The 3rd choice is the yoke. Covers all the use of a squat stand, similar footprint, more exercises as well. It is easy to weigh it down to do all sorts of extremes, such as the Henny attachment. Breaks down easily to move, has its own set of exercises, and is perfect to move into the yard during the summer. Also, you can even skimp on the count of weight plates since if you lower or raise the cross member you can do yoke presses, yoke squats, yoke overhead press, yoke zerchers, and yoke deadlifts besides other things like dead hangs from the 3-inch cross member for grip. Toss on a pair of gymnastic rings to do inverted rows, dips, pullups, etc. So long story short based on limited space I went with a yoke. Finally, there is always the rogue or titan version among a few other brands.
It really depends on how important barbell movements are for the individual. I would argue that a bench and dumbbells are more essential to everyone who is not a dedicated powerlifter.
Whether they should be or not they tend to dominate a lot of training. I love barbell movements but I could manage without though you could go to a shorty bar if you need to save some space. If I had to choose I'd take my dumbbells all day but luckily I don't have to.
I noticed this trend. If people just have some dumbbells and a pull-up bar they usually don't say they have a "home gym". They just say they workout at home or something along those lines. Everyone that has bought a rack has said they have a "home gym". But either way I like your no excuses line. Im grateful my parents came here for a better life and I could afford a power rack and more than just the essentials. But there are people that build great physiques with way less equipment than I have.
There are plenty who build a great physique just going to a playground and doing bodyweight exercise for free. Of note.. a decent power rack, bar, and weights is going to cost $1000+. For that same cost you could go to a public gym for two years and have access to much more equipment. Anyone who argues that home gyms are economical are nutty. The real benefit of a home gym is convenience. You pay a price for convenience. When I hit a public gym I'm more motivated to work hard. At home I take way longer rest sets which is not necessarily ideal.
@@apeekintime I 100% went the home gym route for convenience. I work from home and work out at home lol. But everyone is different. I have gotten better results at home because I already know what Im gonna do. In a public gym, bench press may not always be an option. And waiting for a piece of equipment is very annoying. There's pros and cons to both.
I'm with you there. We tend to want more and more as we go but I'll be the first to admit I don't need half this stuff. It might keep things more interesting and varied but many of us go overboard.
Yep. In my True Cost of a Home Gym video (and other times) I hit on this. A home gym isn't for everyone and there's pros and cons to each. Yeah I can build a home gym for 1k but in reality for many that price will balloon and I'm WAYYY over that and I still can't replicate the stuff at a commercial gym. I'm doing great, it's an awesome space but I do miss elements of a commercial gym that my home gym will never replicate.
thanks for posting I enjoy your videos I'm almost 68 and have been refining my garage gym since 1993 I bought everything used except my rack and bench both are home made every thing fits inside the rack when I want to put the car in the garage ... believe it or not I am still adding muscle and am very thankful that I am still able I think weight lifting has definitely added to my functional life span ... don't let anyone tell you you are too old
every time someone asks what i want for Christmas or birthday I tell them 2 more feet of height in the garage ceiling in 7'2" which is why I built my own rack "store bought" racks wouldn't fit
I think with social media "influencers" we often get jaded with what most people are facing, not enough space and not enough money. Tons of great ways to skip the rack & the $ but still crush those workouts
I think you really overlooked trap bars for training legs without a rack! If you already own a rack, they are pretty obsolete imo. But in our theoretical scenario, an open trap bar would make a lot of sense. Personally, I would buy (in that specific order) adjustable dumbbells, a good adjustable bench, and an open trap bar with weights. Maybe I would add a barbell and a landmine attachment if I had a bigger budget.
I agree about trap bars, but I'm not sure it has to be open. I think one can get a lot out of rear foot elevated split squats/Bulgarian split squats. Maybe one leg squats too...balance can be a limiting factor though... Dumbbell floor presses or bench is underrated. Weighted dips are underrated. Weighted pushups are underrated, especially off of straps (TRX etc). Or barbell bench with sawhorses, chains or straps as a safety. Can you hang Spud straps from the ceiling...as a safety? If a person really wants to find solutions they can. I criticize his thesis!
When COVID hit and I was just building my garage gym, this was the exact order my gear arrived. Shipping delays galore, so I had a ton of time to creatively use each as they came in. So yeah, it's possible to lift without a rack, but IMO, not long term sustainable, at least when it comes to my goals. Others milage may vary.
An Open trap bar is a great idea for legs! I think I'd probably add a pull up bar like the Rogue jammer pull up bar which can be placed above a door way before the trap bar. Just to provide somewhere for a vertical pull movement. With the dumbbells you could still do RDLs, goblet squats or front rack squats for legs, Bulgarian split squats and with an attachment like monkey feet do hamstring curls and leg extensions.
Before I got a rack, I used resistance bands, and got a pretty decent workout. I have a few massive ones that even helped me mimic heavy squat and deadlift movements. In fact I still use them as a replacement for cable work, and find them very versatile. So if you have any plans on a part two of this video, or perhaps a travel gym topic, I would recommend looking into resistance bands as an alternative. Done correctly, it can more or less replace a fully furnished body building home gym. Probably less useful for the above average powerlifter, though. That being said, love your content 👍
A yoke also comes in super clutch for space saving. Can use it as a rack but also has a lot of other utility for those who aren't decking out a gym full of equipment.
As someone who used to body build and powerlift for many years, now in my early 50's back squatting even with just the bar is painful. I can't barbell bench anymore without tweaking something in my shoulders. So now I am a Dumbbell, Cable and machine person. Most of the people I trained with for years eventually end up having to bail on most or all power rack exercises and move the direction I have. My advice to younger lifters is always there is a shelf life on how long you can perform these compound heavy exercises. So yes you can get by without a power rack if you are creative and actually depending on your goals you may end up much better off for it as you hit middle age. I thought older folks were crazy too when they used to tell me the same thing and now that I am there I wish I would have made some changes to my workouts in my younger years.
I'm an older lifter(52) who didn't buy a rack until about 15 years ago(have been lifting since I was 14 and building my gym from the same age.) At this point I prefer the rack for the things that I can add to it but don't move huge amount of weight in compound moves. Like you I converted over to mostly dumbbells about 12 years ago but still enjoy using a barbell at lower weight for variety. I just purchased a functional trainer last month and love it. It's nice to be able to continue training but depending on your goals and where you are in life you can easily get by without a rack.
I am the exact opposite. I did not start lifting weights until I was 49, which was dumbbells. I didn't start with barbells until I was 51. I am now 52 and loving it.
@@GlucksGym Thanks, it is hard mentally, and I am still fighting it inside all the time to come to the reality that you have to stop something or end up with long term injuries and surgeries.
@@markhalstead2386 that is great that you started lifting and enjoy it. I started really lifting heavy at 18 and really didn't start to feel the wear and tear until my early 40's. My only surgery so far is a shoulder cleanup but I have several areas that are on the edge. I have several compressed bulging discs from the heavy squats and my right hip is worn from the same exercises. My left elbow has ulnar nerve issues from all the heavy skull crushers and dips. My Shoulders are ok if I stick to Dumbbells, Cables and certain machines.
Thanks for the video. I'm in my 50s, and have stopped barbell bench press for the most part. To save space I got rid of my power rack and got a Powertec squat stand. Saves a lot of space and has a nice pull-up bar.
@@GlucksGym yeah, I think they call it that, but I consider it a squat stand. Before that I had an older York Barbell 2" power rack. Just took up too much space.
Thought provoking episode. I’m getting by just fine with a pair of squat stands. An advantage of this setup is being able to adjust the width to accommodate a range of specialty bars. The other hero in my gym is the Ironmaster Superbench Pro, complete with the cable tower and several other attachments. With some carefully thought out organisation, I can still park my car in the garage when the gym isn’t being used.
A pulley screwed into your ceiling paired with a loading pin and various attachments is a pretty good substitute to a functional trainer. You sacrifice some ease of use for the space savings as its just a pulley in the ceiling.
Great video! I've been trying to convince myself to get a rack for a while now, but then get my butt handed to me by an arguably light kettlebell. Not having barbell movement is a compromise, but given my goals are general health and a happy wife, there are plenty of options that keep both of those more in balance.
For years in the gym I was used to an ER or TSS rack for squat and bench. But moving into a home gym and being short on space, I chose a power rack from BoS. It simply makes more sense for me because I can do more in that slightly larger footprint. I've got the cable attachment, the split squat roller, and pull up bar. I wondered if competition squats would mess up since I wouldn't be in a power rack, but I didn't notice at all.
Started off my homegym with a pair of gymnastic rings, a DIY wooden bench, and a DIY pair of squat stands. It's been more than a year and damn did they serve me well. Hell, I've even built my own concrete weight plates (which I'm currently in the process of replacing) and they also served me really well.
