Stop paying monthly bills, bite the bullet and build a gym at your home. It makes financial sense and is a much more efficient way to train.
If you a) enjoy the social element of a health club, b) care to use cardiovascular machinery or c) don’t have free space for a simple rack and bench, feel free to stop reading. This post is not for you. If you desire more free time with your family or loved ones, hate shelling out ducats monthly for the right to get under someone else’s bar or simply want to spend less time in the car, read on.
As you know, my core workout is the 5 x 5 and requires four main lifts. Three times a week, I incorporate a combination of squats, dead lifts, bench presses, push presses and bent over rows. I can perform those movements in roughly 10 square feet, maybe less:
Yet every morning at 5:45am, I find myself yawning in the car with one or both of my young men, driving to a local gym. Granted, it’s my favorite weight pile of all time with the finest folks in Malibu, but seriously, I would much prefer to walk to my own personal rack, barefoot in a pair of shorts, blasting “Bring the Pain” than hop into my car.
Before I tell you that I’m constructing a gym, allow me to lay out the value proposition.
As of now, for my two boys and me, my membership dues are $144 a month, all in. Granted, I’m in Malibu, and I’m fully aware that what I’m paying may not be the norm. To be unbiased, I did some research, and the average health club membership is $58/mo. Even if I factor in a potential student discount, family memberships, etc., my number (for three) isn’t far off. To be fair, let’s call the all in family number $150/mo. and account for an additional family member. That’s $1,800/yr. before any hidden fees.
Stay with me.
The way I break my family’s needs down, we will require a rack, a bench, bumper plates and two Olympic bars to appropriately perform our training. The rack will run me $323.99, the bench $99.99, the bumper plate set $450, and two Olympic bars at $93.79 each. Add in roughly $200 for shipping, and we’ve come away with $1,261.56 in equipment expenses.
Finding space? Not so easy. Assuming you don’t have a room large enough and assuming the garage won’t allow for it, you’ll need to move outside and buy a durable tarp to protect your equipment at $34.72, upping your total to $1,296.28.
You’re screaming that you live in Boston and I’m a problem solver. You cold weather cats will need one of these at $185.00, bringing your bill to $1,481.28.
Fine, that might not be a palatable option for most (pssftt, you just haaave to be comfortable when you train?), so building a space may be absolutely necessary. Under these unique circumstances, you’ll need to consider an option like this at $2,399 and a portable heater at $91.95. You’ll need a long extension cord to get that warmth plugged in and humming. This bad boy should do and will run you $17.06.
Damn, at $3,897.34 we are way over, right? Not really.
You’ll be paying (increasing) membership fees for years to come. In 2020, you’ll have dropped no less than $9,000 on membership fees. That’s before the gas that you spend getting to and from the gym. I’ll spare you my new tire pitch.
Remember, the best gyms are outside. You truly need limited weight training equipment. You don’t need a fancy track to run sprints or a specialized pull-up bar. To be more optimized for fitness success, a pair of balls may help, but they aren’t necessary. Resourcefulness is the goal. You’ve got this.
Pull the trigger,
Kap
Jim says
Great article, Kap! I’ve trained at home for the last 13 years and much prefer it. While I have much of the equipment you mention, one of my newest components is from here: http://powerblock.com/. The set of dumbbells I have has weight settings that ranges from 5lbs to 120lbs. These take up very little space and are fantastic! One of the best additions to my home gym that I’ve ever made. I highly recommend them for dumbbell work — especially if you have space limitations.
Colt says
Kap-
Don’t be cheap and buy cheap stuff you will regret. The rack should last forever the one you quoted at 398 sounds to cheap and is probably junk especially if you plan on squatting 400 plus on it. Buy a cage so you can do pullups and Dl and have the option of using bars as a spotter. If you want to save money you really only need 2-45 pound bumpers
Buy a good bar too you will be glad you did I like the Texas power bar
Gabe Kapler says
Hey, Colt.
C’mon, brother. You know I do my homework, right? This was an post creating a value proposition. See reviews:
http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Valor-Fitness-BD-4-Safety-Squat-Bench-Combo-Rack/3276038/product.html
BTW, inexpensive doesn’t mean cheap (wait, yes it does), dig?
Take care,
Kap
Mike says
The shed is even on sale this week!
Chester says
Also helpful in an area such as a garage, is a space for jumping rope and a rack with combination heavy bag/double-end bag/speedbag.
