Multi/home gym advice

[aarro]

Hey everybody, I recently decided to get a home gym but I don't really know much about them. I'm looking at the lower budget end but I have linked a few below so feel free to comment

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/4603788.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/3306031.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/2414742.htm

[Yelmurc]

I wouldn't get that setup myself. I'd just get a bench some dumbbells and a pull-up bar. keep it simple. I'm not recommending the items below but just giving you a idea.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...f_rd_i=3408341

http://www.amazon.com/PowerBlock-Eli...ble+dumb+bells

http://www.amazon.com/ProSource-Mult...ds=pull+up+bar

[aarro]

I get what your saying but I kinda have my mind set on a Multi gym

[Alvito]

I get what your saying but I kinda have my mind set on a Multi gym

Have you used all or most of the features offered by one? Would you use them now? If so then it is an easy choice. I have known far too many people that get them and they end up a coat rack. While they will let you do many things they don't let you do all of them well in most cases. I have always been a bigger fan of free weights myself though, sure there is downside for them too. Whatever you decide in I hope you factor in the large amount of space needed for these to actually use some or all of the features. You can fill a smaller bedroom with one of these and nothing else if you want it to be fully functional.

[aarro]

I have the space for one yes. I'm not looking to build up massive, I'm not fat but I could do with losing few extra pounds and would like a little bit of all round toning.

[Sonatine185]

I recommend the bench and dumbbells as recommended above. Whenever I hit the gym, it's mostly bench + dumbbells. The reason is because you can work out every single muscle with just this. Plus those machines are very targeted workouts for specific muscles. The dumbbell equivalent is almost always better because you use multiple muscles to stabilize the weight. Do free weights + cardio and you've gotten the basics down.

[Bigbazz]

I used to have one and it ended up gathering dust while now I use a pull up bar, dumbells and pressup bars (great if you have wrist troubles, in addition to the fact that they allow you to go much deeper/wider). I have mates with the same, they ended up with a good pullup bar and a basic easy to store bench with some dumbells.

Compared to those multi gym setups you posted I think my suggestion is much more effective.

[tehealadin]

My home gym setup is a bench, barbell, 2 pairs of dumbells, easy curl bar, 2 pairs of resistance bands (excellent buy), gymnast hoops and a tower with pullup bars/dipping station, and a belt with a chain to attach plates to it. I am a little low on space for some work, but overall I have enough for most ground work. What I am missing is a squat rack, but I don't have the room. My squat work ends up being lighter, or do hack squats with a barbell to compensate. Can't remember how much the entire thing cost, however it was all a good investment. I'd recommend free weights, as the others have, much more variety in your exercises. Don't get me wrong, machines have their place, but the freedom of free weights, from the larger selection of exercises, more room to change the exercise (different angles etc) as well as building stabilizing muscles is well worth it. It also takes up less space too.

[Bushtuckrman]

None of those my man

If you want cheap. Get a bench, half rack, bar, weights and some dumbbells when you can. Multigym's like those are a waste of money in all honesty plus they generally break after 3 months of continual use in all honesty as the pulley's and cables are cheap shit.

If you are broke and for whatever reason you cannot afford a gym membership then I suggest subscribing to uncle scooby. He specializes in poor people getting into bodybuilding and health with home workouts that lean on the improvised side, plus he is just a great guy. He has such a great personality, very shy but just a top guy to have a beer with. I am straight but I'd bottom for Scooby :P

https://www.youtube.com/user/scooby1961

[Deleted]

If you want a multi gym go for it, whatever you are comfortable with.

Pros: accessible, controlled movements, little chance of injury, convenience.

Cons: wont work supporting muscles, lack of flexibility, space!

Like others I'd avoid, if you use it a lot you will soon move past the point where fixed exercise machines are what you want to be doing (except specific isolation exercises), and if you don't, then you have a great hulking machine taking up space.....

Bench, freeweights, pullup bar, possibly a half rack, and if you want resistance cables are much better imo, you work more muscles and get more gains.

[Deleted]

Get a bench, squat rack, Olympic barbell and lose weights. Make sure the squat rack has a adjustable side. U can now do every compound in the book aside from pull ups.

[Schmeebs]

Get a bench, squat rack, Olympic barbell and lose weights. Make sure the squat rack has a adjustable side. U can now do every compound in the book aside from pull ups.

Then put a bar of steel at the top of your squat rack, and you can do pull-ups too!