Ironmaster Superbench or Powerblock Sport Bench give you the ability to do pullups and dips on your bench. With a weight belt or vest that can take you pretty far. When I was in college I used a Navy Seal training plan using only a PowerTower. Not the greatest for building muscle but it did get me pretty dang fit.
Heres my TED talk, and another way for me to procrastinate on my responsibilities. I think there is a reason why there are few "home gym tours" of oly weightlifters. They're minimalistic and boringly simplistic, but very effective. Definitely not flashy or abundant ( Plates, platform, barbell, squat stands. They don't bench. Not much else, rarely dumbbells/pull up bar.) , but its a niche sport with very specific goals. Definitely not 99% home gym people, who like variation and options. Cant fault them. As someone with a small homegym space, I purchased a budget 810XLT for $200 aftermarket recently, and I kind of regret it. Not because its a bad rack (Although it definitely left more to be desired) but because it took up a lot more space than my squat stands, at the cost of floor space for olympic lifts. Sure having safety bars is cool, but the non west side hole spacing adds a lot more steps for me to get the proper safety heights to match my AB3100 / Failing point. And I cant even do incline presses inside the rack with safeties with my AB3100 bc the supporting bracket and the lower bracket on the rack prevent me from getting into a decent position. I pretty much got it for the multi grip pull up bar for me to attach rings and do pull ups, and barbell storage on the J hooks. And my old squat stands? They just so happen to have dip bar handles, so I do my weighted dips on those since ring dips are unforgivingly humbling and difficult. Additionally, I always thought having bumper plates as a solution to failing a backsquat, assuming you have gym floor mats to absorb impact, and youre not on a second floor. This is one big point I feel like many people miss when they consider Iron Vs Bumpers weights. In regards to failing a bench press, just don't. I know that sounds silly, but years ago when I was working out alone at a commercial gym without a power rack, I just stopped 1 rep shy of failure. I still made great progress, and although I rareley tested my 1-3 rep max, I still made great gains and could roughly guestimate where I would be at. An easy solution to not having a rack to attach bands is to attach bands to an eye hook in a wall/stud. If I didnt score my Wall mounted Titan Short Pulley for $80, thats exactly what I would have done. It would have taken up significantly less space, and lets be honest, I pretty much only use it for prehab/rehab movements anyways. The rest of my training is what my barbell and dumbbells are for. Power racks are a luxury. And I wish I had more space to accommodate both my 810XLT and oly platform. A man can dream. Thx for attending my ted talk.
After my CrossFit gym closed, I set about to make a home gym. Before I got my rack, I did have a bar and bumper plates, so I mostly did workouts with cleans, jerks, push press, and deadlift. I could also do front squats and back squats, though I was limited by the amount I could clean (which really wasn't that much...). Finally getting a rack really opened up the possibilities for me.
I’ve got an older rack that doesn’t accept many attachments. The workaround for me was the Ironmaster bench which provides many of the missing options. Powertec is similar though it’s got a larger footprint. Neither is really that budget friendly but excels in space saving and mobility.
Thanks Gluck very informative as always. I don’t know what state you are in but your opening video reminded me of where I grew up in Illinois. Nice woods and country roads. I know you work hard on these videos and I really appreciate it.
Good video Gluck. I just downsized from a power rack with all the bells and whistles to a squat stand just for the sake of moving it out of the way to open up space when not in use. Pretty happy so far.
What works right? We don't all need every little thing especially if you're tight on space. Many of us overbuy, no me, I need all these benches but like... other people
When it comes to pulleys, the poor-man's solution is a Wall Mounted Pulley Tower, usually Titan's, but sometimes Valor or Archon. Using 2 of them, spaced 6 feet apart, creates the poor-man's functional trainer. Neither is great for pulldowns, but when secured, they perform well for every other exercise. For pulldowns, you need a leg restraint when nearing your body weight. So you either need to DIY a leg restraint for the pulley tower (there is a video from Curls in the Rack explaining how to do this) or you need a dedicated lat pull down machine.
It is the safety aspect of benching and squating alone that makes having a rack for me a must. I started off with a REP PR-1050 for $300 from Amazon pre-pandemic. I recently upgraded to a PR4000, but my original rack has a second life in my training partners basement. The benching and squating fails without proper safeties give me chills...
A 300.00 dollar Marcy Olympic weight bench with leg developer percher curl and squat rack is a good combo for less money. Also does not take up as much space. Also most of use don't have money flowing out of ower pockets. But if you have lots of money deep pockets and lots of space a nice squat cage power rack is nice to have but no necessary for what they cost and space they take up.
Finally getting myself a rack this year, but for the past years I’ve been weight training, I’ve stuck to Dumbbell exercises and have been using a cheap “all in one” piece of equipment. It’s helped me work on my bench without actually having one, it doesn’t translate 1 to 1 on an actual barbell but it’s better than starting Square 1 and using the lack of a power rack as an excuse not to incorporate these movements. So if space is an issue, get a cheap all in one trainer. It works (although definitely not true to the listed weight/resistance) for a variety of cable exercises as well as a substitute for a barbell bench press. If space is an issue, it only takes up a 5x3 area and no need for 8-10ft clearance for a barbell. They’re pretty cheap, running around $400-$500 or less if used
During my time in commercial gyms, which would have been from around the time I turned 18 until I decided to let myself go in my mid-40s, I rarely, if ever, used a power rack. I would venture that most of those gyms didn't even have what would be considered a traditional power rack, but they had dedicated pieces for pretty much every exercise I needed/wanted to do. Now that I'm back in pursuit of my Mr. Olympia dreams, from my basement, I can't imagine not having some sort of rack. Through accessories and attachments, they provide a great deal of versatility, not to mention the safety factor. Depending upon your goals, you may be able to get by without one, but if you are able to get a rack, I would get a rack. I wouldn't waste a lot of time thinking about it either. The rack package I picked up from Rogue over Black Friday is now almost 20% more expensive and it hasn't even been four months. And to think I was considering holding out for a reduction in prices.
Carpentry Sawhorses work well and can hold a lot of weight as safety’s. In March 2020, I “built” a bench with some 2x12s I’ve unracked, squatted and reracked 525 on cheap individual squat stands from Amazon.
Would love to see a part 2 of this with adjustable dumbbells like IM or nuobells, an adjustable bench that can stand up, pull up bar like Rogue's jammer pull up bar and maybe even the Velocidor which comes with an upright so can be put on the wall. With things that can be stored away like resistance bands, a spud inc pulley, rings, a jump rope, monkey feet and kettlegyrps (or IM handles) this would take up quite a small amount of space but allow a lot of good work. Think it would be great to see a budget and expensive gym build for people with no space for a rack
Well balanced review. For space reasons I use squat stands, which get me by but I would gladly have a safety rack. I will say that having movable stands means I can get a perfect fit for every specialty bar in my collection. Yep, even the EZ bar. 😊
As someone who has over 97 years experience lifting weights I can say with complete confidence that I know everything there is to know. Definitely more than Gluck here. The best minimalist setup would be an adjustable bench and adjustable dumbbells. Next if you have space and money add a power rack and barbell. Get a power rack that has a high / low pulley attachment for space savings and total functionality. Lastly always keep a roll of toilet paper handy for when you shit your pants while lifting heavy. The toilet paper is a majorly overlooked piece of equipment in your home gym.
Personally I used powerblocks + a yoga mat for 2+ years, because I had literally no space. It was great, but deadlifts felt awkward and no pull ups wasn't great. Recommended alterations for this: Dumbbell floor press to replace bench press Wall overhead dumbbell shoulder press or squat thrusters to replace overhead press Goblet squat to replace barbell squat Farmers walk and lunges to replace deadlift (you can do dealift with dumbbells but personally they felt super uncomfortable to me) roof support pull up or nearby park pull up to replace pull up bar (grip is the limiting factor here, made my grip really strong, but didn't get nearly as much out of it)
The tree branch in my backyard acted as a heavy bag stand, pull-up bar, TRX mount and pulley anchor lol. Quarantine helped me be creative but once things got back in stock I bought a rack. Best purchase I've made.
I have a powertec leverage multi station… had it for almost 20 years but only started using it last year really. I’ve been wanting a rack but since I’m getting older I think I’ll stick with what I have.
The overall versatility and value of some kind of rigid vertical structure is pretty high for strength training. So is the ability to support bars and other accessories at a wide range of heights. Of course a rack isn't necessary, but it's a logical home gym centerpiece.
@@GlucksGym I agree, even if you're not focused on powerlifting or traditional weighlifting/bodybuilding. For example, there are tons of calisthenics exercises that can be done on a rack. And then you have the ability to blend traditional lifts into that regimen on the same apparatus.
