Home Gym recommendations?

Driven2lift

Legend
So I've been trying to come up with ideas for wedding gifts and it hit me that I could use the opportunity to amp up my home gym.

Currently have a treadmill and magnetic cycle do good for cardio. Only have dumbells and a multiposition bench for weight equipment though. Well and a pullup bar.

Was thinking of either a squat rack and stick with free weights or a higher end multi function workout machine (bowflex as an example). the number of exercises possible on some of the nicer stations has my attention but I worry about the effectiveness vs using free weights.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Positive or negative feedback on any particular brands?
 
Ironmaster IM2000. Very versatile machine that can be used with free weights as well. Get the Olympic collars.

Well built to last a lifetime. Safeties keep you safe if working alone. This is not a Smith machine as the bar is not counter weighted. Only problem is the bar weighs 35 lbs instead of 45.
 
a power cage and an olympic weight set will get you going for years. i started with just that and went a year before i bought anything else and that was just because i started working at a place that gave me wholesale pricing on exercise equipment.
 
a power cage and an olympic weight set will get you going for years. i started with just that and went a year before i bought anything else and that was just because i started working at a place that gave me wholesale pricing on exercise equipment.

im actually going this route and cancelling membership, any recomendations on cable cross and leg press?
 
im actually going this route and cancelling membership, any recomendations on cable cross and leg press?

Yep. Dont bother. Unless you have a few thousand laying around and lots and lots of space. Even then there are lots of other things I would get before either of those.

I have been putting together a home gym for years and have not considered either and I havr a lot more to get I would. One of my training partners has over 100Gs invested in a hom gym. He sold his cable crossover as it was not used and the only reason he got a leg press is that he bought out a failed gym. He plans on selling it. Oh and his gym, its home to several national level strongmen, a powerlifter with a 2210 total and several highland games competitors. They dont use leg press or cable crossoverd either.

Basically, they are a fluff piece. Not needed, only wanted. If you do want them still, get on craigslist and find used ones. Don't waste your money on new when saving thousands will get you the same thing.
 
or you can have someone buy you a 2 year national pass to 24hour fitness for $300 at costco. assuming you live close to the biggest gym chain in the frikkinn world, and youll have access to every sport and active in the country
 
i'll stick with leg extensions

then be prepared for mediocre results at best. no offense but if you think to build big legs you do extensions you have a lot to learn, and enjoy your trashed knees when you get older.
 
then be prepared for mediocre results at best. no offense but if you think to build big legs you do extensions you have a lot to learn, and enjoy your trashed knees when you get older.

I assumed by now you'd catch the humor, guess not....
 
Sarcasm doesn't work here.

it does but things differ than in real life. things like inflection and tone are lost mostly in words where you can visually see them or hear them in person. also timing is very different.

so its lost in translation more then not working on a forum.
 
If you spend wedding money on a bowflex you deserve a divorce. That said, a squat rack would be a logical purchase imo, along with a barbell and plates. Between the barbell, your dumbells and the rack for safety there isn't a routine you couldn't run. Not one worth running, anyways.
 
Lol that's a strong opinion. I was already pretty sure I wanted to stick to free weights but wanted to see if anyone had other suggestions
 
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