Budget Rogue Home Gym

In this video I take a look at a "budget" build home gym from Rogue Fitness. I tried to find the best equipment at the best price on their site for squatting, benching, and deadlifting. Take a look!
SML-2C: bit.ly/2JdX4Qs
Ohio Power Bar: bit.ly/3mgVYCx
Utility Bench: bit.ly/3l9YGIE
Here's my own Rogue set up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnLLkmt_drpmlas
Best Barbell Money Can Buy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXnWiIlrl7F1ncU
Instagram: basementbrandon
Getting new gear? Use the links or code BASEMENT below if my vidoes have helped:
Pioneer Belts/Wraps: bit.ly/3cRiTjJ
REP Fitness: bit.ly/3cHNXm2
Titan Fitness: bit.ly/3cKyEsz
Bells of Steel/StrongArm: bit.ly/33eT5L6
BearFoot Athletics: bit.ly/36jEIHq
[e-mail]

[@dgod40]

I feel like putting the two words "Budget" and "Rogue" together just doesn't make sense. That aside they do make some real nice stuff.

[@BasementBrandon]

Ha yeah I thought I'd come in well under $2000, but you can't beat the price for what you get.

[@BikerMiceOne]

Darius Patel its like saying ford and good mileage in one sentence

[@Master._._.Blaster]

Darius Patel Black Friday sale 50% off every year!

[@stiffeification]

That was the first rhing that came to my mind when reading the title

[@dgod40]

Yeah but I still get destroyed with shipping and conversion here in Canada. Maybe ill take a look when I'm looking to upgrade the old Garage gym.

[@PaulRevelia]

I bought my entire gym from Rogue, certainly wasn't cheap but the customer service and quality are well worth it.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks for the feedback Paul!

[@robertferguson4965]

Your also a KZbinr with 200k subscribers lol

[@chickflickone]

Do they ship to Europe?

[@silask6921]

@@chickflickone yes

[@Fabiokovach]

@@silask6921 Do they ship to Brazil?

[@domie07]

Who else is here because of the COVID-19 outbreak?

[@BasementBrandon]

Lol

[@WhistlingDeath13]

Yup

[@MannyDora17]

Yes sir

[@chadcarmicheal2759]

Yep

[@Misterprepper]

Don’t go to rogue until after I buy all my stuff okay

[@keaganmurray5149]

How to setup a cheap home gym, Step one never buy from rogue fitness

[@BasementBrandon]

First rule of building a home gym, don't build a cheap one :)

[@makerl1fe388]

Then i might aswell pay 20 bucks a month, have a ton more equipment, socialize more and hardly feel the money.

[@23Khameo]

Keagan Murray I was looking at Rogue too when first building my home gym but ended up buying from different sources in the end. The mark up is just insane, maybe if you are thinking of competing then it justifies it idk, but otherwise is just not worth it. Bought a xMark Lumberjack bar after I got close to maxing out my cheap-o 300 lb. golds gym starter bar and haven't had a problem with it ( I only DL 310 so I haven't tested the 700lb. limit so far). It's been almost a year and still going strong.

[@23Khameo]

Brandon Campbell Diamond yeah build an affordable one.

[@mr.perfectcell3843]

MaKerL1fe why not both, if I’m busy and don’t want to go to the gym on a Monday night when all the gym bros are hogging the equipment, I could just work out at home. But if I have free time one day I’ll go to the gym

[@BullittAutomotive]

“Budget” and “rogue” is like “budget” and rolls royce

[@BasementBrandon]

Surprisingly Rogue isn't even considered that expensive of a brand when you compare to commercial equipment.

[@Noisemansoundinsect]

For 2 grand it awesome

[@Noisemansoundinsect]

For 2 grand it awesome

[@VegetoStevieD]

It's really not, if you care about having J-cups that don't require excessive work to get the bar out of it. The equipment will last a lifetime too. It's not built to fail. It's really not much of an investment at all. Worth saving money for 6 months if you have to.

[@brandonwilliamson9863]

$170 for a flat bench on it's own is absolutely ridiculous

[@BasementBrandon]

Not really, cheaper benches can be pretty awful.

[@MAGAMAN]

They can also be pretty good.

[@shawno8253]

I can make one for less than that

[@muffemod]

I can build one for less than half.

[@malmsey1541]

@@BasementBrandon tell me how a bench can be awful

[@danielkimball3037]

Been searching for a good home powerlifting setup around $2K and this video was exactly the setup I wanted. Ordered it all 2 weeks ago and it arrived and was set up yesterday. Only change was that I went with the SML 1 rack due to height restrictions. All in and with a few horse stall mats from tractor supply I spent $1980 (which included shipping). The setup is even more impressive than I anticipated and these Rogue parts are built like a tank. Thanks for all the useful info👍

[@BasementBrandon]

Awesome! I know a lot of people are turned off by Rogues pricing compared to some budget brands, but the quality is worth it in most cases IMO

[@00cpo70]

I really enjoyed this video. Choices in home gym equipment can be overwhelming. Starting from scratch, I think this is a great set up. Brandon is confident in his choices, while adding a bit of humor. Rouge should really consider supporting him. I'm more ready then ever to pull out the credit card and get my home box built!

[@BasementBrandon]

I appreciate that Frank

[@WesHale]

@6:22 I'm going to use horizontically in a sentence today.

[@BasementBrandon]

Carry over from my work lingo lol.

[@WesHale]

Brandon Campbell Diamond ironically; I think you and I do the exact same work!

[@BasementBrandon]

Wes Hale kick ass and make babies?!

[@WesHale]

Brandon Campbell Diamond well that; and instructional design and training.

[@swyftly7790]

Im pretty sure horizontically, as spelled, isn't a word lol

[@jasond1433]

100% agree about Rogue price/quality. Buy once, cry once, workout for years.

[@jasond1433]

Plus I'm lucky enough to live within about 90 miles from their HQ, so I just drive up on a Saturday and pick up all the heavy stuff that would have cost me extra for shipping.

