10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Home Gym…

[@amixofgeekcontent]

Oh my goodness, that tip about buying 10lb increment fixed dumbbells with magnetic plates is such an awesome tip thanks Mr. Coop

[@jwd0503]

It's a total game changer. As much as I love my Nuobells, there's nothing like working out with a big solid piece of metal. The best part of the 10lb increment route is that if you get a vertical dumbbell rack they still only take up about the same amount of space as a set of adjustable dumbbells & stand.

[@danielxavier2701]

Yep..I have Rubber coated Hex dumbbells and use 5 lb ankle straps on my wrists. 😉

[@CJKlok]

@@jwd0503 On the other hand, the clicks and rattles of my PowerBlocks conjure up images of a terminator's mechanical ambling as you push the limits. In time those sounds become audible rhythm keepers to help me make it through the sets imposed on myself.

[@BrandonSchwartz1]

@@CJKlok 😂

[@Sockpuppet45]

Don’t I hear so many adjustable dumbbells failing. By Olympic dumbbells, you can add as many 2 or 1 inch plates depending which you buy and it’s also way cheaper

[@meisdetermined]

Safety Tip- if you are going to perform ANY type of dynamic movement (olympic pulls, snatch, etc) MAKE CERTAIN your flooring can not give way. I have seen rubber tiles slide out of place because they were not secure. That’s a great way to have lots of weight make you do the splits and crack yo head wide open. Safety first ladies and gents. I post this because you are my people and we looking out for each other. :)

[@rayzerot]

Insightful and wholesome. I love it!

[@ItsDatCajunStuff]

Small tip to add: don’t make shelves an afterthought. Get a few of those relatively cheap metal shelves you build yourself from Home Depot. As you collect attachments/collars/belts/etc., you need a place to toss it so it doesn’t clutter your floor. They ain’t gotta be tidy, but it makes the space feel bigger.

[@AjaychinuShah]

Watch out for those cheap polyurethane ones with uric acid (extracted from sewage.) Just junkie comparatively to expensive metal stiff shelving.

[@meisdetermined]

Cheap approach are screws or lag bolts into the wall. So many attachments literally only need a head from something screwed into the wall.

[@calcifires]

One of my favorite things I added to my gym was LED lighting strips that I installed around the perimeter of my room. Putting on the color changing lights just kicks my brain into beast mode and helps me focus on my lifts.

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

That is so interesting. I am fascinated by the little quirks people have regarding what motivates or stimulates or inspires or comforts them. Plus there is evidence that light influences our brains in some ways. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@aceshibastrength]

kind of adding to what coop said but so far the best thing i've done to my home gym is personalize it with flags and banners and stuff. Adding your own vibes to your own space is one of the main benefits of owning a home gym and even something as small as putting up a made up gym logo on the wall really motivates me to spend more time in my gym

[@mensb1936]

Hope u have a few pride flags in there

[@properpolymath2097]

That's awesome, I like the idea of making a gym logo

[@mplussant]

…also….started out working at home @ 11 years old w/big brother 10 years before ever seeing the inside of a commercial gym, thus was acclimated to the discipline necessary to carry on w/out the gym crowd ‘experience’…way more satisfying/effective/enjoyable…if you have kids you want introduced to lifting, start them young (safely)…I’m 74 and still at it consistently…best investment of time/money ever made-I have TWO home gyms in my house…love your channels Coop/Brandon!…

[@fwiffo42]

Another one I’d add: plan out your space. It’s much easier to move equipment on a piece of paper or a computer than after everything is assembled. I used Rogue’s Zeus tool to plan out my whole gym layout before installing anything and it saved me a ton of time and headache. Even if you don’t plan to buy from Rogue, it can give you a good idea and relatively easy way to plan things out before investing a lot of money in your equipment.

[@utubepunk]

@Garagegymsreviews0 Go away scammer.

[@usmetals]

Three years ago I started off with a squat rack with pull-up bar from Fringe, spotter areas (a must have per Coop), dip accessory, Rogue Bar, generic (affordable) bumper plates. I used this setup extensively. Then I added a TRX setup that I attached at the pull-up bar. I’ve since added an eyebolt to the rack (through one of the lower holes) that I use for my TRX Rip Trainer and battle rope. I bought a ply box off market place. During the past Black Friday I added Kettlebells. The point is…I agree with Coop, build the gym over time with well thought out equipment that you’ll use.

[@williamwarren3833]

My biggest takeaway from starting a home gym is do some research on DIY gym equipment. You'd be amazed on what you can make for a fraction of the cost of gym equipment that would work the same/give the same effect as store bought equipment. Saves ALOT of money.

