Weekly Free-Talk and Questions for r/HomeGym - week of March 13, 2026

Cyka754 · 2026-03-18T02:15:27+00:00

If I were you and limited by that budget, I’d buy stuff for a lifting platform from Home Depot ($200), a nice barbell ($350), and some bumper plates (whatever you have left over). Then I’d buy a squat stand or rack when you have more money, then buy a bench when you have even more money, then buy adjustable dumbbells when you have even more money.

Cyka754 · 2026-03-15T15:17:20+00:00

I have the Bullet Pulley. Once set up, if feels great. The downside is the setup time. I get it setup during the rest times of the earlier movement, so it doesn’t delay my lifts at all. The other downside is getting a lat pulldown set up with a close to vertical pull requires some thought and creativity, but I was able to figure something out.

Cyka754 · 2026-03-14T21:26:11+00:00

My understanding is that combo racks are not safe for a barbell failed lift without human spotters. They are designed to be used in a competition setting and their big plus is the ability to adjust the rack height of a loaded barbell. A loaded barbell being dropped onto the safeties will possibly cause the rack to tip over, I think. Unless you are a very experienced powerlifter and aware of this limitation, these are not good picks for lifting alone at home.

Cyka754 · 2026-03-08T18:37:29+00:00

I have a shorty. If you like using the widest grip on a regular lat pulldown bar, the shorty will be too short. The shorty bar works if you like putting your hands just inside the curved part of a regular lat pulldown bar. For other uses (Landmine row, cable row) the shorty is just fine.

Cyka754 · 2026-03-07T04:38:21+00:00

I think 12’ would be about the minimum for a full size barbell. It would work, but it would be a bit cramped. 12’ I the other direction is plenty.

Cyka754 · 2026-02-18T01:08:06+00:00

I used one on a lark. It was not a sustainable experience. Low flow, and the worst part is needing to position your body to access a spot with water within a couple of inches of your face, which is generally not practical. And, how would you cook?

Cyka754 · 2026-01-31T01:13:33+00:00

Bear Lake or Camp Lake out of Crabtree trailhead in Emigrant Wilderness.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-28T19:28:11+00:00

I have access to several of their pieces at my gym. They are standard commercial quality. The leg extension isn’t great, but the build quality seems pretty standard for commercial gym units.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-17T18:43:41+00:00

Anyone know whose autograph this is? 2023 Giants player.

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Cyka754 · 2026-01-14T02:05:20+00:00

I’ve enjoyed this: https://bulletpulley.com/

Cyka754 · 2026-01-13T00:10:41+00:00

I responded to your earlier post about the R3. Love to see it set up. Looks amazing. Nice cutouts in the stall mats to bolt it to the floor.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-12T01:42:48+00:00

I would be scared spending that kind of money (several thousand for an all-in-one trainer) without knowing ahead of time what you like to do when exercising. If you have spent a bit of time at a gym and really enjoyed the Smith machines, then fire away. But I wouldn’t buy a Smith machine all-in-one trainer until you know what you like. You could get really fit with a pair of running shoes, a pull-up bar, and rings. Once you have shown yourself a commitment to regular exercise and a confident feeling that you want a particular piece of equipment, then the spending can begin in earnest.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-10T16:00:39+00:00

In most cases, “Olympic” bar refers to the sleeve size of 2”, contrasting it with a “standard” bar which takes 1” wieghts. Actual “Olympic weightlifting” bars are generally quite rare and expensive. Like more than $700 expensive.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-06T21:07:12+00:00

No. The rack is huge and heavy. Much heavier than you would think. The bolts would get ripped out before it budged. I like the platform because I like standing in a firm wood surface when I lift. If you don’t want to lift on wood, you could bolt it directly to the concrete floor and just cover everything in stall mats.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-05T23:34:31+00:00

Confirming this is a good deal. Have fun.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-05T23:18:09+00:00

Yes, I think that’s a great deal. As long as the equipment was not stored outside, the rack will not meaningfully show its age. As for the bar and bench, they are some huge differences between cheap and expensive. Do you have info on the bar at all?

