Home gyms can be an effective way to spur yourself to high levels of health and wellness, but buying state-of-the-art equipment can lead to low levels in your bank account. If you know where to look, have a bit of patience, and are creative, you can build your own cheap home gym.
Build Your Home Gym
Step 1
Measure the available space. Having a defined area can help to determine the proper equipment for the room. If you only have 100 square feet, it makes little sense to acquire equipment that may cover 98 square feet.
Step 2
Build your ultimate home gym on paper. Define what it is you like to do for exercise. Do you like treadmill running? Do you prefer strength training? Draft a list of equipment that best suits your exercise desires.
Step 3
Sketch it out on graph paper. Can you fit all of the desired equipment in the room and still have room to move?
Step 4
Prioritize. Eliminate the "nice to have" objects of your dream gym that are taking up space and costing you money.
Step 5
Survey prices. Go to local sporting goods stores or use the Internet and determine the prices of new equipment for your home gym.
Step 6
Search for used equipment. Many websites like eBay and craigslist have individuals selling secondhand fitness equipment far less expensive than it would cost to buy brand new. Secondhand stores often sell used fitness equipment, so use your phone book.
Step 7
Wait for the right things. It is unlikely that your dream gym will be for sale on an Internet trading post or at a used sporting goods store the first time you go. Acquire what you can immediately, but do not compromise quality for immediate gratification.
Step 8
Consider multifunctional equipment. If you are seeking dumbbells, consider buying a compact, adjustable set instead of a rack of traditional hex dumbbells, as a compact will save both space and money. A power rack can be superior to squat stands if it provides a pull-up bar and dip handles and is far less expensive than buying all of the tools independently.
Step 9
Be creative. Many pieces of fitness equipment can be re-created using inexpensive products from hardware stores. PVC pipe can be made into mini-hurdles, a wooden dowel and an eye-bolt can be used to create an attachment for your pulley machines, and ropes can add thickness to your pull-up bar or dumbbell handles as well as commercially made thick bars. Tack stores often sell rubberized flooring at better costs than commercial flooring outfits.
References
- "Underground Strength Manual"; Zach Even-Esh; 2008
- "Designing Strength Training Programs and Facilities"; Michael Boyle; 2008
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