[@chethammer]

I have Bowflex adjustable dumbbells, a Bowflex adjustable bench, a Bowflex adjustable kettlebell, the barbell dumbbell add-on, a bunch of bands, and a mat. I get really good workouts and I don't have tons of equipment. Also, a friend got me a 15lb medicine ball to warm up with.

[@Sqtch406]

Flooring tip: get double stick carpet tape (from hardware store) to keep your stall mats or other flooring from moving.

[@NoFate247]

WOW Best Coop video in a while, some real BANGER ideas that people should hear about. Versatility is the spice of life and spice of home gyms. And You def. can dip your toes by keeping your local gym membership and making sure you actually use the home gym and like it.

[@TheFavorite95]

My advice is that you can do so with surprisingly limited space so you don't have to wait for that next life phase. Adjustable dumbbells, an adjustable bench goes a long way, maybe with an elastic band and an over the door pull-up bar and bam you have 100 exercises with equipment that easily slides to the corner of your room. My other tip is to use it in ways you cant use a commercial gym. Waiting for the oven to preheat? Should be enough time for a couple sets of overhead press. Got 5 minutes between meetings? Do some pullups then catch your breath.

[@haywardhummus8777]

This is great advice and one of the reasons I wanted to build a home gym setup. Not having to change for the public, drive my car 15 mins, walk into the building, lock up my bag, and finally all that I’ve mentioned in reverse order. Home gyms are a huge time saver especially if you are a workaholic or a parent.

[@JenniferSKinney]

One of your tips (#9?) hit the nail on the head. I care about the aesthetics of the rest of my house - so it’s not unreasonable that I will also care about the aesthetics of my home gym. Mine is in our finished lower level. I took care with the paint choices and flooring and layout and I enjoy being in there. Next, my son and I are going to install strip lights to up the cool and fun factor.

[@stevemcinally460]

Here’s a point I wish I would have followed. If you have the room, don’t buy a wall mounted rack. Having a free standing rack that can be moved around provides flexibility to change things as your needs may change.

[@somerandomvideos645]

totally agree, also, as I rent my place, I only could my wall mounted reck for 1 place I rented, but 2next places owners didn't allow to mount it, for whatever reason so I only got rid of it now, it wasted my space, my time moving it each time, packing it, and money for shipping it between my places don't buy mount stuff if you have no ur own place or you are moving a lot.

[@haywardhummus8777]

Agreed! I purchased a 7ft Olympic bar to replace a shorter one, only to quickly realize I needed to move the cage so the bar doesn’t hit the wall to my left. I just pulled it a bit to my right and that was that.

[@Anythingelse83]

Your recommendation on dumbbell magnets when using fixed is GREAT and I did not know that, you just saved me a grip of money, thank you!

[@takedown6470]

I've had a home gym for 40 years. Brought my pro type dumbells when the plates were 27cent a pound. I bolted my squat rack / smith machine to the ceiling instead of the floor.

[@JW88275]

I would say to point #4 is in order to determine where to spend the most $$ write down and prioritize the most important things that will last the longest and will have the most usage, such as the power rack, barbell, cardio equipment. Don't be afraid to go the cheap route initially with other items that don't last as long or are pretty ubiquitous, such as bands, weights, storage, etc.

[@joecowan3719]

It sounds like a lot of these issues wouldn't exist if you came to the dark side...the finished basement

[@GarageGymReviews]

🤣🤣 never! Well, maybe someday. - Coop

[@nuttynuts4601]

And here’s me planning to build a gym in my family’s new barn, complete opposite

[@joecowan3719]

@@nuttynuts4601 Ooooh, very cool! I am jealous of the height of your space. Are you planning.on any heating and cooling options?

[@nuttynuts4601]

@@joecowan3719Heating I'm not to worried about. I love training in hoodies and sweatshirts and can wear masks to protect my face. Only worry is the bar being cold in which I could possibly get training gloves. Cooling is more of my worry because in southern Oregon heat jumps up the moment winter is over and the heat saps energy out of me. So for now a really big fan is all I have planned if I do build a gym.

[@joecowan3719]

@@nuttynuts4601 very cool, Buff Dudes are in that same area of Oregon and just built out an indoor/outdoor set-up. I guess early mornings in the summer may help when it is still cool. Do it, building a home gym is the best investment in ourselves we have ever made.

