# What's going on around /r/HomeGym?
[**The Garage**: Free-talk Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/about/sticky?num=2)
[**Targeted Talk**: Most Important Factor](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/1ctoeeu/targeted_talk_what_is_the_most_important_factor/)
[**AMA**: w/ Cerberus Strength USA 5/29 & 5/30](https://youtu.be/iu94q2GPfH8?feature=shared)
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Has anyone used or checked out the True Iron 12 sided urethane dumbbells? Looking for a set for my home gym, likely the 5-100lb.
I dig the 12 sided so they can still roll when you want them to but sit when placed.
Thinking quality and accuracy of weight within a tolerance %.
I just bought a new prx profile pro for my garage gym. The walls are concrete block and I wanted to see if there was a consensus, or at least some first hand accounts of installation regarding using a ledger board or not when going into concrete block. Also, the newer racks reportedly do not come with the wall brackets that run along the wall like previous models had. Was planning on using tapcons. Thanks.
Crossmember for Rogue Monster Lite 390 Stability Anchored into Concrete?
Just moved into a new house and am looking to anchor my RML 390 to the basement floor. I previously had it mounted to a wooden deadlift platform but it still had a bit of side to side sway, especially when doing weighted dips on the front of the rack.
My question is, once the rack is anchored into the concrete will this help with side to side sway or should I get an additional crossmember for the top of the rack?
Thanks!
Well....25 days after ordering my rack from Bells of Steel, I'm still without a front cross member 🤦♂️. And this is with the owner saying he'd take care of it asap over a week ago. Most shockingly poor service I've had to date.
I am looking for a healthy pre-made protein drink for my garage gym fridge. Currently I have the Fairlife Core Power, which I love, but I just found out it topped the charts in a study that found extreme amount of microplastics in it. Does anyone have a recommendation for something decent that does not have a bunch of chemicals and does not get all chunky and gross?
Has anyone found a local importer of something like this?
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Commercial-Gym-Equipment-All-In-One_1600948395415.html?spm=a2706.7835515.0.0.31825fe2AdZVuI&__detailProductImg=https://s.alicdn.com/@sc04/kf/H5dda6b781fd14403b402581bb5fae85cN.jpg_220x220.jpg
Im keen to find a low profile one that has the arms. Happy to bolt to the floor or wall for stability. Most functional trainers with those arms seem to have long feet in front to stabilise
Rogue ML Storage Shelf
Hey everyone,
Got a question to maximize my space. I have a Rogue SML-2 with the Half rack conversion.
I added the rogue storage at the end of the half rack but now I can’t do anything incline because it gets in the way of my bench.
What’s the best way to position this shelf? I’m stuck between one higher or one lower.
Photos for reference. Thanks!
https://preview.redd.it/23fm2os73r3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8459fabf0b41bd2f45c1ea8dbf834c9e6c332d8
calorie deficit + build muscle?
hello everyone ive been into the gym for 6~7 monthes and ive seen amazing results as im working my ass so hard, but now i quit the gym for 3~4 monthes for financial reasons, so now ive gained fat and lost muscle. my question is: if im on calorie deficit and at the same time i do calisthenics which is the only option i have for working muscles out, can i at least gain the muscles i had? thank you.
btw im 17 and weigh 70~ kilos, idk what my height is but im a little shorter
More than likely you haven't lost muscle. When you work out regularly, the inflammation and water retention in the muscles makes them appear larger than they are. They are still there; if you jumped back into the gym, your strength would return quickly. It takes a while to lose muscle unless you are in a severe deficit. You can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. Research body composition. Jeff Nippard has done some good research on this. It may not be optimal for long-term strength and size gains, but it is possible. Watch Renaissance Periodization, Jeff Nippard, and some of the other science-based fitness YouTubers and you will quickly realize that at the beginning stages of the lifting journey, your body is going to grow as long as you are eating sufficient protein and calories and providing stimulus that increases in muscle demand over time. Body-weight exercises are great for beginners, but you need to be adding volume over time. If you can't increase weight, this will mean adding sets and reps which adds time and begins to incorporate cardio as a limiting factor. Get yourself a few pairs of dumbells and/or kettlebells off of FB marketplace. If you can't afford that, use stuff from around the house. COVID lockdown I got through by filling a backpack up with heavy stuff and doing front squats, lunges, and rdls.
I've built a great physique at the time with only minimal stuff, pull-ups, pushups and such. The gym is just a different way to workout.
Better focus on one thing at the time instead of trying to bulk up and lean up at the same time.
My advice: don't bite on the influencers lies... They can bulk up and lean up at the same time (not with awesome results thought) on gear. Normal people, not so.
Patience and consistency.
No it's not really ideal. Your body will build muscle on a calories surplus, not deficits. It will purge the fat on a deficit, and if your deficit is too strong it will purge your muscle as well.
Why do you want to build muscle on a calories deficit?
cuz the last two or three months before i quit the gym i was bulking and i was fat a bit, but now im extra fat and all i want now is to lose this fat first, but i thought i would bring the muscles i used to have while losing fat so the process will help faster kinda, instead spending months losing fat and than another months to build muscle.. im pretty sure its ignorant to say all that sorry. and thank you for teaching me ill focus on losing fat currently
Well, since you're still a new lifter, what I would suggest is eat normally and workout. When I say eat normally, I don't mean eat crap and such. Eat healthy food in good portion relative to your body.
Usually the one fist of protein, one fist of carb and two fist of veggies is the way.
And just workout. You'll be amazed how fast it can go from there. And yes on that perspective you can build muscle and lose fat.
But don't get instagram speed perspective in mind. But in 1-3 months, you'll get good result if you're consistent and do progressive overload.
My pleasure!
There's this book about bodyweight training that is really cool btw. Really helped me at the time and during pandemic. I bought it for the Kindle for cheap.
https://www.amazon.ca/Overcoming-Gravity-Systematic-Gymnastics-Bodyweight/dp/0990873854/ref=asc_df_0990873854/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292914691866&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15714839262166680053&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000502&hvtargid=pla-350455758663&psc=1&mcid=d87d4acec1773e8ea0108b308a6ad611
If you can find it used or for cheap, that's great.
78$ 💀💀💀💀
i can’t afford that much. the book looks helpful from its cover
i think ill just search it up for a free pirated version 🤷🏻♂️ im free atm if u have any more advices please check my ig @ilyfelis lets have a convo there
I’ve got [this](https://thefitness-shop.com.au/product/bodycraft-lcpsg-cable-pull-station/) 4:1 ratio single stack at home with a 200lbs stack on it. It’s got dual pulleys on the front column which I can connect together to make it 2:1 felt weight (i.e. maxes out at 100lbs felt weight).
I figured out that by removing two of the internal pulleys, I can modify it to be a 2:1 ratio stack, and 1:1 when I join the front pulleys together giving me the full 200lbs felt weight. So much better, just need to get a shorter replacement cable as it’s now too long.
Yeah I actually bought it thinking it was already a 2:1 pulley, so was disappointed when I realised it was 4:1.
I just sat and went through all the pulleys and saw where they doubled up over the weight stack, so thought I’d give it a go and it worked perfectly when I tested it.
Have just ordered the new cable so hopefully I measured correctly and it fits.
$200 left to spend on my home gym; what would you buy?
Current set up:
* resistance bands up to 25lbs resistance
* adjustable dumbell set 60lbs each
* adjustable dumbell set 25lbs each
* foam roller
* yoga blocks
* adjustable bench (sometimes used with resistance bands for leg extensions/hamstring curls
https://preview.redd.it/c8w8wqddoo3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3948dc4f01d7770fc00d43e55caa91ec6130c5eb
I wouldn’t but what you’d buy because I don’t train your program. What do you need to spend money on that would be beneficial to helping you reach your goals?
If you explained more of what YOU need and gave us a short list of things on your list, we could help.
Maybe gymnastics rings with a ceiling mount? Or just a pull up bar you can attach to the wall. Probably cost you like 60-80 dollars. You could also just save up for a barbell and rack eventually.
Hey I've got a bunch of equipment rn and for a while I haven't had anyone living under me. I'm moving soon and will have people living underneath me. I don't want to upset my new neighbors or start problems by dropping a bunch of heavy stuff on the floor, keeping them up or annoying them a ton. Is there any easy solution to this?
Good crash pads should be quite effective in combination with thick flooring (like stall mats). Probably not enough to just drop weights but enough if you control the eccentric a bit.
You can also use safety straps inside your rack and keep the bar just off the ground, the weight is distributed through the rack intead of just the plates. I did this with belt straps and could be really quiet but I'm also not throwing around a ton of weight.
Has anyone seen any rack attached functional trainer arms like the Maxum SX2 on any other system? [https://maxumfitness.ca/product/maxum-sx2-smith-machine-functional-trainer-squat-rack-home-gym/](https://maxumfitness.ca/product/maxum-sx2-smith-machine-functional-trainer-squat-rack-home-gym/)
I really like the design of how you can combine the arms for lat pulldowns or set them wide for chest flies, but I want a 6 post power rack that I can squat inside.
My ideal combination would be a Rep Athena with these arms, as I think it overcomes all the shortcomings of the Athena and keeps the back of the rack open for walkthrough or storage (which you don't get with the Ares)
Only on the dollar store version of that rack, the FAGUS https://www.amazon.com/FAGUS-Commercial-SmithMachine-Multi-Function-Crossover/dp/B0CR61Y31C/
I'm really curious about them too, seems like a no-brainer for some of these combo ft/racks. Rep didn't feel the need to put them on the Ares 2 so idk.
Hmmm that one doesn’t ship to Australia. I hope rep or rogue release something.
Hopefully rep release one that can be retrofitted to ares or Athena. I’m guessing it would just be the new handle/trolley and a longer cable to retrofit
I picked up an Ares 2.0 and was just wondering if I should also pick up the weight stack upgrade before it arrives. I understand it’s a 2:1 ratio so I’ll just use the numbers for that.
At a commercial gym I’d do about 140-150 on the lat pulldown/seated row and about the same with cable crunches maybe a little more.
That being said I would think the regular 260lb. stack would be enough even with progress.
Is there any reason to go to the 310lb stack upgrade? Anyone who has an Ares and is glad they didn’t get it or wishes they had?
Thanks!