You've got a great start and can definitely get a lot done with just those. I prefer racks but it sounds like you started your build in an intelligent way.
It’s kinda funny because my next video sorta talks about it. I would never use it with how I train. It’s a place holder for my dip bar, rings, and lat attachment
I use the Bowflex Xceed for my cable excercises, EZ bar and landmine for all of my compound sets. One caveat if the Bowflex is that I keep maxing out the bows only weeks after getting the upgrades and they max out at 410. In weight terms, it feels more like half that, so I try to end my workouts with the cables once I'm fatigued enough.
@@GlucksGym you guys look great and I imagine natural, do you guys still enjoy pizza and drinks? And what does a week of training and eating look like?! It’s hard for naturals and non trainer types. It’s been hard since not competing in BJJ and Boxing since “life happens” Love you guys
It took me over a year to get a power rack. For me it was primarily a space issue. In the meantime I would work on my front squats, clean and bench off the floor. It helped that I had crash pads to lift the barbell off the floor. But the best purchase ended up being my squat rack.
I'd argue that getting good at cleans and front squats are more beneficial than back squats for the average person. The only real exception is competitive powerlifting. The functional carryover of cleans and front squats is far better. How often do you carry heavy weight on your back? When you help a friend move you are holding heavy weight in front of your body.
I can't imagine not having my rack. It's the center piece of my garage gym. Without it it's just...how should I put it...a shitty garage but in all seriousness my whole gym ecosystem revolves around that rack. Plus, I think I'm just a kid at heart with an erector set. I love being able to attach and build onto the rack. It makes me giddy thinking about what I could buy next to make my rack that more appealing.
I've had my Titan T3 short squat stand for awhile and I really like it. I'll probably get the safeties soon as well, which seem to be a heck of a decent price especially given that I only paid like 275 for the stand itself. I'm sure I'll upgrade to a rack at some point if my bench gets back into the 400s where it was 10 years ago.
I'd never get a Rack, it's the worst way of working out, just doing barbell movements. I might get one in the future, that is ALSO a functional trainer & by so, some attachments (such as a dip attachment and more) will be easier and more available. It's personal preference & it doesn't matter, you can get big & strong, fast & flexible using equipment or no equipment... using barbells, dumbbells, bodyweight (calisthenics), TRX or Resistance bands.. etc. etc. To me, a rack & barbell is mostly pointless (a normal barbell anyway, I do own a smaller 120cm barbell, for overhead presses, bent-over rows etc. etc.). A rack for the sake of a good pull-up bar though, that's another talk.
😂😂 Shots fired, shots fired! 💇🏽♂️ The part about the hair just 👌🏽 Me personally i can’t imagine my home gym without a power rack. Even before the one I have now I had a more budget friendly one and that was the first piece I bought before a bar nod plates, and a bench lol
I bought my first rack before I even had a space for it 😂 so I'm with you there. Hopefully nobody gets upset by that one. I almost made an animation with dancing heads but decided it was too much.
I've been using a yoke for a couple years. For the space I have it's all I could get. But it has worked great and with the attachments I have, it does a lot of rack things.
@@GlucksGym At first, I didn't know you could add so many attachments to them. I miss my rack, and if I ever get more space I would go back to one , but the yoke hasn't failed me yet, even though it says Titan on the front...
I work out 5 days a week and every single one of those days involves something with the power rack. My gym is small and the rack takes up most of the space but just about everything worth doing can be done in a rack.
I'll likely add a power rack to my gym sooner or later from the used market. But I started my gym with a Body Solid SBL-460 Lever Gym used with 400 lbs. of weight & a Body Solid dip/knee raise stand & an olympic bar.
@@GlucksGym Well it has the bench press station, the lat pull station as well as a single cable pull and then the hack squat station. You can do shoulder press, bent over rows & Skull crushers on the bench press side. Probably a few more things I'm forgetting. The bench has the leg lift attachment(not the greatest) Can do single cable exercises on the Lat pull station side, seated row ect. I attach a chain to the overhead Lat pull apparatus to do tricep push downs, Hack squat station can perform well Hack Squats, & calf raises, there is a preacher curl attachment on the lat pull side that I find awkward..so I just use an easy curl bar on it instead. I like the whole system for the fact that you don't need a spotter for anything. But ultimately I would like a cage as well for safety while doing traditional barbell exercises..plus it's an excuse to buy a safety squat bar & a Rep 4000 bench. And I need to utilize my bands to help me do a pull up for once.🤫
Man, those Rep flat j cups look so good, makes me want to sell my titan fitness rack and buy their rack . I mean, those flat j cups along with quality rack will be much more safe when I lift 135+ POUNDS.
I have an inexpensive cable pulley setup from china, straps onto the rack pull up bar, loads oly plates on a post and offers me a few cable workout options, does what I need it to in a smallish space and stores easily on the wall.
Isometrics, sprints, and odd object carries got me thru those dark days of COVID shipping delays. I chose a yoke over a rack since that could not only double as a solid squat stand with pull up capabilities, but I could also do yoke stuff with it. More functionality and options per unit. Also important, it breaks down fairly easily for storage purposes (I still park my car in the garage....blasphemy, I know) Problem was its 7.5 month wait time.
Please don't park in your gym it's weird but the yoke I completely blanked on in this video. Maybe it's time I review one plus I want one for outside 😁
@@GlucksGym Yeah, like the stripper pole, the yoke seems to be slept on in the home gym community even though it ticks all of the boxes (space, utility, storage). Everyone seems hung up on racks, benches, benches, benches, benches, benches, benches, and benches. Oh, and a maybe benches too.
I have a very OLD York 3000 power station which is basically a half rack with a high and low plate loaded lat tower ( so can do lat pull downs and seated rows). It's versatile enough I can do a LOT of exercises plus I can attack battle ropes for the cardio workout. Add overpriced Prime Fitness attachments and AB300 FID bench and I'm all set. Oh yeah, wife has NO idea how much I spent :)
I have the rogue Sml2 half rack and with bands and 12inch jerk box's , I am able to everything I am a weightlifter ,so I don't bench very often but can if needed. But 95% of my training is classics,squats ,presses and pulls.
I want to get a half rack when I move house and hopefully get more overhead space, but I've done well with cheap amazon squats stands (with built in safeties) for the last 6 years.
Glad you're able to make it work. I'm some ways I really love half racks. I'm debating throwing another rack in here for review purposes and I'd probably go double half rack
I love racks, but for too many people they quickly turn into a money pit. Besides, it's those d*mn J-cups that rocket you to the poor house! A set of 90-lb. db's along with an AB-4100 and a custom reinforced, ultra-smooth high pulley built off a joist in the basement, and I'm set. Hey, but having turned 60, lifting feels fantastic at this age, assuming you don't suffer from back or shoulder problems. Great video, strong finish featuring your greatest protégé!
Hahaha she definitely takes the show for sure. I look at it long term. I want to do this when I'm 60 and beyond. You're right it can be a hell of a money pit.
Love the video, you have a new fan follower! I just started researching/planning building out a garage/driveway gym and came across your channel... so i have lots to look at to make my choices. I do have a garage ceiling height issue (89") to contend with thus making the power rack a non-starter option for me, but at least the crossbeams are exposed so i could have the squat rack uprights go to about 95-96" and still tilt to get it out the garage door onto the driveway for some summer sun training. All that said - what are your thoughts on Yoke racks as a multi-purpose option? I'll comb your overall channel to see if you have any reviews/content on Yokes, SR-4000 and SML-2 (suppose you do since referenced already) - Love the whit and humor througout - thanks again!!
Rep (and others) have options for short racks at 80" or whatever. Our PR-4000 video is a shorty rack for a basement. We'll be picking up the new Rep Yoke just because I legitimately want to try it but they can work and a lot of people make them do just that. Thank you!
I use 5 gallon buckets with some weights in them to bench and I left the bar off the floor to squat. Can definitely workout without a rack but there are limits
For Hypertrophy/space I’d take a functional trainer and dumbbells. Barbell movements are fun but inferior in most cases for muscle building. A good adjustable bench, set of dumbbells and a Functional trainer and you are completely set. Something like a inspire fitness FTX will fit in a corner of a room and take up minimal space. You get a pull up bar as well and unlimited versatility.
Honestly, for hypertrophy/space then you might as just hit up a planet fitness after work (or any cheap commercial gym). You can knock out an effective hypertrophy workout even in 45 minutes for $10/month. Unless you are a professional body builder the weight stacks even at a Planet Fitness are going to be heavy enough to get a good workout. If your budget allows then go to a real body building gym. To me, you'll never really make progress with hypertrophy working out in a minimally equipped home gym. You can certainly lean out and get shredded working out at home but you'll struggle building legs without hack squats/leg presses, leg extensions, and leg curls. Machines are just far superior for targeting lower body muscle groups for hypertrophy.
