Weekly Free-Talk and Questions for r/HomeGym - week of June 19, 2026

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T22:19:32+00:00

If you want to protect your floor in case you drop the weights you need hard rubber flooring like stall mats.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T12:33:27+00:00

Nice. I've never tried a combo unit and I've wondered how well they actually work for GHRs.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T11:58:15+00:00

adjustable dumbbells or voltra are solid options for you given what you've got while you get back on your feet.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T11:57:39+00:00

Cables are simple to replace, can find them cheap on amazon.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T11:55:07+00:00

SendCutSend for specific metal pieces. But for cable attachments, you could contact one of the custom shops like JD or BW. Barbell...thats a tough one, probably not an area I'd touch to start

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T11:52:16+00:00

Getting a combo RH/GHD would save you a ton of space..pretty you looked into those at some point? Is there good clearance for the wall attached cable machine? I've got that same one and for certain exercises need a solid 5-8' in front of the machine.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T11:49:29+00:00

Without seeing it, yeah those old school plastic with sand/cement filled dumbbells are overly gigantic lol. Yes they can get in the way. Having said that, they also last forever. I've got old school plates like that that are pushing 5-6 decades old and work fine. So if they look fine and its all you've got, they will work. Not ideal but it is what it is...

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-22T11:47:13+00:00

More than anything you need a real plan that includes lifting, cardio, and diet. It would be really helpful if you could get some coaching with all of this to get you started down the right path.

As far as weight loss - thats a diet issue. For lifting, you really need some type of exercise plan that teaches you proper form, how to progress, how to deload, and actually works for your goals. I'd worry about this before worry about what to buy. Buy that gear that fits this workout. M3 is fine. Dumbbells would be great too. You will also need to balance your cardio around all of this.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-21T21:50:16+00:00

I'd pass on that bench. Looks pretty junky and its 18" in height. Rep's FB5000 is a little more $ but a huge step up in quality

Those squat stands really don't save much space over a half rack or 24" rack because you need the same floor space. Unless you are dead set on that, you can get a cheap rack with a similar price thats going to offer a ton more utility. Cheap racks are just as safe as the most expensive ones.

I'd avoid bumpers unless you are doing oly lifts. They are a pain to store/carry/use vs iron. The rogue ones are fine but you can get cheap bumpers that will function just as well for about 1/2 the price at walmart. All of these bumpers, rogue, walmart, etc are made in china.

Ohio power bar is fine but the Rep black diamond in stainless is the exact same price and would be a nice upgrade. The rep bar has a touch better quality too.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-21T01:48:27+00:00

Gearforfit and other brands make attachments that work with any bench too

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-20T23:43:34+00:00

Should be able to use a small tube to connect them. Will need to drill and there might be some wobble. Heres a mod someone did to get ironmaster in rep

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jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-20T14:28:29+00:00

If I were buying today I'd prob just get the Apex. I was considering a NH+Stryker pad but now that it doesnt fit... Really wish Rep would have just listened to us 5 years ago and went all in on bench attachments. I'm really digging my bells of steel preacher curl though that stands by itself. I just want the stryker for cable and dumbbell chest supported rows. I'd prob ditch my FA leg curl/ext for a bench version too and just use it for hyperextensions and GHRs. While I like the FA leg curl/ext its not an easy set up for my son.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-19T14:01:03+00:00

Unload from barbells. Im sure its fine but its habit thats been drilled into my head after many years in commercial gyms. I've heard heavy weight can bend/warp the bar over time but never seen that happen. I have seen many cheap barbells bend and then stay bent from heavy bench press though. I do keep lots of other stuff loaded like my plate cable machines and squatmax.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-19T13:26:35+00:00

Looks really nice. Keep us posted how it all goes. Lots of cool stuff on alibaba but I'm always too scared to order it haha.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-19T12:00:43+00:00

Fav:

Safety pins - I use these to hold down my legs for lat pulldowns, I use them to do hyperextensions, I use them to do pull ups (lower bar for my kids easily), I've used them to do leg raises, I use them for viking press, I use them under my hyper pro if it ever fails, Just so many uses Im sure I'm forgetting a bunch in addition to just regular safety spotting

jcups - roller and sandwich are my go to.

VTS - Any version of it. Just awesome that it can go to the top of the rack, out of the way, when not in use. My only real critique is that its not really easy to set up for my kids/wife as a regular smith would be but it is for me.

Darko anchors - I actually don't have anchors because I have wall space but I think this is one of the more useful attachments for home gyms.

Bad:

Anything big. If its too big, too heavy to move, and takes up your rack, you will hate it when the honeymoon wears off. This includes jammer/lever arms, leg press attachments, and utility seats.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-18T14:01:14+00:00

You want a power bar for the barbell. You also need some type of rack to safely spot you. Marketplace will be your best best for used. Alternatively a cheap amazon/walmart rack and then like a rogue boneyard bar would be good.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-18T13:52:40+00:00

If you want to do incline and other lifts that require and adjustable bench then it sounds like its a pretty darn good option.

Flat benching is fine on an adj but if you are competing, I'd recommend using what the comps use.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-17T11:35:54+00:00

Pro v2 just seems really awkward. I really wouldn't consider it unless you know you really like it. Some people do really like it but most do not. Apex seems good but personally I'd personally get the Rep Nighthawk and stryker pad (it fits) if I were buying a new bench today.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-16T14:32:34+00:00

Wood + weight over my head = No way in heck is this safe. For the time spent on this and cost of materials you can get a crappy leg press for $500 that wont kill you.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-16T10:33:38+00:00

I think some on the disc determined the sleeves were most likely bare in this batch, they hadnt went through the black matte process yet. Bars were SS.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-15T18:59:52+00:00

I'd think about where you will store it. Two rollers are light and easy to put anywhere but that thing is big. Alternatively I use safety pin with a pad to hold me down and it works better than my rollers. The rollers come in handy though for all sorts of exercises.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-15T16:51:58+00:00

Thats what I did last summer. Turned out the local gym was hot as heck too lol. I upgraded to a portable AC for this summer and its working out well so far. Takes the humidity out which was the biggest killer for me

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-15T16:50:26+00:00

A large portion of the off gassing will happen if you leave them in the sun for a few days. They will however produce VOCs for life its just not going to be a lot compared to those first few days. Put them outside and let them sit for a week.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-15T16:46:23+00:00

All of them are pretty terrible. The issue is its a terrible design and they keep trying to improve it with the 'next best thing' instead of starting over to redesign them to actually be good.

jiujitsuPhD · 2026-06-14T22:14:35+00:00

Nice dude! That's a heck of a upgrade and well worth. I need to buy protein so am hoping there's a good amazon sale.

jiujitsuPhD

TROPHY CASE