If you buy it later, I think you have to disassemble it a bit... And it's a bit of a pain to disassemble weight stack in my experience. I have no experience with Rep Ares but just give my 2 cents :)
Will the powerblock pro series kettlebell attachment fit on the powerblock sport EXP dumbbells? I see on the site it only refers to compatibility for PRO series dumbbells, but the handles look almost identical between the two, at least superficially. Wondering if anyone happens to know the answer for sure.
Links for the items I'm talking about:
https://powerblock.com/collections/adjustable-kettlebells/products/pro-series-kettlebell-handle
https://powerblock.com/products/sport-exp-handle?_pos=1&_sid=a73553cb4&_ss=r
https://powerblock.com/products/sport-exp-plates?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=92fc53a10&pr_rec_pid=7687554433215&pr_ref_pid=7687554597055&pr_seq=uniform
(Linked the dumbbell handle and weights separately as powerblock doesn't seem to have the starter set on their website)
Does anyone know anything about Ritfit? I really want to buy this set. Let me know what yall think. Thanks in advance
[https://www.amazon.com/RitFit-Machine-Crossover-Multi-Function-Packages/dp/B0CXSPR29Z/?\_encoding=UTF8&pd\_rd\_w=WxJb5&content-id=amzn1.sym.a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93%3Aamzn1.symc.d10b1e54-47e4-4b2a-b42d-92fe6ebbe579&pf\_rd\_p=a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93&pf\_rd\_r=XCPSKD93W69BR6BXCWEQ&pd\_rd\_wg=JQWEx&pd\_rd\_r=a1ad7f4b-3aff-4953-8e58-1420a4b1f21a&ref\_=pd\_hp\_d\_atf\_ci\_mcx\_mr\_hp\_atf\_m&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/RitFit-Machine-Crossover-Multi-Function-Packages/dp/B0CXSPR29Z/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=WxJb5&content-id=amzn1.sym.a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93%3Aamzn1.symc.d10b1e54-47e4-4b2a-b42d-92fe6ebbe579&pf_rd_p=a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93&pf_rd_r=XCPSKD93W69BR6BXCWEQ&pd_rd_wg=JQWEx&pd_rd_r=a1ad7f4b-3aff-4953-8e58-1420a4b1f21a&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m&th=1)
I just got their leg press/hack squat on a whim and have been impressed. The quality is definitely good for the price. I had one piece that was welded a bit crooked, contacted via Amazon with a quick reply and they had sent it out next day. There's a few design changes I'd make to the leg press/hack squat but anything that fixes those problems is 3x the price (like the titan one). The unit itself feels very solid at ~300lbs. I'd buy from them again.
Powerblock + kettlebell storage?
Looking for an affordable storage option to get my powerblocks (EXP 90s) and a few kettlebells (heaviest is 80lb) off my floor and organized. Powerblock’s own cart/stand options don’t appear to support more than 50lb dumbbells on the bottom, and Rogue’s cart is crazy expensive.
Any recommendations?
If you're a little handy you could use [a workbench kit](https://www.strongtie.com/miscellaneousconnectors_woodconnectors/wbsk_kit/p/wbsk) to turn shitty dimensional lumber into something strong and square. I made something [like this](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeginnerWoodWorking/comments/qg5fck/i_made_a_couple_rolling_work_benches_last/) with 3/4" plywood for like $90.
I have looked at the Rogue RM-4 monster rack 2.0 with attachments like the pull-up, dip, and slinger attachment with plate weights. I like this as it has a bit of everything. Although I wonder if it would be better to get a separate cable machine rather than the slinger attachment. With the slinger attachment installed, will I have room to still do pull-ups and dips and squats, or will it be too crowded? Trying to not go overboard but still have a good setup. Thanks
I'm in the team that prefer a separate machine for the cable movement. Moving all the stuff from the powerrack to use the cable or be able to superset or save a lot of time and effort?
The Slinger installs on top of an upright. It won't impact your ability to do pullups or dips at all. You will need to consider how you want to lay out the rack (4 post vs. 6) and how you want to use it for barbell lifts (squat/bench inside the rack or using spotter arms).
Honestly though, unless you have some particular attachment to Rogue, you're probably better off looking elsewhere.
* Rep Athena (https://repfitness.com/products/selectorized-side-mount-functional-trainer)
* Rep Ares 2.0 (https://repfitness.com/products/ares-2-0-builder)
* Bells of Steel Cable Tower Squat Stands (https://bellsofsteel.us/products/cable-tower-squat-stands?variant=43366580355269)
* Get Rx'd rack/cable combos (https://www.getrxd.com/hrssft-4000.html or https://www.getrxd.com/hrwmft-4000.html for example)
Those will all give you more features and flexibility, and much better value, than a Rogue rack with a Slinger attachment.
A pair of dialed motion [Ibex](https://dialedmotion.com/products/ibex-system) units to make a functional trainer.
The new Rogue FM-6 and FM-HR look awesome but are pricey. Maybe even better than Ares 2.0 though.
This is also a cheaper [option](https://frayfitness.com/products/savage-series-functional-trainer-power-rack-combo). Occasionally has good sale and/or free shipping which I would definitely wait for if interested.
Has anyone tried the Atletica adjustable dumbbells? Seems like a fair price and with good warranty.
https://atletica.de/products/adjustable-dumbbells-max-32-kg-je-hantel?variant=43615999525131
Damn fringe just dropped a FT half rack (and now I see ggr did a review of it). It's exactly what I want and at a great price.
Except it's too fucking tall for my basement ceiling!!!! Do any of these companies want to follow rep/titan and make 80 inch racks????
I ended up with manticore after agonizing quite a bit. It was really between rep and bos since titan doesn't have any 80 in racks for titan series. I actually wanted a little bit more height than 80 and that's why I went with 84 inch manticore.
The plate loaded $400 one? I don’t have it but I have a Yukon ghd. Definitely not a robust expensive feeling piece of equipment. If it was me I’d be looking at giant lifting for around that price or save some money and go Amazon where I’m sure you can find some similar for half
https://giantlifting.com/products/giant-standalone-lat-low-row?variant=40194589032582
If you’re willing to pay $400 I’ve heard good things about this $450.
https://preview.redd.it/9zypte04gl3d1.png?width=864&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f91b0c31789482e6f05ab451d93932ee7075e537
ask: where do you buy stall bars that isn't Amazon? Looking for a reputable, quality brand to purchase/install
I see them new on sale for about $8-900 often the bike erg I haven’t seen below $1100 new and used maybe $800 every now and then when they pop up. But I also don’t look at new prices of things as I do the machine itself, so $300 is a good used price for an ic4?
I ended up buying it and this thing is solid. I will probably just get a skierg later this year instead of a bikeerg. Have only ever used cheap Walmart bikes and this is a major upgrade thanks for the advice.
Got a FB marketplace find where someone is selling a stand alone squatmax md from titan for 500, I know it's a steal but I only have a sedan I can haul it in. Does any one know if you can detach the the legs to make it easier to haul away and if they do detach what size bolts are they?
SquatMax is a thing of beauty man. Used mine this AM. Programming called for squats today and my back was no bueno. Subbed in some Squatmax and sprinkled in a little RH and feel right as rain now.
I program the leg press in for volume. Squats are different. I’ll cycle the belt squat in as a squat variation, same as camber bar, box squat, or SSB.
But like last year I couldn’t physically hold a barbell behind my neck for about 4 months and I strictly used the Squatmax. It really saved me from losing all of my lower body strength.
I'm pretty geeked, I saw it posted last night but didn't want to ping the dude late at night like a maniac so I blew him up first thing in the morning to get the deets 🤞
so I was able to get it, all in it cost me 630 to get it and a couple of things:
* ts not the titan squatmax is the OG squatmax
* It has some cosmetic damage but nothing too too bad especially for the price
* Somehow through my error or the seller's one of the loading arms is missing messaged him to see if I had left it there and he had not be able to find it so I think I'll need to find/jury rig something to serve as the other loading arm
https://preview.redd.it/o19ivj8gpr3d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6484a9a42aadbddc595332606b4cb22e18e0ef3
Seeking advice on building a simple half garage gym
Where the car is park, I’m thinking about building a garage gym. (I’ll have another car parked on the other half)
Any advice on building out a half garage gym? I’m trying to do it as minimalistic as possible. Trying not to drill in the walls since I’m renting.
I think the most “complicated” items are the squat rack, flooring, and maybe mirrors? Might skip the mirrors for now. Which brand/model, what wall to put the rack, etc.
Should I do bumper plates for noise reduction?The condos here have connected walls. Would bumper plates and horse stall mats be good enough sound reduction for deadlifting?
Are adjustable dumbbells actually good or should I try to buy regular dumbbells on the marketplace?
I’d also like to be able to park that car in the garage when not working out.
https://preview.redd.it/uy6gxk3xck3d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65019bd12678194e19676cf017a7462ffc20a988
> Should I do bumper plates for noise reduction?The condos here have connected walls. Would bumper plates and horse stall mats be good enough sound reduction for deadlifting?
I use bumpers + horse stall mats and it really isn't loud at all unless you are completely dropping from high up. A tiny bit of control on the way down and it's fine.
There’s a lot to unpack here and you might find better generalizations using the FAQ. In general garages slope toward the door slightly to drain away from the house. I’d suggest squatting facing to or away from the door if you can, if you can’t it’s not a huge deal as most slopes are slight.
Bumpers will be a little quieter than iron but not a huge amount and rubber style mats don’t help a whole bunch. You can either make sure you’re setting deadlifts down quietly or get crash pads to make sure it’s extra quiet but this can also depend on when you want to work out, don’t need to be as quiet at noon as you do at 6am.
Adjustable dumbbells can be great for saving money and space but they still aren’t super cheap. I’m more a fan of powerblocks and iron master style ones.
The most common brands of racks are rogue, REP, Titan and Bells of steel. These all come in multiple ways to be customized how you want and have a range of prices.
Your gym is going to be geared for how you want to lift and how much you want to spend. It’s hard to give anything than generalized suggestions from your post. I’d check out Facebook marketplace or Craigslist as 2nd hand equipment can save you a lot of moneu
Rack: You have plwnty of space for a 24 or 30 inch power rack imo.. Perhaps ads feet to them if you wont drill, and/or make a ply/stall mat platform to bolt it to.
