Building Your Home Gym
Now, I know that not everyone is looking to set up their home gym with the intention of running a fitness coaching business. However, approaching the build out with this mentality will help you maximize space as well as create a space that you’re excited to workout in every day.
Space
It seems obvious, but there are usually 2 or 3 spaces in your house that you might be considering turning in to your home gym, each of which will require specific considerations in your build out and equipment selection.
Basement
The basement is a great option if you have the ceiling height for it. That’s a big if — consider the importance of overhead work in your training and whether or not your ceiling can accommodate those movements. The biggest advantage to the basement setup is temperature control. You don’t have to worry about space heaters in the winter or melting in the hot summer months in your garage. However, you trade temperature control for natural lighting and the option to do indoor/outdoor workouts and exercises (ie. sled pushes, running, double unders, wallballs, carries, etc.). Another advantage to the basement over the garage is a level floor. It seems like a given, but place a golf-ball on your garage floor and watch it slowly roll away from your house. Most basement floors are level and square which means you can get away with a more minimal flooring solution to save some cash.
Spare Room
If I had to rank the 3 space options, this one would be last in terms of functionality, but it’s certainly better than no home gym at all! You’ll have to make some compromises when it comes to your training and exercise selection if you’re training in a spare room, but the advantages are similar to the basement. You have temperature control, ceiling height, and a level floor to work with. The drawbacks are somewhat obvious but still worth mentioning — smaller space, wood/carpet/synthetic floors (ie. no bar dropping or heavy lifts), and noise through the house. If you opt for the spare bedroom, your equipment considerations will most likely include dumbbells and kettlebells rather than barbells and squat racks. Like I said, still WAY better than nothing.
Garage
I might be somewhat biased here, but the garage is your best option to maximize training space, equipment selection, and overall aesthetic and feel. Plus, your neighbours will think you’re crazy, but they’ll secretly become more and more curious about working out…
Disclaimer — the garage will be your most expensive option in terms of build out, but it has the most longevity and consistency as a viable training space for your home gym setup, no matter where you live. Ie. basements from house to house will differ considerably, but most garages are going to be similar in terms of size and characteristics. If you pimp out your basement gym in this current house, you might not have that option in your next house should you decide to move…
Some considerations for the garage gym build out:
Heating — install a space heater. Trust me — it’s hard enough to workout early in the morning on those winter months, don’t make it any harder than it has to be.
Lighting — if it’s dark outside, go to your garage and turn that wimpy little light on and then think about how you’d feel working out in that every day… It sucks, right? Get a little LED light (LIKE THIS), and you won’t regret it.
Flooring — You might need some heavier duty stall mats to level out garage floor imperfections or dampen noise. If noise is a big concern for you, these crash cushions are a game-changer. If you like doing a lot of heavy barbell work or Olympic lifting, consider building a level lifting platform in your garage to keep the bar from constantly rolling away from you.
To sum up this section on space — I would highly recommend using the Rogue Virtual Gym Builder to enter the exact dimensions and shape of the space before you start adding pieces of equipment. I’ve gone through this exercise every time I purchase a new piece of equipment or decide to make a big move in my gym. It will save you a tonne of time and money!
Storage
I’m putting this ahead of the equipment section because it’s that important. This was perhaps my biggest oversight when I was designing and building my garage gym. You get so wrapped up in buying all the fancy equipment, but with every credit card transaction, your floor space decreases…
Consider storage solutions for the following items:
- Plates — PRX Performance has wall-mounted plate storage that looks really slick and gets all your plates up off the floor. At first, you’ll tell yourself that you don’t mind stacking them on the ground in the corner. Then 2 weeks later, you’ll hate it and avoid barbell movements at all costs. Just buy the plate storage…
- Dumbbells — Any basic dumbbell rack will do here, but this falls in the same category as plate storage. A pile of dumbbells on the floor takes up more space than you might anticipate. Especially if you’re getting the rubber hexagon dumbbells (which I strongly suggest).