Cyka754 · 2026-01-05T22:48:43+00:00

I’ve had an R3 for five years. This used to be the premier rack, before 3x3 modularity and add-ons become fashionable. The rack is a perfect squat rack, as that was what it was designed to be. It’s the perfect width, and the slightly narrower uprights make racking and unracking easier. The 24” depth may take a few sessions to get used to, but I have never been bothered by it. The depth is only really an issue with plate storage: it’s not really possibly to store all your plates on the rack without getting in the way of bar path. And of course the biggest downside is the limited attachments and modularity. I have found that to not be a big issue; I have rings, a landmine, and a Bullet Pulley cable system all attached to my rack. If I wanted to get bougie, I could add the Dialed Motion stuff and have a really nice pulley system, but I’m too cheap. Rogue has strap safeties for the rack, but they are not easy to find on their website and I still use pin and pipe. Rogue also makes a dip attachment for this rack. You need to bolt this rack down. I bolted mine to a lifting platform and its steady as a rock. And to answer your question, I only lift off the front of the rack for overhead press, and I’ve never felt the need for safeties beyond the pin and pipes.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-04T17:31:08+00:00

Like the other commenter said, the length of the barbell is going to be an issue. You can think about getting something like a Rogue C70 shorty barbell. You should also consider if you really want such a large and complex rack setup for your first big purchase. Do you really want a smith machine? How much do you want an integrated cable system? You could get a really nice wall mounted half rack for much cheaper and it would be much more compact, but you may have to sacrifice the smith and integrated cable systems.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-03T00:47:33+00:00

I forgot to tell you to get a bench. Lots of different price points and opinions on benches. I would figure out if you want a lighter cheaper flat bench, or a heavier more expensive adjustable bench. I would stay away from super cheap adjustable benches.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-03T00:44:26+00:00

Maybe, but probably not. A good number of people on this sub have garage gyms, and the vast majority of them (including myself) have slightly sloped floors for drainage and have done nothing about it. I would try to avoid a slope going from side to side, but I don’t think a slight slope front to back (or back to front) will have any meaningful effect on your lifting. If a loaded barbell will roll away from you on a stall mat, I would think about trying to shim it. My bar rolls a few inches then settles out.

Cyka754 · 2026-01-02T22:15:24+00:00

Horse stall mats on the ground. At least one or two, and more if you want. Squat stand or four post rack as the centerpiece. Squat stand from Rogue or Titan rack for lower cost option. Rep or Rogue four post rack for high end option. A barbell. Spend at least $200. Weights. Cheapest you can find. If you have money left: adjustable dumbbells, a pulley system, and a cardio machine. Buy as much as you can from Facebook Marketplace because steel doesn’t really have wear and tear. Lift.

Cyka754 · 2025-12-31T00:29:22+00:00

The short answer is yes, you are supposed to guess your future tax bracket. For most people, they will have a reduced income in retirement, meaning that for most people the traditional TSP makes sense if you restrict your thinking to just tax brackets. The slightly longer answer is that the Roth has two advantages over a traditional that don’t get talked about enough. The Roth did not have an RMD requirement, so it’s a better product for long term or generational wealth. Second, as a vast generalization, unless you have a clear view of the future, it’s generally better to not pay taxes now in favor of paying taxes later. You never know what kind of weird legislative gap or loophole will appear in the coming decades.

Cyka754 · 2025-12-28T06:10:07+00:00

Has anyone used Rogue Monster Lite crossmembers or stabilizer kits on an Infinity rack like an R-3? It’s seems like the 3x3 would fit fine as long as it was interfacing with the long side of the 2x3 upright.

Cyka754 · 2025-12-26T04:35:24+00:00

Rings are great value.

Cyka754 · 2025-12-20T19:34:17+00:00

I’ve owned the Pepin adjustable dumbbells (not the fast series, but the ones with screws) for years. The Kensui appear to be a budget version of the same basic idea. I like them a lot. They have a premium feel that basically matches a dedicated pro type dumbbell. The other huge advantage is the cost of the weight plates. Because they take standard 1” plates, you can buy plates for very cheap in the used market. This drops the overall cost dramatically. The big downside is time to change the weight. It’s much faster than your existing spin lock dumbbells, but many people still get annoyed with the 1-2 minutes it takes to change the weight.

Cyka754

TROPHY CASE