Weight set

**Crusty** · 03-03-2010, 16:30

Alright so I'm going to be in the market for weights in the next month. I want to get a set of free weights for various exercises from bench press to curls. So what do people recommend? Please include recommendations for a good bench too.

Oh, also I am a beginner when it comes to lifting. Unfortunately there is no gym where I live so that's why I'm buying some for my house.

Price is also an issue so please nothing too expensive. I'm hoping to spend no more than $500.

**tw0sh0t2112** · 03-03-2010, 16:56

IMO, a bench is a bench, however... For safety reasons, make sure that a bench that you choose has a WIDE resting area for the bar. This prevents any chance of it tipping when you have weight resting on the bar.

For example:

As far as what type of weights. I would recomend an spending the money for an actual olympic set. This typically includes 1 45 lbs bar with 2 inch hubs (ends), 2x 45lbs plates, 2x 25lbs plates, 4 x 10lbs plates, and 4x 5lbs plates.

Sometimes you can find them second hand which is cheaper than brand new. These are heavy solid plates so who cares if they look good or not, you can always spray paint them. So I'd look in craigs list or even Ebay for local pick up first. Then hit the 2nd hand stores for athletic equipment.

Avoid the weight bars with the 1 inch ends and 1 inch holes. They suck.

**MaximusR3** · 03-03-2010, 17:10

what about the Total Gym?

If Chuck Norris says it's good then it has to be, right?

lol only 1,000 bucks and free shipping for the latest model if you enter the total gym challenge (nothing really, just a gimmick to have a "sale" price)

**RedCon-ONE** · 03-03-2010, 17:22

Totally agree with tw0sh0t. Go for the Olympic set. Those 1" screw ends are okay for dumbbells but for a bar, it's nice to be able to switch out those plates faster so that you don't loose your heartrate while swapping plates. If you're gonna go with just dumbbells, get at least 3 sets so you can set your weights beforehand and switch to them quickly.

Buying used is a great idea too, you can usually get them for really cheap and weights don't exactly wear out. Also you can usually find a good used bench in good to great condition pretty easily. There's a lot of people who buy them and then loose the motivation to use them and then get rid of them without much use. I ended up with a $500 Precor Incline Bench for $70 bucks on Craigslist.

One thing I got recently was a Pull-up bar the fits over a door frame. Really cheap (about 25 bucks brand new). I got it because I borrow a friends P90X system for a couple weeks. I gotta say I like that thing. It's $100 at Costco but it's totally worth it and it's motivating. I plan on buying the thing here soon.

**Timmy_2_Tones** · 03-03-2010, 21:29

As far as Dumbells go I have always liked these.

I like to do a workout that requires all of these, you line them up on the floor and start at 5 Lbs. do a set of ten, then move to the 10 Lbs. do ten, then up the weights until you can't do them at ten reps. Then once you get to the point where you can't do ten reps you shoot for five reps, or go until you can't get one. BE AFRAID!! you will not be able to pick up your arms for a day or so.

Back to the point though, these are the best, they may take up the most room but it is nice to have the ability to grab the weight you want and not have to change out plates on you dumbells.

**Crusty** · 03-06-2010, 20:27

thanks for the info everyone. Because of how much weights are I think I'm just going to get a set of hex dumbells for now. Thoughts on that?

**RedCon-ONE** · 03-07-2010, 00:10

static hexs are great and never a bad idea. Even if you, one day, get an adjustable set, you'll never put away your hexs. I still have a couple 15lbs'er next to the bench that I routinely do reverse fly burnouts with right after doing presses. If I had the room, I'd love to have a big rack of hexes. I think they look cool. And they're actually economical because you don't have to buy all the weights, just what you're mostly using now and pick up heavier ones as needed.

**Crusty** · 03-07-2010, 00:52

I was thinking of just buying the 5-25 (or 5-30) to start since I'm so out of shape and haven't been doing any lifting. I have a few workouts that use hexes that are great for getting in shape and toning up. Then i figured I could buy heavier weights as I get stronger.

**EmPyre_IcoN** · 03-15-2010, 08:44

Forgive me if this post is a day late and a dollar short....

I own a set of power block dumb bells and for a home gym, they are really the greatest thing since sliced bread. Go ahead and invest a few hundred bucks to get a decent starter set and you can add on to them all the way to somewhere 100lbs. They might be a bit unwieldy at that point but geez, so are the hex and the pretty ones they have at Gold's.

Just my two cents, they're durable enough and well made so you shouldn't have any issues with the workouts around the house. Good luck to ya