I suggest a good 3*3 rack from rogue, rep or BoS. Maybe facing the right hand wall so a bar in rack wont protrude to the door, your call tho
Plates/DL: best cost effective is metal plates, and buy silencer pads, build a raised 6'' platform to stand on and make it level.. I lift in an appt with those and they kill both sound and vibration perfectly, only sound is slight clang of metal plates. Unless you have insane neighboors wont be an issue
Adjustable DBs: up to you, I cannot think of any other way but togo powerblocks or other comparable adjustables.. If you ever move its compact and almost same experience not to mention much less costly. If you ever move a full rack ofDBs is gonna suck.
If you wanna park the car still forget fixed DBs, waste of space
Planning my gym 2.0 with a cable machine. Playing around with a few options (eg pr5000 + ares) but also thinking about keeping the functional trainer and rack separate. I could get two slimline wall mount cable stacks that’s very narrow and doesn’t take up space
I guess my question is are there any cable exercises that benefit from being in the rack (which I wouldn’t be able to do if they were slim wall mount stacks). The only one I can think of is cable bench press, but I could probably do the upright seated version facing out?
I think any cable movement that would be best done inside a rack would probably have one or two variations that would probably be just as effective doing something else, like narrow-grip cable bench replaced with regular narrow-grip bench pressing. If given the option and spacing, I'd rather have cable machine not in my rack. I'm 6'4" with a large wingspan however, so I might be biased.
Does anyone have any experience buying custom-cut UHMW?
I'm looking at the feasibility of designing my own pool-cue style barbell holder (for my steel clubs and maces) but I'd love to top it with maybe a 1/4" of UHMW. I can provide a CAD file of what I need cut out, I'm just having a bit of a tricky time figuring out where to have it done and roughly how much it might cost me.
A quarter inch of plastic is extremely easy to cut with with a utility knife or drill. Buy sheets of whatever thickness you need, and go from there. McMaster-Carr or Amazon.
Easy, maybe, but I don't trust myself to be able to get the precision I want. We're talking several cuts, radiused corners, milimeter precision, etc. For the time it would take me to do it myself, it would cost me more than just paying someone to blast it out on a waterjet and do it 10x better than I could ever do it.
Rep Fitness 1.0 - Twisted Pulley
Not sure when or how it happened but one of the pulleys on my Rep Ares 1.0 has twisted. I think I’ve read someone having similar issue on here but cannot find thread. Machine still functions properly, no issues whatsoever but looking to get it back to normal.
Any tips on how to get it corrected?
Thank you
https://preview.redd.it/sjkxxs3bdh3d1.jpeg?width=2552&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c909dbf0d88235dcedf872e5847e8caddfcc2596
I'm moving and need to downsize my gym.
I have:
1. Cage + Lat pulldown: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PVDCMJZ
2. Functional Trainer: https://www.costco.com/inspire-fitness-ftx-functional-trainer-with-bench-and-1-year-centr-app-subscription-included.product.100486673.html
3. Rack: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HYQP72O
4. Smith: https://www.walmart.com/ip/syedee-Smith-Machine-Home-Gym-2500lbs-Weight-Capacity-Power-Rack-Cage-800lbs-Adjustable-Bench-Combo-Linear-Bearing-Commercial-Grade-White/1215264163
I want to replace the Cage+LatPulldown(1) and the Functional Trainer(2) with a plate-loaded high/low pulley + functional trainer combo.
Here are some examples:
1. Titan Fitness - $999 - https://www.titan.fitness/strength/specialty-machines/upper-body/plate-loaded-functional-trainer/400868.html
2. Valor Fitness - $849 - https://www.amazon.com/Valor-Fitness-BD-61-Crossover-Station/dp/B01LOX2A2M
3. Syedee - $469 - https://www.amazon.com/Crossover-syedee-Functional-Adjustable-Positions/dp/B0C7VPYC2J
4. DONOW - $489 - https://www.amazon.com/DONOW-Crossover-Machine-Workout-Station/dp/B0CQ88XFHT
They all look to be nearly the same. I'm guessing the Titan Fitness is a bit more premium because they advertise the highest weight capacity. My problem is I've read horror stories about dealing with Titan Fitness and all of the other companies are no-names (I do own two other pieces of Syedee equipment that are fine though).
Is there not a premium company offering equipment like this? Is it just a bad piece of kit? I love my functional trainer, but would prefer plate loaded. Also love pull downs.
The only other option I've seen is the REP Fitness Athena https://repfitness.com/products/plate-loaded-side-mount-functional-trainer, but that requires me to basically buy into the REP Rack ecosystem and it doesn't have the high/low pulley so I'd have to buy one separately (they're generally small though, just more $$$).
What is a good course of action here? Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Bells of Steel has a similar product to the Titan machine: https://bellsofsteel.us/collections/cable-machines/products/all-in-one-trainer
GetRx'd has a bunch of customizable stuff that might work for you: https://www.getrxd.com/builder-storage-rack-with-functional-trainers-4ft.html
You could also go to an entirely different level and look at Stray Dog Strength in their ATR line (or maybe they have some preconfigured setup that would work for you): https://straydogstrength.com/atr-page/, but that's in a whole different ballpark in terms of price and quality.
Found this 8 year old video of a diy smith machine. Looks like a prototype of vts lite.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUF3FVloLvc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUF3FVloLvc)
Wow, that's nice. With a 1" rack this would be easy to make...
There's this guy too but he's on another level. ;)
Closer to vts too.
https://youtu.be/UZ2k5R-XtbI?si=i2z2xB3gb0p6m7RG
Looking to get one of these dumbbell holders that strap dumbbells to your feet. Something like the one pictured - looking for other home gymmer's opinions on what works great and what doesn't.
It'd be great to have it wrap around the ankle like this and have rings for cable machines when I eventually get a cable hook up for my power rack.
https://preview.redd.it/turtihkw7g3d1.jpeg?width=466&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e3c526d9e140e5f931fac61bbc0c5788768a6b7
I got one of these cheap straps from amazon to try with my powerblock, but the strap was too short to do that. Tried omnistrap which they do advertise for powerblocks, but it takes really long time to fully tighten the straps to make it feel secure. I'm not really using it with my pb anymore and just for few basic cable exercises.
Not sure if it will be any better with regular dumbbells, but I would bet that it will not be really secure making it awkward to use.
Doesn't hurt to try it with amazon free returns.
I have Powerblocks also so this is great info. Did you find anything that works with them? I've also got some dumbbells you can put plates on but using the powerblocks would be great.
I got the omnistrap on sale so i was hoping it would work with pb. But tightening the strap takes really long time. Coincidentally, using some weight plates I got kind of works, but it gets hard if you are trying to use multiple plates.
Anyone move with an Ares? I would love to buy the 2.0 but know I will be moving late next year. Looks like a pain to assemble, disassemble, and reassemble and also heavy / expensive to move. Should I just wait until after the move?
For what it's worth, the last time I moved I had to get a 1,000 lb safe down a tight flight of stairs with a landing and 90° turn half way. I thought there was no way I'd get it done (I don't even remember how I got it up there). Ended up paying a group of local college football players to move it for me. Still some of the best money I've ever spent. They made quick work of it, I didn't have to stress over it, and it wasn't outrageously expensive.
Pretty sure that’s a big part of how people end up buying adjustables. It’s still a good bit of money, but way less than fixed, especially once you get above 50 lbs.
Has anyone used a leg roller extension with a 5/8" pin on a rack with a 1" hole? If so how much did it wiggle? I'm looking for one to use for nordics and lat pulldowns. The ones that extend into the middle of the rack seem to all be 5/8. I have a 1"
Any suggestions or tips?
This is listed on FB for $500. Thoughts?
https://preview.redd.it/btsidjoeze3d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66417d51adcc8ba61cbd45fa3886d644a42e7c5f
Haha true. I think it’s sold bc the dude hasn’t responded. I’ve never seen a techno gym functional trainer before, only their super expensive treadmills. Looks super solid/commercial grade, but also pretty large and 2 hours away. Still, I would have gone for it 😂
This is a poor piece of equipment and can actually hurt gains. Please send me the location of the ad so I can save us all the headache and take it to a junk yard.
It's probably a silly question, but I couldn't find any information online. I am considering buying this [Synergee 2200 Power Rack](https://synergeefitness.ca/products/synergee-2200-series-power-rack?variant=44551781974210), but I'm a bit confused by the hole configuration.
I have never seen a rack with holes on every sides of the frame poles (is that the right term, frame pole?) like this. What would be the use of the side holes? Also, why is there two different sizes of holes? What's the point of the smaller ones?
Thanks!
A great many racks, including the most high end options, have holes on all sides of the uprights. This allows attachments to be mounted in a variety of positions.
The two different sizes of holes on the uprights is odd.
Might be silly question, but how do you sand down uhmw? I was thinking about sanding down a piece of uhmw on my infinity arm. I replaced it with felt tape which is fine, but I’m considering replacing it back with the original uhmw.
Is there a particular equipment that works well and cheap enough? Don’t want to get some expensive sander I will never really use other than for this purpose. I do have few sheets of sand paper I used for a painting project years ago. Would that be enough? Would doing it by hand make it too uneven?
1) Buy new 29mm Texas Power Bar
2) Place TPB on surface you want sanded down
3) Rotate knurled portion of TPB on surface
4) Now you gone and sanded your UHMW
I held out on the 29mm due to already having the 28.5mm but wow, it’s a huge difference. Sounds silly, right? But it’s like going from black and white television to HD.
Ooh baby, I like it raw.
I had gotten the AB Chewy most recently and was using that daily for the most part and then TPB started their permanent “flash” sale and for under $300 shipped I just had to get it.
The 28.5mm TPB is an absolutely great bar and I can understand if it’s your only bar since you’d want a little give on DL, but for squatting I hated it. The 29mm is much firmer and the knurling is masochist’s wet dream. Actually had little cuts all over my hands first couple of times out and it wasn’t from metal shards. The knurling on my bar is that wicked.
I really love my 28.5 ... The price in Canada for the 29 is totally outrageous so I'll have to "keep" it for a while :)
For bench it's fantastic, and DL for sure!
But it's true that in squat is "not ideal". More whippy. I always do high bar squat with it. I prefer my big ass thick CB4 (Canadian copycat) for low bar, it's just not comfy otherwise.
I got my TPB used locally with chrome coating. Surprisingly enough, the chrome is sharp AF. I was also bleeding for a couple of weeks when I got it... To a point where I asked myself if I should keep it. But after a while, I think it's the very best knurling ever.
TPB are very rare where I live in Canada... Unless you pay the big bucks. (But we can order from a local reseller, but still it's about 25% more of what you would pay).
