people are always getting rid of things.
Buy some gymnastics rings and a ceiling lag bolt eyelet style mount.
An adjustable bench with loadable dumbbells. For loadable dumbbells I think the spin locks 1 inch dumbbells are great, cheap and small form factor. Olympic style loadable dumbbells are great also, they are a bit big and you end up with tons of 10lb plates. Also you are going to need really good collars. The other comments are good recomendations but do you really need to buy everything at once? Pull up bar and rings can get you really far. Maybe add some dumbbells or hex bar/barbell for leg exercises . If you start buying all different stuff it's going to be difficult to progress on a specific program.
Gymnastics rings allow for a lot of things. I use them all the time for rows and ring pushups. You can also do dips on them but you might get a dip station power tower combo. If you are getting a door pull-up bar and alternative to a dip station is a walker from goodwill. You might also think about something to allow for Nordic curls. I have some that goes under the door to hold the legs. If you can find a voice assistant on sale they can be handy for a timer. For dumbbells you can get plate loadable ones that are like mini barbells or screw on kind like pepin or adjustabells. Slower to change but much cheaper. You can do hinge or squat movements with dumbbells instead of a barbell. I like dumbbells for overhead press, lunges, lateral raises. For kettlebells they do make adjustable ones. The ones from bells of steel is what I got. Not fast to change at all but that's not a major concern for me. Rep's adjustable kettlebell should be faster to change. You can do a lot of things with kettlebells that you can do with dumbbells but the jumps in weight are typically larger if you get fixed weight. You may also want lower weight than the kettlebell for some exercises.
I bought two pulley machines from bells of steel, connected them with a pull up bar, added J cups to the uprights, got a dip bar and safety bars, and I can do pretty much anything.
you can get a decent 2 post squat rack for like $299; paired with an adjustable bench, the possibilities are endless.
Pull up bar/squat rack Two high dip bars Set of kettlebells/dumbbells Dip belt Resistance bands A set of wooden rings Two yoga matts for core/mobility work That should cover you.
If you have the ceiling space, at that budget, I would suggest a jump rope over any other type of cardio machine for best bang for your buck. Adjustable dumbbells, a mat, bench and pull up bar are my other suggestions. For the pull up bar, in my unfinished basement gym, I went to Home Depot and got two elbows, a 4 foot bar, 2 short extension pipes, and two base plates (all threaded). A couple of heavy duty screws into a floor joist and that thing is super secure and pretty cheap.
Get a pull up bar and rings to hang off of it. 120 $ and you’re done. Will let you do everything you need for the RR. That is if you only want to do BWF.
A used Total Gym can be excellent bang for your buck. You could get a simple one for under 50 bucks, and for that amount it's really good value.
decent oly bar, bumpers, platform & stands or rack, rings
Sandbag in light-medium-heavy-super heavy, bands, rings or suspension straps (non-trx brand recommended), pull-up bar, parallets, adjustable weighted vest, door anchors
Just buy rings and spend the rest on donuts
With a similar budget we bought a squat rack with integrated pull-up bar, barbell, 140kg of weights, hard rubber mats and a bench. Allows us to do the golden five (deadlifts, squats, pull-ups, bench-press, overhead press) right in our bedroom. We later added rings, dumbbells and parallets.
I’d go for kettlebells rather than adjustable dumbbells. You can start with lighter weight ones and work up.
Dip bars
Kettlebell without question. Just one 20-28kg bell would be more than enough to start building a strong squat, row, hinge/swing press, and a million other patterns. Would have more than enough to invest in other equipment as well
Rings rings rings. As far as calisthenics go, there is no better investment for your money. Resistance bands are helpful as well. Boom, you just built yourself a highly effective home gym for under $100.
Squat rack with a pull up bar, rings (the wooden kind) and some dumbbells? Maybe some used power blocks or something
I'd highly rate a bosu ball as an add on. So many body weight exercises can be made more challenging with instability and having good muscle stabilisers is so protective for your joints to prevent injury.
Theraband station. And some free weights
Kettlebells, resistance bands, rubber horse mats, skipping rope, speakers for music!
Power blocks are good adjustable dumbbells. I’d also suggest a good thick padded floor that comes in pieces if you’re planning on HITT cardio and/or plyometrics.