If space is an issue I'd love dumbbells because you can do so much with them. I still love my barbell movements but I could figure out ways around them. Then give me a set of rings and I'll get creative. If I had enough space for a FT I'd probably try to cram in a Rep rack with an Ares but who knows.
@@apeekintime I’ve had a lot more success working out at home. Between a cable machine, bench and full set of dumbbells there’s nothing I’m missing out for hypertrophy. I’d actually argue all that variety of movements at a gym is harder to track. Sticking to a few good movements for each muscle group is all you need. At the end of the day it’s about progressive overload however you want to do it. For legs all I need is my trap bar and all the variety dumbbells bring…Bulgarians, lunges, ect
@@GlucksGym yea agreed and its all personal preference that’s what I love about the home gym community…everyone prioritizes different things and it’s always interesting to see what that is for each person
Seems like the video and comments went a different direction than what I was thinking 1. I was thinking functional trainer. Rather than the typical big 3 lifts going dumbbell instead of barbell, as mainly noted by alot of people, just go all pulley. People can do legitimate work with a functional trainer and this would be a solution for (some) space issues (not budget) and potentially mobility/safety issues. 2. I was thinking calisthenics all the way for budget issues. So just a pull up bar, bands, rings, and maybe some weights/vest. Granted bodybuilding will be much easier with a barbell and a rack, I think a nice physique (not saying competition level or anything) is still absolutely achievable with either of the above 2.
Due to the small flat I live in, I had to buy squat stands. If the lack of safety results in my death.... tell Eleiko my heirs want the money back😂 Thanks for the fine content. Kind regards from Munich.
No rack here. Have 25-70 pound pairs of various implements (light/med/heavy each of kettlebells, CMBs, Dumbbells), sandbag, slamballs, maces and clubs. Don't have the space or desire for one.
I have the rogue sml-2 and am wishing I would have just bought a rack. Doesn’t matter how tight you get the bolts it leans. Leans foreword during bench or squat and when I put the dip attachment on the back it leans back. Usually in the middle of my first or second dip. Scares me every time
I workout alone 99% of the time, so a power rack is important for me. I can however see if someone is just interested in general fitness how they may not need one.
I'm coming from the powertech leverage gym. Granted it got me pretty strong, when I went to none leverage I was able to put up 315lbs. I think at this stage of my lifting I have to have it. Could I buy a marcy all in one system off amazon and it serves its purpose sure. But do I trust that thing when I'm squatting 400 for reps of 10 on a squat set? Absolutely not. So I think it depends on the lifter. I think it also depends on how serious you are about lifting. I'm going to lift until the day a doc tells me I can't, kinda like how I'll play video games until I can't use my hands. But everyone views lifting differently. People that invest thousands into building a dope home gym view it as a way of life not a hobby. At least thats why I just recently spent so much based on you and coops reviews. My next goal is to try and hit 1500
Life is always better with a nice rack...........oh you meant in a garage gym? Yeah, those squat racks are nice too, I guess. Ha ha. Thanks for the video as always. Keep up the great work!
LoL. Amazing video as always. Way better than Garage Gym Reviews; I find Coop to be annoying and I've unsubscribed from him since finding your channel.
I'm a guy who works out 3 days a week (upper/lower/full body). I currently only have dumbbells and an adjustable bench. I'm currently 20% bf and looking to get a relatively lean but somewhat muscular physique (about 15%bf). Would you say I need a half rack? Thanks!
Great video. Like your thoughts and points. Strap safety 🤢🤮. Two questions for you… 1) do you sell the Gluck Gym shirt you were wearing? 2) with all the titan products you covered, have you heard titan is getting rid of their loyalty point system?
Hahaha sorry I had to do it. 1) we sell both shirts, the one in the intro and the one I'm wearing, they're on our website. 2) yep I keep getting emails to spend my points.
@@scooobyj8714 valid point. Maybe I should take that into consideration on the next set. We just made those awhile ago on a whim to see if people would care.
Bench with dumbbells would be very high up on my list. Even without a rack I'd still want a barbell over a trap bar. I enjoy my trap bar but for what we do here I can do a ton with a barbell with or without a rack. Trap bars are great especially open ones but personally if I'm strapped for space a barbell takes up very little.
Ill be using the T-3 yoke. Could I afford a rep rack or save a bit more for a stray sog triad. Yes. But I figure since Im looking to do strongman stuff and Im lifting sub 500 using a yoke as both a yoke and squat/bench rack sounds like a plan to me
What are you thoughts on racks and their necessity?
I’m sorry I couldn’t respond because I was focused on your haircut 💇♂️
@@BrandonSchwartz1 😂 damn it Brandon!
It’s the main art piece honestly
The 3rd choice is the yoke. Covers all the use of a squat stand, similar footprint, more exercises as well. It is easy to weigh it down to do all sorts of extremes, such as the Henny attachment. Breaks down easily to move, has its own set of exercises, and is perfect to move into the yard during the summer. Also, you can even skimp on the count of weight plates since if you lower or raise the cross member you can do yoke presses, yoke squats, yoke overhead press, yoke zerchers, and yoke deadlifts besides other things like dead hangs from the 3-inch cross member for grip. Toss on a pair of gymnastic rings to do inverted rows, dips, pullups, etc. So long story short based on limited space I went with a yoke. Finally, there is always the rogue or titan version among a few other brands.
Yoke is another good one. I definitely missed on that.
It really depends on how important barbell movements are for the individual. I would argue that a bench and dumbbells are more essential to everyone who is not a dedicated powerlifter.
Whether they should be or not they tend to dominate a lot of training. I love barbell movements but I could manage without though you could go to a shorty bar if you need to save some space. If I had to choose I'd take my dumbbells all day but luckily I don't have to.
I noticed this trend. If people just have some dumbbells and a pull-up bar they usually don't say they have a "home gym". They just say they workout at home or something along those lines. Everyone that has bought a rack has said they have a "home gym". But either way I like your no excuses line. Im grateful my parents came here for a better life and I could afford a power rack and more than just the essentials. But there are people that build great physiques with way less equipment than I have.
There are plenty who build a great physique just going to a playground and doing bodyweight exercise for free. Of note.. a decent power rack, bar, and weights is going to cost $1000+. For that same cost you could go to a public gym for two years and have access to much more equipment. Anyone who argues that home gyms are economical are nutty. The real benefit of a home gym is convenience. You pay a price for convenience. When I hit a public gym I'm more motivated to work hard. At home I take way longer rest sets which is not necessarily ideal.
@@apeekintime I 100% went the home gym route for convenience. I work from home and work out at home lol. But everyone is different. I have gotten better results at home because I already know what Im gonna do. In a public gym, bench press may not always be an option. And waiting for a piece of equipment is very annoying. There's pros and cons to both.
I know someone with just a Bowflex they call their "gym"
I'm with you there. We tend to want more and more as we go but I'll be the first to admit I don't need half this stuff. It might keep things more interesting and varied but many of us go overboard.
Yep. In my True Cost of a Home Gym video (and other times) I hit on this. A home gym isn't for everyone and there's pros and cons to each. Yeah I can build a home gym for 1k but in reality for many that price will balloon and I'm WAYYY over that and I still can't replicate the stuff at a commercial gym. I'm doing great, it's an awesome space but I do miss elements of a commercial gym that my home gym will never replicate.
thanks for posting I enjoy your videos I'm almost 68 and have been refining my garage gym since 1993 I bought everything used except my rack and bench both are home made every thing fits inside the rack when I want to put the car in the garage ... believe it or not I am still adding muscle and am very thankful that I am still able I think weight lifting has definitely added to my functional life span ... don't let anyone tell you you are too old
every time someone asks what i want for Christmas or birthday I tell them 2 more feet of height in the garage ceiling in 7'2" which is why I built my own rack "store bought" racks wouldn't fit
Great words Alvin I’m a couple weeks from 66 and my goal is to be at my strongest potential. So I identify with you. Stay safe brother
Love to hear this. I'd love to be lifting well into my 60s and beyond. I always say it's a marathon.
I think with social media "influencers" we often get jaded with what most people are facing, not enough space and not enough money. Tons of great ways to skip the rack & the $ but still crush those workouts
Exactly. Dead on. We all think we live in a work huge numbers, beautiful bodies, and huge spaces and budgets are the norm
I think you really overlooked trap bars for training legs without a rack! If you already own a rack, they are pretty obsolete imo. But in our theoretical scenario, an open trap bar would make a lot of sense.
Personally, I would buy (in that specific order) adjustable dumbbells, a good adjustable bench, and an open trap bar with weights.