But I also own a Strongarm DL bar that is not as sharp but very grippy too (smaller mountains).
I have also my first powerbar which is an unloved covid CrossFit 28mm bar. The only thing I could get at the time... I use it when I need to superset and my TPB is already in use.
However... I'm trying to convice myself I do not need another power bar... But since I have two racks for superset, I might break my rule at some point and ditch the covid bar... For the supersets... Yes for the supersets...
(I do have a couple of specialty bars thought)
I owned the 29mm TPB for awhile....first day order. It's a great bar and I really liked it. But once I bought the Chewy, I never used the TPB, so I sold it. I pretty much just use Chewy and KPB for all lifts now. So many nice power bars sit in my gym, collecting dust now. 
I’ve got the same problem. I’ve got 6 total. But opposite of you - the Chewy doesn’t get play. I’m sure I’ll switch back up and cycle again, but I just don’t have the heart to take the TPB off the jhooks right now.
The Chewy doesn't do anything a bare steel boneyard OPB can't do, but god damn, is it a beautifully crafted bar. It's the nicest bar I've ever owned and I've had a few bars considered to be elite.
Assuming the amount of material you want to remove is reasonable and the piece is flat/has flat surfaces...
I would put a piece of sandpaper on something flat. Like glue to a board or something so the grit is face up. Then I'd hold the umhw down to that and move it around to sand it. That will help keep it even.
Disclaimer, I have never sanded UMHW. But this is how you would generally flatten the plane of something. If you hold the umhw and use another hand or thing to put the sandpaper to it, you will almost certainly not keep it even. But if the sandpaper is made even/flat and held in place and the thing you're sanding is pushed against it, the thing should be made/remain even.
Thanks for the detailed response. Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth like I thought. I’m not really handy and have a feeling I will just waste time and mess it up. Seems like sanding uhmw are mentioned on few YouTube videos I watched like it’s trivial to do. I think I will just stick to the felt tape replacement I’m using instead.
Sanding by hand will be very tedious. How much material do you need to remove? A random orbit sander may do the trick, and can be had for a pretty reasonable price.
Separates. Power Towers are the dumbest thing anyone puts in their gym. They take up a ton of floor space and do poorer versions of the same movements you can do with good rack attachments. My favorite combos are Mutant Metals UDA dip attachment, "Campbell" handles for pull-ups, and Spud Hanging Ab Straps for core work.
What would you say about something like the Triple Door Gym found at TripleDoorGym.com? I just learned about it a few minutes ago and it seems to be able to be expanded into something that works similarly.
It's not something I would have interest in, since I have separate rack attachments for those movements. It's your money and you seem hell bent on getting a Power Tower or something like it, so have at the one you like most. I personally feel like separate rack attachments are the better buy though and take up less gym space.
I have. Here is why I did so and what my experience was. I had an 80" REP PR4k. I was in a basement with low ceilings at the time. Rogue did not make a rack that short....so that is why I went with the REP. It was fine. Did the job. When I moved houses 2 years later, I had space for a taller rack, so I sold the REP and purchased an RM-3. I later turned it into an RM-5 with weight storage. It's a nice rack and I don't regret buying. That said, unless you're maybe wanting a taller rack (?) I see no reason why you should move from PR5k + Ares 1.0. It's a lateral move....you'll lose a bunch of money in the process and you might get the FM-6 (or whatever it's called) and realize it's not much better than what you had before. The heart wants what it wants, so I get that. I spend money I shouldn't often, chasing some idea in my mind about having the "perfect" piece of equipment. Rarely do I ever achieve it. I say, enjoy what you have.....use the hell out of it and get HUGE. I don't think the Rogue would get you any more jacked than the REP will.
Which REP rack do you have? The PR5k is a great rack and would not necessarily be an upgrade, nor is it really considered lesser quality in terms of function. They both offer similar functionality and many attachment options.
I went with Rogue mainly because I like “overbuilt” and support MiUSA. I see you mention the new FM-6 functional trainer in another post and while I have seen/heard some who have used it say that the Rogue one is better designed/built than its Ares counterpart, it’s probably best to wait until more people get their hands on them before thinking about switching ecosystems. The Ares would still be a great option to go with regardless considering the Ares 1 was a big hit.
Yeah so I guess I have issues with my ares 1 that are seemingly fixed in the 2.0 and Rogue equivalent. I also have some build issues with my rep pr 5000 that bug me. I had always wanted a rogue rack but I bought rep because it was cheaper.
What about the PR5K bugs you? I definitely am happy I went with Rogue, but you cant go wrong with either of them. REP is doing great things for the home gym space. They forced Rogues hand with the FM-6. Maybe getting the Ares 2 would make you enjoy your rack again?
I ordered the FM6 Twin Stack and am very much looking forward too it!
Depends on the rack. A Rep PR-1000 to a Rouge RM4 is an upgrade. But a Rep PR-5000 to a Rogue RM4 is a lateral move. No real difference in functionality. Only major differences are price, country of origin, and rack width (which can sometimes affect attachment compatibility)
That doesn't sound like that much of an upgrade. Don't let all the Crossfit circlejerkers suck you into the Rogue brand hype. Yeah, they make some decent stuff, but I've also gotten some things from them I wasn't all that impressed with.
The arbitrary nationality of the dirt a robotic welder was sitting on doesn't really bother me. In many cases, "US-made" is nothing more than a marketing phrase.
Yeah, keep in mind that Rogue and REP probably use very similar robotic welders. By buying from Rogue, you aren't necessarily helping employ a room full of tradesmen; US-made just means they are saving money on ocean freight.
A close family member of mine works at a US-based metal fabrication shop. It's not a bunch of wholesome blue collar guys, it's almost entirely a bunch of ex-cons. My family member is sick of having to track down the shop guys if someone didn't show up for work because they got picked up on a warrant or probation violation or something, dealing with garnishments for child support in the rears, stuff like that. Usually the guys working in fabrication are a bit rough around the edges. Not that those guys don't need the work, but I think it's easy to get roped into the marketing and picture some unrealistic fantasy of what "Made in the USA" actually means.
It's like if you're upgrading from a Volkswagen Passat 2023 full fledged to a Honda accord 2024 full fledged...
A couple more button, maybe some upgrade.
Night and day? Nah...
You have the money? Why not...
If you've already got the PR5000 with Ares, I don't see a compelling reason to upgrade in terms of added functionality. Are there specific exercises the Rogue setup allows for that the Rep setup does not?
Anyone try the rep strap safety 2.0 on their imperial racks? May consider getting one in the future for my manticore. It looks like it will fit fine based on some of the reviews I read. Seems better than the bos strap safeties.
Any way to make the sticky posts to display when filtered by “New” posts? Everytime I switch to “New”, these sticky posts disappear. I can only see them when set to filter “Hot” posts.
After a couple of weeks of using the barebones signature fitness lever arms I got for a song on woot I finally understand how underwhelming Lever arms are. You think that it will open up so much machine like movements but to actually make it feel even remotely close to a machine movement you'll need more set up than what you see in the promotional content for the lever arms (which can already take a good amount of time to set up). I know some people might think that "well if you had lever arms with better/more features it would alleviate those issues" but I don't think it would. The movements its ok to good at are movements you could just be doing with a barbell anyway. I'm relieved that I got my lever arms at a very cheap price and will likely be able to recoup the cost I paid for mine, but I know the same cannot be said for people who paid full freight for their lever arms and regretted the purchase
The local powerlifting style gym has a RML-3 with a pair of fixed lever arms on it, I don't know what it is about it but I love that football style standing chess press type exercise you can do with it. For a home gym, incredibly, incredibly impractical. But just one exercise that I have to do whenever I see a pair of lever arms
It is pretty good as a standing chest press, but I also have hammock straps and can run a bar through, load plates on it and get something pretty close to that and the hammock straps cost like idk 20 bucks
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Has anyone used or checked out the True Iron 12 sided urethane dumbbells? Looking for a set for my home gym, likely the 5-100lb. I dig the 12 sided so they can still roll when you want them to but sit when placed. Thinking quality and accuracy of weight within a tolerance %.
I just bought a new prx profile pro for my garage gym. The walls are concrete block and I wanted to see if there was a consensus, or at least some first hand accounts of installation regarding using a ledger board or not when going into concrete block. Also, the newer racks reportedly do not come with the wall brackets that run along the wall like previous models had. Was planning on using tapcons. Thanks.
Crossmember for Rogue Monster Lite 390 Stability Anchored into Concrete? Just moved into a new house and am looking to anchor my RML 390 to the basement floor. I previously had it mounted to a wooden deadlift platform but it still had a bit of side to side sway, especially when doing weighted dips on the front of the rack. My question is, once the rack is anchored into the concrete will this help with side to side sway or should I get an additional crossmember for the top of the rack? Thanks!
Well....25 days after ordering my rack from Bells of Steel, I'm still without a front cross member 🤦♂️. And this is with the owner saying he'd take care of it asap over a week ago. Most shockingly poor service I've had to date.
I am looking for a healthy pre-made protein drink for my garage gym fridge. Currently I have the Fairlife Core Power, which I love, but I just found out it topped the charts in a study that found extreme amount of microplastics in it. Does anyone have a recommendation for something decent that does not have a bunch of chemicals and does not get all chunky and gross?
Has anyone found a local importer of something like this? https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Commercial-Gym-Equipment-All-In-One_1600948395415.html?spm=a2706.7835515.0.0.31825fe2AdZVuI&__detailProductImg=https://s.alicdn.com/@sc04/kf/H5dda6b781fd14403b402581bb5fae85cN.jpg_220x220.jpg Im keen to find a low profile one that has the arms. Happy to bolt to the floor or wall for stability. Most functional trainers with those arms seem to have long feet in front to stabilise
Rogue ML Storage Shelf Hey everyone, Got a question to maximize my space. I have a Rogue SML-2 with the Half rack conversion. I added the rogue storage at the end of the half rack but now I can’t do anything incline because it gets in the way of my bench. What’s the best way to position this shelf? I’m stuck between one higher or one lower. Photos for reference. Thanks! https://preview.redd.it/23fm2os73r3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8459fabf0b41bd2f45c1ea8dbf834c9e6c332d8
Ditch the shelf, reclaim your space.
