So you want to get into bodybuilder-level shape this year, but you’re not in the mood to travel to the local gym every day? A garage gym allows you to reach your goals from the comfort of home—but you’ll need the right gear to do it.
If you’ve spent your whole life going to gyms already stocked with equipment, you may not know what to get.
After all, how do you decide which machines or equipment will benefit you the most? Do you need both a bench press and a squat rack? Should you invest in medicine balls or kettlebells? There are so many things to consider that the process can seem a bit daunting at first.
That’s why we’re here to help you out. We’ve prepared the ultimate guide to building and decorating a garage gym.
Start With Barbells
Buying a high-quality barbell is a great starting point. Why? Because you can do so many exercises with this simple piece of equipment. With a standard barbell, you can do:
- Bench presses
- Squats
- Deadlifts
- Overhead presses
- Landmine lunges
- Barbell rows
- Snatches
- Bicep curls
And that’s not even all of them. As you can see, you can knock out a ton of exercises with a simple barbell.
Olympic Weight Plates
You’ll also need some Olympic weight plates. Iron plates are the least expensive, so those will give you the best value. Get some 45s, 35s, 25s, 10s, and 5s. That will provide you with enough variety to lift heavy, light, and in between.
Weight Bench
Want to work on your upper body? A bench press is one of the best ways to work your pectorals, arms, and shoulders. If you already have a barbell and weight plates, you just need the bench. The good news is that you can find weight benches at almost any sports store, and most are affordable.
Squat Rack
It’s good to work your upper body, but you shouldn’t neglect your lower body in the process. To bulk up evenly, you’ll want to work your legs in addition to your arms. Investing in a squat rack is a great way to build strength in your core and legs.
Cardio Equipment
Beyond lifting, you should also add some cardio equipment to your garage gym. We recommend getting both a treadmill and an exercise bike so that you’ll have multiple options when it comes to your daily cardio. If you’re burnt-out on the treadmill, switch to the bike for a while, and vice versa.
Conclusion
Use this ultimate guide to building a garage gym to choose the most practical pieces of equipment for your setup. Keep in mind that this isn’t an all-inclusive list. It does, however, provide a great foundation that you can continue to build upon.