- Barbells — “Gun Racks” or vertical bar hangers are the way to go here. Leaning a barbell against the corner of the wall is bad for both the barbell and your walls so I wouldn’t advise that, and leaving it on your squat rack is a lot like leaving a kitchen cupboard door open. You think it’s fine until you bonk your head on it while you walk around scrolling the gram…
- Resistance Bands / Chains / Belts / Glute Loops / Skipping Ropes — Get a wall-mounted hanger for all this stuff. It doesn’t have to be fancy — it can even be homemade; but the last thing you’ll want to do on a cold February morning is fish around some Rubbermaid bin for your glute-loop…
- Shoes / Knee Sleeves / Wrist Wraps / Accessories — Leave it to good ole IKEA for this one — I just have one of those cube storage shelves with baskets to toss all of this stuff in. I put my shoes up top and then loose / unorganized stuff goes in the bins. It keeps the gym looking clean and puts all that stuff in one place for when I need it to do my workout. It also gives you a place on top for things like your phone, a speaker or computer, tissues, keys, etc.
For a one-stop storage solution, you can go big with a tiered storage solution like this, but it’s definitely not required. This option is on my dream wish list; if you have the finances and you want to ball out, I would highly recommend.
The last thing to keep in mind here is that your gym is taking up space in your home that is usually allocated for storing all your other stuff, such as: lawnmowers, gardening tools, power tools, winter tires, furniture, various collections and hoarding tendencies, etc. Make sure you have somewhere to park your vehicle and store all your other crap, because your home gym will always be more important… in the words of my client and friend Dave, “build a shed.” Well said Dave. Well said.
Equipment
This is why you’re here right? You want to know what to buy first and how to get the most bang for your buck!
My first suggestion is less popular for those who are looking to save money. There’s a saying in the garage gym community (yes, that’s a real thing) that goes, “buy once, cry once.” Meaning, don’t buy cheap shit because your equipment needs to be strong enough to keep you safe, and also needs to perform over a long period of time. At the end of this section, I’ve shared a link to a great resource from Garage Gym Reviews on The Ultimate $1,000 Budget Home Gym. Disclaimer for my Canadian brethren — the prices in that resource are USD… So add 40% by the time you factor exchange and shipping.
Kettlebells
If you’re goal is to have a minimal set-up, a variety of kettlebells (ideally, in pairs!), is by far the most cost efficient and versatile. You can purchase a full set of kettlebells for the cost of your squat rack alone. I suggest cast iron kettlebells rather than the aluminum kettlebells that are used in competition or the plastic and rubber shit you can buy at Walmart. Here are links to a few distributors that make great cast-iron kettlebells:
Squat Racks
If you like to lift weights, the squat rack is going to be what you build your home gym around. Purchasing the right squat rack for your space is really important since it’s going to be the piece that costs the most, takes up the most space, and will bear the heaviest loads at once.
I have the Gorila S20 Camo fold away wall-mounted squat rack, and it’s absolutely perfect for my space. It’s only 20” off the wall, so it’s footprint is minimal, and it can be folded in flush with the wall when space is at a premium. If you need space for kipping gymnastics movements, you’ll need the S35 or any of the other wall-mounted racks that are further away from the wall.
If space and money weren’t a thing, I would probably purchase a power rack like THIS ONE or THIS ONE. The reason being is that power racks are far more versatile and safer when it comes to heavier lifts like squatting and bench pressing without a spotter. Furthermore, Rogue and Sorinex make a tonne of kick ass attachments for these racks like pulley systems, lever arms, plate/bar storage, and much more.
Even though there are low cost options here, I don’t suggest pursuing a “value” or knock off brand when it comes to a squat rack. These things are going to be bolted into your house, hold several hundred pounds of steel and rubber, and will support your bodyweight as you do pull-ups and other hanging movements. Buying a cheap squat rack is like getting in an elevator that has a capacity of 300lbs. Even if you weigh half of that, you’re taking the stairs.
Barbell + Plates
Unless your goal is to compete in a strength sport such as powerlifting, olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, or anything in between — you don’t need a $1,000 barbell. You won’t notice a huge difference in everyday use. But there are a few things you should consider when purchasing a barbell. Evaluate barbells based on their knearling (the grippy parts), whip (stiff vs. flexy), length & circumference (35lbs vs. 45lbs barbell for female/male respectively), and lastly, aesthetic. You can easily find a great barbell that will last you a long time that checks all those boxes for $200-$400. I have the Rogue Echo Bar — to be honest, it’s just okay. My next purchase will be the Rogue Bar 2.0 or the Gorila Bar.