[@BasementBrandon]

Would move to Ohio just for that and EliteFTS

[@twaddington]

Great video Brandon! If you have a basement with a low ceiling like me, the Rogue SML-2C is a tight fit. Instead, I'd recommend the Rogue S-1 Squat Stand 2.0, which is also $100 cheaper than the SML-2C. It's only 2x3-inch steel versus the 3x3-inch on the SML-2C, but it's totally adequate for those of us pushing less weight. You can also get spotter arms for the S-1 and I definitely recommend them. Just wanted to mention that for your viewers who might be vertically challenged.

[@BasementBrandon]

Good point. I went with 90" as that's what I have in my own short ceiling basement, but I ended up getting 2-3" cut off extra since I was putting it on a 1.5" platform.

[@twaddington]

Yeah, I remember hearing that in your original video! From my basement floor to the bottom of the ceiling joists is only 86-inches, so I was pretty limited. Another cool thing about the S-1 Squat Stand is that Rogue offers an S-1 to S-2 conversion kit. So, if you move into a place with higher ceilings you can go from a 72-inch stand to a 92-inch stand and keep your spotter arms and other accessories.

[@TheHomemadeStrength]

Just thought I'd chime in that the pragmatic structural difference between the 2x3 vs the 3x3 is meaningless for our purposes. 2x3 isn't just adequate for "those pushing less weight", it's adequate for everyone. All of these options can handle more weight than any human will ever lift, anywhere, ever.

[@burfeckt6470]

Why not the SML-1 which is always highly reviewed

[@2koolpa]

Though I understand that the term "budget" simply means within a certain pre determined range of money to be spent, I feel that alot of people would certainly not find two thousand dollars to be within the typical connotation of the word. Maybe I am in the minority here, but its definitely out of my realm of "budgeting". I do understand that this video is showing a budget home gym in the context of brand name, brand new equipment. So, in that sense, it could be looked at as a very nice set up for the minimal amount of money one could spend for this brand. But realistically a person could set up a home gym for a fraction of the money spent in this video. You said you are of the opinion that if youre going to to do it, you should do it right the first time, rather than buying things that are to simply hold over until you spend more money on better items. I do agree with this. I bought my home gym equipment around two years ago. Easily the best investment I have ever made in myself. I have not had a more consistent and productive 2 years of training in my entire lifting career. I dont have a ton of formal education or a well defined career path. Im just your average guy working a very average job and live a bit more modestly than others, so my choice of gym equipment was limited to my budget of considerably less than two thousand dollars. For an initial cost of about seven hundred dollars I was able to set up a perfectly usable and (so far, two years in) durable home gym in a spare bedroom. A full power rack, flat bench (with incline), barbell and a couple hundred lbs of assorted plates. Oh, and 20 bucks got me a pair of olympic dumbell handles so I could do all barbell and dumbell movements with the same plates. The only used part of the initial set up were the weight plates. Everything else was brand new. Im just throwing this out there for the sake of discussion. Maybe someone comes across this video and sees the 2000$ price tag and then gets slightly discouraged if they are in the same financial position as a guy like me. It can be done for much, much less money than this, even without scouring craigslist for hours looking for beat up, used equipment. Not saying theres any particular fault with your video brandon, you clearly stated it is specifically for a ROGUE build. I just wanted to join the conversation. I have 2 or 3 videos on my channel if any one is interested in seeing some of what I have. I am no where near your strength level but you can see that everything holds up well enough for me. Anyway I just thought I would share another perspective and add something to the conversation. Enjoy watching your videos dude, take care.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks for the detailed feedback, I'll do more of these in the future for sure. I can do a super budget build buying used, but with that it usually takes time and a watchful eye. It can def be done though.

[@hyperbolus7198]

My gym membership is $26 a month and I can swim in a pool after I lift. About 7 years of membership would be equal to a $2000 home gym. I think the 7 years of membership is better value. Although it would be nice to take 10 minute breaks between heavy sets and not have people sweating me for the rack.

[@BasementBrandon]

There are def pros and cons depending on the person and their needs. You could build a home gym for a lot less money if you wanted, but that's not the route I wanted to go.

[@snliner1308]

Hyper Bolus the gym is use to go to was massive. But even then we still had everyone doing chest everyday and that's one reason to get a home gym

[@Pler1978]

Hyper Bolus great for you, 2k for many isn't that big a deal

[@jean-lucdupuis7052]

Hyper Bolus Or you can use your high school gym “for free” for four years and have all of the equipment you need

[@marcthebarber239]

Hyper Bolus lol

[@shaneh7804]

I clicked on this video because it said "budget" and its $2k LOL

[@BasementBrandon]

rogue is higher end. That's like going to BMW and getting mad they don't have anything for $10k.

[@notgoogler1150]

Brandon Campbell Diamond yeah but budget is not the word most ppl would use

[@mattdelvecchio1537]

Brandon Campbell Diamond then “budget” isn’t the correct word. no more than a “budget BMW”

[@DanTaninecz]

@@BasementBrandon BMWs are crap reliability wise. Not a great comparison if you're trying to talk about quality.

[@BasementBrandon]

DanTaninecz its an analogy. You get the point.

[@travis9176]

I looked at Rogue when I was pricing my setup but ultimately went with a Canadian company that makes budget equipment called Northern Lights. I was actually impressed by the quality/feel of their 72" squat stand (low ceilings) and for $300 Canadian pesos you can't go wrong. Plus, they have a ton of accessories for their 2x3" rigs that are dirt cheap. Something to consider for other folks north of the wall who want decent gear that doesn't break the bank -- spend that extra monies on a good bar. .... dat LVD tee doe.

[@BasementBrandon]

Good call on that. Shipping (especially outside of the US) can really jack these costs up further.

[@TutorBrian]

I can attest to the lower cost of Northern Lights equipment. Luckily, there is a Fitness Depot near me that sells this product line in their warehouse.

[@BJLS19]

Travis Roberts you from Winnipeg or something haha

[@AsifIqbalMunir]

My gym just went with Northern Lights recently instead of Rogue. He said he saved like 3/4 of the costs lol

[@roydykens7376]

I have the taller version of that stand, works well. Now that I have a welder and work at a metal shop, some of their stuff (farmers walk handles) doesn't seem worth the price as I know how easily I can make my own.

