UKH

Afternoon all,

I'm keen to turn my garage into a home gym of sorts.  Its an oversize single garage with lots of space and a clear floor.

I have no idea how much stuff costs but would want decent quality, preferably ex/used commercial gym type, with the ability to safely do a range of compound movements for major groups.   Me, my wife and daughters would use it, sometimes alone.  They are 17 and 23.

Where would I start?  Is there a specialist supplier of commercial gym clearance stock?

https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/timed/eddisons/catalo...

Or fleabay, obvs

full length mirrors and really loud dance music seems a good starting point

There will be no mirrors and planet rock but thanks for the suggestion.

I'd suggest a barbell and some dumbbells with a small collection of weights, along with a good weight bench. You can mix and match the weights for many different exercises. The bench can be used in half a dozen ways to enhance the use of the weights. I'd also recommend searching out some youtube vids on proper form, or you'll injure yourself.

Free weights are much better than machines for compound moves. Also, in 3 months when your enthusiasm has wained, you can tidy them up into a corner to free up some space.

^^ What this guy said^^ 

You'll limit what you can achieve with machines, plus they are expensive and take up too much room. A bench (which can incline/decline, dumbbells, barbell, weights (you can buy these as a kit which allows you to switch between weights), kettlebells, resistance bands, and a pull-up bar will get you further than any number of machines you can fit in your garage. Oh and a foam yoga mat for groundwork. 

Some would argue that all you need is 4-6 x kettlebells and you can dispense with the dumbbell and barbell. 

Look at the usual suspects Gumtree, Craigslist and eBay, there's usually loads on there. 

Sandbag x3, speedrope, pull-up bar. Concept 3. And a mirror to keep your form strict.

LD

You don't need commercial grade gym equipment for a home gym unless you are lifting serious weight. Relatively inexpensive equipment can be bought from a number of online retailers. 

The following advise assumes you'd be doing squats, deadlifts, overhead press, pull ups, dips, barbell rows and bench press, as these should be your basic compound lifts. If you don't know how to do them, then the Physiotherapist in me recommends Starting Strength by Mark Ripptoe which is a very thorough if slightly bombastic breakdown of lifting technique. 

My own home gym consists of: a squat rack,  bench, a single 7ft Olympic barbell with cheap bumper plates, a pullup bar and finger board, and some dip bars plus some dumbells, kettlebells ez bar and bits and bobs . With this i have been able to sustain 15 years of on/ off training, and train a small group of friends as well.

Bumper plates are a little more expensive than other plates, but they let you deadlift from a better starting height so I'd go for them if you can. Or olympic size metal plates if you can't. 

The absolute musts, in my oponion, are a squat rack and pull up bar/power cage, 7 foot olymoic bar and plates, and a couple of adjustable dumbells. You can do a lifetimes training with just these. Then add dips bars. Then bench. 

If training alone, then personally I would avoid - bench press with a barbell, squats without a proper enclosed squat rack.

Ideally I would have

1) Cable cross machine

2) My turbo trainers set up

3) adjustable bench

4) kettle or dumbells

5) rowing machine

6) treadmill

The main reason I would have one is so that I could exercise when I can't leave the house because the kids are in and need someone around. However, realistically for that's only another 3-4 years max, so I'd rather go to the gym where I get to see other people.. even if I have to share equipment. For me that's only 5 minute run away... If it was a half hour drive, then yes, I;d upgrade what I actually have which is

1) Turbo

2) Step aerobics step

3) Swing in the garden I can attach my TRX substitute to

4) The swing itself (useful for press ups with your feet on the swing!

5) resistance bands, and old barbell and dumbells

Of these the TRX and resistance bands get used most in the summer. The turbo and resistance bands in the winter.