PUBLISHED ON Aug, 02, 2024
Building Your Home Gym
Struggling to make the most of limited space while wanting a fully functional home gym? You’re not alone. Many seek solutions that balance functionality with minimal footprint.
Building a home gym in a small space usually means compromising on either function or quality.
Today, we’ll show you how to build a fully functional home gym that accommodates any style of training while saving space without compromising on quality.
The Essentials
There are a few staples that should be in nearly all home gyms, big or small. Here, we’ll list the space-saving versions of these essentials that even Benji himself uses!
Squat Rack + Barbell
A squat rack and barbell combo is arguably the biggest staple of any home gym. This will likely take up the most space but offers tons of versatility. You’ll be able to safely perform barbell squats, bench presses, and many other barbell exercises right from the rack.
Plus, if you choose one that offers storage for weight plates, you’ll save even more space by not needing a separate rack for plates.
Benji has been using the Sunny Fitness squat rack pictured below. It is space-saving, offers storage for weight plates, and even has a pull-up bar at the top!
Barbells are typically the same size no matter where you buy them. They may vary slightly in weight and length, but the good thing is they can always be easily stored on your rack!
Weight Plates
With your squat rack and barbell, you’ll need weight plates. These won’t take up too much space, especially if your rack comes with storage!
The weight plates that Benji uses were actually found on Facebook Marketplace. The nice thing about Facebook Marketplace is you can often find weights at a discounted price, and even used weights can last you a lifetime!
Weight Bench
A weight bench is a must-have for anyone wanting to do bench presses and other upper body exercises.
Benji uses a small weight bench from Flybird Fitness. The one he uses is small, light, and able to fold in half for storage, making it a great option for small home gym spaces.
Adjustable Dumbbells
Having a good set of dumbbells is essential for anyone looking to build their dream home gym.
Typically, you'd need space for every set of dumbbells, plus storage for them.
Adjustable dumbbell sets are 100% worth it for small home gyms. They allow you to have dumbbells from 5 to 50+ lbs while only taking up the space of ONE set of dumbbells.
There are many options on the market, each with their pros and cons.
Below are the ones Benji is currently using.
Specialty Equipment
The essentials listed above give you everything needed to train your upper body, some lower body, and a variety of main lifts. However, there are still some gaps to fill.
The equipment above doesn’t really give you the best options for training accessory movements like back extensions, GHRs, hip thrusts, core exercises, or Nordic curls.
You might think it would be impossible to do all of that in a small home gym!
However, we have the perfect solution for posterior chain training in a small home gym.
Hyper Pro
The Hyper Pro is the world's best and most compact lower body machine, making it the perfect solution for all your lower body and posterior chain training needs.
With just this ONE machine, you get:
- Adjustable Nordic Bench
- 45-Degree Back Extension
- Full GHD
- Hip Thrust Bench
- Decline Ab Bench
- Reverse Hyper
- Leg Extension
- Hamstring Curl
- Upper Body Mode
The best part is that it takes up only 2'x2' of space when in vertical storage mode.
The Hyper Pro is a must-have for those looking to build a fully functional home gym with limited space.
It unlocks 25+ movements that you would otherwise need different pieces of equipment for.
Optional Equipment
While the items listed above are all you need for a fully functional, compact home gym, we wanted to list a few more items that don’t take up much space and add lots of value.
Wall-Mounted Storage
Wall-mounted storage is a game changer for storing all your small miscellaneous gym equipment.
An example would be the one pictured below. This would allow you to store resistance bands, yoga mats, and other small pieces in your gym.
With this article, you have everything you need to have a full home gym in very little space. All of this equipment could fit in a small office, a corner of your garage, or even a spare bedroom.
If you found this article helpful, be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter below to get monthly training tips, home gym recommendations, and all things Freak Athlete!
Conclusion
Here is a list of everything listed above for quick reference:
- Squat Rack + Barbell
- Weight Plates
- Weight Bench
- Adjustable Dumbbells
- Hyper Pro 9-in-1 Home Gym
- Wall Mounted Storage (Optional)
If you already have a Squat rack, dumbbells and weight bench, then it may be time to look into completely upgrading your home gym experience with the Hyper Pro.
With just ONE purchase, you would be adding over 25 different movements to your lineup and tons of functionality with only 2 square feet of space needed!
To shop the most versatile bench on the market, CLICK HERE!
