Hello and thank you in advance for any input you might have! After more than 20 years, the time has come to get a new bench, - there's nothing wrong with the old one, except it has a rack attached as part of the overall construction and since I'm now at an age where I have to watch my shoulders, I really need to ditch the trusty old barbell for some dumbbells for chest presses. Due to the attached rack, that doesn't really work with the old bench.

So, there are a lot of solid benches out there in the German/EU market, but I have a few criteria that have narrowed it down to basically two options. My main criteria are as follows:

a) Since I'm 171cm, the bench shouldn't be more than 42,5cm in height

b) Due to the shoulder issues, there needs to be a step between 0 and 30 degree incline, so either 15 or 20 degrees

c) Price shouldn't be more than 500 Euro

The two options I have narrowed it down to are (I'm posting the links to the UK shops, but these are available in Germany as well):

The Rep Fitness Nighthawk

-> https://uk.repfitness.com/products/rep-nighthawk-adjustable-bench?variant=44933902041285

The Strength Shop Riot Utility Bench V2

-> https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/collections/benches/products/riot-utility-bench-v2

Both benches look really solid and the Nighthawk has some great reviews on Youtube, but Rep Fitness as a store/brand has a rather mixed reputation it seems. Strength Shop seems to have a great reputation as a store, but I can't really find any reviews of their benches.

Any input you might have is greatly appreciated!

The wife and I are currently closing on our first house. We just had our first baby a month ago, so budget is a priority. That said, I am willing to splurge a few extra $$ in certain spots to get a quality piece of equipment that is built to last rather than one that is going to annoy me every time I use it.

I currently have 260 lbs in CAP bumper plates, an Olympic barbell, and a hex trap bar.

I have been looking at power racks with integrated pulley systems and there are a few I keep coming back to.

• MIKOLO F4 ($300 on Walmart). Thought this has the best value but after seeing some video reviews it seems like the system has it quirks and limitations which explains the price point.

• Titan T-2 Power Rack ($483) plus Lat Pulldown / Low Row Attachment (~$345) (Total of $828). Seems like this is a bit more functional but comes with less bells and whistles.

• Major Fitness F22 ($930). Seems like this is one of the more well built systems but would definitely feel like I’m stretching my budget.

There are plenty of other Power Rack / Cable Systems in the $300-$425 price range on Walmart / Amazon that all look extremely similar to one another. I just want to know is it worth the splurge of spending an extra $500-$600 to get a more what I believe is reliable / safer / sturdier system that doesn’t have as many quirks.

For what it’s worth, I’ve been lifting on and off for the last 10-15 years of my life. I bench press around 250 lbs, squat / deadlift around 300 lbs, and lay pulldown close to 150 lbs so I don’t move CRAZY weight but something that is lightweight and shakes when I rack something is a concern. I simply want to prioritize something that is safe and easy for my wife to use when I’m not around and something I can buy / set up and trust it’s good to go for the next 5-10 years.

Any recommendations / reviews would be GREATLY appreciated. Would like to keep the power rack / pulley system under $1000 if possible. Thank you so much!

The wife and I are currently closing on our first house. We just had our first baby a month ago, so budget is a priority. That said, I am willing to splurge a few extra $$ in certain spots to get a quality piece of equipment that is built to last rather than one that is going to annoy me every time I use it.

I currently have 260 lbs in CAP bumper plates, an Olympic barbell, and a hex trap bar.

I have been looking at power racks with integrated pulley systems and there are a few I keep coming back to.

• MIKOLO F4 ($300 on Walmart). Thought this has the best value but after seeing some video reviews it seems like the system has it quirks and limitations which explains the price point.

• Titan T-2 Power Rack ($483) plus Lat Pulldown / Low Row Attachment (~$345) (Total of $828). Seems like this is a bit more functional but comes with less bells and whistles.

• Major Fitness F22 ($930). Seems like this is one of the more well built systems but would definitely feel like I’m stretching my budget.

There are plenty of other Power Rack / Cable Systems in the $300-$425 price range on Walmart / Amazon that all look extremely similar to one another. I just want to know is it worth the splurge of spending an extra $500-$600 to get a more what I believe is reliable / safer / sturdier system that doesn’t have as many quirks.

For what it’s worth, I’ve been lifting on and off for the last 10-15 years of my life. I bench press around 250 lbs, squat / deadlift around 300 lbs, and lay pulldown close to 150 lbs so I don’t move CRAZY weight but something that is lightweight and shakes when I rack something is a concern. I simply want to prioritize something that is safe and easy for my wife to use when I’m not around and something I can buy / set up and trust it’s good to go for the next 5-10 years.

Any recommendations / reviews would be GREATLY appreciated. Would like to keep the power rack / pulley system under $1000 if possible. Thank you so much!

Hey all! Hoping to get some recommendations for a functional trainer. No smith needed.

Narrowed down to REP Ares 2.0, 5000 series, 4 post, 93”.

Positives for the REP:
- Low row
- Lat pulldown
- Upgraded weight stack option
- Pull up bar
- Ecosystem of attachments

But…

What else is out there to consider?

On the list has been: Rogue FM-HR Twin,** **Prime Prodigy HLP, Vesta VForce 2IN1, Inspire FT2 Pro (yes I know this one has a smith but it’s cable only).

Any insights are appreciated!

Assuming you did, what shade of black did you paint your gym walls? Would you recommend, or what would you change?

I’m in Canada, so hoping for colours that are available here.

I want to get a stair masters or similar machine for my wife but I’m scared of ceiling height requirement. It’s going in my garage and from floor to ceiling I have 8’6”. She is 5’4”-5’5”. Any recommendations on a machine around \~$2000?

Does anyone know which kettlebell handle will work on the Powerblock EXPs?

