My Home Gym Wish List
About half of the athletes I coach one-on-one train out of home gyms. I love minimalism, and the idea of a home gym – and programming for a home gym – truly appeals to me. That said, I believe that the benefits of a good gym cannot be understated. You will always be better off training with trustworthy partners than training by yourself. Still, if you’ve got the dime, it’s worth having a home gym for emergencies, easy training sessions, and your own personal satisfaction.
It’s the holiday season, and I’m guessing many lifters plan to invest in their home setups. If you’re in that boat, here’s my own wishlist for a gym.
If you want a program for a home gym, you can get my Minimalist Strength program for just $7 by clicking here!
Bars
For general purpose: Elitefts Iron Cowboy Bar
I like the Elitefts Iron Cowboy Bar over other power bars because of its aggressive knurling and aggressive pricing. The whip is fairly similar to a Texas power bar.
For deadlifting: Kabuki Deadlift Bar
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard about the Kabuki PR Bar. Using this bar might feel like cheating, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun.
For squatting: Texas Squat Bar
Smaller lifters can get away with a power bar for squats, but if you’re going to be loading 600+, it’s worth getting a dedicated squat bar to reduce whip. I like the Texas bar; the Rogue squat bar is pretty nice, too.
Best speciality bar: Elitefts Yoke Bar
It’s better than a regular safety squat bar, and you can remove the handles and use it for JM presses, too.
For rehab: Bamboo Bar
I honestly love this thing. It’s too expensive to justify in most cases, but if you’re dealing with some type of rotator cuff or labrum strain, I suggest giving it a try.
Machines
I’d go with a chest-supported row over a lat pulldown. The Elitefts version is the most difficult and also the most well-designed back machine I’ve ever used, save for the original Nautilus pullover.
You can get a dip stand for less money, but then you have to figure out how to keep the darn thing from tipping over. Go with an overbuilt one and save yourself the hassle!
This is my favorite GHR, and it’s also one of the most affordable. I know the Rogue Donkey looks tempting, but avoid it — it’s nearly useless for GHRs.
Rack
No, it’s not worth the money, but it sure is nice! Elitefts and Texas Strength Systems make more affordable options that are 99% as effective.
Conditioning
I really wavered between this and the Rogue Echo. The build quality of the Echo is better, but the AssaultBike is more comfortable. At the end of the day, this is just personal preference.
A classic.
Other
This is just a quick list of accessories I’d recommend picking up:
Adjustable Bench
Jump Boxes
Medicine Balls
Bands
Chains
Boards
For Those With Cash to Spare
Dumbbells
I love dumbbells for accessory work, but a full set is pretty pricey, which is why they’re so far down on the list.
Cable Station
After a nice set of dumbbells, I’d invest in a good cable station. This FreeMotion piece is my favorite; you can probably get a deal on a used one.
Hack Squat
I prefer a hack squat to a belt squat because the hack allows for more quad emphasis, and you can get plenty of posterior chain work without machines. In my experience, the best hack squat machine is the one that happens to fit your body the best, so try a few before you buy.
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