The holidays are over, the pounds have piled on, and now it’s time to start exercising because summer will arrive before you know it. In January, everyone heads to the gym, and gym owners are cashing in. Crowded gyms, commuting, and changing clothes in the locker room frustrate you, making you feel uncomfortable, so you decide to work out at home. Full of enthusiasm, you go online to shop for home gym equipment, start browsing, and suddenly realize you need everything—from a bench press, lat machine, and leg press to a squat cage and even a leg extension machine. After all, how else will you highlight those quads?
Of course, you don’t have the budget for all of that, and isn’t a home gym supposed to save money compared to a commercial one? In the end, you buy a few machines that fit in your home, spending quite a bit of money—not because the equipment is expensive, but because you bought a lot of it, even at a significant discount. Although the pictures online may look more like renderings than actual products, you decide to trust them. When your order arrives, you unpack everything, barely manage to squeeze it into your space, and start working out. After a few days, you realize the quality of the equipment is lacking. Some parts feel loose, and the machines seem unstable. Additionally, after a few weeks, you notice you hardly use certain machines, and they just take up space.
This is a classic example of mistakes people make when setting up their first home gym. Trust me—I’ve been there. Below, I’ll outline the common pitfalls to avoid when buying home gym equipment, helping you save money and space, as well as the questions you should ask yourself before purchasing.
Are Cement Weight Plates a Good Option for Your Home Gym?
Online, you’ll often find barbell and plate sets marketed as the ultimate home workout combo. These are indeed a great choice because you can perform many exercises with them. However, plastic plates filled with cement or other materials are often offered as part of these sets. While these plates may work for some, they are unsuitable for those lifting over 50 kg, especially for exercises like deadlifts where the weights hit the floor. In such cases, the plastic casing may crack.
Another issue with heavier weights is that plastic plates are thicker than steel plates, limiting how much weight you can load onto the bar. For example, a 5 kg plastic plate is about 40 mm thick, whereas a steel plate of the same weight is only 15 mm thick. This also affects storage in your home. If you plan to lift heavier weights, it’s better to invest in steel plates. This brings us to the next question: what size barbell and plate holes should you choose?
Choosing the Diameter of Barbells and Weight Plates for your Home Gym setup
The variety of barbells and plates can be overwhelming, so let’s simplify: there are two main types—standard and Olympic. If you opt for the aforementioned plastic cement-filled plates, they can only be used with standard barbells. Steel plates, however, come in options with 25 mm holes for standard bars or 50 mm holes for Olympic bars.
People often get confused and make mistakes in choosing the right barbell and plates. Standard barbells are shorter, which is an advantage for a home gym, but they have a lower weight capacity. Olympic barbells, on the other hand, can handle more weight but are longer and more expensive. If you plan to lift heavy, go for an Olympic setup. Otherwise, for light training, a standard option will suffice.
Additionally, for standard barbells, pay attention to the weight-locking mechanism. Some use threaded collars with nuts, while others have quick-lock clamps. Threaded collars take time to adjust, especially if you’re changing weights after every set. Quick-lock clamps are much more convenient.
Here’s a quick comparison of dimensions:
- Grip diameter: 28 mm (Olympic), 26 mm (Standard)
- Plate hole diameter: 50 mm (Olympic), 25 mm (Standard)
- Length: 2.2 m (Olympic), 1.8 m (Standard)
Choosing Dumbbells for your Home gym
Dumbbells are another area where things can go wrong. With so many options available, people are often tempted by lower prices, which can end up costing them more in the long run.
Plastic Dumbbell Handles
If you’re planning serious strength training with more than two sets and frequent use, avoid dumbbells with plastic handles. While they might look appealing in pictures, especially if you’ve experienced calluses from metal grips, there are better ways to prevent those.
For weights of 10 kg or more, the handle must be sturdy and textured to ensure a firm grip and prevent slipping. Plastic handles often degrade over time, leaving you with just the steel core—or worse, broken plastic. Rubberized handles are a better option, but steel handles are the most durable and reliable choice.
Handles with a Small Diameter
As mentioned earlier, you need to firmly grip the dumbbell to get the most out of your workout. However, if the handle diameter is too small, which happens occasionally, the dumbbell will slip during exercises because you won’t be able to secure it in your hand. For heavier dumbbells, aim for a handle diameter of at least 28 mm. Diameters below this are fine for lighter weights up to 10 kg, but for heavier weights, as mentioned above, it can be a problem.