[@alexkolliari-turner8809]

Yes to more videos on home gym set-ups - do different set ups for different prices

[@BasementBrandon]

Will see what I can do.

[@rebuildfitness2988]

Love this! Been looking into this more and more, after my and fiance get our house we're building an extra building for a home gym... with a big screen tv and Elder Scrolls for adequate rest periods

[@BasementBrandon]

Sounds pretty legit to me!

[@dhillon5abi]

Took your advice: Cancelled my gym membership because I'd hardly ever go anyways but mainly because this Rogue stuff is something I can pass on to my kids in a couple of decades, its damn good quality! Got a SML-2C blue squat stand with spotter arms and plate holders, great color, no ragrets. Went with the black bumper plates with the white print though because of how thin they are, 260lb set, great quality and one of the cheapest options on the market. Got the Ohio Bar instead because of its 28.5mm diameter and very happy with it. Blue cerakote to match. Decided to get a nicer bench, the Rep Fitness FID AB-3000, absolutely perfect for a home gym. All in, was under $2000. Definitely not a budget option tbh but its something that will outlast me and probably my kids later too. Highly recommended and thank you for your advice!

[@BasementBrandon]

Sounds like a nice set up!

[@scottiusmaximus4298]

I'm trying to get my brother into making a fitness equipment company. He's a mechanical engineer, and was a welder before going back to school for engineering (also he got a position as a teacher's assistant a the welding shop on campus during that time). I think he could make amazing pieces, and he knows all about the materials, designs, etc. Oh, he is also a competitive power lifter, so he knows the weight side of things :P

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on

[@crob2184]

I found your channel while trying to start my garage gym. You still have the best example of how to build a floor. Anyway, based on your suggestions back then, I ended up with what you just described in this video but without Rouge and instead, on Craigslist. It took patience but I did it for about half what u said and i ended up with some accessories and an air conditioning unit installed (I'm in az). I wish I knew how to load a pic with this comment, but anyway, thx Brandon. Your videos have helped me so much. I am better because of people like you. Thx dude.

[@BasementBrandon]

That's awesome. I scoured CL forever trying to find good equipment but it's few and far between. If you're patient and wait you can def get a great set up for a good price!

[@crob2184]

Very patient and I forgot to mention the barbell (centerpiece) was a gift for Christmas. Anyway, still. Thx

[@MAGAMAN]

If you have the room, always go for a squat rack over a squat stand. The stands are better than nothing, but the racks always have so much more accessories you will want. I could replace some of the free standing machines I have with much smaller accessory attachments for a rack. Also, when you are going with "full size" squat stands, they can take up as much floor space as a small rack. As I said on the other video, if you are looking for budges, go to Titan Fitness, they are much cheaper and free shipping.

[@BasementBrandon]

I agree about the rack vs a stand 100%

[@GirthGod]

Just purchased that exact squat stand last month. Fantastic. Ohio power bar is also Incredible. My decision was completely based on space though. Tomorrow I'll get myself a full rack. Great vid man.

[@BasementBrandon]

Sounds like a nice set up!

[@dakotagower86]

My dude just said the word "horizontically"😂😂

[@BasementBrandon]

We actually use it in work to describe a mix of vertical/horizontal markets lol

[@charredskeleton]

I remember an article from a fitness magazine wherein a group of African body builders with great physiques were working out in this entirely homemade gym. Their Dumbells were short lengths of pipe formed into concrete blocks cast to thier ends. Thier plates were more concrete blocks with chains cast in to slip over the bars. Their barbells appeared to be lengths of axle shaft welded together. It blew my mind. It proves that it's not the gym or the equpment it's the motivation!

[@BasementBrandon]

Very true, but given the opportunity I'd still go with good equipment!

[@Pler1978]

charredskeleton awesome post. Now why get a car though you could just walk to work for hours everyday.... Cars seem like a waste.

[@CAHOP2401]

Shout out to Titan.Fitness. Been using one of their racks for about three years now and it's still solid. Rogue is still the king when it comes to quality but if you're trying to get big on a budget, I would definitely recommend checking them out. One of the best features they offer are 82 inch height versions of almost all their racks. That height is great for basement gyms.

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on

[@MAGAMAN]

I just found Titan Fitness and I love them. The prices and free shipping are amazing! People probably think I work for them because I'm dropping their name all over the place! LOL Quality wise, they are not as good as rogue, but still better than 99% of the junk on amazon. I'm seriously starting to think most of the stuff on amazon are knockoffs. I've read several reviews where people talk about buying something from amazon and then buying the same item from the manufacturer and the product from bought directly from the manufacturer is a superior product.

[@tarpontime7562]

This is the exact set up I have in my house. I don’t once regret buying rogue fitness. Maybe this is why they didn’t sponsor you. Your doing some free marketing for them. 👍🏻

[@BasementBrandon]

Lol

[@RichPrick]

Never thought of building a home gym till now

[@BasementBrandon]

Can be a great investment!

[@eliotengelking2594]

Rogue should sponsor you. Youre 90% the reason on why I bought their equipment, several thousands dollars of equipment. Rogue should recognize 😏

[@BasementBrandon]

I appreciate that!

[@tomcola6758]

Who the fuk does Rogue think they are not wanting to sponsor Brandon Diamond!

[@BasementBrandon]

I don't crossfit hard enough

[@wassimkhazzaka6360]

Excellent videos on home gyms. By watching your previous videos, I went and bought almost everything (except a bench because I already have one) brand new from Lacertosus in Italy directly from their showroom in Parma. Cheapest power rack + Olympic barbell + 540 lb worth of iron plates + 100 lb Log + farmers walk for roughly 1500$ (1400€). For people living in Europe this is the best quality/price rate you will never get!!! And thanks for all the info! High quality videos! Keep it up man!

[@BasementBrandon]

Awesome to hear you found some good stuff locally!

[@wassimkhazzaka6360]

Brandon Campbell Diamond with all respect to Rogue, they are the most publicized brand in strength game today but that does not mean that they are the only ones building high quality equipments. XENOS come to mind for example...