[@lowcashranch1412]

I am a former division 1 athlete and have been training for over 30 years. I have trained many people and trained with many more. During the pandemic, I switched to a home gym and have never looked back. I wish I would have done that years ago. I would have to say the biggest mistake people make when starting a home gym (or fitness program) is they purchase equipment that doesn't fit their desired type of training/goals. People who like to do a lot of cable work should not get a heavy duty squat rack which only has a fixed high and low cable. They should get a multiple cable system with adjustable height pulleys and plenty of attachment options. The reverse goes for someone who primarily likes to do heavy barbell and dumbbell work. They should invest in a safe heavy duty rack and plenty of change plates. Also, in regards to cardio equipment, if you want to do steady state long, low to moderate intensity cardio, do not buy an assault style bike. Get a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike. An assault bike is primarily for high intensity / short duration style training. Know what training style you like and respond best to, then spend your hard-earned money on equipment which will enable you to achieve your specific goals.

[@redwhiteandblueblood]

I think finding a training purpose for my home gym was the main thing I needed to find, seeing I was one of the 2020 brigade Back in 2020 it was grab whatever you could get your hands on and use it while in lockdown In 2021 when a bit more equipment was available and gyms started opening up it was, ok I've spent thousands, how do I get a bit of everything in my gym so I can get a full training experience and took months trying to figure it out, then the reality eventually set in at the start of this year that not being able to maximise my space was the main hindrance, so I had to sacrifice a few things and change the way I trained at home So I sold a few things this year and I've geared myself towards having a comprehensive free weight setup (rack, 2 benches, barbells, fixed dumbbells, kettlebells) as it will still be rather space efficient as I have no machines other than the cable attachment on my rack and I also joined up at one of the cheapest gyms in town which is surprisingly one of the best, so I can do accessory training and cardio and stuff I can't do at home there mixing my training time between the two wherever best suits. I generally find training push and occasionally pull and hitting the kettlebells hard works best at home, while most of the time pull and legs works best at gym.

[@JustinRHerder]

Drawing up and mapping out your space is vital. Knowing where your equipment is going to sit, where you need to put outlets, where going to hang your tv and mirror, and knowing the height, length, width of your space will make everything come together much easier.

[@stevemcinally460]

Is this a scam?

[@fuckyoutube75889]

@@stevemcinally460 If you're talking about the bot in the replies, then yes, it's a scam.

[@alfaalex101]

Pro tip, don’t by 20” Olympic dumbbell handles and anything above 25lb weights for them unless all you want to do are rows. Get something shorter that will allow greater range of motion. Also, west side spacing is amazing, and skip the half rack and just get a full power rack because the bar crossing in the middle can impede proper positioning of your bench.

[@joshizposh1995]

All I have are 2 40kg adjustable dumbells, A bench, an EZ bar, 40kg of plates and 3 bands with door anchors has suited me well for 2 years now. Although 20 reps of 40kg for flat dumbell is getting a bit high...

[@beast5415]

My biggest piece of advice is to make sure your space is leveled. This really got in my head when I used to have a home gym

[@copedigital]

How do you level concrete?

[@smokeeater695]

@@copedigital multiple ways to level your platform.. I used the asphalt shingle with plywood method and it has been fantastic... Leveling is such an underrated move for home gym owners!

[@copedigital]

@@smokeeater695 thanks I’ll check it out. These are the type of things communities are made for. I didn’t even think of that

[@smokeeater695]

@@copedigital Absolutely! I have learned so much from other members..

[@reallyfastbiker4077]

Lots of good tips Coop. My advice is don't rush your home gym. We did just that mainly because of covid. We converted our unfinished basement and have been using it for about two years now. It functions great thanks to a lot of the info from this channel, but it's a bit dark and kind of depressing. I really wish we would've finished the area first. Now we have to tear everything down, move it all and probably buy a gym membership for a month or so just so I can make our gym a lot better to be in.

[@jerseyjim9092]

One thing I've learned is to take plenty of time researching before pulling the plug on a particular piece. I've changed my mine several times as I've learned more and ruminated over my plan.

[@alexcalvo8094]

Dedicated home gym owner here. I wish I would have bought a rep PR5000 or Monster rack since the beginning, instead of buying a wall mounted Monster light. While I love the rack and was what got me into becoming a home gym fanatico. I will definitely be the first equipment I upgrade now that my gym is “complete “. Happy Holidays Coop, GGR staff and all the home gym community!