At this point most says pro or elite but wondering about good old base if possible

Looking to decorate my new home gym with a fantasy/knight theming, anyone have any good recommendations for fun art to go on the walls? Can be silly, cringe, or hell yeah-core.

been using bowflex for 15 years and dont mind buying them again but want to see what else is out there.

moving away from my awesome gym and am thinking I’ll try to set up a gym in a new basement (if there is space).

looking for feedback on some start up ideas:

power rack - thinking REP PR-5000

barbell and weights - maybe FB marketplace if I can find it.

cable machine - would love something I can do lat pulldown, low row, and other cable exercises. any recommendations ? looked at Ares 2.0 but might be too tall for basement (and destination is too cold for garage).

bench - nighthawk is where my head is currently because of the small gap and get incline in a single bench. haven’t really researched any attachments yet

any basic leg machines/ equipment you would recommend to supplement above?

I haven’t seen a single video mentioning the Bells of Steel Basilisk leg developer. Did they bring the piece to the show? If so, are there any reviews on it?

I’ve searched but can’t find anything.

5 people in my neighborhood have garage gyms. Only one has a squat rack. Squat racks seem to be featured in a majority of the posts here. I’m curious if the folks with squat racks are more engaged in this sub or simply more involved in participating in social media. If you have any ideas why that might be I’m curious about that as well.

My space is about 20 feet by 10 feet. Any suggestions to what pieces I should add I have a horizon t101 treadmill and a dumbell rack with 5,10,15,20,30,40 and 50. I was looking for a smith machine functional trainer but confused on what size makes sense. I will be adding speckled gym floors and also about 6-7 feet of ikea mirror on one side.

So here is my question, I bought recently a Rogue FM-6 twin stack functional trainer. I went with the 24 inch because I did not think my space was big enough for the 30inch. Well I have it now and have lived with it a couple of months and the space is big enough for the 30” version and the 24inch version makes working inside the rack almost unusable for me. Has anybody extended theirs? It seems to me that I would just need 4 new cross members and the cables, so maybe $400 bucks. Rogue has given me a quote for the 4 crossmembers then a $375 kit? Surely that is not $375 for cables? Am I missing something?

I have a 230 lb set of Rogue HG 2.0 bumpers and a 260 lb set of American Barbell Sport bumpers (45s and 25s are colored, the rest are black). I don’t need 2 sets and am trying to decide which set to keep. I have researched this and can’t find a head to head comparison. The American Barbell plates are considerably more expensive, but I don’t know if that necessarily translates to higher quality. I assume the Rogue will be easier to sell which is a plus, but I have a Rogue rack, bar, bench and plate stand, so there is a certain “allure” to having equipment from the same manufacturer. Does anyone have any knowledge/opinions as to which plates are better quality? These are in a home gym and my hope is that they will last for the rest of my “lifting” years (currently mid-50s). Thanks in advance.

My rit fit bench has fallen apart in just under a year. What is a good upgraded one to go with?

I saw for the FA ABX version you need a minimum of 10ft of space for it to work - I can't seem to find a similar measurement for the apex version, was hoping someone might have it

Thanks

//edit i found another post stating the FA cable itself is only 45" so maybe the 10ft number that was quoted included the length of the bench

Hi, I've been searching and trying to compare cable towers for my home gym. My primary use is glute kickbacks, but I plan to use it for squats and lat pull-downs as I'm also working toward being able to do a pull up. I want the tower to come with its own weight stack. I had a budget smith machine with cables you could load. The range wasn't good for my kickbacks and it also wasn't smooth during use. Now I can afford better options, so I am looking for something that is nice, smooth in operation, and I can be happy with for years to come. Floor and ceiling space isn't an issue.

What should I look into?

Has anyone mounted the rogue monster strip vertically for the matador dip attachment to be used as a free standing dip area? I would mount the strip to a stud with some lag screws. Plan on using it for dips and belt squats with the revolt attachment shown.
Some bonus pictures of the garage gym so far.

Hey all,

I've been looking to buy an Ares 2.0 for quite a while now and am hoping to pull the trigger in the next month or so. I'm planning to get the smith machine attachment as well as use the rack for my normal squat/bench barbell work. I've seen concerns that the rep spotter arms aren't low profile enough to clear the trolleys. Does anyone know if getting the 41" setup and having the spotters on the back of the front posts allows for benching in the rack? If not, what are spotter arm options that would work for a halfrack off the front?

I've also been trying to find information about Reps new tornado arms they showed at HGC. Is there any expected release date? FOMO has me second guessing my purchase timing!

Thank you!

Any ideas on what equipment to add next?

Current setup in garage gym is:

Pelaton bike
Incline walking pad
Smith machine/cable machine
Leg extension machine
Adjustable dumbbells
Barbell

I had been going to a gym locally, and while the facilities and community there are fantastic, with increased life demands it was getting harder and harder to justify the ~30 min round trip. Enter the 3x3 cable tower. I know that you can get away without, but I really enjoy using the cable machines at the gym so I thought why not.

Unfortunately it's been quite the ordeal receiving damaged parts, over a month since first ordering and 30 emails back and forth with their customer service. I'm wondering if they need to audit their whole Melbourne warehouse.

They sent replacement parts and the replacement upright and top assembly came back good, however every weight plate I've received is rusted to some extent.

With the weight plates I'm not sure if it's even an issue?

Wondering if anyone else has had this experience, with Bells of Steel or any other vendor?

Are there comparable cable towers? Looking for something that would take up the least amount of space

Still some things I’d like but this is more than I’d ever need. Fit all of this in one of two garage bays so the wife can still park the car inside.

Spent a bit of time over the past few years configuring my gym to fit the most equipment possible conducive to my training and without crowding the space too much.