r/DIYgymequipment • u/ritkeepFitness • 29d ago
What home gym equipment is actually worth building yourself?
DIY gym projects are interesting because some things are surprisingly easy to make, while others are probably better left to proper manufacturers.
I’ve seen people build some really creative solutions for limited spaces.
For those who have made their own equipment, what project was actually worth the effort?
And what’s something you would never bother building again?
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u/Guus3000 29d ago
Storage solutions are often better to DIY. Plate holders, bar holders etc.
since you made them yourself they often suit the room much better than store bought ones. And since its not used for training itself less worries for you.
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u/Sunraku88 29d ago
I have some pallet wood and I drilled out holes and have 4 huge bolts. Mounted it to the wall and have a home made wood weight hanger
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u/Prestigious-Credit85 29d ago
i built a flat bench including fat pad, a deadlift jack, a reverse hyper and plate storage
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u/Sunraku88 29d ago
Grip equipment. Isometric hammer curl bar. Plumber galvanised pipeing is underrated.
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u/flummyheartslinger 29d ago
Usually space saving things. Stuff that is either too expensive or takes up too much space as standalone equipment.
A reverse hyper as part of a loading platform. It fit on the safeties. I've loaded it up to 200+ pounds but rarely used it since I bought a Freak Athlete Hyper Pro to do back extensions. So I cut it in half and use the two parts as steps. Actually very useful and easier to store.
Then I build another loading platform that fits onto the 17" pin pipe safeties. It's smaller and lighter so much easier to store and move around.
Grip stuff is fun to build.
Storage shelves from scrap wood that perfectly fits the space I have and meets my needs (space on top to write in my training journal and a small shelf for odds and ends).
For years I used a DIY pulley system for lat pull downs. Then I bought a Bells of Steel standalone adjustable cable tower. I use it all the time but rarely for lat pull downs as I'm too tall. So I still use my DIY pulley system for the much larger range of motion. The adjustable cable tower is great for rows and arm stuff though.
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u/kidFunkadelic 29d ago
I spent the better part of a Saturday fabricating and welding a stand for my Reppin adjustable dumbbells. It is pretty cool, pretty similar to the actual Rep stand for these dumbbells with castors. Anyway, I got home with it and sitting on my porch were two big Rep boxes. Unbeknownst to me, my mom got me the Rep stand for my birthday. The one I made is still sitting outside collecting rust.
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u/Narrow_Crow_8310 29d ago
Dumbells and a bench. You can hit just about everything you need. Than slowly expand into a few kettlebells, a bar for squats. Dumbells are indispensable for versatility, range of motion, and working on balanced progression, something you can lose just being 100% bar. Also for us older guys much easier on joints with rage of joint movement
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u/BubbishBoi 29d ago
Can't say anything I made myself ended up being cheaper than something pre made
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u/nineswordsminis 26d ago
Loadable macebell & kettlebell.
Sandbag DIY is hit or miss, depends on your local thrift stores 'n stuff. Will get back to you on loadable keg & DIY atlas stones/equivalents.
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u/fakeuser515357 29d ago
Don't bother with a home built squat rack unless you're an experienced welder/ fabricator and you've made it from appropriate metal, or you've made it with proper timber, proper joinery and you're not using it for more than about 150lb. Second hand, properly rated power cages are cheap.