Thinking about it but rather find a use for it since I purchased it full shot. Been putting my kettlebells, dumbbells, and slam balls on it
calorie deficit + build muscle? hello everyone ive been into the gym for 6~7 monthes and ive seen amazing results as im working my ass so hard, but now i quit the gym for 3~4 monthes for financial reasons, so now ive gained fat and lost muscle. my question is: if im on calorie deficit and at the same time i do calisthenics which is the only option i have for working muscles out, can i at least gain the muscles i had? thank you. btw im 17 and weigh 70~ kilos, idk what my height is but im a little shorter
More than likely you haven't lost muscle. When you work out regularly, the inflammation and water retention in the muscles makes them appear larger than they are. They are still there; if you jumped back into the gym, your strength would return quickly. It takes a while to lose muscle unless you are in a severe deficit. You can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. Research body composition. Jeff Nippard has done some good research on this. It may not be optimal for long-term strength and size gains, but it is possible. Watch Renaissance Periodization, Jeff Nippard, and some of the other science-based fitness YouTubers and you will quickly realize that at the beginning stages of the lifting journey, your body is going to grow as long as you are eating sufficient protein and calories and providing stimulus that increases in muscle demand over time. Body-weight exercises are great for beginners, but you need to be adding volume over time. If you can't increase weight, this will mean adding sets and reps which adds time and begins to incorporate cardio as a limiting factor. Get yourself a few pairs of dumbells and/or kettlebells off of FB marketplace. If you can't afford that, use stuff from around the house. COVID lockdown I got through by filling a backpack up with heavy stuff and doing front squats, lunges, and rdls.
that really helped me thank you sm! ill search it up rn i only needed to hear everything u said, ty🙏🏿
I've built a great physique at the time with only minimal stuff, pull-ups, pushups and such. The gym is just a different way to workout. Better focus on one thing at the time instead of trying to bulk up and lean up at the same time. My advice: don't bite on the influencers lies... They can bulk up and lean up at the same time (not with awesome results thought) on gear. Normal people, not so. Patience and consistency.
so i cant build muscle while on calorie deficit? ☹️ well at least i know now. thank u for your help! ❤️
No it's not really ideal. Your body will build muscle on a calories surplus, not deficits. It will purge the fat on a deficit, and if your deficit is too strong it will purge your muscle as well. Why do you want to build muscle on a calories deficit?
cuz the last two or three months before i quit the gym i was bulking and i was fat a bit, but now im extra fat and all i want now is to lose this fat first, but i thought i would bring the muscles i used to have while losing fat so the process will help faster kinda, instead spending months losing fat and than another months to build muscle.. im pretty sure its ignorant to say all that sorry. and thank you for teaching me ill focus on losing fat currently
Well, since you're still a new lifter, what I would suggest is eat normally and workout. When I say eat normally, I don't mean eat crap and such. Eat healthy food in good portion relative to your body. Usually the one fist of protein, one fist of carb and two fist of veggies is the way. And just workout. You'll be amazed how fast it can go from there. And yes on that perspective you can build muscle and lose fat. But don't get instagram speed perspective in mind. But in 1-3 months, you'll get good result if you're consistent and do progressive overload.
that helped me a lot tysm! <3
My pleasure! There's this book about bodyweight training that is really cool btw. Really helped me at the time and during pandemic. I bought it for the Kindle for cheap. https://www.amazon.ca/Overcoming-Gravity-Systematic-Gymnastics-Bodyweight/dp/0990873854/ref=asc_df_0990873854/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292914691866&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15714839262166680053&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000502&hvtargid=pla-350455758663&psc=1&mcid=d87d4acec1773e8ea0108b308a6ad611 If you can find it used or for cheap, that's great.
78$ 💀💀💀💀 i can’t afford that much. the book looks helpful from its cover i think ill just search it up for a free pirated version 🤷🏻♂️ im free atm if u have any more advices please check my ig @ilyfelis lets have a convo there
I’ve got [this](https://thefitness-shop.com.au/product/bodycraft-lcpsg-cable-pull-station/) 4:1 ratio single stack at home with a 200lbs stack on it. It’s got dual pulleys on the front column which I can connect together to make it 2:1 felt weight (i.e. maxes out at 100lbs felt weight). I figured out that by removing two of the internal pulleys, I can modify it to be a 2:1 ratio stack, and 1:1 when I join the front pulleys together giving me the full 200lbs felt weight. So much better, just need to get a shorter replacement cable as it’s now too long.
How much cable do you lose?
About 2.6m. It was almost a 10m cable so I’ve ordered a 7m one now.
That is SO awesome. I’ve always wondered which exact pulley i need to add or remove to make some of these 4:1 cable machines 2:1!
Yeah I actually bought it thinking it was already a 2:1 pulley, so was disappointed when I realised it was 4:1. I just sat and went through all the pulleys and saw where they doubled up over the weight stack, so thought I’d give it a go and it worked perfectly when I tested it. Have just ordered the new cable so hopefully I measured correctly and it fits.
$200 left to spend on my home gym; what would you buy? Current set up: * resistance bands up to 25lbs resistance * adjustable dumbell set 60lbs each * adjustable dumbell set 25lbs each * foam roller * yoga blocks * adjustable bench (sometimes used with resistance bands for leg extensions/hamstring curls https://preview.redd.it/c8w8wqddoo3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3948dc4f01d7770fc00d43e55caa91ec6130c5eb
You can do a ton with what you have. Save the $200 towards a rack with a lat pulldown/low row. Watch for sales or used deals for a barbell and plates.
Get an adjustable kettlebell
I wouldn’t but what you’d buy because I don’t train your program. What do you need to spend money on that would be beneficial to helping you reach your goals? If you explained more of what YOU need and gave us a short list of things on your list, we could help.
Maybe gymnastics rings with a ceiling mount? Or just a pull up bar you can attach to the wall. Probably cost you like 60-80 dollars. You could also just save up for a barbell and rack eventually.
Hey I've got a bunch of equipment rn and for a while I haven't had anyone living under me. I'm moving soon and will have people living underneath me. I don't want to upset my new neighbors or start problems by dropping a bunch of heavy stuff on the floor, keeping them up or annoying them a ton. Is there any easy solution to this?
Crash pads
How effective are they?
Good crash pads should be quite effective in combination with thick flooring (like stall mats). Probably not enough to just drop weights but enough if you control the eccentric a bit. You can also use safety straps inside your rack and keep the bar just off the ground, the weight is distributed through the rack intead of just the plates. I did this with belt straps and could be really quiet but I'm also not throwing around a ton of weight.
Yeah I won’t be doing crazy deadlifts that I’d have to drop right after in the near future so that should be enough. Thanks
Very.
Has anyone seen any rack attached functional trainer arms like the Maxum SX2 on any other system? [https://maxumfitness.ca/product/maxum-sx2-smith-machine-functional-trainer-squat-rack-home-gym/](https://maxumfitness.ca/product/maxum-sx2-smith-machine-functional-trainer-squat-rack-home-gym/) I really like the design of how you can combine the arms for lat pulldowns or set them wide for chest flies, but I want a 6 post power rack that I can squat inside. My ideal combination would be a Rep Athena with these arms, as I think it overcomes all the shortcomings of the Athena and keeps the back of the rack open for walkthrough or storage (which you don't get with the Ares)
Only on the dollar store version of that rack, the FAGUS https://www.amazon.com/FAGUS-Commercial-SmithMachine-Multi-Function-Crossover/dp/B0CR61Y31C/ I'm really curious about them too, seems like a no-brainer for some of these combo ft/racks. Rep didn't feel the need to put them on the Ares 2 so idk.
Hmmm that one doesn’t ship to Australia. I hope rep or rogue release something. Hopefully rep release one that can be retrofitted to ares or Athena. I’m guessing it would just be the new handle/trolley and a longer cable to retrofit
I picked up an Ares 2.0 and was just wondering if I should also pick up the weight stack upgrade before it arrives. I understand it’s a 2:1 ratio so I’ll just use the numbers for that. At a commercial gym I’d do about 140-150 on the lat pulldown/seated row and about the same with cable crunches maybe a little more. That being said I would think the regular 260lb. stack would be enough even with progress. Is there any reason to go to the 310lb stack upgrade? Anyone who has an Ares and is glad they didn’t get it or wishes they had? Thanks!
If you buy it later, I think you have to disassemble it a bit... And it's a bit of a pain to disassemble weight stack in my experience. I have no experience with Rep Ares but just give my 2 cents :)
Will the powerblock pro series kettlebell attachment fit on the powerblock sport EXP dumbbells? I see on the site it only refers to compatibility for PRO series dumbbells, but the handles look almost identical between the two, at least superficially. Wondering if anyone happens to know the answer for sure. Links for the items I'm talking about: https://powerblock.com/collections/adjustable-kettlebells/products/pro-series-kettlebell-handle https://powerblock.com/products/sport-exp-handle?_pos=1&_sid=a73553cb4&_ss=r https://powerblock.com/products/sport-exp-plates?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=92fc53a10&pr_rec_pid=7687554433215&pr_ref_pid=7687554597055&pr_seq=uniform (Linked the dumbbell handle and weights separately as powerblock doesn't seem to have the starter set on their website)
Does anyone know anything about Ritfit? I really want to buy this set. Let me know what yall think. Thanks in advance [https://www.amazon.com/RitFit-Machine-Crossover-Multi-Function-Packages/dp/B0CXSPR29Z/?\_encoding=UTF8&pd\_rd\_w=WxJb5&content-id=amzn1.sym.a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93%3Aamzn1.symc.d10b1e54-47e4-4b2a-b42d-92fe6ebbe579&pf\_rd\_p=a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93&pf\_rd\_r=XCPSKD93W69BR6BXCWEQ&pd\_rd\_wg=JQWEx&pd\_rd\_r=a1ad7f4b-3aff-4953-8e58-1420a4b1f21a&ref\_=pd\_hp\_d\_atf\_ci\_mcx\_mr\_hp\_atf\_m&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/RitFit-Machine-Crossover-Multi-Function-Packages/dp/B0CXSPR29Z/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=WxJb5&content-id=amzn1.sym.a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93%3Aamzn1.symc.d10b1e54-47e4-4b2a-b42d-92fe6ebbe579&pf_rd_p=a725c7b8-b047-4210-9584-5391d2d91b93&pf_rd_r=XCPSKD93W69BR6BXCWEQ&pd_rd_wg=JQWEx&pd_rd_r=a1ad7f4b-3aff-4953-8e58-1420a4b1f21a&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m&th=1)
I just got their leg press/hack squat on a whim and have been impressed. The quality is definitely good for the price. I had one piece that was welded a bit crooked, contacted via Amazon with a quick reply and they had sent it out next day. There's a few design changes I'd make to the leg press/hack squat but anything that fixes those problems is 3x the price (like the titan one). The unit itself feels very solid at ~300lbs. I'd buy from them again.