[@MikefromTexas1]

I was maxed out after the barbell... X-D

[@BasementBrandon]

lol whoops

[@delunadenny7084]

hahahah yeah

[@fredastaire6156]

Wow! By far the first thing I noticed was your natural flow of explanation and instruction. Bonafide KZbinr. Thanks for sharing some of these budget tips. I'm in the market for a home gym set up and this video is right up my alley. Again, Thank you! Subscribed!

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks Julio, this one is def not budget friendly compared to some other brands. Will try to do some other manufacturers.

[@DJHEV]

Gyms hate him!

[@BasementBrandon]

lol

[@ericbeery8570]

Great recommendations, I'd just make one slight adjustment on the plate selection. Ditch the pair of 35's and add another set of 10's. The 35's don't give you anything, you can make every combination you need (in 5 lb. increments) with 25/10 instead, but you will need 2 sets of 10's in order to make some combo's (175, 265, etc. for example).

[@BasementBrandon]

I love my 35s :)

[@ericbeery8570]

@@BasementBrandon fair enough! I have limited plate storage space, so after a few times of having to move the 25's and 10's out of the way to get to the 35's I finally got fed up and sold them.

[@BasementBrandon]

@@ericbeery8570 It's totally fair IMO, many can't stand them, I just find them useful!

[@kennedymartinez6049]

Loved the video thinking about getting this for my home while I’m on “lockdown”

[@BasementBrandon]

If you have the space the R3 is a great rack for about the same money.

[@FITsthetics]

Great Video Brandon and i watched your original a few times for inspiration. I did a basement set up here in Canada. For those of you that have any questions pm me. (Ottawa area) Amstaff Folding Rack 2.5"X2.5" Steel Amstaff Weight tree Rogue Ohio power bar Black Zinc (45lb bar) Rogue Flat bench 650lb of plate weight including 1 set of 45lb bumpers, 1 set of 10lb bumper. the rest are steel plates. Horse Stall Mats Cost 2150$CAD

[@BasementBrandon]

Will go check it out

[@djdentley]

The delivery person (gender neutral) is going to get all kinds of gainz.

[@BasementBrandon]

Haha yep!

[@NickSmith-of5kh]

I live in an apartment and that fucker delivered 1 of 6 packages to my door and decided to leave all of the rest in the front office. I remember the day vividly.

[@dBsdecibels]

Oh what a wonderful time it was! Everything was in stock!

[@BasementBrandon]

Those were the days.

[@dBsdecibels]

@@BasementBrandon On that note, maybe a video about how you would change your purchasing strategies under these conditions? I saw the notification bot video, but any additional advice? Clearly "buy as much at once to minimize shipping costs" is no longer a viable strategy. These are trying times!

[@BasementBrandon]

@@dBsdecibels I'll think about it if it makes sense. I've seen a lot of stuff come back in stock lately (albeit doesn't last long).

[@dBsdecibels]

@@BasementBrandon sounds good! You know what your viewers are looking for. Trust your judgement!

[@trevorfaulkner5453]

I can't figure out why people spend sooo much money on these squat racks when all I've ever used them for is bench and curls. SEEEEEEET!!

[@BasementBrandon]

lol, if you're going to curl, you need max protection

[@mr.perfectcell3843]

Yeah but you probably have little legs

[@michaelmccluskey759]

Just did most of this. SML-2C, safety arms, single bar. Waiting for those barbells to be back in stock. Really helpful vid.

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on! Sounds like a nice set up!

[@jarodtutton2721]

for any of my UK mates out their strength shop got some good stuff and its cheaper than rogue with similar quality but obviously you get what you pay for. brilliant video brandon with stuff like this i some times lose interest and then you say some dodgy shit that make me wonder if the video moved on to something else and i start watching it again

[@dvmtraining6231]

Jarod Tutton UK friend ooooo cheers mate

[@19chambers89]

Jarod Tutton worth mentioning they do free shipping on orders over £100. i shopped about a lot and the free shipping makes them by far the best price for cast iron plates in the uk!

[@jarodtutton2721]

oh yeah i forgot about that it really makes the difference. once i get my next pay check in in buying the heavy duty squat stands which would cost a shit ton with delivery

[@jarodtutton2721]

no problem mate

[@shuffler179]

i used wraps, plate trees, and a ghr from strength shop. all garbadge and not long lasting at all

[@r8der674]

I went with Titan rack, Titan barbell storage, Titan Hex Bar, Titan Atlas Barbell, Titan landmine, Titan SSB2, I went with used weights from Craiglist and bench too with it being Body Solid...buy used reputable brand weights you don't want crap that doesn't weigh what it says. Buy a lot of used stuff. Keep what you want sell the rest. Only Rogue item I have is a stainless steel Boneyard Power Bar and yes definitely the best bar and worth every cent.

[@BasementBrandon]

Nice!!

[@Ileumn]

5 pairs of 45ers? LOL. I've been hitting the gym 5 days a week for 6 years and still haven't needed the first pair.

[@BasementBrandon]

I WAS SWIMMING IN THE POOL.

So you've never done leg press

[@pointless132]

Do women know about shrinkage?

[@randomguy1236]

leg press in a home gym?

randomguy1236 he said he's been lifting in a gym for 6 years without using a pair of 45's

[@barakahfactor]

This is an incredibly timely post for me as I was literally just on the site before I chanced upon this video. A couple of comments that I wanted to add: - If you're like me and not buying a lot of pounds (160), there isn't a huge difference between the iron and bumper plates. For example, the 160lb set, the difference comes out to 45 dollars (and you would save having to buy a rubber mat). - Be wary of the prices when it comes to sets. For the bumper 160lb set, it costs 275. If you buy the pairs separately it comes out to 238.

[@BasementBrandon]

Some interesting points, I ran into issues with my bumpers when i progressed to certain weights, so I'd take that into consideration. I'd also suggest still getting something to protect your floors. On the pricing make sure to factor in shipping. For the 160lb set, after shipping the cost is $280, but buying them separately has higher shipping and ends up running $313

[@barakahfactor]

Is Rogue the only stand-out brand when it comes to home gyms? I really like how the equipment is extensible and customizable, but are they the only ones that do that?

