Strength Training

Home Gym on a Budget

I have been training for over 17 years and owned a CrossFit gym for 7 of those years. As you can imagine people ask me quite often, what should I get for my home gym. I will attempt to answer this in this post, what would I purchase if I only had $1,000 to spend on a home gym?

This is not an easy question to answer as there are several ways to approach this. Questions to ask yourself before setting up a home gym. What are my fitness goals and training style? What type of exercise do I plan to do (CrossFit, Powerlifting, Bodybuilding, Olympic Lifting, etc.)?

Personally, I like to keep my training versatile and diverse. Essentially I train a little bit of all of the methods above. This post is exactly what I would do if I only had $1,000 to build my home gym.

Although $1,000 is not very much to spend on a gym that can do everything, I believe you can accomplish most things necessary with a little creativity. This will be a three-part series. The $3,000 and $5,000 home gym set-up with the different training methods in mind. My plan is to have each one build from the other. That way if $5,000 isn’t your current budget you can start with the $1,000 or $3,000 and build your ultimate home gym from there! Further, depending on your budget you can spend more or less with no repetitive purchases and ultimately save the most money possible.

Without further delay let’s jump in!

Quality of Equipment

My aim for this is to find good quality lasting equipment for your home gym set-up. Equipment I would’ve used in my commercial gym. The gym equipment I share in this post I have no affiliation, it’s simply the best bang for your buck gym equipment in my opinion. With my years of owning and running a gym, I have experienced many levels of quality when it comes to equipment. So in this three-part series, I will select equipment that will stand the test of time and equipment brands I have come to trust. 

There will always be more expensive and less expensive options. Side note if money were not an issue I believe Rogue makes the most robust and quality stuff out there. With that being said their prices tend to be on the high end plus the cost of shipping this stuff is expensive. That’s why the main brands I will be suggesting are local to where I live, I can go and pick up and save on the shipping costs. If the cost is not an issue I recommend Rogue equipment. If the brands mentioned do not have a location close enough research what may be available in your area for your budget.

In this post, I will suggest brands I have personal experience with. I recommend shopping around between these brands or other brands that you may trust to find the best deals you can. Sometimes these companies have specials or free shipping (which will save you a ton). In addition, if you have the patience, searching for used options may be more suitable.

Movement Considerations

When it comes to muscle groups and movement patterns, there is a lot to consider. Modify to your preferences. I have considered being able to perform all of the movements needed to find success in any one of the mentioned training models. Although these will vary a bit for each style of training this should cover our basis.

Movements Patterns and Targeted Muscle Groups:

  • Push
  • Pull 
  • Conditioning 
  • Core
  • Dynamic movements 
Photo by Geancarlo Peruzzolo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-lifting-a-kettlebell-6796970/

The $1,000 Home Gym

Although this setup may look sparse, you can accomplish so much with it. Another consideration if you can spend a little more you can always add a few things. The next post will build on this to a $3,000 home gym and after that a $5,000 home gym. If you have a little more to spend now, I would purchase a barbell (The Rogue Castro Bar$295) and a 350lb plate set (PR Lifting set bumper plates $469.00).

Without further delay let’s talk about what we can get for $1,000. With this setup, you can cover all your bases. This is why I focused on kettlebells and dumbbells which for the price offer quite a bit of versatility. Some examples of what you can do with this setup are as follows. Pushing movements, floor presses, shoulder presses, goblet squats, lunges, and Turkish get-ups. Pulling movements, deadlifts, chainsaw rows, bent-over rows, upright rows, and bicep curls. Conditioning, jump rope, burpees, and kettlebell swings. Core, sit-ups, farmer carries, plank pull-throughs, and static holds. Dynamic movements such as snatch, clean and jerks, push jerks, push presses, sumo deadlift high-pulls, and kettlebell swings. I love including resistance bands in my protocol to add variation (ie banded deadlifts, tricep press, and banded bicep curls) plus they offer great ways to warm up the muscles and joints.

The Equipment

Total = $1,083

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating an effective home gym with a budget of $1,000 requires thoughtful consideration and prioritization. Through this post, we’ve explored various equipment options that offer versatility and durability, drawing from years of experience in the fitness industry. While $1,000 may seem limiting, it’s possible to assemble a comprehensive setup capable of addressing diverse training needs. By focusing on essential movements and muscle groups, we’ve procured a selection of equipment that maximizes functionality without breaking the bank. This is just the beginning of a series aimed at progressively enhancing your home gym experience, with future installments delving into $3,000 and $5,000 setups tailored to different training methodologies. With careful planning and strategic investments, you can create a space that not only meets but exceeds your fitness goals, ensuring long-term success and enjoyment in your training journey. Until the next time and keep training!