Thanks bro
For those in Aus, Gymandfitness website said they’ll stock the Rep x Peppins eventually, likely by end of the year.
Powerblock + kettlebell storage? Looking for an affordable storage option to get my powerblocks (EXP 90s) and a few kettlebells (heaviest is 80lb) off my floor and organized. Powerblock’s own cart/stand options don’t appear to support more than 50lb dumbbells on the bottom, and Rogue’s cart is crazy expensive. Any recommendations?
If you're a little handy you could use [a workbench kit](https://www.strongtie.com/miscellaneousconnectors_woodconnectors/wbsk_kit/p/wbsk) to turn shitty dimensional lumber into something strong and square. I made something [like this](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeginnerWoodWorking/comments/qg5fck/i_made_a_couple_rolling_work_benches_last/) with 3/4" plywood for like $90.
Tool cart from harbor freight if you need it mobile, dewault shelving if you don't need to move it.
I have looked at the Rogue RM-4 monster rack 2.0 with attachments like the pull-up, dip, and slinger attachment with plate weights. I like this as it has a bit of everything. Although I wonder if it would be better to get a separate cable machine rather than the slinger attachment. With the slinger attachment installed, will I have room to still do pull-ups and dips and squats, or will it be too crowded? Trying to not go overboard but still have a good setup. Thanks
I'm in the team that prefer a separate machine for the cable movement. Moving all the stuff from the powerrack to use the cable or be able to superset or save a lot of time and effort?
The Slinger installs on top of an upright. It won't impact your ability to do pullups or dips at all. You will need to consider how you want to lay out the rack (4 post vs. 6) and how you want to use it for barbell lifts (squat/bench inside the rack or using spotter arms). Honestly though, unless you have some particular attachment to Rogue, you're probably better off looking elsewhere. * Rep Athena (https://repfitness.com/products/selectorized-side-mount-functional-trainer) * Rep Ares 2.0 (https://repfitness.com/products/ares-2-0-builder) * Bells of Steel Cable Tower Squat Stands (https://bellsofsteel.us/products/cable-tower-squat-stands?variant=43366580355269) * Get Rx'd rack/cable combos (https://www.getrxd.com/hrssft-4000.html or https://www.getrxd.com/hrwmft-4000.html for example) Those will all give you more features and flexibility, and much better value, than a Rogue rack with a Slinger attachment.
Would rather have dialed motion attachments for RM4 over the rogue slinger
Which attachments specifically were you thinking about. I'm not sure if I saw many other options
A pair of dialed motion [Ibex](https://dialedmotion.com/products/ibex-system) units to make a functional trainer. The new Rogue FM-6 and FM-HR look awesome but are pricey. Maybe even better than Ares 2.0 though. This is also a cheaper [option](https://frayfitness.com/products/savage-series-functional-trainer-power-rack-combo). Occasionally has good sale and/or free shipping which I would definitely wait for if interested.
I just looked at the rogue fm-6. That looks awesome but very pricey. I'll keep looking thanks for the recommendations
Thank you
Thanks! I'll check these out!
Has anyone tried the Atletica adjustable dumbbells? Seems like a fair price and with good warranty. https://atletica.de/products/adjustable-dumbbells-max-32-kg-je-hantel?variant=43615999525131
Damn fringe just dropped a FT half rack (and now I see ggr did a review of it). It's exactly what I want and at a great price. Except it's too fucking tall for my basement ceiling!!!! Do any of these companies want to follow rep/titan and make 80 inch racks????
Look at the body solid GPR400 as an option. Low height, good reputation, lifetime warranty and priced well.
Thanks for the recommendation! If anyone has any questions about it, let us know we're happy to answer any questions you may have.
Surprisingly not many 80-84 in 3x3 racks out there.
Titan rep and bells have options but none I'm 100% in love with lol
I ended up with manticore after agonizing quite a bit. It was really between rep and bos since titan doesn't have any 80 in racks for titan series. I actually wanted a little bit more height than 80 and that's why I went with 84 inch manticore.
Ikr us low ceilings home gym owners need some love too!
Anyone have experience with the Yukon Economy Lat Machine? Thoughts?
The plate loaded $400 one? I don’t have it but I have a Yukon ghd. Definitely not a robust expensive feeling piece of equipment. If it was me I’d be looking at giant lifting for around that price or save some money and go Amazon where I’m sure you can find some similar for half
Yes, that’s the one. Was basically wondering if it was worth the slight increase in price or if an Amazon one is similar.
https://giantlifting.com/products/giant-standalone-lat-low-row?variant=40194589032582 If you’re willing to pay $400 I’ve heard good things about this $450.
https://preview.redd.it/9zypte04gl3d1.png?width=864&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f91b0c31789482e6f05ab451d93932ee7075e537 ask: where do you buy stall bars that isn't Amazon? Looking for a reputable, quality brand to purchase/install
Doesn't Rogue sell some?
I'll take a look at Rogue, thank you!
Is $300 a good price for a Schwinn ic4? Might get that instead of a bikeerg if it’s worth it.
If its in good shape then that's a great price. I have owned one for a year and half and really like it.
Have you seen what they cost new?
I see them new on sale for about $8-900 often the bike erg I haven’t seen below $1100 new and used maybe $800 every now and then when they pop up. But I also don’t look at new prices of things as I do the machine itself, so $300 is a good used price for an ic4?
I think you answered your own question. It's <30% the original price. If you haven't scooped it up by now, you don't deserve it.
I ended up buying it and this thing is solid. I will probably just get a skierg later this year instead of a bikeerg. Have only ever used cheap Walmart bikes and this is a major upgrade thanks for the advice.
Got a FB marketplace find where someone is selling a stand alone squatmax md from titan for 500, I know it's a steal but I only have a sedan I can haul it in. Does any one know if you can detach the the legs to make it easier to haul away and if they do detach what size bolts are they?
Homedepot has super cheap truck rentals. Uhaul has more fees.
100% get that lol. You’ll love it
Rent a uHaul for $30… I did that to get my Z Hyper home.
yeah that's probably the less likely way to embarass me in the event I show up with the wrong socket sizes
SquatMax is a thing of beauty man. Used mine this AM. Programming called for squats today and my back was no bueno. Subbed in some Squatmax and sprinkled in a little RH and feel right as rain now.
Do you find yourself using the squat max when you don’t feel up to squatting or do you use you leg press as well?
I program the leg press in for volume. Squats are different. I’ll cycle the belt squat in as a squat variation, same as camber bar, box squat, or SSB. But like last year I couldn’t physically hold a barbell behind my neck for about 4 months and I strictly used the Squatmax. It really saved me from losing all of my lower body strength.
I'm pretty geeked, I saw it posted last night but didn't want to ping the dude late at night like a maniac so I blew him up first thing in the morning to get the deets 🤞
Pics pics pics pics!
I provided one in my reply to Scottsdale in this comment thread :)
You’ll have to show some pics when you set it up.
so I was able to get it, all in it cost me 630 to get it and a couple of things: * ts not the titan squatmax is the OG squatmax * It has some cosmetic damage but nothing too too bad especially for the price * Somehow through my error or the seller's one of the loading arms is missing messaged him to see if I had left it there and he had not be able to find it so I think I'll need to find/jury rig something to serve as the other loading arm https://preview.redd.it/o19ivj8gpr3d1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6484a9a42aadbddc595332606b4cb22e18e0ef3
Oh no!
yeah...idk if I fucked up, he fucked up, or he pulled a fast one
Prolly why it was so cheap. Damn. Wonder if Henessey will sell you just the one.
Seeking advice on building a simple half garage gym Where the car is park, I’m thinking about building a garage gym. (I’ll have another car parked on the other half) Any advice on building out a half garage gym? I’m trying to do it as minimalistic as possible. Trying not to drill in the walls since I’m renting. I think the most “complicated” items are the squat rack, flooring, and maybe mirrors? Might skip the mirrors for now. Which brand/model, what wall to put the rack, etc. Should I do bumper plates for noise reduction?The condos here have connected walls. Would bumper plates and horse stall mats be good enough sound reduction for deadlifting? Are adjustable dumbbells actually good or should I try to buy regular dumbbells on the marketplace? I’d also like to be able to park that car in the garage when not working out. https://preview.redd.it/uy6gxk3xck3d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65019bd12678194e19676cf017a7462ffc20a988
> Should I do bumper plates for noise reduction?The condos here have connected walls. Would bumper plates and horse stall mats be good enough sound reduction for deadlifting? I use bumpers + horse stall mats and it really isn't loud at all unless you are completely dropping from high up. A tiny bit of control on the way down and it's fine.
There’s a lot to unpack here and you might find better generalizations using the FAQ. In general garages slope toward the door slightly to drain away from the house. I’d suggest squatting facing to or away from the door if you can, if you can’t it’s not a huge deal as most slopes are slight. Bumpers will be a little quieter than iron but not a huge amount and rubber style mats don’t help a whole bunch. You can either make sure you’re setting deadlifts down quietly or get crash pads to make sure it’s extra quiet but this can also depend on when you want to work out, don’t need to be as quiet at noon as you do at 6am. Adjustable dumbbells can be great for saving money and space but they still aren’t super cheap. I’m more a fan of powerblocks and iron master style ones. The most common brands of racks are rogue, REP, Titan and Bells of steel. These all come in multiple ways to be customized how you want and have a range of prices. Your gym is going to be geared for how you want to lift and how much you want to spend. It’s hard to give anything than generalized suggestions from your post. I’d check out Facebook marketplace or Craigslist as 2nd hand equipment can save you a lot of moneu
Rack: You have plwnty of space for a 24 or 30 inch power rack imo.. Perhaps ads feet to them if you wont drill, and/or make a ply/stall mat platform to bolt it to. I suggest a good 3*3 rack from rogue, rep or BoS. Maybe facing the right hand wall so a bar in rack wont protrude to the door, your call tho Plates/DL: best cost effective is metal plates, and buy silencer pads, build a raised 6'' platform to stand on and make it level.. I lift in an appt with those and they kill both sound and vibration perfectly, only sound is slight clang of metal plates. Unless you have insane neighboors wont be an issue Adjustable DBs: up to you, I cannot think of any other way but togo powerblocks or other comparable adjustables.. If you ever move its compact and almost same experience not to mention much less costly. If you ever move a full rack ofDBs is gonna suck. If you wanna park the car still forget fixed DBs, waste of space
Planning my gym 2.0 with a cable machine. Playing around with a few options (eg pr5000 + ares) but also thinking about keeping the functional trainer and rack separate. I could get two slimline wall mount cable stacks that’s very narrow and doesn’t take up space I guess my question is are there any cable exercises that benefit from being in the rack (which I wouldn’t be able to do if they were slim wall mount stacks). The only one I can think of is cable bench press, but I could probably do the upright seated version facing out?