[@BasementBrandon]

Atif Mansoor there are a lot of options, I just think they offer the best combo of quality/price. A lot of people here like Titan Fitness. Much lower cost, but I think a step down in quality.

[@TheLoopmeister]

you'd want 2 pairs of 10 lb plates to cover all weights such as 85 lbs

[@BasementBrandon]

JUST LIFT MORE! I think I've been lifting in KG too long since they have more plate options and you only need a pair of each.

[@burfeckt6470]

Wouldn’t you also NOT need the 35s in this case if you got 2 10LBS?

[@MAGAMAN]

35s are only useful if you run out of 25s or 45s. I pretty much never use mine.

[@juliansedor7101]

I spent 200 dollars on a rack by CAP from WF Athletic Supply, and I got a cheap CAP bar and weights used, totaling 300lb, for 320 dollars. I got a flat bench someone was getting rid of for free. Not a great setup, but for a start in my bedroom it's working great. I've spent around 600-700 total for all of my equipment including plates. My first significant upgrade will be the bar, which I've decided to go all out for with a Stainless OHB, possibly an Aggro 2X or 3X. I'm going to visit Rogue in Columbus to try them out before I buy.

[@BasementBrandon]

Nice! You can def get an effective set up for not much money!

[@billybobjoe5196]

Hey Brandon Campbell Diamond, can u please do a video on a budget home gym under 500 dollars. That would be a great vid. -Keep up the great vids XD

[@BasementBrandon]

I can think about it!

[@larsreichenbach8071]

If I was going to budget $2000 for a home gym from Rogue, I'd do it a little differently: Rogue R3 standard power rack with Rogue standard utility bench 2.0 - $874.50 The squat rack is nice, but for just a little bit more than what you'd pay with the safety arms you can get a full sized power rack. Rogue Ohio Power Bar 45LB - Bare Steel - $265 Agree with your assessment, great bar for a home gym, and one of the best deals for barbells offered by Rogue. 45LB Rogue Olympic Plate - Pair x 3 - $315 25LB Rogue Olympic Plate - Pair x 1 $64 10LB Rogue Olympic Plate - Pair x 2 $48.50 I dropped the total weight down to 405lbs -- this is a respectable weight for most people to work up to, and when they get to needing more they can order more plates later on. The money saved from buying so much weight off the bat lets you get a full power rack, and a couple of other accessories. SP2358 Plate Storage Pair - Long for Infinity - $48.10 So you don't have to keep all your weights on the ground. OSO Mighty Collars - $27.50 You can get standard clamp style collars for a little bit less, but I really like the ease of the OSO style collars. Concrete Anchor Kit - 8 Pack - $14 You can get concrete or lag bolts cheaper at a hardware store but for the sake of simplicity I ordered a kit from Rogue to see if I could keep it under $2,000 and still bolt it down. Total with shipping to the West Coast: $1,998.88

[@BasementBrandon]

Pretty solid choices. I would almost always suggest a power rack as well, but was trying to keep in mind most people might not have the space, or will want to bolt it down.

[@michaelandreini5977]

Great video!! For the quality you get with the price, haven't found anything close to beating Rogue. If people think Rogue is expensive visit Sorinex or Powerlift. This equipment isn't going to be as cheap as Wal-Mart or Dick's Sporting Goods pricing, but it won't break or fall apart after a year.Be cautious with used equipment. I'm also filling my gym with Rogue no issues yet!

[@BasementBrandon]

True that, I was originally going to go with Sorinex. It was more pricey but they dropped the ball when it came to meeting our discussed timelines, so went with Rogue!

[@emadhn]

I wish I had room in my apartment to have a home gym...

[@BasementBrandon]

Apartments can def be tough!

[@rob.ny-la]

I have the SML-2c. Got it used. But barely used. Basically brand new for half the price. I added the HR-2 conversion kit ($275) and it’s more then enough rack for me. Honestly love it.

[@BasementBrandon]

awesome

[@tuscany121]

Can I start a gofundme so people can help me buy a set up? I dollar = 1 lb added to your bench

[@BasementBrandon]

You can, if people contribute is another story lol

[@TheBarryWaterman]

Joking? Or are you really going to rattle the cup and see what happens..... cause thats what is the problem with this country right now.

[@boseifrit5480]

@@BasementBrandon people contributed to a midget pretending to be 9 sooooo

[@ceforbes2356]

Like you said, most used equipment on craigslist or similar platforms isn't always great quality. BUT I scoured craigslist and got a SML-2 squat rack with spotter arms, j-cups, matador, spud inc. pulley system and extra plate storage arms for about $500. Also got about 500lbs of weights and a spider storage rack for a great price. Built my own deadlift platform using your DIY video and now I have a great home gym for under $1300. Only thing I bought from Rogue brand new was the ohio power bar and some OSO barbell clips. Saved about $700, but it also took a lot of research and patience to find what I wanted. Great content btw!

[@BasementBrandon]

Hell of a deal. I had my eye out here locally for about a year and nothing good popped up :(

[@ceforbes2356]

Brandon Campbell Diamond ahh that's disappointing. I lived in a decent sized city (Raleigh, NC) at the time and still had to drive 1.5 hours both ways to pick up the rack and accessories. But it was a deal I couldn't pass up

[@Prophetelf]

Man I wish I lived in the states, this would be like 2 times as much in Canada :(

[@BasementBrandon]

Some people have mentioned a company called Northern Lights, might be worth looking into!

[@aaronpixler3842]

Because you have a socialist government that taxes your underpants off.

[@muhammadabdulla2898]

I have a home gym myself, almost everything was purchased second hand apart from my barbell (paid £180 for it and it's damn good). spent a total of around £1100. Have 240kg in weight plates, a squat rack, a few dumbbells, a trap bar (don't use it, a guy was selling some plates with it so I took it anyway), rubber mats and 2 weight trees. It's a damn good investment. Also, if I were to sell it off for whatever reason, I wouldn't lose much money either

[@BasementBrandon]

Solid!

[@MarkMacqueen]

You should do crossfit and get sponsored by rogue. Lol

[@BasementBrandon]

If only it were that easy!