[@jonathanejiogu4230]

GGR, one thing I wish I did more throughly, is to have the garage electrical fully looked out. My garage is detached from the home. It’s an old home and I was not aware that to get a split unit, I needed to have 220v running to the garage to be able to set up a split-unit (according to my contractor). The cost to just get the line set up starts at $5k and the local municipal approval to dig in the ground.

[@HoerigStrength]

5k wow, your garage must be far from your electrical panel. Pretty much any mini split that draws decent power will need a 220 line

[@Sluggernaut]

Biggest thing for me was learning how much I can use bands to shore up my weak points and do exercises I dont have specific equipment for. Super versatile and cheap.

[@faragmostafa633]

This ended up being exactly what I wanted. kzbin.infoUgkxP26Tir6n60vUkdtn4mbwhRO8cwuJQNy2 I get the flexibility of multiple dumbbells without taking up the space of a whole set. I have a very small spare room that these and a bench fit perfectly into. Like others mentioned the size of these are a little bigger/longer than traditional weights so they aren’t the perfect solution for everyone. However, if you're looking for a flexible and space saving design for a home workout I’d recommend these.

[@Aaron-nj4ou]

Great video. I wish I had spent a little more on the rack I bought. I wasn’t convinced I would stick with it so I got a budget one and it is ok but I will probably upgrade it to a 3x3 eventually. I absolutely agree on the dumbbells. They were my first purchase and I use them every day.

[@cvdavis]

Best advice is to buy a massive house so there’s lots of room inside the house for the gym. The garage is for dirt bikes and bicycles. My living room is now a full on gym. Love those 12.5’ ceilings. My girlfriends think I’m crazy but who needs a living room?

[@Davidtresmoore]

I'm definitely going with adjustable DB's but love the pro tip on the 2.5 lb magnets, great video, thanks for the tips!

[@richardjennings4685]

Another tip: never turn down free equipment even if you don't think you will use it. Over the years I have been given equipment and at times I sell them and buy things I want.

[@dmoheisen]

I would add if you’re looking for best bang for the buck barbell get a Rogue bar, for a bench get a Rep fitness, and for a rack get either Rep or Rogue. These are the most crucial pieces of a home gym and it’s worth putting the extra $$ into these as opposed to a cheaper Titan or Amazon version. I’ve made the mistake on all of these. Buy once, cry once.

[@serjstoned]

Good tip. I did exactly that.

[@serjstoned]

This seems like spam

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

yup I bought some Rogue fitness barbells and plates and some Iron Grip dumbbells and Hammerstrength bench that lets me do 90% lifts in small garage space. Will look at power cage and lat/dip cable setup next year to do other workouts or maybe a chin/dip leverage machine and assisted squat machine.

[@TheSavanto]

See I have the titan and so does a buddy. We have no issues with it in any way and it’s three times cheaper than rouge was.

[@HooDRidEWhiteY]

​@TheSavanto most of my home gym is Titan. There have been multiple 500-600 pound lifts in my spot with zero issues.

[@RobD777]

I've got a good one! When building your own house, make sure you can build a garage or at least an extra room to make it into a gym. I currently have my gym outside under a tarp and just move the tarp when I workout. Snow days are fun too. Shoveling snow off of the tarp is a good warm up.

[@v0idbit69]

I'm selling most of my home gym because moving it across the country costs more than buying it all over again. That's not even factoring in selling it. I'm already planning out my next gym though. I want to build my own gym separate from my house and really have a good gym experience.

[@mattlovelace91]

What all you got? I may swing by. 😂

[@meisdetermined]

What state? The gym brotherhood can help thin you out now lol. Got a Rogue Rhino? Lol

[@KozysGhost]

Tip. Get an Eero wi-fi expander (I have a detached garage), hang a TV with a Hulu stick and bring that into your space so you can stream to your space with video or sound. I also recommend a big white board for your programming or to rank this month’s best IPA’s. It is beer season after all. Two additions to consider. Cheers!

[@meisdetermined]

Pro Tip: Coop talked about buying dumbbells in 10 pound increments. That is a great idea HOWEVER MAKE SURE that the handle goes straight into the head and doesn’t bevel out. REP Fitness dumbbells are fantastic. Troy rubber coated 12 sided dumbbells have a bevel(?) or flange(?) so the shaft widens right before it goes into the weight. NOT a good thing to have if you’re trying to add microgains clip on weights. It’s do-able but not ideal.

[@apeekintime]

most applicable if don't have rubber coated hexbells

[@meisdetermined]

@@apeekintime yes sir for sure. All steel with straight handles really is the way to go. Then they can attach weight from the inside or outside.-or both lol

[@meisdetermined]

@we explorere you’ve made this comment on several different things. You’re trying to use Coops platform to generate views on a product that may be junk. Your comment is spam.