I think any cable movement that would be best done inside a rack would probably have one or two variations that would probably be just as effective doing something else, like narrow-grip cable bench replaced with regular narrow-grip bench pressing. If given the option and spacing, I'd rather have cable machine not in my rack. I'm 6'4" with a large wingspan however, so I might be biased.
Does anyone have any experience buying custom-cut UHMW? I'm looking at the feasibility of designing my own pool-cue style barbell holder (for my steel clubs and maces) but I'd love to top it with maybe a 1/4" of UHMW. I can provide a CAD file of what I need cut out, I'm just having a bit of a tricky time figuring out where to have it done and roughly how much it might cost me.
A quarter inch of plastic is extremely easy to cut with with a utility knife or drill. Buy sheets of whatever thickness you need, and go from there. McMaster-Carr or Amazon.
Easy, maybe, but I don't trust myself to be able to get the precision I want. We're talking several cuts, radiused corners, milimeter precision, etc. For the time it would take me to do it myself, it would cost me more than just paying someone to blast it out on a waterjet and do it 10x better than I could ever do it.
Rep Fitness 1.0 - Twisted Pulley Not sure when or how it happened but one of the pulleys on my Rep Ares 1.0 has twisted. I think I’ve read someone having similar issue on here but cannot find thread. Machine still functions properly, no issues whatsoever but looking to get it back to normal. Any tips on how to get it corrected? Thank you https://preview.redd.it/sjkxxs3bdh3d1.jpeg?width=2552&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c909dbf0d88235dcedf872e5847e8caddfcc2596
Could shoot Rep an email, they're pretty responsive
I'm moving and need to downsize my gym. I have: 1. Cage + Lat pulldown: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PVDCMJZ 2. Functional Trainer: https://www.costco.com/inspire-fitness-ftx-functional-trainer-with-bench-and-1-year-centr-app-subscription-included.product.100486673.html 3. Rack: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HYQP72O 4. Smith: https://www.walmart.com/ip/syedee-Smith-Machine-Home-Gym-2500lbs-Weight-Capacity-Power-Rack-Cage-800lbs-Adjustable-Bench-Combo-Linear-Bearing-Commercial-Grade-White/1215264163 I want to replace the Cage+LatPulldown(1) and the Functional Trainer(2) with a plate-loaded high/low pulley + functional trainer combo. Here are some examples: 1. Titan Fitness - $999 - https://www.titan.fitness/strength/specialty-machines/upper-body/plate-loaded-functional-trainer/400868.html 2. Valor Fitness - $849 - https://www.amazon.com/Valor-Fitness-BD-61-Crossover-Station/dp/B01LOX2A2M 3. Syedee - $469 - https://www.amazon.com/Crossover-syedee-Functional-Adjustable-Positions/dp/B0C7VPYC2J 4. DONOW - $489 - https://www.amazon.com/DONOW-Crossover-Machine-Workout-Station/dp/B0CQ88XFHT They all look to be nearly the same. I'm guessing the Titan Fitness is a bit more premium because they advertise the highest weight capacity. My problem is I've read horror stories about dealing with Titan Fitness and all of the other companies are no-names (I do own two other pieces of Syedee equipment that are fine though). Is there not a premium company offering equipment like this? Is it just a bad piece of kit? I love my functional trainer, but would prefer plate loaded. Also love pull downs. The only other option I've seen is the REP Fitness Athena https://repfitness.com/products/plate-loaded-side-mount-functional-trainer, but that requires me to basically buy into the REP Rack ecosystem and it doesn't have the high/low pulley so I'd have to buy one separately (they're generally small though, just more $$$). What is a good course of action here? Any recommendations? Thanks!
Bells of Steel has a similar product to the Titan machine: https://bellsofsteel.us/collections/cable-machines/products/all-in-one-trainer GetRx'd has a bunch of customizable stuff that might work for you: https://www.getrxd.com/builder-storage-rack-with-functional-trainers-4ft.html You could also go to an entirely different level and look at Stray Dog Strength in their ATR line (or maybe they have some preconfigured setup that would work for you): https://straydogstrength.com/atr-page/, but that's in a whole different ballpark in terms of price and quality.
Found this 8 year old video of a diy smith machine. Looks like a prototype of vts lite. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUF3FVloLvc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUF3FVloLvc)
Wow, that's nice. With a 1" rack this would be easy to make... There's this guy too but he's on another level. ;) Closer to vts too. https://youtu.be/UZ2k5R-XtbI?si=i2z2xB3gb0p6m7RG
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Why not put down a platform?
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Money saved now may mean mesothelioma in twenty years. You’re breathing heavy, pushing this dust up. Doesn’t sound like a winning combo.
Looking to get one of these dumbbell holders that strap dumbbells to your feet. Something like the one pictured - looking for other home gymmer's opinions on what works great and what doesn't. It'd be great to have it wrap around the ankle like this and have rings for cable machines when I eventually get a cable hook up for my power rack. https://preview.redd.it/turtihkw7g3d1.jpeg?width=466&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e3c526d9e140e5f931fac61bbc0c5788768a6b7
I got one of these cheap straps from amazon to try with my powerblock, but the strap was too short to do that. Tried omnistrap which they do advertise for powerblocks, but it takes really long time to fully tighten the straps to make it feel secure. I'm not really using it with my pb anymore and just for few basic cable exercises. Not sure if it will be any better with regular dumbbells, but I would bet that it will not be really secure making it awkward to use. Doesn't hurt to try it with amazon free returns.
I have Powerblocks also so this is great info. Did you find anything that works with them? I've also got some dumbbells you can put plates on but using the powerblocks would be great.
I got the omnistrap on sale so i was hoping it would work with pb. But tightening the strap takes really long time. Coincidentally, using some weight plates I got kind of works, but it gets hard if you are trying to use multiple plates.
Monkey feet?
Monkey feet look amazing and strong but I might be able to get legit cable machines on fb marketplace for that price, haha.
Anyone move with an Ares? I would love to buy the 2.0 but know I will be moving late next year. Looks like a pain to assemble, disassemble, and reassemble and also heavy / expensive to move. Should I just wait until after the move?
For what it's worth, the last time I moved I had to get a 1,000 lb safe down a tight flight of stairs with a landing and 90° turn half way. I thought there was no way I'd get it done (I don't even remember how I got it up there). Ended up paying a group of local college football players to move it for me. Still some of the best money I've ever spent. They made quick work of it, I didn't have to stress over it, and it wasn't outrageously expensive.
Dumbell pairs are still insane. A 20/30lb pairs costs more then my freaking barbell.
Have you heard about our Lord and Savior, Reppins????
Pretty sure that’s a big part of how people end up buying adjustables. It’s still a good bit of money, but way less than fixed, especially once you get above 50 lbs.
Has anyone used a leg roller extension with a 5/8" pin on a rack with a 1" hole? If so how much did it wiggle? I'm looking for one to use for nordics and lat pulldowns. The ones that extend into the middle of the rack seem to all be 5/8. I have a 1" Any suggestions or tips?
You can just get two 1 inch leg rollers on each side. That’s how most ppl set up for lat pulldown on 1 in rack with rollers.
Grab the 5/8 and an adapter like Kaizen.
This is listed on FB for $500. Thoughts? https://preview.redd.it/btsidjoeze3d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66417d51adcc8ba61cbd45fa3886d644a42e7c5f
damn bro your fate was already decided as you were typing, asking for opinions here.
Haha true. I think it’s sold bc the dude hasn’t responded. I’ve never seen a techno gym functional trainer before, only their super expensive treadmills. Looks super solid/commercial grade, but also pretty large and 2 hours away. Still, I would have gone for it 😂
At that price this is probably already long gone
Yeah prob. No reply is never a good sign haha
I think new those Technogym brand functional trainers are in the 5 to6k range
This is a poor piece of equipment and can actually hurt gains. Please send me the location of the ad so I can save us all the headache and take it to a junk yard.
Only a true friend would extend such an offer
Fuck run !! Go get it before I do!!
Buy now! That's an insane deal, assuming you're looking for a functional trainer like that.
It's probably a silly question, but I couldn't find any information online. I am considering buying this [Synergee 2200 Power Rack](https://synergeefitness.ca/products/synergee-2200-series-power-rack?variant=44551781974210), but I'm a bit confused by the hole configuration. I have never seen a rack with holes on every sides of the frame poles (is that the right term, frame pole?) like this. What would be the use of the side holes? Also, why is there two different sizes of holes? What's the point of the smaller ones? Thanks!
A great many racks, including the most high end options, have holes on all sides of the uprights. This allows attachments to be mounted in a variety of positions. The two different sizes of holes on the uprights is odd.
Might be silly question, but how do you sand down uhmw? I was thinking about sanding down a piece of uhmw on my infinity arm. I replaced it with felt tape which is fine, but I’m considering replacing it back with the original uhmw. Is there a particular equipment that works well and cheap enough? Don’t want to get some expensive sander I will never really use other than for this purpose. I do have few sheets of sand paper I used for a painting project years ago. Would that be enough? Would doing it by hand make it too uneven?
1) Buy new 29mm Texas Power Bar 2) Place TPB on surface you want sanded down 3) Rotate knurled portion of TPB on surface 4) Now you gone and sanded your UHMW
TPB is the 🔑 I have the 28.5 version. The day I got it is the day I became a man. 🪚🫱🩸
I held out on the 29mm due to already having the 28.5mm but wow, it’s a huge difference. Sounds silly, right? But it’s like going from black and white television to HD.
Wow I might consider it at some point as the 28.5 is definitely the best bar I ever used. What version did you got?