[@adamwilliams6844]

I'd say get a yoke instead of a squat stand. You can squat and bench all the same but now you have the possibility of doing yoke carrys and other additional exercises. Additionally you now have plate storage

[@BasementBrandon]

I've had a yoke (review on the channel). While it's good for carries, it's sub par for squatting and benching IMO.

[@prodlivewre]

“Some people would rather go to a gym and pay $10 a month” $10 a month?!? what gym is that cheap

[@BasementBrandon]

Planet Fitness.

[@sofeerahmed8103]

Brandon Campbell Diamond that’s not a gym

[@sofeerahmed8103]

crunch is a good gym with power racks and all the weights and machines you can ask for basic plan is 10 dollars

[@BasementBrandon]

@@sofeerahmed8103 For some people it resemebles one lol.

[@Icebergslim91]

Did my home Gym for around 3k NZD so like 1500k US. Never feel like I lack anything except a Prowler or sled. Nothing beats being able to train whenever and not have to wait to use a rack, will worth the investment.

[@BasementBrandon]

agreed!

[@fitstoic1329]

this is nothing more than a rogue fitness commercial

[@BasementBrandon]

The purpose is to go through Rogue's website, I have similar videos for other manufacturers.

[@scottengh1175]

Nice. Rouge has a black Friday sale every year that would save you 20% and $5 shipping. I got a few things, but no room for squat rack in our little home. Bench was $155. Using dumbbells and kettles. Y membership is $840/year.

[@BasementBrandon]

If you can wait until BF, it's def the best time to buy from Rogue.

[@IzakGonzalez7]

crazy seeing all these things in stock lmfao right now i cant get anything

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah wild times!

[@wesleyhovis5101]

This is badass man. Please do more videos like this. I am absolutely going to build a garage gym.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks dude, I'll try to do a few more wallet friendly suppliers.

[@pietromarku4459]

I need 10 pairs of 100 lb plates for curls

[@BasementBrandon]

Damn right.

[@alexpennie]

Made a really good home gym for $350. Seriously, bench from Amazon $33. (Marcy brand) (very wide and grippy bench, better than most I've ever used) squat stand identical to that rogue one $40 used from Letgo app. All used plates off craigslist and Letgo. Paid around 50 cents a pound. (I have 570 lbs total) Sanded off rust and applied rustoleam $100 Xmark fitness barbell from Amazon Olympic weight tree brand new off Craigslist $40 Two TDS 45 lb bumper plates used but new condition $85

[@alexpennie]

I tried shopping rogue for a solid week, literally spent 5+ hours trying to find shipping loopholes, the buy a bar and weights ship free, 3 ship free promo, noticing minor differences in squat stands added like $145. Anyways, I've been meaning to make a video about my gym, but rusty with the camera since my skateboard montage days

[@BasementBrandon]

Nice! I've been wanting a home gym for a long time so I wanted to go new and not skimp out on the quality. I looked around on Amazon and Craigslist but nothing really could compare to what Rogue had.

[@freakied0550]

INB4 GoFundMe

[@BasementBrandon]

This is all in an attempt to get Rogue to start sending me shit still.

[@kalm5076]

Befriending Mark Bell might get you a step closer to getting free Rogue stuff as well LOL

[@BasementBrandon]

Ben Kalman friends with him already. He doesn't get any deals either.

[@vicsophios4703]

Brandon where would one store the plates? If you bought the Half Rack you have somewhere to store your plates so would that be a better option? Otherwise you'd be up for a weight tree or horizontal rack. I don't want to sound I'm criticising you as I'm a fan of your videos and get a lot out of them and always appreciate what you do and the time taken to do them.

[@BasementBrandon]

I'm open to it! I think a half rack or weight storage is a great idea. This video at the time was made based off a pretty bare bones approach, so plates would likely be just stored on the ground. Maybe I should do an updated video as this one is pretty old.

[@EldongDaddyvic]

You can build an entire home gym for the price of that barbell lmao

[@BasementBrandon]

Eldin Drljevic if you build a home gym for $250 it's going to be a shitty gym lol.

[@EldongDaddyvic]

you can get a 100 dollar squat rack, 70 dollar bench set that comes with 100lbs of weight and then another pack of 100lbs. Rack: www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_3321789_-1?cm_mmc=pla-_-Fitness+Weight+Strength+Training+Weight+Benches-_-Google-_-Gold+s+Gym+XRS+20+Rack&sku=107691366&gclid=Cj0KEQjw2_23BRDb_qbvzK3X8M8BEiQAg87AF21XASmxLvMIeTsE8RkicFmqTe9hPzYm9Bu1MDA0p54aAiCJ8P8HAQ&kwid=productads-adid%5E87197258118-device%5Ec-plaid%5E78039843198-sku%5E107691366-adType%5EPLA Bench Set: www.walmart.com/ip/CAP-Barbell-Deluxe-Bench-with-100-lb-Weight-Set/48011075 Additional Weight: www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-100-lb-Vinyl-Weight-Set/21672519?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227017224572&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40332056192&wl4=pla-78293060792&wl5=9014243&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=21672519&wl13=&veh=sem Yeah, the quality is gonna be pretty bad but weight is weight and you can totally do most free weight exercises with that.

[@BasementBrandon]

As I said, that's real shitty equipment, couldn't even finish my warm ups on squats due to weight limitations. The bench press you couldn't get a regular grip due to poor construction. Vinyl weights are garbage. This is the stuff you find on the corner that people end up not using and giving away b/c it's so bad.

[@EldongDaddyvic]

The rack goes to 300 and 300 for reps is around what the majority of beginner-intermediate lifters do, which is gonna be most people looking for a "budget" setup. The 5% who have been lifting for years probably wouldn't have any problem shelling out hundreds for a proper squat rack. The bench is fine unless you have a wide grip, I started out on it and I could definitely go past shoulder width comfortably, but even then for a couple extra bucks, there are better options with better construction. Vinyl weights crack if you drop them from the top of a rep so just don't drop them, cast iron weights are way more expensive and not the "budget" friendly option for a home gym. Yeah, I've upgraded and gotten a gym membership since then, but that's a "budget" setup. It's not meant to be super comfortable, it's meant to get the job done for people who aren't ready to shell out for high-end equipment. That's my single gripe with this video, is that most "budget" lifters are probably beginner-intermediate lifters and won't NEED the 900 dollar setup you recommended. It's simply not a "budget" setup by any means at all and there are similar options for waaay cheaper.