Maybe I would add a barbell and a landmine attachment if I had a bigger budget.
I didn't go too crazy into all the alternatives because it would take forever but you're right I didn't mention that one.
I agree about trap bars, but I'm not sure it has to be open.
I think one can get a lot out of rear foot elevated split squats/Bulgarian split squats.
Maybe one leg squats too...balance can be a limiting factor though...
Dumbbell floor presses or bench is underrated.
Weighted dips are underrated.
Weighted pushups are underrated,
especially off of straps (TRX etc).
Or barbell bench with sawhorses, chains or straps as a safety.
Can you hang Spud straps from the ceiling...as a safety?
If a person really wants to find solutions they can.
I criticize his thesis!
When COVID hit and I was just building my garage gym, this was the exact order my gear arrived. Shipping delays galore, so I had a ton of time to creatively use each as they came in. So yeah, it's possible to lift without a rack, but IMO, not long term sustainable, at least when it comes to my goals. Others milage may vary.
An Open trap bar is a great idea for legs! I think I'd probably add a pull up bar like the Rogue jammer pull up bar which can be placed above a door way before the trap bar. Just to provide somewhere for a vertical pull movement. With the dumbbells you could still do RDLs, goblet squats or front rack squats for legs, Bulgarian split squats and with an attachment like monkey feet do hamstring curls and leg extensions.
Landmine for front and hack squats. Resistance bands with a door anchor to replace pulleys.
Before I got a rack, I used resistance bands, and got a pretty decent workout. I have a few massive ones that even helped me mimic heavy squat and deadlift movements. In fact I still use them as a replacement for cable work, and find them very versatile.
So if you have any plans on a part two of this video, or perhaps a travel gym topic, I would recommend looking into resistance bands as an alternative.
Done correctly, it can more or less replace a fully furnished body building home gym. Probably less useful for the above average powerlifter, though.
That being said, love your content 👍
You know I did debate something like a traveling gym so I need to remember this one. Thanks for the thought and the support!
A yoke also comes in super clutch for space saving. Can use it as a rack but also has a lot of other utility for those who aren't decking out a gym full of equipment.
Yep. I'm debating adding one for some outside work.
3:01. Your channel just keeps getting better.
I have no idea what you mean 😁
As someone who used to body build and powerlift for many years, now in my early 50's back squatting even with just the bar is painful. I can't barbell bench anymore without tweaking something in my shoulders. So now I am a Dumbbell, Cable and machine person. Most of the people I trained with for years eventually end up having to bail on most or all power rack exercises and move the direction I have. My advice to younger lifters is always there is a shelf life on how long you can perform these compound heavy exercises. So yes you can get by without a power rack if you are creative and actually depending on your goals you may end up much better off for it as you hit middle age. I thought older folks were crazy too when they used to tell me the same thing and now that I am there I wish I would have made some changes to my workouts in my younger years.
A lot of wisdom in this comment even if a lot of us don't want to listen. Thanks.
I'm an older lifter(52) who didn't buy a rack until about 15 years ago(have been lifting since I was 14 and building my gym from the same age.) At this point I prefer the rack for the things that I can add to it but don't move huge amount of weight in compound moves. Like you I converted over to mostly dumbbells about 12 years ago but still enjoy using a barbell at lower weight for variety. I just purchased a functional trainer last month and love it. It's nice to be able to continue training but depending on your goals and where you are in life you can easily get by without a rack.
I am the exact opposite. I did not start lifting weights until I was 49, which was dumbbells. I didn't start with barbells until I was 51. I am now 52 and loving it.
@@GlucksGym Thanks, it is hard mentally, and I am still fighting it inside all the time to come to the reality that you have to stop something or end up with long term injuries and surgeries.
@@markhalstead2386 that is great that you started lifting and enjoy it. I started really lifting heavy at 18 and really didn't start to feel the wear and tear until my early 40's. My only surgery so far is a shoulder cleanup but I have several areas that are on the edge. I have several compressed bulging discs from the heavy squats and my right hip is worn from the same exercises. My left elbow has ulnar nerve issues from all the heavy skull crushers and dips. My Shoulders are ok if I stick to Dumbbells, Cables and certain machines.
Thanks for the video. I'm in my 50s, and have stopped barbell bench press for the most part. To save space I got rid of my power rack and got a Powertec squat stand. Saves a lot of space and has a nice pull-up bar.
That's their half rack right? What rack did you have before that?
@@GlucksGym yeah, I think they call it that, but I consider it a squat stand. Before that I had an older York Barbell 2" power rack. Just took up too much space.
@@johnbeverungen6570 I also would think it's more of a squat stand
Thought provoking episode. I’m getting by just fine with a pair of squat stands. An advantage of this setup is being able to adjust the width to accommodate a range of specialty bars. The other hero in my gym is the Ironmaster Superbench Pro, complete with the cable tower and several other attachments. With some carefully thought out organisation, I can still park my car in the garage when the gym isn’t being used.
I was with you until you said you park you car in the gym. Seems really odd to me 😂
@@GlucksGym LOL. Love your work. (Greetings from Down Under BTW)
@@scottcharlton129 thank you so much!
I don’t know why I haven’t run across you until now, but I’m a new fan. Good stuff.
The algorithm finally brought you here 😁
A pulley screwed into your ceiling paired with a loading pin and various attachments is a pretty good substitute to a functional trainer. You sacrifice some ease of use for the space savings as its just a pulley in the ceiling.
great review great video . thank you for your points and ideas .
Great video! I've been trying to convince myself to get a rack for a while now, but then get my butt handed to me by an arguably light kettlebell. Not having barbell movement is a compromise, but given my goals are general health and a happy wife, there are plenty of options that keep both of those more in balance.
For years in the gym I was used to an ER or TSS rack for squat and bench. But moving into a home gym and being short on space, I chose a power rack from BoS. It simply makes more sense for me because I can do more in that slightly larger footprint. I've got the cable attachment, the split squat roller, and pull up bar. I wondered if competition squats would mess up since I wouldn't be in a power rack, but I didn't notice at all.
Started off my homegym with a pair of gymnastic rings, a DIY wooden bench, and a DIY pair of squat stands. It's been more than a year and damn did they serve me well.
Hell, I've even built my own concrete weight plates (which I'm currently in the process of replacing) and they also served me really well.
Oh AND my first barbell was actually a reallyyyy cheap Axle Bar I found online HAHAHA
Whatever works for you and your situation right? Rings are so underrated!
Ironmaster Superbench or Powerblock Sport Bench give you the ability to do pullups and dips on your bench. With a weight belt or vest that can take you pretty far. When I was in college I used a Navy Seal training plan using only a PowerTower. Not the greatest for building muscle but it did get me pretty dang fit.
Heres my TED talk, and another way for me to procrastinate on my responsibilities.
I think there is a reason why there are few "home gym tours" of oly weightlifters. They're minimalistic and boringly simplistic, but very effective. Definitely not flashy or abundant ( Plates, platform, barbell, squat stands. They don't bench. Not much else, rarely dumbbells/pull up bar.) , but its a niche sport with very specific goals. Definitely not 99% home gym people, who like variation and options. Cant fault them.
As someone with a small homegym space, I purchased a budget 810XLT for $200 aftermarket recently, and I kind of regret it. Not because its a bad rack (Although it definitely left more to be desired) but because it took up a lot more space than my squat stands, at the cost of floor space for olympic lifts.
Sure having safety bars is cool, but the non west side hole spacing adds a lot more steps for me to get the proper safety heights to match my AB3100 / Failing point. And I cant even do incline presses inside the rack with safeties with my AB3100 bc the supporting bracket and the lower bracket on the rack prevent me from getting into a decent position. I pretty much got it for the multi grip pull up bar for me to attach rings and do pull ups, and barbell storage on the J hooks. And my old squat stands? They just so happen to have dip bar handles, so I do my weighted dips on those since ring dips are unforgivingly humbling and difficult.
Additionally, I always thought having bumper plates as a solution to failing a backsquat, assuming you have gym floor mats to absorb impact, and youre not on a second floor. This is one big point I feel like many people miss when they consider Iron Vs Bumpers weights. In regards to failing a bench press, just don't. I know that sounds silly, but years ago when I was working out alone at a commercial gym without a power rack, I just stopped 1 rep shy of failure. I still made great progress, and although I rareley tested my 1-3 rep max, I still made great gains and could roughly guestimate where I would be at.
An easy solution to not having a rack to attach bands is to attach bands to an eye hook in a wall/stud. If I didnt score my Wall mounted Titan Short Pulley for $80, thats exactly what I would have done. It would have taken up significantly less space, and lets be honest, I pretty much only use it for prehab/rehab movements anyways. The rest of my training is what my barbell and dumbbells are for.