Plates will fall into a similar category and evaluation criteria as barbells. Buy plates that serve your specific training needs. If you like to do a bit of everything like me, get a quality set of hi-temp bumper plates. These won’t hold you back in any one area, whether it’s powerlifting, weightlifting, CrossFit, or sport specific strength and conditioning. Here’s a link to the Xtreme Monkey set that I have, but any and all of the manufacturers that have been referenced in this article so far make comparable products.
Dumbbells
Here’s the skinny — buy rubber hexagon dumbbells. This is one area that you can afford to be picky on price. Although getting your hands on dumbbells right now is a bit like finding a golden ticket in a chocolate bar, hold out for a proper set of rubber hex dumbbells. You’d be surprised the places you can find these — Amazon, Walmart, Sportchek, Marshalls, etc. — and all of the manufacturers I’ve referenced already make their own versions too. Provided you aren’t throwing them or dropping them on the ground repeatedly from over your head, any rubber hexagon dumbbell will get the job done.
Some of my clients have been really impressed with this adjustable dumbbell set from Bowflex. I like this option to save space, and they still have a flat side that keeps the dumbbells stable on the floor if you’re doing things like renegade rows or dumbbell snatches.
Cardio Machines
These are definitely a “nice to have,” and probably shouldn’t be the first thing you buy if your goal is broad and inclusive “functional fitness” (whatever that means…). BUT, I would highly recommend at least one of these options, especially if you live somewhere that has a real winter — you know, with snow and stuff.
The trap with these machines is that they can take up a tonne of space. While I think the assault bike is the most approachable and dynamic of the “Big 3,” it takes up the most space while not in use. BUT, if you have the space for it, and you want a machine that can keep you conditioned year round, I would strongly recommend the Rogue Echo Bike over the Air Assault Bike. Yes, the Echo Bike is more expensive, but it’s overbuilt to the nines, and it requires WAY less maintenance and fuss than the assault bike. Given that it’s belt driven vs. chain driven, it’s also a hell of a lot quieter when you ride it. But if you like the sound of small engine jets, or replacing plastic pedals, and greasing up bike chains, the Air Assault Bike is the better option.
If space is a concern for you, I’d suggest purchasing a Concept 2 Rowing machine instead of a fan bike. When in use, the rower does take up some space; however, when you’re not using it, you can tip it on end or hang it from the wall, and it’s footprint is almost null.
Most space efficient but also most technical is the Concept 2 Ski-Erg. These machines are super cool and fun to train on, but there is a higher degree of skill involved to be efficient on these machines when compared to fan bikes and rowers. If you only have wall space left in your home gym for some sort of cardio machine, the ski-erg is a really cool option. One of my best friends had a ski-erg mounted on the inside wall between his two garage doors at his old house — genius!
Hey Greg, what about treadmills?
Have you ever heard anyone tell you about how much they love running on their treadmill? Probably not. The world is your treadmill. Get outside and run.
Specialty Equipment
This is kind of a catch-all for very specific pieces of equipment that typically only serve one or two functions. For example, a GHD machine is awesome for hip extensions and sit-ups, but it takes up a tonne of space, costs $800+, and only supports two exercises.
Some other examples include plyometric boxes, strongman sandbags and implements, and cable towers/machines. I’m not saying you can’t have these — you can have whatever you want. Just know that these “nice-to-haves” that you frequently see in commercial gyms are very expensive and will consume majority of your foot-print.
Closing
I promised to share the link to The Ultimate $1,000 Budget Home Gym. Garage Gym Reviews is a wicked resource as well for when you’re making equipment purchasing decisions. Follow Coop on instagram https://www.instagram.com/garagegymreviews/ and tag him when you get your garage gym set up! (humble brag — I’ve been reposted on there a few times). You’ll see some really cool garage gym ideas from all over the world for inspiration / day-dreaming. His equipment review videos are also fantastic and well thought out so I’d highly recommend familiarizing yourself with his page if you’re serious about designing a home gym.
Lastly, you don’t have to take any of my recommendations. Building your home gym and making it your own is all part of the experience. The equipment that you choose to buy will be completely dependent on what type of training you like to do, and whether or not you can see yourself doing it at home. I think that the global pandemic has re-focused a lot of people on just how valuable having some sort of space and access to equipment for fitness is, and there are so many great products and ways you can create that experience in your own home.
I wish you all the best if you embark on this home gym adventure. If you have specific questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
