In the MoreThanLifting Podcast Episode 13, we talk about the home training equipment available to you on the market and what you actually need. We talk about the main bits of kit, what they can be used for and what they cant. And to top it off, we talk about how you can get it all for the price of 1-2 months gym membership!
Rhys Hates All-In-One Frames & Expensive Equipment
- Last night I started writing an article on home training equipment and I spent 2000 words on why you shouldn’t buy a Pull Up / Dipping station!
- So I thought it would be a better idea than the article, to talk about it here
- A lot of people ask me what they can get or what they should
- A lot of people think of treadmills and expensive bikes, or a bench and weights
- The truth is you want something small or pack-away-able or multipurpose
Chris Is Changing His Gym – Why Commercial Gyms Suck & Why You Should Just Do It Yourself
- Chris is changing his gym
- He went to this new place which was at a leisure centre
- He thought there would be a huge space with loads of weights all there was was bikes, treadmills
- I know exactly what I’m going to find there and its not what i want
- There was only 1 barbell
- All that space
- The stuff you could do with it and yet they have filled it up with cardio equipment
- I think it is an easy workout, no barrier to entry
- They can just turn up and walk or run or peddle
- For people who are new to the gym or maybe a little uncomfortable, we get it
- But for the business, it is a lot of money for kit
- You could have less, hire more staff and create a better environment for the people who use it
- It would cost less, they would provide a better experience, they would retain clients
- If they didn’t have a sauna Id be out of there
- Chris loves a tasty spa
- Chris has a tight lower back from shifting rubble about
- He loves those back hugging warm chairs they have
Your First Bit Of Training Kit For Your Home Gym – The Door Frame Pull Up Bar
- Everyone thinks they need big bits of kit in gyms so they think they need big kit or loads of space to make a gym space at home but its not true
- So let’s get into some of the stuff you do need
- The first one I recommend is the door frame pull up bar
- There are loads of crazy grip variation ones but I think the simpler the better
- Mine is a door gym, it cost £8 on Amazon
- Less than a Tenner!
- People try and create newer fancier versions but all you need is a straight bar that fits the door frame and doesn’t fall down
- I used to have this expanding one, don’t get one!
- If it isn’t tight enough, you will fall on your arse and the thing will smash you in the face
- The only issue I have with the hanging one (the one I recommend,) is the box
- That is because it says you can do dips, you cannot!
- It says you can, it isn’t the same as a real dip
- Perhaps save your dips for another time or get a different piece of kit
Check Out The Door Fame Pull Up Bar On Amazon:
GM Door Gym
A Thought On Review Sites & Product Recommendations
- I really want to get my Youtube game up this year
- This is because a lot of stuff gives bad advice in exchange for a commission of a product
- Because there are all these platforms, you should always try and think what the intention is behind an article,
- Are they trying to sell you on the product?
- If they are a coach selling something for a purpose then maybe its good advice, but if they are just selling a product, more often than not, they are trying to sell the product itself
- Check amazon results
- There is an expectation now of value for a cheap product and some people have huge standards for a low quality or low ticket piece of kit
Other Uses For The Door Frame Pull Up Bar
- One other good thing about those pull up bars is it can be used on the floor as little parallettes and other stuff
- And for the money it is NADA, so if it does get a little bit damaged then just buy another one its a tenner!
- I have had mine for 2 years
- Sometimes it gets a little loose but i tighten it up Et Voi La
TRX And Gymnastics Rings
- TRX ropes are great to add onto these bars
- Sometimes the cheaper ones are as good or even better
- Otherwise rings are a great choice 🙂
- You can use them for all kinds of stuff including push ups
- Sometimes the TRX might be better for a softer strap
- You don’t want to have to kill a set because your hands hurt and not because your shoulders are maxed out
- Be conscious of the angle you are using them at though, if you are hanging them off.
- Always be on the grip side of the door not the supported side (you don’t want it coming off!
- And there are so many exercises you can do on them
- Some stuff is a little bit more useable than the rings and we will get on to them shortly
- Oh, before we do, get wooden rings not metal rings or plastic rings
- And the good thing about these bits of kit is that they are readily available and low cost
Get Some Gymnastic Rings Here:
Olympic Wooden Gymnastic Rings
The Cost Of Setting Up Your Home Gym
- Home equipment needs to be compact so you can pack it away
- You can get pull up bars that are bolted to the wall but you can’t always do that – like if youwere renting
- This home gym set up can be done for £100 or less
- And all of the information is out there for you to put it all to good use
- Chris has had some great workouts in the rain by himself
- He probably got a bit of a clod afterwards
- He probably looked like a lunatic
- But it was fun
- And a great test of your will power
- So next up
Dipping Bars
- These use to be really expensive when I got mine, they retailed at £80
- I got them second hand for £50 and now they retail on amazon for £30
- Get separate ones so you can adjust the gap between them, or just use one
- And they can be put together and stored in the cupboard
- They are a great piece of multifunction kit you ca do levers and L sits and elbow levers and handstands and all sorts
- Lots of options and well worth the investment
- Even Russian dips which are a complex and very powerful exercise to try out
- It is quite difficult and you can split it into different progressions to build the strength
- You can learn it pretty quickly – especially you Chris 😉
Get Some Dipping Bars Here:
Crossfit Parallel Dip Bars
Chris Got Skinny – Body Issues And ‘Compliments’
- Chris was asked ‘have you lost weight?’
