Home Gym Setup
Creating your own home gym gives you more access to the one thing we all crave. You’re own time. Therefore, it is possibly one of the best investments you can make. Not only that, in the long run it will save you money. Research suggests 1.5 million Australians have a gym membership and rarely use it. So whether it’s a simple set up or a full fit out you’re thinking of, it will be money well invested.
When it comes to setting up your home gym there’s a few things to consider. Firstly, what are your health goals? Understanding what you want to achieve will help you decide what style of training you’ll use. Therefore, this will help determine which equipment suits your style of training. Secondly, how much space do you have? Your space will need to be functional, so the equipment and flooring you choose needs to optimise your workout area. Thirdly, what is your budget? Ultimately this will be a deciding factor for the type and style of equipment you purchase.
Before we get further into the nuts and bolts of this post, we'd would like to stress that safety should be your main priority when setting up a home space, especially if you’re going to have friends or family training with you.
Flooring
One of your first priorities should be considering gym flooring. Let’s face it, gym equipment is heavy. So whether it’s cardio gear or a squat rack you’ll need some density underneath all of that equipment.
Within the Xpeed flooring universe that we range at Fitness Warehouse there’s a few styles and options to choose from. Rubber Tiles, Custom Platforms and Inlays, Interlocking Foam Mats and Premium Astro Turf. Ultimately your flooring choices will be determined by your workout style, home gym space and your overall budget. To dive a bit deeper into flooring options see our Gym Floor Buyers Guide.
Strength Training
There’s a few options when setting up strength equipment in a home gym setup. How experienced you are in terms of ‘training years’ plays a role in what equipment is necessary. If you’re starting out on your fitness journey, chances are that you might only need a bench, some light dumbbells and maybe a small rack. The heavier you want to be lifting, the more robust your equipment will need to be. For example an X-Series Power Cage, bench, barbell and bumper plates will set you up nicely for the larger compound movements like squats, deadlifts and bench press. If budget allows the Xpeed Alpha Half Rack is a commercial product that is also well suited for home gyms because of its small footprint. A cage or rack will allow you to hit all movement groups with your desired weight range. Alternately, on the lower end of the budget, the Xpeed Adjustable Squat Rack is a great peice for the beginner or intermediate home lifting set up.
Cross Training
Setting up a space for Cross Training means you’ll have to think about the range of gym incidentals you’ll need. From bumper plates to barbells, wall balls, kettlebells, skipping ropes and more. All of these pieces of equipment need a place to live so storage becomes a top line issue. Not forgetting that Cross Training requires adequate flooring, like Rubber Tiles, to protect you and the life of your equipment.
Combat
Are you interested in creating a space for sparring, bagwork or MMA style training? One of the most important aspects of this set up will be the flooring you have. We recommend interlocking foam flooring for this type of space for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s great for stand up style training and it’s great for light jiu jitsu training as well. Secondly, they allow you train without worrying about damage to your own body. Punch bags, gloves and pads add variety and versatility to your training regime. Not to mention some stress relief and fun.
Cardio
Cardio equipment can be one of the larger purchases when it comes to a home gym set up. We’re not just talking about price here but foot print as well. Flooring also needs to be taken into consideration, will you require a treadmill mat or will your equipment be on top of rubber tiles?
Going back to the style of exercise that fits into your overall goal is also a key component. If you’re looking to set up for Cross Training a rower or ski erg might be more suited to your space. If you’re looking to have a multipurpose training regime treadmills and ellipticals might be more up your alley.
Overall
Overall there are many variables involved when creating your home gym setup. We advise to take into consideration your available space, style of training and your budget.
Written by Fitness Warehouse Personal Trainer, Simon Mitchell. Simon has a Bachelor of Human Movement, is a certified FMS trainer and has worked in the fitness industry since 2003. Simon started his fitness journey as a trainer with iNform Health and Fitness before moving into commercial radio and then back into fitness with Bodyism in the United Kingdom and Australia. A career highlight was being one of Daisy Ridley's personal trainers on Star Wars IX - The Rise Of Skywalker.