Dumbbell Material
On the market, you can find plastic adjustable dumbbells with collars that can go up to 20 kg and are significantly cheaper than steel dumbbells. This often attracts buyers. However, the principle is similar to that of bars – the weights on these dumbbells are filled with a mixture that isn’t steel. As a result, they are bulkier than steel dumbbells due to their lower density, and they often can’t be upgraded with additional plates to exceed 20 kg. You’ll quickly outgrow this weight if you work out regularly, regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman. Therefore, if you plan to increase the load, it’s better to invest in adjustable steel dumbbells with collars.
Buying a Bench Press Set
If you’re serious about training and plan to bench press 100 kg by summer, you might be tempted to buy a complete bench press machine, where the bench is connected to the barbell stand and weight holders. If you have the space for it, this might seem like a good idea, but people often rush into this and take up half their workout room with a single machine designed solely for chest development, leaving no room for other exercises.
These benches often come with very weak and low-quality designs and standard barbells, which have load limitations. A much smarter approach is to start with just a bench and a set of heavier dumbbells. Alternatively, you can buy separate barbell stands that are easy to store when not in use and can also be used for squats and bent-over rows. An even better option would be a foldable rack, which would also allow you to do pull-ups.
Buying a Poor-Quality Multi-Gym Machine
While multi-gym machines are generally a good option, very few meet the standards required for serious workouts. Buyers often choose these machines to target all muscle groups with a single piece of equipment. They are willing to pay a higher price, sacrifice space in their homes, and accept aesthetics that, let’s face it, are often far from appealing. But what can go wrong?
The first issue is the machine’s ergonomics. When trying to meet all user needs in a compact design, compromises in ergonomics and mechanics are often made. For example, during lat pulldowns, the pull center is often far from the seat edge, forcing the user to lean forward during the exercise. Similarly, the chest press on these machines often suffers due to the inability to adjust the seat height, resulting in grips that are too high or too low, increasing the risk of injury.
Since these machines are typically assembled at home, manufacturers leave some looseness in the joints for easier assembly. Unfortunately, this often causes instability and slack at the starting point of pulls or pushes. Maximum load capacity is another frequent problem. Although the machine may indicate 100 kg, due to cable transmission ratios (e.g., 1:2), you are actually lifting only half that weight, which quickly becomes inadequate. Additionally, the weights are often plastic-filled with cement, prone to cracking upon impact.
If you’ve already decided to compromise your home’s aesthetics with such a machine, choose a high-quality version that includes:
- Steel weights at the back (more than 100 kg);
- Steel cables;
- Good ergonomics with adjustable seating;
- A rowing option with a cable.
Buying a Poor-Quality Weight Bench
One of the most basic pieces of home gym equipment is the workout bench, often called a bench press bench. It allows you to perform numerous exercises and is a cornerstone of any home gym. However, many buyers are unaware of the importance of ergonomics and quality, opting for the cheapest option.
Key dimensions to consider are the width of the padded section and the bench’s height from the floor. The padded section should not be less than 28 cm wide, which is common in cheaper benches to save material. A narrower width reduces support for the shoulder blades during bench presses and increases the risk of injury. Additionally, the bench height should not exceed 45 cm, as this leads to excessive arching of the back, especially for individuals shorter than 185 cm.
Another issue with low-quality benches is the upholstery. A thin layer of plywood and weak construction can cause the bench to bend or break during exercises with weight concentrated on the edge, such as tricep dips. Our MightyRock foldable bench addresses these issues with 15 mm thick plywood and wide steel supports.
Storing Equipment and Weights
When buying fitness equipment for the home, storage is often overlooked. The same applies to machines and weights. Few people have the luxury of keeping a bench press in the middle of the living room or dumbbells next to the sofa.
One of the most common mistakes is buying a set of dumbbells without a rack or wall mount. Storing dumbbells on the floor makes cleaning difficult and takes up a lot of space. Similarly, bulky benches that cannot be folded often become an obstacle. That’s why you should consider options like our MightyRock foldable bench, which can easily be hung on a wall. The same goes for bars and Olympic weights.
Before investing in a home gym setup, consider the following:
- How much space are you willing to dedicate to a gym?
- How often do you plan to work out?
- Will the home gym be an occasional alternative or a permanent solution?
- What is your budget? It may be better to invest in high-quality basic equipment and upgrade it later.
Write everything down, analyze potential mistakes, and make smart decisions when equipping your home gym.
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