- For most people this can be considered a compliment
- But if you are pretty lean then being asked that is actually the last thing you want to hear – even insulting haha!
- Los of people are on their January Bulk!
- Getting ready for the summer
- Chris used to be all about it but not so much since he entered his 30’s
- He finds that with other people his age who want to get into shape and be healthy and strong
- Slight tangent there – Chris’ Confessions . . .
- Rhys has always been in relatively good shape, even when he was really skinny
- Everyone has body issues, a lot of guys think it about size
- But if you focus on the strength the size comes and the total outcome is generally better
- and you learn these cool skills
- You aren’t worried about how big you are or whatever, you get feedback through skill acquisition
- It’s a different form of feedback
- I think we are preaching to the choir here anyway people, you guys are on the right path
- We have talked about the main ones, what else?
Parallettes
- Parallettes we haven’t covered with
- A lot of people settle for little push ups grips but parallettes are a better option for use
- They are much more diverse – and they look a bit nicer
- Plus the design and style of push up grips aren’t making them more functional than others and can instead make them worse
- It can be nice to have your wrists in a neutral position when you start or just to give them a break
- This is a good way of giving your wrists a rest from over flexion
Get Parallettes On Amazon Here:
Gravity Fitness Parallettes
Kettle Bells
- Chris wants to talk about kettle bells
- I think they are really expensive
- I was going to mention a dipping belt but really that is more for use down the gym when weights are available to you
- Cost wise kettle bells are higher cost for more weight
- So Chris wouldn’t say to have lots, just use one at home for low intensity but having some form of resistance
- Turkish get ups
- Active stretch work too
- So the lighter ones do have greater use than just a single big heavy bastard
- But don’t think of them as a strength building thing but a low level active movement
- You can however mix the small ones with other exercises to create more intensity in your workouts, so just start small and get an 8kg one or something if you want ones
- You will find it definitely pays back its investment and they last forever
- Unlike a weight plate with a chunk missing out of it
- So the functional capacity is huge
- If you are on a weight loss kick, this is a great option
- Ive thought about kettle bells before, but because i have always thought heavy, i haven’t bothered
Dipping Belts Or Ankle Weights?
- I was going to say about dipping belts but you need the weight to get any use out of them so a gym is better,
- They are basically a belt with a chain and you string weights onto it to increase you bodyweight in a pull or dip
- What I would recommend instead are ankle weights
- I have a pair of 5kgs which are the top end of the weight spectrum, but that is really all you need
- Flutter kicks pulls L Sits planche training all kids of next level training
- Including hanging leg raises which are otherwise quite difficult to load
- Squat jumps anyone?
- I just drape them over my dipping bars in my cupboard
Get Yourself A Pair Of Ankle Weights:
1kg 1.5kg 3kg 4kg 5kg Ankle Wrist Weights
Are Dumbbells Really A Good Idea? – Plus 2 More Ideas If You Have The Space
- The only other thing about equipment Chris would recommend are dumbbells, but they are expensive so only if you are going all in.
- They aren’t necessarily at all but they are another option if you have the space and money
- If you are thinking of it, think if there is a gym close by with the equipment and maybe that would be a better option
- A small bench is also a great option for the same reason maybe not an option
- And of course a box, for box jump, squat jumps, pistol squat development
- Its basically just a wooden box
- You can get hollow ones for storage of your other gear 😉
Liquid Chalk
- The only other thin I would suggest is chalk, although you may not use it at home so much but anywhere else it is great for improving your grip and stop you getting slippery hands and falling on the bar
- Liquid chalk is great and portable and it lasts for ages – it lasted me for a year
- There is something about the cloud of chalk that helps you really feel the part and get in the zone
- In summary
- Your core essentials are pull up bar, dip bar and some rings or something
- One good thing is an exercise ball – i use it for a chair – but it great for core stability stuff
- Other essentials or anything?
- You could even training quite comfortably without the rings
- £10 on the pull up bar – get that first
- £30 on the dipping bars
- £30 for the rings maybe
- So less than £100 and you don’t need a bloody big frame!
Get Liquid Chalk Here:
MyProtein Liquid Chalk – 250ml
Wrapping It Up
- That means its time to wrap it up
- Rock – Dinosaur
- Chris wins
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- Keep in touch with yourselves and we will catch up with you next week!