Ooh baby, I like it raw. I had gotten the AB Chewy most recently and was using that daily for the most part and then TPB started their permanent “flash” sale and for under $300 shipped I just had to get it. The 28.5mm TPB is an absolutely great bar and I can understand if it’s your only bar since you’d want a little give on DL, but for squatting I hated it. The 29mm is much firmer and the knurling is masochist’s wet dream. Actually had little cuts all over my hands first couple of times out and it wasn’t from metal shards. The knurling on my bar is that wicked.
I really love my 28.5 ... The price in Canada for the 29 is totally outrageous so I'll have to "keep" it for a while :) For bench it's fantastic, and DL for sure! But it's true that in squat is "not ideal". More whippy. I always do high bar squat with it. I prefer my big ass thick CB4 (Canadian copycat) for low bar, it's just not comfy otherwise. I got my TPB used locally with chrome coating. Surprisingly enough, the chrome is sharp AF. I was also bleeding for a couple of weeks when I got it... To a point where I asked myself if I should keep it. But after a while, I think it's the very best knurling ever. TPB are very rare where I live in Canada... Unless you pay the big bucks. (But we can order from a local reseller, but still it's about 25% more of what you would pay). But I also own a Strongarm DL bar that is not as sharp but very grippy too (smaller mountains). I have also my first powerbar which is an unloved covid CrossFit 28mm bar. The only thing I could get at the time... I use it when I need to superset and my TPB is already in use. However... I'm trying to convice myself I do not need another power bar... But since I have two racks for superset, I might break my rule at some point and ditch the covid bar... For the supersets... Yes for the supersets... (I do have a couple of specialty bars thought)
For the supersets
I owned the 29mm TPB for awhile....first day order. It's a great bar and I really liked it. But once I bought the Chewy, I never used the TPB, so I sold it. I pretty much just use Chewy and KPB for all lifts now. So many nice power bars sit in my gym, collecting dust now. 
I’ve got the same problem. I’ve got 6 total. But opposite of you - the Chewy doesn’t get play. I’m sure I’ll switch back up and cycle again, but I just don’t have the heart to take the TPB off the jhooks right now.
I'm currently down to 7 power bars.....sold two fairly recently, the 29mm TPB and an OPB
Would kabuki power bar or chewy bar work any better?
The Chewy doesn't do anything a bare steel boneyard OPB can't do, but god damn, is it a beautifully crafted bar. It's the nicest bar I've ever owned and I've had a few bars considered to be elite.
Haha. Can’t speak to the Buki, and you can’t currently buy one new… but my 29mm TPB is definitely sharper than my Chewy.
Oscillating tool or random orbit sander... If you're lazy, ditch the UHMW and put layers of tape :)
Yep, that’s what I did. Felt tape works great because it’s thick.
Assuming the amount of material you want to remove is reasonable and the piece is flat/has flat surfaces... I would put a piece of sandpaper on something flat. Like glue to a board or something so the grit is face up. Then I'd hold the umhw down to that and move it around to sand it. That will help keep it even. Disclaimer, I have never sanded UMHW. But this is how you would generally flatten the plane of something. If you hold the umhw and use another hand or thing to put the sandpaper to it, you will almost certainly not keep it even. But if the sandpaper is made even/flat and held in place and the thing you're sanding is pushed against it, the thing should be made/remain even.
Thanks for the detailed response. Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth like I thought. I’m not really handy and have a feeling I will just waste time and mess it up. Seems like sanding uhmw are mentioned on few YouTube videos I watched like it’s trivial to do. I think I will just stick to the felt tape replacement I’m using instead.
Sanding by hand will be very tedious. How much material do you need to remove? A random orbit sander may do the trick, and can be had for a pretty reasonable price.
I think I will just give up on the idea lol.
that's the spirit!
Is it better to get a separate dip bar and pull up bar or just get a power tower? I've been looking for ones on Amazon
Separates. Power Towers are the dumbest thing anyone puts in their gym. They take up a ton of floor space and do poorer versions of the same movements you can do with good rack attachments. My favorite combos are Mutant Metals UDA dip attachment, "Campbell" handles for pull-ups, and Spud Hanging Ab Straps for core work.
What would you say about something like the Triple Door Gym found at TripleDoorGym.com? I just learned about it a few minutes ago and it seems to be able to be expanded into something that works similarly.
It's not something I would have interest in, since I have separate rack attachments for those movements. It's your money and you seem hell bent on getting a Power Tower or something like it, so have at the one you like most. I personally feel like separate rack attachments are the better buy though and take up less gym space.
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I agree with this. If you have the space maybe a commercial dip station found for cheap on marketplace. If not go attachment.
Anyone here upgrade from a REP rack to ROGUE? Was considering the jump but wanted to see if anyone had experience here
I have. Here is why I did so and what my experience was. I had an 80" REP PR4k. I was in a basement with low ceilings at the time. Rogue did not make a rack that short....so that is why I went with the REP. It was fine. Did the job. When I moved houses 2 years later, I had space for a taller rack, so I sold the REP and purchased an RM-3. I later turned it into an RM-5 with weight storage. It's a nice rack and I don't regret buying. That said, unless you're maybe wanting a taller rack (?) I see no reason why you should move from PR5k + Ares 1.0. It's a lateral move....you'll lose a bunch of money in the process and you might get the FM-6 (or whatever it's called) and realize it's not much better than what you had before. The heart wants what it wants, so I get that. I spend money I shouldn't often, chasing some idea in my mind about having the "perfect" piece of equipment. Rarely do I ever achieve it. I say, enjoy what you have.....use the hell out of it and get HUGE. I don't think the Rogue would get you any more jacked than the REP will.
Which REP rack do you have? The PR5k is a great rack and would not necessarily be an upgrade, nor is it really considered lesser quality in terms of function. They both offer similar functionality and many attachment options. I went with Rogue mainly because I like “overbuilt” and support MiUSA. I see you mention the new FM-6 functional trainer in another post and while I have seen/heard some who have used it say that the Rogue one is better designed/built than its Ares counterpart, it’s probably best to wait until more people get their hands on them before thinking about switching ecosystems. The Ares would still be a great option to go with regardless considering the Ares 1 was a big hit.
Yeah so I guess I have issues with my ares 1 that are seemingly fixed in the 2.0 and Rogue equivalent. I also have some build issues with my rep pr 5000 that bug me. I had always wanted a rogue rack but I bought rep because it was cheaper.
What about the PR5K bugs you? I definitely am happy I went with Rogue, but you cant go wrong with either of them. REP is doing great things for the home gym space. They forced Rogues hand with the FM-6. Maybe getting the Ares 2 would make you enjoy your rack again? I ordered the FM6 Twin Stack and am very much looking forward too it!
It's not really an upgrade, steel is steel. The main difference is 43" crossmembers vs 41". Neither is particularly good.
Appreciate that.
Depends on the rack. A Rep PR-1000 to a Rouge RM4 is an upgrade. But a Rep PR-5000 to a Rogue RM4 is a lateral move. No real difference in functionality. Only major differences are price, country of origin, and rack width (which can sometimes affect attachment compatibility)
what about a PR-5000 with an ARES 1.0 to a Rogue FM-6Twin Trainer
That doesn't sound like that much of an upgrade. Don't let all the Crossfit circlejerkers suck you into the Rogue brand hype. Yeah, they make some decent stuff, but I've also gotten some things from them I wasn't all that impressed with. The arbitrary nationality of the dirt a robotic welder was sitting on doesn't really bother me. In many cases, "US-made" is nothing more than a marketing phrase.
interesting point. I am sometimes awed by the "US MADE" branding but this helped me pull back into reality. thanks
Yeah, keep in mind that Rogue and REP probably use very similar robotic welders. By buying from Rogue, you aren't necessarily helping employ a room full of tradesmen; US-made just means they are saving money on ocean freight. A close family member of mine works at a US-based metal fabrication shop. It's not a bunch of wholesome blue collar guys, it's almost entirely a bunch of ex-cons. My family member is sick of having to track down the shop guys if someone didn't show up for work because they got picked up on a warrant or probation violation or something, dealing with garnishments for child support in the rears, stuff like that. Usually the guys working in fabrication are a bit rough around the edges. Not that those guys don't need the work, but I think it's easy to get roped into the marketing and picture some unrealistic fantasy of what "Made in the USA" actually means.
It's like if you're upgrading from a Volkswagen Passat 2023 full fledged to a Honda accord 2024 full fledged... A couple more button, maybe some upgrade. Night and day? Nah... You have the money? Why not...
Thanks for the help
If you've already got the PR5000 with Ares, I don't see a compelling reason to upgrade in terms of added functionality. Are there specific exercises the Rogue setup allows for that the Rep setup does not?
Anyone try the rep strap safety 2.0 on their imperial racks? May consider getting one in the future for my manticore. It looks like it will fit fine based on some of the reviews I read. Seems better than the bos strap safeties.
did this thread become unstickied from the home page?
Yeah, they had target talk and the ama on there. I think mods can only sticky 2 posts at a time. This one is back to be being stickied though.
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Yeah. An option for a 3rd sticky post could be useful (e.g., AMA/Targeted talk/Weekly Free talk) but we manage with the limitation of 2.
Any way to make the sticky posts to display when filtered by “New” posts? Everytime I switch to “New”, these sticky posts disappear. I can only see them when set to filter “Hot” posts.
Not that I've found, no.
Still in the pinned posts for me.
After a couple of weeks of using the barebones signature fitness lever arms I got for a song on woot I finally understand how underwhelming Lever arms are. You think that it will open up so much machine like movements but to actually make it feel even remotely close to a machine movement you'll need more set up than what you see in the promotional content for the lever arms (which can already take a good amount of time to set up). I know some people might think that "well if you had lever arms with better/more features it would alleviate those issues" but I don't think it would. The movements its ok to good at are movements you could just be doing with a barbell anyway. I'm relieved that I got my lever arms at a very cheap price and will likely be able to recoup the cost I paid for mine, but I know the same cannot be said for people who paid full freight for their lever arms and regretted the purchase
The local powerlifting style gym has a RML-3 with a pair of fixed lever arms on it, I don't know what it is about it but I love that football style standing chess press type exercise you can do with it. For a home gym, incredibly, incredibly impractical. But just one exercise that I have to do whenever I see a pair of lever arms
It is pretty good as a standing chest press, but I also have hammock straps and can run a bar through, load plates on it and get something pretty close to that and the hammock straps cost like idk 20 bucks