My Home Gym

This summer, we built a home gym in our extra room. In response to COVID-19 along with being busy as a personal trainer, I needed to be able to train effectively at home.  

I’ve had a running list of exercise equipment that I would purchase since I was in college.   Having that handy helped me to make some early choices on equipment that have led to a pretty solid training floor at the Guild household.   I’ll detail the equipment below.  

Polar H9 Heart Rate Monitor

This unit was given to me by a rather generous person that I train with. Using a heart rate monitor during training sessions can be a game changer in driving significant performance outcomes. Tracking 60 and 120 second heart rate recoveries along with using heart rate targets for workouts provides objective numbers to pursue. It also can serve as a gentle reminder to factor in sufficient rest periods.

Powerblock Pro Expandable Dumbbells 5-50 lbs. w/ Barbell Attachment 

I was able to obtain the dumbbells and barbell from a local woman who was looking to get rid of them for $500.  I was lucky, as they have been sold out all summer from the manufacturer and all major retailers. I recently heard that they were restocked at local retailers but they’re still selling out quickly. I was sure to purchase the expandable set, which can be leveled up to 5-90 lbs.  Not sure how the barbell fits in yet, but Jess seems to enjoy using it. The barbell retails for $129 which to be honest, I couldn’t justify. It was simply part of the dumbbell package being sold on Facebook marketplace.

TRX Straps

I got these for $100 new in the package from another local looking to part ways with them.  While I don’t have a good place to mount these straps in the house to do any heavy work with them, the door attachment works just fine for how we use them.  I generally use them as an assist in warm ups and cool downs for breathing exercises and full range squatting/lunging.

Concept 2 Row Machine 

Jess got this piece of equipment for free back in 2018.  What an addition it’s been to the home gym.  While it can be demanding on the grip, it serves as a great piece of equipment for aerobic training.  It’s also a great way to wake up in the morning on slow days. Combining this with the heart rate monitor allows for legitimate aerobic training when the whether outside is too Vermont-like for outdoor sprint or agility work.

Homemade Landmine Attachment 

I don’t spend a lot of time training with barbells.  Due to that, I didn’t have a reason to add a squat rack to the home gym.  I find all that I need from a barbell with a simple homemade landmine attachment.  It’s basically a piece of wood with two wood blocks that protect the wall from the bar’s end.   With that in place, a whole new world of exercises opens up with the ability to load them heavily and somewhat safely.  I do still need to add the attachment that Ben Bruno has spent so much time promoting.   Seems like a worthy addition.  This allows me limitless loading ability for strength work, particularly in lower body and pressing movements. Still not a huge fan of the landmine row…      

KBox4 Pro 

This one is my biggest investment.  While these go for $3500+ new, I was able to snag one used from the manufacturer for just under $2000 and was even able to break it into payments at around $70/month.   Their customer service has been amazing and the training effects that have come from using flywheel technology are irreplaceable.   Strength and power training without a cumbersome squat rack to deal with or plates to add/subtract?   While this is probably the most unique piece of equipment that I’ve purchased for at-home use, it’s also been my best purchase so far when it comes to delivering solid training effects. The attached kMeter allows for instantaneous feedback on each rep for power output and range of motion. Highly recommend.

I have numerous attachments for the Kbox4, Jessie just purchased some minibands and we also have a foam roller.  Investing in some good speakers can make a difference for the training environment as well.  Buckcherry just doesn’t sound the same using the old phone in a cup technique.   

All in, we have around $3k invested in the home gym. The naysayers may say that’s about 25 years of Planet Fitness memberships but in my eyes, the end goal is to find and keep the best training effects. Having the ability to train consistently at-home without the commute has helped my level of fitness significantly. As always, the true secret is the “how” with every gym. If you’re debating what equipment needs to be at your home, it may not be the same as mine. What’s important is to answer the question of “what equipment do I need to maximize my training effect while limiting external stressors?”. Sometimes, that answer may be as simple as a solid training program or as complex as a full-fledged collegiate training facility.

The gym at home will certainly continue to develop but for now, Jess and I have been able to find some pretty solid training effects without sacrificing a ton of floor space.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions or referrals for equipment purchases.  Happy training and stay safe!