[@CaseyBrumbaugh]

I naturally learned a lot of this along the way, but man that floor prep is money. I’m getting ready to upgrade my smith machine and I am going to bolt that sucker to some plywood now since I don’t want to drop anchors in my garage concrete. Great content!

[@Ricky-drip-go-woo]

My biggest tip would be to get adjustable kettlebells, it's a huge space saver and you can do all your kettlebell exercises plus almost all dumbbell exercises with them as well, the adjustable competition kettlebells from bells of steel are top notch ans they're replacing all my dumbbells and kettlebells I used to have and I have tons more room now

[@avinashtyagi2]

Bells of Steel adjustable vs Rep Fitness adjustable Which is better?

[@Ricky-drip-go-woo]

@@avinashtyagi2 I prefer the bells of steel because they're 300$CAD and Ranges from 12kg-32kg in 1 and 2kg increments. Vs the rep ones that you need multiple adjustable KB to get that range and I don't think you can make as many weight adjustments with the rep. Also I prefer the BOS ones because they are the same as the competition KB which feel amazing. You can adjust the the weight as quickly but I still prefer those. Check the reviews out on KZbin they have a bunch

[@avinashtyagi2]

@@Ricky-drip-go-woo Thanks for your view

[@brentranke7528]

I have both a KettleBell Kings and Bells of Steel Adjustable Kettlebells, they look Like they are both made in the same factory. In comparison to the reps fitness adjustable Kettlebell they have no plastic which means they’re not quickly adjustable but they’ll be usable 100 years from now so long as they’re reasonably protect it from moisture. I have not touch the rep fitness but but played with the bow flex adjustable kettle bell with a similar adjustment knob I jammed the mechanism so I don’t believe the plastic will last as long.

[@radoskan]

How the fuck do you bench press with kettlebells?

[@ALVMACHETE69]

I love ur tips and advice. No. 1 use what you u got. Spend time exercise when u use ur equipment.

[@calvinl2149]

Direct, honest content, thank you! Would also enjoy seeing videos aimed at apartment dwellers like myself who rent. I don't have the option to own or live in a house so basically everything I have has to be portable.

[@marcusgilmore4311]

The horse mat tip was fire. After years of battling studs I’ve found using a magnet to find where the nails are in the sheet rock to be fool proof.

[@mablem.9094]

Wow!! This information is extremely helpful, especially the one about the heating and air systems.

[@mreverybody1150]

My routine is zercher squat, dead-lift, shoulder press, behind the back shrugs, bicep curl, tricep extensions and seated row. My 'Home gym' is just a metal plate, spring, barbell handle and strap...the Isochain. 20 second holds for 3x sets of each lift.

[@martystrasinger3801]

I have four home-made 5 pound (well, 5 and 3/8) “plate-mates”. Four cheap 5 pound plates with 1” holes, four 260 pound capacity disk-shaped magnets from amazon, large flat washers & hardware (bolts about 1” long depending on how thick your plates are) from local hardware store. Unscrew the eye-hooks from the magnets, get hardware with the same threads as the eye-hooks. Assemble and fill the holes in the plates with construction adhesive or goop and tighten it all down before the glue hardens.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Agree just ordered set of 5-50lb USA Made Iron Grip dumbbells, Hammer Strength adjustable bench and Rogue Fitness barbells and plates. Expensive but top quality and simple focus in less space. No need for machines or tons of monster power cages. I will get power cage/rack later on.

[@32srt32]

i have a lot of equipment i dont use. like attachments to my rack which i use to program bodybuilding and powerlifting and now all i do is olympic weightlifting!

[@xlr8jaeger]

Lucked out on my new garage, .6 degrees slope first half which isn’t noticeable, the 2nd half is 1 degree which I keep accessories on. But even 1 degree isn’t too bad. My last garage was 2 degree so built a sloped platform to compensate 👍

[@xjdub908x]

I;'m trying to build a home gym. I heard if you want to lift heavy and drop weights, you should plywood the entire gym. The question is when laying down plywood followed by gym floor mats, do you need to drill the plywood into the concrete in order to prevent shifting of the plywood? I know around 1:32 mark basically says lay down plywood then the gym floor mats and secure the gym floor mat into the plywood. Just wondering if secure plywood to cement is necessary. thanks!