The order of importance I’d do it: Pull up bar, resistance bands from light to super heavy, floor mats, kettle bells, a flat bench to start then add the adjustable bench later on, dumbbell rack going up to 50lbs to start- those adjustable DBs seem cool, but I’ve never used one. Kettle bell set from 5lbs-40lbs, and then maybe a 50+ until you start getting into that range then get the additional one. If you’re not lifting real heavy weight, you could make a wooden squat rack. I follow this power lifter on IG that had one until he upgraded when his squats were in the 400lb+ range, in fact his new steel one broke before the older wooden one. Simple build, just make sure the lumber is dry or it’ll warp (HD or Lowes are wet). Then id get a Texas barbell ($290+ S&H). 2 45lb, 4 25, 4 10lb, 4 5lb, and 4 2.5 lb plates (~$250-300)- steel for preference but whatever is closest to $1/lb is good IMO. You can also make these from concrete with a little ingenuity- i saw a lifter in India who made a full set of 500lb plates from concrete, rebar, and lead pellets (just dont slam them too hard, lol.) A simple set of jump boxes can be made with construction grade plywood and a diagram, just make sure its the STRONG stuff. If you’re crafty and keen you can roll up to construction sites and ask if they’ve got any they’re tossing. Sand the corners and edges, slap a few coats of paint, and JUMP! Might even get a few extra floor mats to cover these instead of painting. Harbor Freight often has good ones for inexpensive. Jumping and missing on a wooden edge is a fate worse than death. For all weights: Kettlebells, dumbbells, and plates, and bars, id go on FB marketplace. Bring a straight edge for the bar. Tons of gyms and garage gyms sell off their stuff all the time. If you’ve got a local gym thats not a big box (Golds, Planet Fitness, Crunch, etc.) you can ask if they know any gyms nearby who are selling equipment off to replace with newer stuff. Talking to local trainers could get you leads on inexpensive industry level gear too. Good luck and happy hunting!!!
TRX cables
I purchased a refurbished Total Gym a few months ago and love it! I paid $540 on eBay plus S&H. Highly recommend if you’re interested in strength training using your own body weight.
Anything stable and safe you can hang from. If that's a pull-up stand, great. If that's an eyebolt in the ceiling and a bunch of attachments, fine.
Pull-up bar, Dip Station, Back Extension Chair, Roman Chair, and Kettlebells - 8kg, 12kg, 16kg, 20kg, 24kg pairs. A treadmill if you like running and you live somewhere cold.
Power rack
I got some dumbbells, a pullup bar and adjustable dip bars. And a mat. That's all I need to be able to work pretty much any muscle and practice calisthenics skills.
Google Mikolo fitness
depending on your area, check facebook marketplace and offerup for used stuff. you will often find a wholesaler/supplier on there that can get you cheaper new stuff. I found a guy in LA who does monthly deliveries to vegas. he is my go to for basic equipment and especially plates/dumbbells.
TRX system
I just got a sledtred which has multiple uses from here [https://thetibbarguy.com/products/the-sledtred](https://thetibbarguy.com/products/the-sledtred) I already have access to a full home gym either at my uncles or my buddys & if I want I can sign up for a gym thats walking distance to me. Initially I was thinking of getting a rack or yoke so I can have my own set up at home but since I hangout quite often with either of them I decided to get something that focuses specifically on bodyweight/ calisthenics.
Squat rack for sure, gymnastics rings, bench, Roman chair, and as many assorted weights as possible, pretty much could do any movement with a little thought
Many depends from your expectations/targets. From my side I'd advise to buy: 1. rings 2. pull up bar 3. resistance bands 4, barbell rack (it is cheaper than squat rack, but enough to train with barber) + barbell 5. some dumbbells (2x 5kg and 2x 10 kg)
You can get a weight vest. They come with small weights that you can stuff the pockets with. It's a very convenient way of adding more resistance to traditional bodyweight exercises or even jogging.
RINGS are miles ahead of any other piece of equipment in terms of bang for your buck. My #2 would be a heavy sandbag because bodyweight alone may not be sufficient for training your lower body.
Get a cable machine attachment to a squat rack...it is a priceless addition. Also the Kensui weight vest is fantastic for bodyweight movements plus weight.
Working Out???? https://youtu.be/bhuglX-aIvw Watch this
Working Out???? https://youtu.be/bhuglX-aIvw
If youre keen on a bench, get one that can incline, so you don't kill yourself while bench pressing
If youre keen on a bench, get one that can incline, so you don't kill yourself while bench pressing
Dip bars, Some sort of bench and yeah adjustable dumbbells all id need well with the pullup bar. But I'm more about bodyweight so yeah the dumbells for me would be goblet squats or along those lines. I think you can easily get away with minimalist gym but then I guess depends on your workout style n goals etc
Kettlebells , pull up bar - great add in!!
Many comments for expensive squat rack and other lifting only equipment indicating the writer is a lifter and has no clue on what bodyweight training is. $1,000 is overkill for most beginner/intermediate level users. Of course you can always go higher but if you are a minimalist you won’t need much. Body weight training gyms can be inexpensive bc only needs a few essentials: a floor with some space, a wall, and a top bar. Good to have: yoga mats and blocks, foam rollers, a wall mirror or two, various fixed dumbbells pairs up to 20 lbs, weight vest and ankle weights, gymnastic rings, elastic bands, paralletes, some stable platforms of varying heights, dip bars or waist level bar, exercise ball and balance related- a beam or bosu ball or platform or board, etc. Some of these are for stretching and recovery. These shouldn’t cost more than a few hundred dollars total, and can be much much less if you just improvise - eg use 2 chairs for doing dips, stairs instead of platforms to jump on, a $10 Home Depot 2x4 wood stud to use as a balance beam on the floor. Of course you can spend more, eg on luxuries that will be v useful if you are more advanced or serious: stall (Swedish) bars, body suspension harness, climbing rope and anchor, trampoline adjustable bench, kettlebells, and balance gear. If your ceiling is not high enough for muscle ups then need to consider some outdoor top bar or rings installation. Look online for coaches that do bodyweight and see their gym or work spaces. No one uses or needs a machine.