Power racks are a luxury. And I wish I had more space to accommodate both my 810XLT and oly platform. A man can dream.
Thx for attending my ted talk.
After my CrossFit gym closed, I set about to make a home gym. Before I got my rack, I did have a bar and bumper plates, so I mostly did workouts with cleans, jerks, push press, and deadlift. I could also do front squats and back squats, though I was limited by the amount I could clean (which really wasn't that much...). Finally getting a rack really opened up the possibilities for me.
As it probably does for most. You can just do so much with one and the safety factor is hard to look past.
I’m going from a converted Yoke to a PR4000. I agree 100% training style is the answer to this question
Amen
Yep. One of the biggest factors anx who am I to say my style is the only one that matters?
I’ve got an older rack that doesn’t accept many attachments. The workaround for me was the Ironmaster bench which provides many of the missing options. Powertec is similar though it’s got a larger footprint. Neither is really that budget friendly but excels in space saving and mobility.
Someone else mentioned the SPB. When it comes to a bench with some versatility I'm not sure it can be beat.
Yup, for me a power rack is pretty important,. It's 4th on the list after a bar, weights, and bench. Great video Gluck!
Sounds like a good list. Not due where I'd put dumbbells but pretty high up as well
Thanks Gluck very informative as always. I don’t know what state you are in but your opening video reminded me of where I grew up in Illinois. Nice woods and country roads. I know you work hard on these videos and I really appreciate it.
I'm in Connecticut! Kinda in the middle of nowhere part of the state but it's a tiny state
Good video Gluck. I just downsized from a power rack with all the bells and whistles to a squat stand just for the sake of moving it out of the way to open up space when not in use. Pretty happy so far.
What works right? We don't all need every little thing especially if you're tight on space. Many of us overbuy, no me, I need all these benches but like... other people
When it comes to pulleys, the poor-man's solution is a Wall Mounted Pulley Tower, usually Titan's, but sometimes Valor or Archon. Using 2 of them, spaced 6 feet apart, creates the poor-man's functional trainer. Neither is great for pulldowns, but when secured, they perform well for every other exercise. For pulldowns, you need a leg restraint when nearing your body weight. So you either need to DIY a leg restraint for the pulley tower (there is a video from Curls in the Rack explaining how to do this) or you need a dedicated lat pull down machine.
It is the safety aspect of benching and squating alone that makes having a rack for me a must. I started off with a REP PR-1050 for $300 from Amazon pre-pandemic. I recently upgraded to a PR4000, but my original rack has a second life in my training partners basement. The benching and squating fails without proper safeties give me chills...
Yeah me too. I'm not brave enough. I truly like the feeling of being inside the cage.
A 300.00 dollar Marcy Olympic weight bench with leg developer percher curl and squat rack is a good combo for less money. Also does not take up as much space. Also most of use don't have money flowing out of ower pockets. But if you have lots of money deep pockets and lots of space a nice squat cage power rack is nice to have but no necessary for what they cost and space they take up.
Finally getting myself a rack this year, but for the past years I’ve been weight training, I’ve stuck to Dumbbell exercises and have been using a cheap “all in one” piece of equipment. It’s helped me work on my bench without actually having one, it doesn’t translate 1 to 1 on an actual barbell but it’s better than starting Square 1 and using the lack of a power rack as an excuse not to incorporate these movements.
So if space is an issue, get a cheap all in one trainer. It works (although definitely not true to the listed weight/resistance) for a variety of cable exercises as well as a substitute for a barbell bench press. If space is an issue, it only takes up a 5x3 area and no need for 8-10ft clearance for a barbell. They’re pretty cheap, running around $400-$500 or less if used
During my time in commercial gyms, which would have been from around the time I turned 18 until I decided to let myself go in my mid-40s, I rarely, if ever, used a power rack. I would venture that most of those gyms didn't even have what would be considered a traditional power rack, but they had dedicated pieces for pretty much every exercise I needed/wanted to do. Now that I'm back in pursuit of my Mr. Olympia dreams, from my basement, I can't imagine not having some sort of rack. Through accessories and attachments, they provide a great deal of versatility, not to mention the safety factor. Depending upon your goals, you may be able to get by without one, but if you are able to get a rack, I would get a rack. I wouldn't waste a lot of time thinking about it either. The rack package I picked up from Rogue over Black Friday is now almost 20% more expensive and it hasn't even been four months. And to think I was considering holding out for a reduction in prices.
Carpentry Sawhorses work well and can hold a lot of weight as safety’s.
In March 2020, I “built” a bench with some 2x12s
I’ve unracked, squatted and reracked 525 on cheap individual squat stands from Amazon.
You can make a lot work especially in a pinch. As long as it's safe it doesn't always need to be ideal, or maybe it rarely is.
Another great video. Thanks
😁 Thank you!
Would love to see a part 2 of this with adjustable dumbbells like IM or nuobells, an adjustable bench that can stand up, pull up bar like Rogue's jammer pull up bar and maybe even the Velocidor which comes with an upright so can be put on the wall. With things that can be stored away like resistance bands, a spud inc pulley, rings, a jump rope, monkey feet and kettlegyrps (or IM handles) this would take up quite a small amount of space but allow a lot of good work. Think it would be great to see a budget and expensive gym build for people with no space for a rack
Well balanced review. For space reasons I use squat stands, which get me by but I would gladly have a safety rack. I will say that having movable stands means I can get a perfect fit for every specialty bar in my collection. Yep, even the EZ bar. 😊
As someone who has over 97 years experience lifting weights I can say with complete confidence that I know everything there is to know. Definitely more than Gluck here. The best minimalist setup would be an adjustable bench and adjustable dumbbells. Next if you have space and money add a power rack and barbell. Get a power rack that has a high / low pulley attachment for space savings and total functionality. Lastly always keep a roll of toilet paper handy for when you shit your pants while lifting heavy. The toilet paper is a majorly overlooked piece of equipment in your home gym.
You can't argue with experience or the consistency of your comments especially regarding toilet paper 😂 though sometimes it still surprises me
Great video!
Thank you!
Personally I used powerblocks + a yoga mat for 2+ years, because I had literally no space. It was great, but deadlifts felt awkward and no pull ups wasn't great.
Recommended alterations for this:
Dumbbell floor press to replace bench press
Wall overhead dumbbell shoulder press or squat thrusters to replace overhead press
Goblet squat to replace barbell squat
Farmers walk and lunges to replace deadlift (you can do dealift with dumbbells but personally they felt super uncomfortable to me)
roof support pull up or nearby park pull up to replace pull up bar (grip is the limiting factor here, made my grip really strong, but didn't get nearly as much out of it)
The tree branch in my backyard acted as a heavy bag stand, pull-up bar, TRX mount and pulley anchor lol. Quarantine helped me be creative but once things got back in stock I bought a rack. Best purchase I've made.
Creativity is key even with all the right equipment. It's good to keep things interesting. Quarantine though... that was tough for the home gym.
I have a powertec leverage multi station… had it for almost 20 years but only started using it last year really. I’ve been wanting a rack but since I’m getting older I think I’ll stick with what I have.
If what you have works for you that's all that really matters right?
Haha. That hair comment at the end slayed me. Coop and Brandon would have been like 🧐 heyyyyyyyyy.
Brandon saw it 😂😬
The overall versatility and value of some kind of rigid vertical structure is pretty high for strength training. So is the ability to support bars and other accessories at a wide range of heights.
Of course a rack isn't necessary, but it's a logical home gym centerpiece.
Hard to compete with the versatility especially with attachments.
@@GlucksGym I agree, even if you're not focused on powerlifting or traditional weighlifting/bodybuilding. For example, there are tons of calisthenics exercises that can be done on a rack. And then you have the ability to blend traditional lifts into that regimen on the same apparatus.
I can relate as I have no rack. I have a bench, barbell, plates, and moderately heavy dumbbells. I am hoping to get a rack soon.
You've got a great start and can definitely get a lot done with just those. I prefer racks but it sounds like you started your build in an intelligent way.
@@GlucksGym I cannot bench heavy or squat so all I'm doing is deadlifts and rows and overworking my posterior chain and frying my CNS LOL.
It’s kinda funny because my next video sorta talks about it. I would never use it with how I train. It’s a place holder for my dip bar, rings, and lat attachment
It's the centerpiece for me for sure. Every workout starts in it and it's often used for several exercises each session.
I use the Bowflex Xceed for my cable excercises, EZ bar and landmine for all of my compound sets. One caveat if the Bowflex is that I keep maxing out the bows only weeks after getting the upgrades and they max out at 410. In weight terms, it feels more like half that, so I try to end my workouts with the cables once I'm fatigued enough.
Thanks as always Mr.G, could you and the Mrs give us a view of your diet and lifestyle?