[@AustraliasBiggestBassChannel]

As someone who’s $50k into my home gym ($20k was the actual separate building ) your spot on here Great video 👍

[@hyg71886]

I started my 1st home gym when I joined the military in 06. I bought a Body Solid leverage home gym with a power tower, adjustable dumbbell handles, curl bar. My second and third was the power tech variant of the body solid with a bowflex. Now on my forth gym I went all in for multiple reasons. This goes into the buy once cry once, the only real sales happen in November so I went all in on a power rack with cable machine, multiple specialty bars, sled etc (shout out to rep fitness). I was able to do this confidently because I know I love working out and its an investment in my health. So my tip would be for those getting into this lifestyle, weigh the pros and cons according to you such as space, budget, time, social atmosphere, etc. Think about what you do in a commercial gym that you wanna do at home and go from there

[@authentichealthcoach4142]

I grew my garage gym over the years but one thing i have struggled with is finding places to store the stuff that isn’t garage gym. I have no other place to put supplies, luggage, etc. all the stuff that is normally stored in the garage. I would gain more space and room if I didn’t have to have all our other stuff in here -where do you guys put your basic house supplies that you store in your garage?

[@monkeyb1820]

do you have any saferacks? They hold a lot--but obviously do take up a certain amount of space from the ceiling toward floor.

[@glime28]

Just found your channel as I start my home gym journey (cross fit gym is shutting down 😢). I’ve watched several videos of yours on adjustable dumbbells. What’s your top #1 recommendation right now? Haven’t seen the new Nubell’s come out yet. The Snode’s looked nice too…

[@apeekintime]

A bigger rack doesn't mean "more powa baby". Honestly, chasing large racks only gets you in trouble. A simple 2x2 is enough for most people unless you lift very heavy. You don't need a Rogue 3x3 rack so don't buy one one a credit card. One of the best ways to get healthier is removing stress. Buying gym equipment you can't afford is a great way to be more stressed.

[@Riegs36]

I love watching every video Coop puts out

[@superdork4realz]

1. Along the lines of selling things you don't use, I'd suggest getting familiar and comfortable with the various ways to let stuff go (craigslist, facebook marketplace, community facebook groups, goodwill dropoff, etc). 2. Routinely (at least every few months or so) review and refine your space. Come with ideas for how to optimize it to better suit your needs. 3. Keep the space clean and clear. The messier the place, the more inertia/friction there is that will prevent working out. 4. Have backup options for cardio when you're injured. Hurt your foot or knee? Prop up said injured leg on an assault or echo bike's pegs by the fan and perform cardio with your 3 good limbs. Or get a burn machine or egg weights and do seated or standing cardio with them. Being injured is not an excuse to stop exercising completely. Be smart about it and adapt and overcome. Also, I'm not a doctor, so please consult yours before working out injured, etc, etc.

[@StevenSeiller]

9:10 I’m not clear on the point about the slope. I’ve listen to it several times and not sure what the advice is. I’ve done both. My stand was set so one leg was higher than the other but recently set up my rack so that I’m essentially squatting uphill. Not sure it matters that much.

[@michaelmcmorrow7554]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnnSiJmLl6ejmM0

[@meisdetermined]

People have developed knee pain from not squatting on an even surface. Having a level platform is really important for your joints. Several videos on KZbin to help make level.

[@Jah18769]

Most garages have a slope toward the garage door (uphill toward the house). If this is the case, you don’t want your barbell perpendicular to the garage door because that leg that is lower is going to be working harder over time.

[@meisdetermined]

@@Jah18769 if someone couldn’t level their garage I think facing toward the garage door would be the best option. Then it would almost be like having your heels elevated (assuming the angle is going down towards the garage door). That’s probably the only way I would do it.

[@StevenSeiller]

@@Jah18769 looks like my garage slopes 2.5°. When my stand was perpendicular, I noticed that I needed to also shift the bar uphill a bit to counter-balance. But I also periodically changed direction and figured it was good for building core strength.

[@johnlo1362]

You had me at 10:36 “Put whatever you want and spend as much money as you want. “

[@watchnerd]

If you have plates, instead of an an adjustable dumbbell, you get plate loaded dumbbell handles -- Eleiko, Rogue, and others make handles that take standard 2" hole Olympic change sized plates. Yeah, you might buy 1 or 2 more pairs of change plates, but you can use those same plates on your barbell, trap bar, EZ curl, etc. If I load up all my change plates on 1 dumbbell, I can get 45 kg.

[@arivalcur3049]

Great advice, many people have their home gyms as a dual purpose space. With that said learning how to use the space wise it not as easy as it might seem for beginners.

