What are the best things to put in a home gym?

I have a decent size room in my basement and want to make it my home gym. What bowflex model is the best. What are some other good things I can put and not exceed my budget of 3000 dollars.

WEIGHTS MAYBE A BAR THAT U CAN DO PULLUPS WITH TREDMILL BIKE AND MAYBE A FEW FANS JUST IN CASE OR AIR CONDITIONER

19 Responses to “What are the best things to put in a home gym?”

  1. gsschulte Says:

    well the best thing you can have is a power sled. its the only one that you cant do with a bench and free weights
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  2. daveycakes Says:

    A selection of Weights – simple stuff like a stretchy rope, a mat, a pilates ball. You can workout without using really expensive machines.
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  3. chadvandykecft Says:

    The best piece of gym equipment as far as i am concerned is a good power rack.
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  4. David Says:

    I cannot help you with the bowflex machine. I do not use one. I am into weights. This is what I have, what I recommend you buy:

    First and most important, buy a power rack! Not the smith machines or the ones with the pullies and cables. Just a basic power rack. They sell them on the internet.

    Next, a standard 7 ft. bar. And weight bar clips. 6 of them.

    Next, a manta ray attachment

    Next, pairs of standard weight plates. 2-1/2, 5, 7-1/2, 10, 12-1/2, 20, 50, 75, and 4 pairs of 100 lb. plates.

    A pair of dumbbell standard handles, the kind you hold the plates with clips. A curling bar, standard. Also, the kind you hold the plates with clips.

    A powerhouse gym cable and plate machine that they sell at Walmart.

    The Step.

    V-Max 100 lb. weight vest.

    8 ft x 8 ft. square wall mirror

    Adjustable weight bench.

    And finally, 30 steel washers with a 1" diamater opening.

    This eqiupment will give you an exercise program that will give you a body that other people will envy and be amazed.
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    I have been weightlifting for 19 years. My gym is in a bedroom in my home. I am 6′2" tall, 225 lbs, wear XXXL shirts. And I am 54 years old! I am a volunteer expert on ALLEXPERTS under a variety sites, including STRENGTH TRAINING.

  5. Manicman Says:

    The one and only thing I use is a bowflex elite. Also the extreme is good as well. I spent 800.00 for mine and get about 70 good exercises

    I have been using it 4-5 days a week. I have lost 12 pounds and 2 inches off of my waist in about 8 weeks.

    Size is good if that is all you want but strength is by far more important. Ligaments and tendons are avascular, meaning they do not get much blod flow to add in recovery like a muscle would do. If you injure a ligament or tendon you will be unable to work out yhat area for several months.

    Some one stated that they wear a XXXL shirt. But what does that prove. Does this person have a healthy body and are his joints healthy. He states that all he uses are weights, but ask yourself how many times has he shredded a bicep muscle.

    This is only my opinion and you can do with it what you want. I would prefer to have a very well tone body with some size and definition without all the bulk. A person with a huge muscle size can run into the same medical problems as someone that is over weight.

    I have trained many a football, wrestling, and basketball players with everthing from free weights to the boflex. I have had better result using the bowflex.

    One other thing that is an advantage with the boflex is it’s cost. You can get an awesome boflex for between 800.00 and 1,500.00. With free weights you will spend about .50 – 1.50.00 per lb. so with a free weight set you will normal need 2 of each starting at 5lbs up to 50lb maybe higher. Plus you will need accessories.

    I throw in 4-5 half hour walks a week and do my best to watch what I eat.

    Boflex uses resistance which not only builds strength but tones and sizes you well. Free weights if done improperly can tear muscle badly. Over all the Boflex is by far the safest and easiest to use.
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  6. kill_yr_television Says:

    Are you sure Bowflex is for you? My neighbor has one and says that switching resistance levels is a pain in the neck.

    But my "dream" home gym, assuming that I have limited space and finances even in my dreams, would have

    An easily moved mirror on a stand.

    An adjustable flat to incline to upright bench and an adjustable decline bench. The decline would have padded bars that were movable to brace knees or feet. Both benches would have wheels at one end to be moved easily.

    A set of stacks that I could use one at a time, or could stand between like for cable crossovers. Each of the two stacks would have a low "handle" for pulling up and a high one for pulling down. If you can afford the kind that adjust in height, they really expand your range of possibilities. A variety of bars and grips. A pull up bar on the "bridge" that connects the two stacks.

    A third stack on the wall for bench presses. The bar should "lock" into place so you can do dips with it. An accessory bar to add to this to serve as your safety bar in doing squats.

    A straight bar and a zig-zag bar with just enough plates to do your heaviest squats, and a few extra lighter plates so you can do "stripping" with your curls and triceps.

    A pair of "The Blocks" for free weight exercises.

    Racks, hooks, etc, to keep all that equipment organized and up off the floor. Floor mats.

    I think I’ve kept you in budget here? I’ll be watching this one! Have fun!
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  7. bear naked Says:

    The best thing you can put in your home gym is YOU. All the fancy equipment looks great….but it needs you to use it.
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  8. wendi timney Says:

    try the total GYM
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  9. littlebit Says:

    hink about the Total Gym

    LC
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  10. guido s Says:

    A sound system, with plenty of hard core, old school rock to get you pumped up.
    Oh, and a weight set.
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  11. Brad Says:

    A refrigerator full of Beer.
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  12. Mahdi A Says:

    mmmm … make it 4grand an i’ll gym u away!!!!
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  13. dmbfan598 Says:

    I don’t know what they’re called, but the machine a combination of a pull up bar and a place to do dips. They normall cost around $200. Good for biceps, triceps, back, and a little bit of the pecks.
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  14. rockinray57 Says:

    A stationary bike, like a Schwinn Aerodyne. A rowing machine and some free weights. Good luck
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  15. thebaldchemist Says:

    PJ. I dont believe you need anything more than 2 x 10 lb hand weights and 2 x 20 lb handweights.
    Work up to 100 reps of 6 different exercises every other day.
    Take a brisk early morning 45 min walk 5 days a week and I can assure you within six weeks and with proper eating you will look, feel fabulous. You will also be able to continue your whole life with these exercises without ever getting bored or becoming fanatical.
    Take a look at http://fit-n-fat.blogspot.com
    Take care BC
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    http://fit-n-fat.blogspot.com

  16. jean Says:

    YOU What ever happened to good ol sit-ups and running in place.
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  17. shortymaciam Says:

    I have the total gym…mind you I have had it for over a year and still have yet to use it… but i would say the total gym
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  18. gabyges@HOTMAIL.COM Says:

    WEIGHTS MAYBE A BAR THAT U CAN DO PULLUPS WITH TREDMILL BIKE AND MAYBE A FEW FANS JUST IN CASE OR AIR CONDITIONER
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  19. tigerzntalons Says:

    Really it depends on what you want to accomplish,

    Bulk up> free weights (dumb and barbells), weight bench that will allow you to do leg presses and leg raises, squat bar. mat for calisthenics such as push ups.

    Lose weight> treadmill (one that will go at least 12mph and have the capacity to incline), tread-climber or stair stepper, stationary bike (NOT recumbent), mat for calisthenic exercises such as butterflies and crunches

    All around fitness> all the above plus, perhaps, a ergonometer or rowing machine.

    Clock with second hand (NOT digital), TV, DVD player, and CD player are essential too.
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