Owning a gym comes with its pros and cons. One of the biggest pros is having a gym outfitted with equipment hand-selected by me. So while it’s not technically a home gym, it’s got all the stuff I deem important for training hard and getting strong.
I have many online clients who train in a home gym, so naturally, I field questions about what kind of equipment they should get. Sometimes they have to work within space and/or budget constraints, but there’s a short list of equipment that I think every home gym should have if getting as big and strong as possible is the goal.
Outside of the obvious pieces like a squat rack, bench and plates, I’d recommend every home gym lifter get the following items:
The Nicest Barbell You Can Buy
The single most important thing you can buy for your home gym: a top-of-the-line barbell that you can use for your heavy squats, bench presses and deadlifts. Yes, people have gotten strong on rusty, bent barbells for years, but I do believe that if there’s one thing worth being snooty about, it’s the quality of your barbells. It’s the primary tool you’re going to use in training. Don’t skimp on it.
My favorite all-around barbell in the world is the Texas Power Bar by Texas Strength Systems. The diameter and knurling are perfect for bench pressing, and if I’m not squatting or deadlifting with bars specific to those lifts, the Texas Power Bar works just fine.
A close second would be the Rogue Ohio Power Bar, which is the single most rugged and durable bar I’ve ever used. The diameter is slightly thicker than its Texas counterpart which makes it feel less desirable to me for benching, and the shorter inner sleeve doesn’t fit well with certain racks or J-hooks. But these are trivial differences and if you’re looking for a bar that will last forever and withstand some serious iron beatdowns, the Ohio Power Bar is an excellent choice.
A Versatile Cable Machine
Most people think of free weights when it comes to a home gym. But if you can swing it, buy a cable machine that lets you perform a variety of accessory exercises. This will open up a myriad of possibilities for exercise selection.
I’ve had cable crossovers, free-motion cable machines, flywheels and more, but nothing has been as versatile (or as budget-friendly) as our Titan Lat Tower V2. I’ve largely been unimpressed with Titan equipment, but this piece has been a home run for our gym. The dual lat pulldown and seated row options are clearly designed for upper back training, but we’ve managed to get creative and find ways to do:
- Triceps pushdowns
- Biceps curls
- Leg curls
- Leg extensions
- Lateral raises
- Rear delt raises
- Pull-throughs
We’ve got a plate-loaded tower which is much less expensive than the selectorized option. While it’s nice to just move a pin to change the weight, I actually like the versatility of the plate-loaded option so you can make micro-adjustments to the load.
Safety Squat Bar
Speaking of versatility, the Safety Squat Bar (SSB) can be used for just about any exercise where you’d have a bar on your back, but makes them less stressful on your upper body. Anybody who’s been training hard for a long time knows how frustrating it can be to deal with cranky shoulders, elbows and wrists. The SSB lets you do squats, good mornings, lunges and more with less upper body stress, which improves longevity and training variety.
I’d buy an SSB for a home gym before any other specialty bar, including a deadlift bar or trap bar. It’s that helpful. The EliteFTS Yoke Bar is hands-down my favorite SSB. We also have a Titan version which is comparable and less expensive. I have limited experience with the Kabuki Transformer bar, but I’m not sure all the bells and whistles warrant the higher price tag. Assuming most home gym owners are budget-conscious, opt for the EliteFTS version and save your money for other items.
Home, Sweet Home Gym
I get no kickback or commission for recommending these items, so this advice is as genuine as it gets. If you’re looking to outfit your home gym to kick as much ass as possible, make sure you budget for these three items.
thanks for the good info