Do You Have All You Need To Make Your Gym A Place You LIKE To Go?

If you don't like being in your gym, you just won't end up using it. Even the best assortment of gear in the world can't overcome a gym that's uncomfortable and unpleasant to be in. In this episode 8 of the GymCrafter podcast, we discuss that final checklist of things to take care of before you start on the much more fun part of adding in equipment!
LED neon rope light: amzn.to/3XFUVBw
Rep AB5200: gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep...
Rep FB5000: gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep...
Freedom Fitness Flooring: gymcrafter.com/recommends/fre...
Mila Air Purifier: amzn.to/4cH39xj
Rep Open Trap Bar: gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep...
Kaizen DIY French Cleat Video: • DIY Home Gym Storage f...
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0:00 Intro
0:42 Gym Update
2:49 New Benches
3:29 Eliminating Excuses
5:12 Need YOUR help!
6:54 Podcast Announcement
7:29 Flooring
8:18 Paint
10:09 Lighting
12:15 Storage
15:10 HO Fan
16:30 Dehumidifier
18:42 Mini Split AC
20:40 Heat
23:36 Air Purifier
25:19 Organization Plan
28:49 Feddback?

[@Eccles_basement_gym]

I love my mini split and my heater. Best decision ever.

[@JoeyLisano]

If you want a quiet home gym, avoid metal on metal contact. Bumper or rubber coated iron plates, UHMW polyethylene plastic J-cups to touch the barbell and rack, etc. I have found REP and American Barbell bars to be quieter - specs such as tight tolerances, foam that acts as a lash adjuster, and composite bushings.

[@GymCrafter]

All good tips! And a big reason I use bumpers and not iron plates (that and I've crushed my fingers between iron plates one too many times to keep using them).

[@TheKurtlocker]

Agreed on paint and lighting. It helps me a lot with motivation and it can actually be a hack for those whose mods are especially affected by color. On HVAC, I agree but I am not sure I agree with it being an initial purchase...I honestly don't know which I would weigh as a higher priority between HVAC or equipment

[@GymCrafter]

Color makes such a huge difference.

[@mikemiller2530]

What I’ve done in my basement gym to make it feel comfortable was to put some of the collectable toys I had from when I was a kid. Just puts me in a very relaxed and happy state of mind. I also have a tv that I also watch a lot of the cartoons from when I was a kid. I know it may seem silly, but I get my work done 🤙

[@GymCrafter]

Not silly at all! I love when people make their gym their own instead of a clone of something they saw online. That's why I'll have some Batman and 007 stuff in mine eventually. What are your go to cartoons? I worked at BlockBuster for several years and we always got in trouble for showing classic Loony Tunes stuff instead of the corporate trailer reel.

[@mikemiller2530]

@@GymCrafter my go to shows are usually He-man, Thundercats or Transformers, but also like shows like the Muppets and Fraggle Rock and even the Monkees

[@GymCrafter]

@@mikemiller2530 Gonzo for the win!

[@themalloftheinternet5682]

A good quality half rack is probably better than a cheap combo rack and is about the same price. As with anything in my opinion if a are combining machines into one you are compromising on the quality of the equipment. In 2018 i bought a fitness gear (dicks sporting goods) half rack and im happy with it even now. At the time it was $300. Now i think its closer to $600 thanks to inflation. It has weight horns, adjustable pull-up bars and dip bars, 3x3 with 1" hole spacing, 600lb weight capacity, j cups and 24" spotter arms. Yes a full rack is better but this works just fine. I also have a smith machine and free weights and two different style diy leg press machines that can safely hold 200lbs each. Not as strong as what you can buy but it was fun to make, saved money and if you allow time for extra sets it makes for a good leg workout. I think you should talk about half racks since everyone else skips talking about them.

[@GymCrafter]

All great points! I'm looking at buying a half rack but go back and forth because I really like lifting inside of a 30" full cage. I don't know if it's just getting used to the spotter arms or if the full cage is really better. But a half rack is for sure an underrated solution.

[@brandonpike7046]

This is the first video I’ve seen from your channel. You just got yourself a subscriber bud

[@GymCrafter]

Thank you! I really appreciate that.

[@shiwakuseven5859]

I recommend buying a medicine ball rebounder, which is fun to use with a 20 lb slam ball. Maces are fun to use too if you do mace exercises in front of a mirror. You also don't need to buy a power rack, half rack, or squat stand for a home gym. Even though I own each. For instance, I use my Marcy PM 4400 home leverage machine more than I do my power rack, half rack, or squat stand because I like using it more. I still have a power rack, half rack, and squat stand so I can rotate exercises to avoid muscle "accommodation", which is when your performance decreases because of your body becoming accustomed to the same exercises and training routine. This is why it is wise to own many different types of exercise equipment that you can rotate doing exercises with along with changing volume, intensity, and load. For instance, there are many different types of progressive overload, which include increasing weight, reps, and sets, from elasticity (resistance bands), magnetic resistance (like from a push-pull sled with magnetic resistance), compression (like from a Bullworker), and even air and hydraulic resistance.