I've had a few people ask something like that. Would people really be interested?
@@GlucksGym you guys look great and I imagine natural, do you guys still enjoy pizza and drinks? And what does a week of training and eating look like?! It’s hard for naturals and non trainer types. It’s been hard since not competing in BJJ and Boxing since “life happens”
Love you guys
No Fate checking in for the GLUCK master
Thanks for the support!
It took me over a year to get a power rack. For me it was primarily a space issue. In the meantime I would work on my front squats, clean and bench off the floor. It helped that I had crash pads to lift the barbell off the floor. But the best purchase ended up being my squat rack.
I'd argue that getting good at cleans and front squats are more beneficial than back squats for the average person. The only real exception is competitive powerlifting. The functional carryover of cleans and front squats is far better. How often do you carry heavy weight on your back? When you help a friend move you are holding heavy weight in front of your body.
Glad to hear you made it work for you and you're probably better for it in the long run.
@@apeekintime I agree with that. It made me work on my form and made me comfortable pushing more weight.
I can't imagine not having my rack. It's the center piece of my garage gym. Without it it's just...how should I put it...a shitty garage but in all seriousness my whole gym ecosystem revolves around that rack. Plus, I think I'm just a kid at heart with an erector set. I love being able to attach and build onto the rack. It makes me giddy thinking about what I could buy next to make my rack that more appealing.
I'm with you especially when you talk about buying more things 😂
now now Gluck, I also have hair...and opinions and this was better than some of the Thesis topics I've seen!
I'm almost regretting that hair comment 😂 but I think I said one of the only ones with hair 😬
I've had my Titan T3 short squat stand for awhile and I really like it. I'll probably get the safeties soon as well, which seem to be a heck of a decent price especially given that I only paid like 275 for the stand itself. I'm sure I'll upgrade to a rack at some point if my bench gets back into the 400s where it was 10 years ago.
I'd never get a Rack, it's the worst way of working out, just doing barbell movements. I might get one in the future, that is ALSO a functional trainer & by so, some attachments (such as a dip attachment and more) will be easier and more available. It's personal preference & it doesn't matter, you can get big & strong, fast & flexible using equipment or no equipment... using barbells, dumbbells, bodyweight (calisthenics), TRX or Resistance bands.. etc. etc.
To me, a rack & barbell is mostly pointless (a normal barbell anyway, I do own a smaller 120cm barbell, for overhead presses, bent-over rows etc. etc.). A rack for the sake of a good pull-up bar though, that's another talk.
Got my titan wall mounted pulley. Takes very little space. I love that thi g
Not sure how I didn't think of that one but who knows what's gonna come outta my mouth.
😂😂 Shots fired, shots fired! 💇🏽♂️
The part about the hair just 👌🏽
Me personally i can’t imagine my home gym without a power rack. Even before the one I have now I had a more budget friendly one and that was the first piece I bought before a bar nod plates, and a bench lol
I bought my first rack before I even had a space for it 😂 so I'm with you there. Hopefully nobody gets upset by that one. I almost made an animation with dancing heads but decided it was too much.
@@GlucksGym 😂😂. Okay you win!
And no, nothing is ever too much 😎😉
@@GlucksGym Coop and Basement Brandon in shambles
I've been using a yoke for a couple years. For the space I have it's all I could get. But it has worked great and with the attachments I have, it does a lot of rack things.
Yeah I like a lot of those yoked and have been debating getting one for some outside work
@@GlucksGym At first, I didn't know you could add so many attachments to them. I miss my rack, and if I ever get more space I would go back to one , but the yoke hasn't failed me yet, even though it says Titan on the front...
@@thanatology493 😂 that last part got me. I figured I'd grab Rep's and justify it through reviews.
I have a home gym so this video doesn’t apply to me. I just watch because I enjoy the content
Hahaha true support! Thanks
I work out 5 days a week and every single one of those days involves something with the power rack. My gym is small and the rack takes up most of the space but just about everything worth doing can be done in a rack.
They really can be incredibly versatile pieces. I'm in mine quite a bit and I'm sure with more attachments I could be there even more
I'll likely add a power rack to my gym sooner or later from the used market. But I started my gym with a Body Solid SBL-460 Lever Gym used with 400 lbs. of weight & a Body Solid dip/knee raise stand & an olympic bar.
How does it work? I've never been a huge fan of those types of things.
@@GlucksGym Well it has the bench press station, the lat pull station as well as a single cable pull and then the hack squat station. You can do shoulder press, bent over rows & Skull crushers on the bench press side. Probably a few more things I'm forgetting. The bench has the leg lift attachment(not the greatest) Can do single cable exercises on the Lat pull station side, seated row ect. I attach a chain to the overhead Lat pull apparatus to do tricep push downs, Hack squat station can perform well Hack Squats, & calf raises, there is a preacher curl attachment on the lat pull side that I find awkward..so I just use an easy curl bar on it instead. I like the whole system for the fact that you don't need a spotter for anything. But ultimately I would like a cage as well for safety while doing traditional barbell exercises..plus it's an excuse to buy a safety squat bar & a Rep 4000 bench. And I need to utilize my bands to help me do a pull up for once.🤫
Man, those Rep flat j cups look so good, makes me want to sell my titan fitness rack and buy their rack . I mean, those flat j cups along with quality rack will be much more safe when I lift 135+ POUNDS.
Hahaha yes they will. That 5000 is a beast of a rack!
I have an inexpensive cable pulley setup from china, straps onto the rack pull up bar, loads oly plates on a post and offers me a few cable workout options, does what I need it to in a smallish space and stores easily on the wall.
I'm not sure why I didn't think of those during the video but sometimes it's hard to talk and think and film all at once
What about a yoke as an alternative? It can be used in many ways and dismounted easily when space is needed
Isometrics, sprints, and odd object carries got me thru those dark days of COVID shipping delays. I chose a yoke over a rack since that could not only double as a solid squat stand with pull up capabilities, but I could also do yoke stuff with it. More functionality and options per unit. Also important, it breaks down fairly easily for storage purposes (I still park my car in the garage....blasphemy, I know) Problem was its 7.5 month wait time.
Please don't park in your gym it's weird but the yoke I completely blanked on in this video. Maybe it's time I review one plus I want one for outside 😁
@@GlucksGym Yeah, like the stripper pole, the yoke seems to be slept on in the home gym community even though it ticks all of the boxes (space, utility, storage). Everyone seems hung up on racks, benches, benches, benches, benches, benches, benches, and benches. Oh, and a maybe benches too.
Do people have too many benches? Definitely not me and I definitely don't have over 10 now
I knew a guy who cut his hair like you. He didnt seem to see anything wrong with it so your not the only one.
I have a very OLD York 3000 power station which is basically a half rack with a high and low plate loaded lat tower ( so can do lat pull downs and seated rows). It's versatile enough I can do a LOT of exercises plus I can attack battle ropes for the cardio workout. Add overpriced Prime Fitness attachments and AB300 FID bench and I'm all set. Oh yeah, wife has NO idea how much I spent :)
I know exactly the one you're talking about. Let's hope for your sake she doesn't find out 😂
I have the rogue Sml2 half rack and with bands and 12inch jerk box's , I am able to everything I am a weightlifter ,so I don't bench very often but can if needed. But 95% of my training is classics,squats ,presses and pulls.
Glad to hear it works and the things I mentioned have been used successfully. Thanks
I want to get a half rack when I move house and hopefully get more overhead space, but I've done well with cheap amazon squats stands (with built in safeties) for the last 6 years.
Glad you're able to make it work. I'm some ways I really love half racks. I'm debating throwing another rack in here for review purposes and I'd probably go double half rack
I love racks, but for too many people they quickly turn into a money pit. Besides, it's those d*mn J-cups that rocket you to the poor house! A set of 90-lb. db's along with an AB-4100 and a custom reinforced, ultra-smooth high pulley built off a joist in the basement, and I'm set. Hey, but having turned 60, lifting feels fantastic at this age, assuming you don't suffer from back or shoulder problems. Great video, strong finish featuring your greatest protégé!
Hahaha she definitely takes the show for sure. I look at it long term. I want to do this when I'm 60 and beyond. You're right it can be a hell of a money pit.
Love the video, you have a new fan follower! I just started researching/planning building out a garage/driveway gym and came across your channel... so i have lots to look at to make my choices. I do have a garage ceiling height issue (89") to contend with thus making the power rack a non-starter option for me, but at least the crossbeams are exposed so i could have the squat rack uprights go to about 95-96" and still tilt to get it out the garage door onto the driveway for some summer sun training.
All that said - what are your thoughts on Yoke racks as a multi-purpose option? I'll comb your overall channel to see if you have any reviews/content on Yokes, SR-4000 and SML-2 (suppose you do since referenced already) -
Love the whit and humor througout - thanks again!!
