Complete Tour of a Serious Home Gym Setup: Equipment Breakdown and Review
Building a comprehensive home gym requires careful equipment selection to ensure effective, versatile workouts without compromising on quality. This detailed walkthrough showcases a complete home gym setup with a mix of modern and vintage equipment that offers functionality across all major muscle groups.
Free Weight Equipment
The foundation of this home gym includes a variety of handles and grips for different training styles. The collection features old-school handles ranging from 4 to 7 kilos in pairs, providing options for lighter accessory work. For heavier training, the gym includes short, compact handles that don't require assembly, capable of handling up to 50 kilos from Jim 80. Additionally, there are specialized short handles for quick, explosive movements with weights up to 22 kilos.
Hand-drawn handles with an impressive weight capacity of approximately 400kg are available for more advanced lifters. The setup includes practical accessories like straps that can be used in combination for different exercises.
Machines and Specialized Equipment
The gym features a well-rounded selection of machines, including:
- A weight machine from ATX
- A backpack, backpack and rudder combination from ATX that offers solid performance and versatility
- Abdominal equipment including an Abdoctor combi from MKB Systems
- A Hyper Extension machine from TechnoChimp, which is highlighted as particularly important for leg and back development
- A Universal leg machine that, while older, provides reliable performance for lower body training
- An overhead press machine for triceps work described as exceptionally solid
Vintage Equipment Collection
One of the most interesting aspects of this home gym is its collection of vintage equipment, including a McLevy biceps machine built between the 1960s and 1970s. This piece represents gym equipment history, coming from a company founded in 1890s New York that produced equipment until the 1970s.
There's also a Universal leg press that embodies classic gym equipment design. While noted as being better suited for taller individuals due to its size, it provides an authentic old-school training experience.
Additional Equipment
The gym tour also includes:
- A leg press with a comfortable design despite being an older model
- A brush press with a specialized stick mechanism that can handle up to 200kg
- A multi-press system with security features on both sides
- Motivational elements including posters of bodybuilding legends like Flex Wheeler, Dorian Yates, Nasa El Sanbati, and Sean Ray
Training Environment
Beyond just the equipment, the gym features proper lighting for an optimal training environment. The space is designed to be functional while maintaining the authentic feel of a serious training facility, complete with memorabilia including a signed item from Ronnie Coleman obtained at a Fibo fitness expo.
This comprehensive home gym setup demonstrates how dedicated fitness enthusiasts can create professional-quality training spaces in their homes by carefully selecting equipment that covers all training needs while reflecting their personal preferences for training styles.