[@BasementBrandon]

No. Your option is for the lower percentile that just wants as cheap of a solution as possible. These are the people who will use it for a few weeks and then sell it at a yard sale or just throw it away. For the smaller few who buy that set up and put it to good use, they'll find they'll quickly outgrow it and either have to buy better stuff, or go to an actual gym. For those who actually want to invest in a home gym, which is a majority of the people watching this video, they want the best bang for their buck. In this case that's where Rogue comes into play. They're not the cheapest, but they're also far from the most expensive.

[@rcorser1]

Great video.....seriously helpful! 10:27.....5 pair of 45 pound plates? Wow! I was thinking just one, then add the other weights to the pair. Thoughts/recommendations? What about 2-4 pairs of 25 pounds with the same thought.....just add more plates to the bar. I'm buying all my weights at once and wanted to ensure I buy once. :-)

[@BasementBrandon]

Just depends what you want to do and where your strength level is at. Just remember if you buy more plates that's more shipping costs each time.

[@rcorser1]

​@@BasementBrandonTotally agree....just didn';t want to order too much and have it just sit there in my small living room. :-). Also, I';m ordering from Fringe Sport and they include shipping. yeah!

[@malmsey1541]

Lifting weight is lifting weight it doesn't matter what your lifting just go second hand and cheap and u will be just as strong as this person who spent 6k. U could spend 1k and get the same out of it.

[@BasementBrandon]

Not quite, but you're missing the point.

[@gainsandglory6808]

Here is how I made my low budget home gym set up that is pretty easy to build. Patience is a virtue when it comes to saving money. Either get all your plates off craigslist or look around for a nice deal (don't forget your local garage sales, you'd be surprised how much equipment you can get for cheeeeap). I always recommend the standard metal ones over bumpers or any kind of rubber plates. What I did was black Friday shopping at academy. I was able to get 50% off a standard barbell set. I got a 300$ power rack off amazon. I forget the height but I am able to squat comfortably in it at 5'11. Theres a few on there in that price range. If you get prime you wont pay shipping which can be almost as expensive as the rack itself. Then I got an adjustable bench from a pawn shop(again check for deals, go to garage sales). Over time I acquired more 45lb plates, but aside from that I have had no trouble benching in the 300s, squatting in the 400s and deadlifting over 500 while feeling perfectly safe without a partner. There are some pretty cheap (under 120$) adjustable dumbell sets on amazon that are 50ish lbs each. While my equipment isn't crazy, you can do all the basic lifts. Pretty fine for me as I was never into machines.

[@BasementBrandon]

Nice, some good info there. This is just for a build from Rogue, I have other videos about buying more budget friendly options! Buying local and 2nd hand is always going to be much more cost friendly.

[@gainsandglory6808]

thanks Brandon, keep up the great videos man

[@evelynn4273]

If you believe in getting it right the first time, why buy Rogue?

[@BasementBrandon]

B/c they offer the best quality for the price.

[@WillStinton]

What screen capture program did you use for this video? There's a lot out there, looking for a decent recommend. Thanks!

[@BasementBrandon]

Just used Quicktime actually!

[@TheFANTOM187]

Build on a budget? With rogue? LMFAO!! THAT POWER BAR WAS LIKE HALF MY RENT IN NYC

[@BasementBrandon]

If you think $300 is a lot for a good barbell you must not have looked at comparable bars lol.

[@muffemod]

The York plates are a throw back to the vintage plates that cost wild amounts. It's not a budget option but a heritage option.

[@BasementBrandon]

Sadly the new ones aren't what they used to be.

[@jrex3]

Hard to believe this is "affordable" how can anyone afford to spend this kind of money.

[@BasementBrandon]

Take a look at any commercial gym supplier and you'll find this isn't that pricey. Good equipment isn't cheap.

[@jrex3]

Yeah in comparison that is pretty accurate. I guess I'm just in the world of sorry not gonna happen anytime soon.

[@s0spr1ng3r]

Answer: A good paying job or business.

[@SinnedNogara]

Get a decent job. People spend just as much on down payments all the time.

[@Pler1978]

@@SinnedNogara sad that several grand to some is a fortune.

[@Jose-vc2du]

having a home gym is really convenient, i have one in my back yard, but its expensive, i started out with equipment that was given to me but ive invested a good amount of money on my gym so i could only imagine how expensive it is to start from zero

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on!

[@navisingh3628]

lol all that was NOT what I thought it would cost.

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah I had it in my mind it would be closer to $1000 for some reason, but weights get pricey.

[@ed00001]

just get the weights used.

[@TheHomemadeStrength]

Yeah, paying retail for weights is what kills it, plus the extra shipping costs from getting big heavy stuff online delivered to a residential address without a shipping dock. The S-1 with safeties is about as cheap as you can get something from Rogue and even getting used iron locally you're still looking at $1200. You might as well just get an R3 for an extra $100. It's undeniably better than any of the squat stands and once you add in the safeties a full rack just isn't much more expensive. What's $100 when you're already spending 1 to 2k? And honestly as an adult who's into lifting, spending $1500 one time to set you up for the rest of your life just isn't that expensive. If it is, then I think you're doing this adulting thing wrong.

[@Garage_Gym_Daddy]

Hell yah. Looking to get these before the year is out to start my dream gym!

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on!

[@whitleylevi]

12 minute advertisement? Where's the video?

[@BasementBrandon]

Hardly.

[@chaddrake9241]

very articulate and down to earth. Ppl that want to break it down..... mileage will vary. thanks for the info!

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks for taking a look

[@joshbell8517]

Budget? Over $1900 is budget?...boi...

[@BasementBrandon]

Bag O Ryce yep. Rogue is a premium brand. This is a lower cost option of what they carry.