[@jonm610]

Unfinished basement home gym here. With a full bathroom. Stays cool year round! I should get some sound proofing to block my music from traveling upstairs

[@skoobasteph]

Random question: what camera are y’all using here? It looks amazing! Thank you for the tips as well. We’re planning out a future home gym and it’s so nice to hear from other’s experiences.

[@leopoldbienkowski-gibbs917]

I would recommend loadable dumbbells over adjustable dumbbells if you have a barbell and plates. They cost a bit more but overall you're investing in something that's more durable and useful.

[@phucmapvlog]

The adjustable dumbbells are clutch. I actually found your channel looking up reviews on adjustable dumbbells. I took your advice on that and on one of the adjustable kettlebells that you recommended, great advice 💪🏼

[@michaelsofine]

At home gym makers are basically interior designers. It’s true. You have to make space for something that most people won’t consider goes in your home or wherever you’re staying. You have to consider floor plan and layout. Where should this go? Will it look good even when I’m not using it, which will probably be most of the time. How functional is it? Can I do more than one exercise?

[@FitnessNews24]

Great vid coop! Back to basics 👏

[@russbadessa431]

Great, useful & practical rundown of 10 Top Things for me to consider as I'm adding an FT to my semi-established basement gym - Thanks Coop! Any thickness recommendations for the horse stall mats you recommended early on in your list? I see 7mm, 3/*", 1/2" & 3/4" (the latter getting up there in $$$).

[@thunderbird3694]

Built complete high-end weight-lifting gym around a professional rack only to injure myself. Was able to sell everything for good price since it was all high-end equipment and I didn't take too big of a loss since I had shopped for best prices, but I would recommend buying used if possible. Only reason I bought new equipment was because I do not have a garage and had to setup a room in my condo for my gym.

[@fwiffo42]

I totally forgot how much I miss the germs 🦠 of a commercial gym! 😂 7:24

[@Jah18769]

My last day at a commercial gym was when I saw a butt ass naked guy with his foot up on the sink counter cleaning his gooch with a rag he was dipping in and out the sink water…20 minutes later I saw him out using equipment. Never again lmao.

[@jonathanejiogu4230]

Tip 9 is great but slightly misspelled. Love the content GGR team!!

[@tomjun8945]

Your videos are very helpful and thank you for all you do.

[@bunker_u_Donbasu]

Biggest tip I'd add is buy everything used. Gym's are always selling off old stuff. Ppl who buy things from gyms are selling off their stuff. Gym equipment is big and takes up space so you can get very expensive commercial equipment for almost nothing. Ppl just want it gone.

[@johnmanco845]

True, in some cases. If you can get a reliable brand for a discount you might get lucky. But more often than not it seems that they wanted to get rid of them for a reason, such as poor quality welds ,low grade steel ect.

[@johnmanco845]

Definitely true for weight plates though, they may have surface rust, but who cares when you can get them cheaper

[@HeadCannonPrime]

I have worked out for 2 years with nothing but an adjustable weight vest (50lb), 2 full sets of bands and attachments, adjustable dumbells, a pullup bar, and some calisthenic parallel bars and a simple bench. If I want to I can pack up and take almost all of my equipment in a camper, or a boat and have a home gym anywhere on the go. The whole setup probably cost about $600 total. The only thing I can't do with my gym it test one rep max lifts like a deadlift. Still have to go to a full gym for that weight. But everything else, i'm good. Home gym doesn't have to be super complicated. My father in law worked out with milk jugs filled with concrete!

[@AndrewPhillipsTech]

Squat, deadlift, bench, treadmill.. Not all I want but deff all I need

[@concretepolishingcentralco436]

Your content is always top-notch.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

I went simple with adjustable bench, set of dumbells and barbells. Bare bones USA made but quality and simple. No fancy machines just heavy metal!

[@Dgleft12]

Excellent video. Just starting mine, and you just saved me tons!

[@mattg5566]

Lol the comment about putting cars in a garage: "i dont know why.." 9:40 Because anyone that lives in more harsh conditions, knows how much it protects your car. The hot sun can blister the paint after a few years, hot interior burning your hands on the steering wheel, heat can make your window tint peel or turn foggy. The cold can freeze the fluids in your car (or make it very difficult to start), hail damage, not having to dig your car out of the snow, or get the ice off your windshield. There are plenty of reasons to keep a vehicle in a garage just from weather reasons.

[@beecee4029]

Looking to put a smith machine with pulleys in an upstairs bedroom, any recommendations?