[@jeremyc7825]

water = multiply, feeding = gremlin. EDIT - also, the town square from Gremlins is also the same one used in Back to the Future. Seriously - the exact same set, just add fake snow. And something that I would like to see more of: Half rack, full rack, or 6-post. I have my gym in a spare room so space in front of the rack was a big decision part so I ended up with a REP Apollo half rack. I know it's not ideal if you're going heavy on squats but gives the most space to walk around the rack and workout in front of it.

[@GymCrafter]

Thanks! I do remember the multiple gremlins popping off of Gizmo when he got wet now. And I'm def going to try to cover all the different types of racks and their pros and cons. Since a rack is the centerpiece of most gyms, I want to make sure to put out a resource that helps people buy what's right for their space and their style of training.

[@ronniefarhat95]

Why did you sell your REP blackwing? Just because of the paint job? You were one of the only ones I’ve seen that seemed to like the blackwing over the 5200v2. I have a 5200v1 and don’t like the pad on it (they really should have released a clear grip option for the v1 for previous owners…). I’m still really divided on which bench to get. I have a fb5000 for flat bench, so this is really just for incline work.

[@GymCrafter]

@@ronniefarhat95 That decision took me months to make. I did really like the BlackWing and if I lifted heavier than I do, I might have kept it. The two things that finally made me sell it are the zero gap and the weight. The zero gap was too much adjusting every time I changed the bench and all for something that doesn't bother me at all on the 5200 2.0. And the thing weighs a ton. Moving it around my tight garage gym was just a pain. I did love its stability, so have gone to a 5200 2.0 and an fb-5000. I did go with the clear grind color on both, but that wasn't a reason to sell the BlackWing. I would say that if you lift fairly heavy and are a big guy, then the BlackWing is the way to go. Otherwise the 5200 is a great bench. I hope that helps and doesn't add more confusion. It wasn't a good vs bad comparison, it was a great vs great comparison and it really came down to how the benches fit my specific needs.

[@TheGhu123]

I have 5 different cardio machines in the basement so there is no excuse. However I need to replace one as the machine wont power up anymore. This is machine my wife uses so there goes the moeny for the rogue rhino.

[@texaho]

I'm eagerly awaiting your Major Fitness B52 review. Would you recommend it for my needs? I'm a woman in my mid-50's. I'm no stranger to the gym. I built my own garage gym, including equipment from Rogue, Freak Athelete, etc. But I don't lift heavy. I bench and squat around 50 lbs. My Fitness Gear half rack (14 gauge steel with 3x3 uprights) and bench is super sturdy/ exceeds my needs. So I'm thinking the B52 would be a suitable upgrade. Money is no object but I can't justify spending $5k on an all-in-one.

[@GymCrafter]

I should have my first impressions video out this week. The reason it is taking so long is I got other people's feedback. If you compare it to Rogue, etc, it doesn't measure up at all. It is stable at over 400 lbs, but there are a lot of small details that are not what you are used to both in design and quality. I think the base model all in one by Force USA is worth looking at if you decide against the B52. The video I'm posting goes over quite a few details, so I'll let those speak for themselves. The things I'm not happy with don't get noticed at all by a lot of the folks I've shown it to. Sorry for the wishy washy answer, but I'm trying not to sway people one way or the other based on what my needs are and instead just present the B52 as it is and let you decide.

[@texaho]

@GymCrafter Thanks for the reply! I look forward to your fair and honest review.

[@apuz13]

What do you think of Jacked Up Fitness?

[@GymCrafter]

I haven't used any of their stuff, but it looks okay based on specs. I'm always leary of people who run a neverending stream of ads on social, so I've stayed away from them. But that's the only reason. They look really comparable to Force USA. Force makes great stuff and has a very similar lineup. After having two all in one units with plate loaded cables and a smith machine, I 100% would not buy one like that for myself. That doesn't mean it's not right for other people, but I hate how cramped everything is and I don't like training on a Smith machine. For me, a good ole 30"+ power rack, a bar, and some plates is the way to go. I do love having cables, so maybe something with that too, but I don't really like lifting outside of the rack with only safety arms. Again, personal preference. For sure check out ForceUSA, though. I'm not affiliated with them at all, but can 100% recommend the company.