[@mattdelvecchio1537]

Brandon Campbell Diamond premium brand != budget.

[@mmerx]

Unlike all the trolls that give lame opinions, I appreciate this video. Leads me in the right direction.

[@BasementBrandon]

Thanks dude

[@emperorsheev6309]

“Budget” This ain’t budget ur just getting paid to promote rogue. I’d rather just go to the gym 😂😂🤣

[@BasementBrandon]

No and no.

[@andrewethanhirsch7968]

Thank you so much for these great informational videos!!! Question: I am a Senior - 68 and I am looking for a free standing Pull-up stand for pull-ups - TRX, and band work. I live in an apt - so space is limited - and live on a limited budget so $$ is limited. Can you suggest a Pull-up stand??? Many many thanks

[@BasementBrandon]

Synergee, REP, or Titan should all have a few basic options that won't break the bank, yet aren't bottom of the barrel.

[@tylerturner2971]

You can find most everything one may need on second hand websites, but like what was said it may not be of the best quality. Along with that, what I don't think was mentioned is usually, depending on your area, it may take a while to find all necessary pieces to a home gym. Ex. Squat rack, weights, bench and whatever you may want. Whereas with new, you can order all of it today and have it quickly.

[@BasementBrandon]

Very good point, you can get some great deals used, but typically it's a long process to build out.

[@philliprios8447]

Nice video! I'm sure someone will appreciate seeing this and hearing your opinion. I love your outtro music, by the way.

[@BasementBrandon]

Have to stick to the heavy rock!

[@kevslogan]

Good Stuff! Rogue should find a way to throw swag or dollars at you. Your setup showcases their gear nicely. A local supplier of plates can really cut into starting out cost for those of us who aren't nearly as strong as you. Without shipping costs for later plates, there's the option to get a standard set with 1 or 2 pairs of 45's in the initial purchase and pick up more when needed. I'd love to one day need a 5 pairs of big boy plates, but didn't need to spend the money up front.

[@BasementBrandon]

I'm surprised they don't have more packages catering towards powerlifting. They have a ton of options for Oly and Crossfit, but PL goes largely recognized.

[@nateham9493]

Used weights is 100% the way to go , but the OPB is a must have

[@BasementBrandon]

Yeah if you can find them!

[@matthewsinger4902]

Don't forget if you put this in a garage, the floors more than likely won't be level enough to deadlift. You'd have to get or make a platform and shim it so it stays level. Otherwise, it's a sound home gym to start with.

[@BasementBrandon]

Good point

[@WeastCoastHunter]

Great video, helped a lot. Quick question. Do you think 7’ is enough depth to use this rack to bench press? Have a small room 11’ x 7’

[@BasementBrandon]

Yes, absolutely

[@toddfarkman2177]

"NOTIFY ME WHEN THIS IS IN STOCK" - LOL. so much for that!

[@BasementBrandon]

Rogue stock bot can help you.

[@resulemirr]

The best bang for buck is Gymholix, although it is a fairly new company, their entry-level squat rack can handle 580 kg and it is much more cheaper. I don't know if they started shipping America or Europe but I'm sure it wouldn't cost you as much as Rogue even with the shipping included.

[@BasementBrandon]

You can buy cheaper here in the US, but cheaper doesn't mean it's better :)

[@resulemirr]

@@BasementBrandon I know that and I can say that it's really close to Rogue quality. You should check that out.

[@jimdango123456]

if you got money to blow rogue is great. if you're a working family man with responsibilities then buying used is the way to go. I have over 800 lbs in plates, a rack, cables, leg press, adjustable dbs, 2 bars, curl bar, and all the cable attachments, for 1000 bucks and no shipping. it's not as good as rogue but it meets my needs. it handles 400 lb + benches​ regularly​.

[@BasementBrandon]

Right on

[@RPGLynx]

Awesome video Brandon! I'm patiently waiting for my Rogue R3, plates, and bar to be delivered. Been looking at different programs for someone that is looking at getting back into lifting with not much previous experience. A little chubby at this point as well. My question is, do you think that Wendler 5/3/1 is a good place to start? I noticed in some of your previous videos you were doing this program with awesome success.

[@BasementBrandon]

I think 531 is awesome, solid choice!

[@quintonbailey9861]

Go with the yoke instead of the squat stand maybe? Its one more piece of equipment but with the same functionality for squatting and benching.

[@BasementBrandon]

I did a video on yokes, while they do allow you to squat/bench, it comes at a cost.

[@indiana1917]

Excellent video. A couple of quick questions please. First, I have a damaged shoulder, requiring me to switch to neutral grip bench and military presses. Do you know if Rogue’s Swiss bar would be practical for a seated military press? Also, does Rogue make a lightweight bar for women, and kids - in the 20 pound range? Thanks much.

[@BasementBrandon]

Can't comment on the swiss bar as I've never tried, but they do offer both kids and womens bars.

[@indiana1917]

Brandon Campbell Diamond - Thanks much.

[@ridgereid7237]

I literally asked this question today for recommendations on equipment. Just in time Brandon!

[@BasementBrandon]

Can def get more affordable equipment, but the quality is typically a little lower. Just depends on what you're looking for!

[@mstang61]

Good video, I'm in the process of looking at a new rack/rig, I have any old 25 year old Joe Weider Rack and it has served me well, but I'm needing some thing with better spacing and attachments options. I have already purchased an Ohio Power bar, SS elite safety squat bar, Rouge Deadlift bar with about 500lbs of bumpers. I also have got a ton of old iron plates that I'm going to sell and get some machined plates. My question is the squat stand vs a rack, if I can put attachments on the squat stand why should I get a rack instead? What are the advantages?

[@BasementBrandon]

I'd actually prob get a rack in most circumstances. I need to update this video.

[@abpanda1596]

I found a used smith machine for a really good price (>300 dollars) and haven't worked out in years. Is it worth it to get it for now to get at least strong enough to worry about a great cage? I didn't want a smith cage but i can add another barbell and use it with free weights when needed. Is that a good idea

[@BasementBrandon]

I think if you're looking for something to get started on and it's in your budget it's better than nothing.