Randy says
Fantastic! I prefer working out at home too. Time is too precious to spend another 20 minutes each way in the car.
I also get up before the roosters to get my workout in, at least during the weekdays. And I’ve noticed that my energy level and endurance is clearly better when I work out in the late morning/early afternoon on the weekend. Do you have any tips for getting the motor running in the early a.m.? I’m curious whether you eat anything upon waking, how long you like to be awake before starting the workout, or anything else I’m missing. Peace!
Todd says
I love the information you share. I’d like to help with the discussion as far as where to shop and save some cash. I too have decided to develop my own gym at home and I’ve done so, 4 years ago. I purchased; squat rack (power cage) heavy duty bench with 260 pounds of weight and an olympic bar ($240 craigslist), another 240 pounds of weights, another olympic bar, ez curl bar and a weight tree ($220 craigslist), cable crossover on ebay ($230 w/free shipping new). You can find a lot of deals out there if you’re patient. With 3 kids and recently putting my wife through medical school, accumulating these items have saved me. Not only have I saved a lot of cash but I have benefited from the results.
James says
Kap,
Great stuff! I’ve had a garage gym for the last 5 years now and can’t imagine going back to a gym. I love it! Best of all, my young sons love to come out in the garage with me and “workout” with me. I know you do your homework, but I have to recommend Rogue Fitness for any equipment. With the onset of CrossFit, thousands of garage gyms have popped up across the country over the last 10 years. Rogue is one of the main suppliers that CrossFit gyms and garage gyms use, including mine. They are affordable, have amazing customer service, and they manufacture EVERYTHING in the USA in Ohio. Google Ohio States’ new weight room because Rogue designed and supplied the equipment. I can’t emphasize enough how awesome they are. And the cherry on top is that all the equipment looks BAD ASS and is tough as nails!
Check em out. http://www.roguefitness.com
James
ForceFitnessKits says
Kap,
This is good stuff! One thing you didn’t cover are the good ole craigslist deals you can find out there if you are patient. We couldn’t agree more with this though and have an article that shows some more stats on this as well. http://www.forcefitnesskits.com/blog/why-you-shouldnt-go-to-the-gym/
Ryan O says
May i suggest an awesome squat rack for all needs I just ordered and put together last night.
http://www.amazon.com/Titan-Squat-Stand-Fitness-Rack/dp/B00L9DLOWK/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1423838692&sr=1-2&keywords=titan+squat+rack
She is a solid beast and super stout from swaying when doing kipping pulls ups,muscle ups.
Ryan O says
Very simlar to Rogue S2 and being much less of the price tag. Made and shipped in TN.
adam hunter says
Kap,
I know I’m a year late but like everyone said great article! I looked at signing up with a gym or doing CrossFit but living in Northern VA, the cost was just way to much. This was just a few years ago, I had just gotten out of the Coast Guard after 11 years and just got a 3 level townhouse with my GI BILL. So I decided it was cheaper to build a home gym plus I had the space of my basement. Went to my local Dick’s Sporting Goods got a Pro half Rack(built in pull up bar), a pro bench, 300 lb Olympic weight set(its okay), a 70 lb bag and Stand. Opened a Card and got 15% off my purchase spent around $900.
Floor Mats I got from 5 below 2 for $5. $40 for Golds Gym Olympic Rings from Walmart,hang of my rack.
Then over the past few years just added more and more stuff slowly over time. Found a battle rope online for $130.
Instead of getting the TRX for $250, I purchased the ONNIT battle rope suspension system for $50. The ONNIT system also works as a pulley by attaching kettlebells and you can you it as a climbing rope. Places like Titan Fitness have great deals on kettle bells, dumbbell sets and pylo box sets. Plus they do free shipping on everything.
Also with my Dicks Card you spend $300 you get $10 Dick’s cash. So after My big purchase they gave me like $50 and I used that to get 2 medicine balls (10, 20) when they were doing a buy one get one free sell.
I just bought a Water Rower which is great!!! I highly recommend you add rowing to your workouts. Plus I have the odds and ends stuff jump ropes, Swiss ball, ab roller, etc…….
So in all I have probably $3,500 on my home gym over 2 and half years. Crossfit just for me over that same time frame would have cost me almost $6000. It might not have all “the big name’ stuff but its for a home gym. I have almost everything you need and married with two kids its only a few steps away. lol
The biggest thing though is shop everywhere not just one place based on a “name” for your fitness equipment or gear.
Sincerely,
Adam