[@LourdesEsmeralda]

I have a small home gym and I use it everyday. I do all the exercises modified and I still can get a good workout 🏋️‍♀️

[@NJD1983]

Great advise! I put together my home gym about a year ago and I love it!

[@dutch9761]

Review the 80lb SNODE dumbells. Simular to the Nuobells but are all cast Iron, cast iron cradles, drop proof up to 32", 10lb increments

[@SUNNofODIN]

Dont horse stall mats off-gas quite a bit? they did when I worked around them, but it wasnt a concern since they were essentially outside and horses are pissing on them. But setting them up indoors? How long does it take for the smell to go away?

[@andrewbako9494]

Building a new house the bonus room is going to be the gym. PLan on getting an all in one rack unit Force USA G20 is my current choice...any recommendations to consider?

[@ryanwulfert3141]

Buy equipment that you can be creative with and use to hit multiple muscle groups. Oh, follow the assembly instructions and keep the screws and bolts loose when putting together your equipment.

[@ShawntreezyBreezy]

I love sloping in my garage so much I put two racks up on both sides to even myself up every other workout 😜

[@Beezerfish79]

The old adage still holds true…buy once, cry once

[@KA-te7nd]

Buy USED or your wallet will get abused

[@dylanowens3173]

#1 pro tip- buy used. Nothing looses value faster than buying new gym equipment. I've gotten so much free and pennies on dollar for equipment afer the lock downs because people couldnt move it and couldn't sell it even name brand and commercial pieces.

[@HanWang_Austin]

Dude sets up a home gym better than most commercial gyms

[@michaelsofine]

Commercial gyms often don’t know what they’re doing or the purpose of their workout because so many people workout there. Even at a small gym they don’t know what kind of exercises or equipment is the most versatile.

[@bthompson8467]

Good stuff. One recommendation is if you're setting up a home gym in a basement or hard to access area with tight turns in the stairs or through doorways, it's not a good idea to buy large exercise machines that take an act of God to disassemble, relocate and reassemble. Many new cardio machines are lighter weight, more portable, smaller footprint and can easily fold up for easier mobility and access to various areas throughout the home.

[@andydelassus2734]

Buy directly from the company’s website! I’ve purchased cheaper items on Amazon or Walmart from 3rd party sellers then shipped via 3rd part couriers. Things get screwed up the majority of the time. You’ll spend more at Rep, Rogue, Titan or whatever, but things go exceptionally smoother.

[@KampinKarl1]

I live in Europe and got a “multi station” bench (includes the rack for bench, three height adjusters, a squat rack for people who are 5’5”, and a ham curl/leg extension attachment). I also have a 28mm sleeve bar… I wish I’d gotten a stable rack and an Olympic bar. Now transitioning from 150kg in 28mm weights to about the same in 50mm and yeesh…. Hard to justify to the wife.

[@robd7934]

My mistake was buying fixed dumbbells despite being warned not to. Not only are they way more expensive than adjustable dumbbells, they are a major pain if you move and just take up way too more space. I ended up selling nearly all my fixed dumbbells and got 90lbs powerblocks.

[@steven3517]

Oh wow that would suck,I am 54 just now collecting my home gym. So far 1 Nordic Track 1750 treadmill, one fitness bike that I commute on to work 16 miles a day total weather permitting. A pro form 440 rower i got new but cheap and on the way 1 set of AD80's. I cant expect to have room for a million things forever either and hope my sons will want to use these after I'm gone,if they're still good..

[@sfdclay]

I don’t really understand the tip about putting down plywood under the rubber mats.. so you can anchor your equipment to a 3/4 thick piece of wood? How is that doing to do anything?

[@andrewzach1921]

It increases the size of the base of the unit which makes it harder to tip but then you load mats on top of it and it makes it even more stable.

[@basspro209]

I would like to find a hi quality adjustable dumbell set of 90lbs. what brand do you sugestand and where to buy?

[@bersef]

Great video, thanks. One of the best things I did was to spend a few hundred bucks on some decent flooring. It really levelled up my garage gym.

[@mikeprice3174]

Agreed. Even though it's already high on Coop's list, flooring can't be stressed enough. Oddly enough, of my whole gym space, horse stall mats were one of the single best investments. Not only are they very functional, they totally change how a space feels.

[@1nittmo]

From what I've seen people starting to work out at home should consider getting started with used equipment on marketplace. Get the habit before you get all the equipment. Cheap adjustable dumbells, cheap squat rack, mismatched plates, whatever. Then you'll be buying based on what you know you're missing from your home workout. Then get all the cool stuff as you can afford it.