When buying weight-training equipment, align your purchases with your goals. While weights and accessories can be expensive, you can look at these as an investment in your health. Poor-quality equipment will not allow you to perform at your best, and may not last as long as you would like it to. Whatever you're training for, there are certain items of weigh lifting equipment that every trainer should own.
Olympic Barbell
An Olympic barbell is 7 feet long, has a diameter of 1 inch along the middle portion of the bar, and a 2-inch diameter on the ends for holding weight plates and collars. An Olympic bar differs to a standard barbell, which is shorter and thinner. The Olympic bar can handle a lot more weight than the standard, is easier to use and can be loaded with full-size plates. If you're serious about weight training, an Olympic barbell should be your first purchase. A good quality bar, such as a Texas Power Bar, costs around $350 as of February 2011.
Weight Plates
To get bigger and stronger, you need weight plates. If you are buying an Olympic bar, buy Olympic plates with a hole diameter of 2 inches. If you are a beginner, look for a 300 lb. Olympic plate set, which should cost around $300. If you are a more advanced lifter, work out how much you will need for your maximum lifts. Purchase 100 lbs. more than you need so that you have spare plates and also enough weight for when you get stronger.
Power Rack
If you want to be able to do heavy squats, lunges, overhead presses and chinups, a power rack is essential. A power rack, a rectangular structure that allows you to walk in and let safety pins grab the barbell if something goes wrong, ranges in price from $300 to $3,000. A power rack adds variety to your training and makes it easier to set up for heavy exercises, while training safely.
Adjustable Bench
Powerlifting website CriticalBench.com recommend that anyone looking to train at home should purchase an adjustable bench, as they enable you to add extra exercises into your routine and offer good value. Look for a bench that adjusts between 0 and 90 degrees and supports as much weight as you need. Adjustable benches can be disassembled for easy storage, and a basic bench costs around $150.
Member Comments