Rep (and others) have options for short racks at 80" or whatever. Our PR-4000 video is a shorty rack for a basement. We'll be picking up the new Rep Yoke just because I legitimately want to try it but they can work and a lot of people make them do just that.
Thank you!
I have the same rack and knee sleeves as you. 😊
A man of culture! Unless you mean Wynie's, she gets the good stuff
I use 5 gallon buckets with some weights in them to bench and I left the bar off the floor to squat. Can definitely workout without a rack but there are limits
For Hypertrophy/space I’d take a functional trainer and dumbbells. Barbell movements are fun but inferior in most cases for muscle building. A good adjustable bench, set of dumbbells and a Functional trainer and you are completely set. Something like a inspire fitness FTX will fit in a corner of a room and take up minimal space. You get a pull up bar as well and unlimited versatility.
Honestly, for hypertrophy/space then you might as just hit up a planet fitness after work (or any cheap commercial gym). You can knock out an effective hypertrophy workout even in 45 minutes for $10/month. Unless you are a professional body builder the weight stacks even at a Planet Fitness are going to be heavy enough to get a good workout.
If your budget allows then go to a real body building gym. To me, you'll never really make progress with hypertrophy working out in a minimally equipped home gym. You can certainly lean out and get shredded working out at home but you'll struggle building legs without hack squats/leg presses, leg extensions, and leg curls. Machines are just far superior for targeting lower body muscle groups for hypertrophy.
If space is an issue I'd love dumbbells because you can do so much with them. I still love my barbell movements but I could figure out ways around them. Then give me a set of rings and I'll get creative. If I had enough space for a FT I'd probably try to cram in a Rep rack with an Ares but who knows.
@@apeekintime I’ve had a lot more success working out at home. Between a cable machine, bench and full set of dumbbells there’s nothing I’m missing out for hypertrophy. I’d actually argue all that variety of movements at a gym is harder to track. Sticking to a few good movements for each muscle group is all you need. At the end of the day it’s about progressive overload however you want to do it. For legs all I need is my trap bar and all the variety dumbbells bring…Bulgarians, lunges, ect
@@GlucksGym yea agreed and its all personal preference that’s what I love about the home gym community…everyone prioritizes different things and it’s always interesting to see what that is for each person
Seems like the video and comments went a different direction than what I was thinking
1. I was thinking functional trainer. Rather than the typical big 3 lifts going dumbbell instead of barbell, as mainly noted by alot of people, just go all pulley. People can do legitimate work with a functional trainer and this would be a solution for (some) space issues (not budget) and potentially mobility/safety issues.
2. I was thinking calisthenics all the way for budget issues. So just a pull up bar, bands, rings, and maybe some weights/vest.
Granted bodybuilding will be much easier with a barbell and a rack, I think a nice physique (not saying competition level or anything) is still absolutely achievable with either of the above 2.
It could've definitely went a few ways. I had a hard time thinking it out and framing it but maybe something I'll try again down the road
I'm glad I dedicated the space to a full rack. Unless your lifting scary weight you could get away with less if you train smart.
I had great results with just a few sets of dumbbells and an adjustable bench but having rack now gave me a little extra self-pride lol
Makes for great UA-cam thumbnails as well 😂
Due to the small flat I live in, I had to buy squat stands. If the lack of safety results in my death.... tell Eleiko my heirs want the money back😂 Thanks for the fine content. Kind regards from Munich.
I'll let them know after your demise 😬😂
@@GlucksGym My heirs are bound to pay for your Oktoberfest bill afterwards. I'll put it in my will😉
Haha! You make me laugh every time. Great video
Woooo mission accomplished!
No rack here. Have 25-70 pound pairs of various implements (light/med/heavy each of kettlebells, CMBs, Dumbbells), sandbag, slamballs, maces and clubs. Don't have the space or desire for one.
And you're making it work which is great. Not everyone needs one but they are popular items.
Absorbing impact energy ''metal to metal contact'' will make a gym less noisy & prevent hearing damage.
My rogue sm1 and sml1 with spotter arms work great in my space
I honestly like the look of loaded up squat stands
Gluck, can you substitute a tonal or an oxefit in lieu of a rack?
You know I'm working on reviewing a system like that soon and I'll be very interested to figure that out
I have the rogue sml-2 and am wishing I would have just bought a rack. Doesn’t matter how tight you get the bolts it leans. Leans foreword during bench or squat and when I put the dip attachment on the back it leans back. Usually in the middle of my first or second dip. Scares me every time
They'll never have the stability of a 4 or 6 post but those gussets should be holding better than that
Commenting cuz you're fucking cool, and I dig your humor.
I really love this comment.
I workout alone 99% of the time, so a power rack is important for me. I can however see if someone is just interested in general fitness how they may not need one.
The answer is yes. all you need is a cable machine with with a pull up bar and separate adjustable bench.
what about my dumbbells?!
That's a hell of a ummm...a arch
😏😁😂🤣 I thought that too
Excellent 🏅🏆🏋️♂️❤👍👍
I'm coming from the powertech leverage gym. Granted it got me pretty strong, when I went to none leverage I was able to put up 315lbs. I think at this stage of my lifting I have to have it. Could I buy a marcy all in one system off amazon and it serves its purpose sure. But do I trust that thing when I'm squatting 400 for reps of 10 on a squat set? Absolutely not. So I think it depends on the lifter. I think it also depends on how serious you are about lifting. I'm going to lift until the day a doc tells me I can't, kinda like how I'll play video games until I can't use my hands. But everyone views lifting differently. People that invest thousands into building a dope home gym view it as a way of life not a hobby. At least thats why I just recently spent so much based on you and coops reviews. My next goal is to try and hit 1500
Life is always better with a nice rack...........oh you meant in a garage gym? Yeah, those squat racks are nice too, I guess. Ha ha. Thanks for the video as always. Keep up the great work!
Of course that's what I meant! What else could it possibly be?!
LoL. Amazing video as always. Way better than Garage Gym Reviews; I find Coop to be annoying and I've unsubscribed from him since finding your channel.
Not sure how to respond to this one 😬 thanks for the support 😂
I'm a guy who works out 3 days a week (upper/lower/full body). I currently only have dumbbells and an adjustable bench. I'm currently 20% bf and looking to get a relatively lean but somewhat muscular physique (about 15%bf). Would you say I need a half rack? Thanks!
Personally I spend at least 1/3 of my workout using my rack and could easily design workouts that only utilize a rack and be very happy.
Shots fired with the hair comment. I like adding some spice to the market.
I'm really thinking I should've edited that one out 😂
i dont get the whole "my wife will murder me" thing, but otherwise your humor is on point.
It's a play on the those people that buy things and hide it from their wives
Bro.... If we didn't have racks... how would we spend thousands of dollars on attachments?
This comments wins
Great video. Like your thoughts and points.
Strap safety 🤢🤮.
Two questions for you…
1) do you sell the Gluck Gym shirt you were wearing?
2) with all the titan products you covered, have you heard titan is getting rid of their loyalty point system?
Hahaha sorry I had to do it.
1) we sell both shirts, the one in the intro and the one I'm wearing, they're on our website.
2) yep I keep getting emails to spend my points.
@@GlucksGym I’ll check out your website.
Really disappointed about titan. Loved getting rewards points.
@@GlucksGym saw your shirts are slip fit. My dad bod makes me look like a stuffed sausage in slim fit. Haha.
@@scooobyj8714 valid point. Maybe I should take that into consideration on the next set. We just made those awhile ago on a whim to see if people would care.
@@GlucksGym like the design. My daughters like the Dino shirts. Like the channel and want to support you and the show.
About died when you got to the hair part of this video lmaooo
Oh noes... I'm gonna get in trouble
A good bench with a set of dumbbells will carry you pretty far. Adding plates and a trap bar is helpful as well.
I agree with you and that other guy that in this scenario a trap bar is important to mention.
Bench with dumbbells would be very high up on my list. Even without a rack I'd still want a barbell over a trap bar. I enjoy my trap bar but for what we do here I can do a ton with a barbell with or without a rack. Trap bars are great especially open ones but personally if I'm strapped for space a barbell takes up very little.
Ill be using the T-3 yoke. Could I afford a rep rack or save a bit more for a stray sog triad. Yes. But I figure since Im looking to do strongman stuff and Im lifting sub 500 using a yoke as both a yoke and squat/bench rack sounds like a plan to me
Really debating a Yoke myself and using it outside for things.
@@GlucksGym it couldn’t hurt bro.
Link to the straps you showed?
Those were custom made by BeltFedStrength
where did you get those big ass chains?
oh man... I've had those for so long... I wish I could remember. I want to say Titan but I might've just stole them from the family farm.