A Hex Bar (or Trap Bar as it’s often called) is a specialty bar that is many times the first bar added to a home gym after a standard barbell. But, unlike standard Olympic barbells that all weigh 45 pounds, hex bars carry vary in weight from one company, and style, to another. Hex bars…
It’s hard to beat gym chalk to keep your hands dry and improve your grip when lifting. I use chalk in my workouts almost every day, for all kinds of exercises like cleans, pulls, rows and pullups. But, sometimes using chalk isn’t an option and you have to come up with another option. Maybe the…
Bumper plates are an expensive, but necessary addition for many home gym owners. So, figuring out how long bumper plates will last is a critical piece of information when determining how big of an investment you want to make. Bumper plates can last anywhere from 3 or 4 years all the way up to 20…
When you’re in the market for a new squat rack, chances are you’ll find yourself trying to compare squat rack specs between racks. But, between steel gauge, hole spacing and 3 x 3s vs 2 x 3s – it’s easy to get frustrated trying to figure out what’s good, what’s bad and what rack is…
The two questions I’ve been asked the most in my 20 years as a strength coach by far are, ‘How many pounds is a kilo’ and ‘How to use lifting straps’. Lifting straps are an amazing tool that should be in any serious lifter’s gym bag. They give the lifter increased grip strength and can…
Let’s get one thing straight right off the top. If you plan on doing any Olympic lifts or deadlifts where you’re going to be dropping the bar then bumper plates are an absolute must. The question is, are cheap bumper plates worth buying and working out with? My question back would be, ‘how cheap are…
There are some pretty big differences between rubber bumper plates and iron plates that most of us are probably pretty aware of. However, are there differences between bumper plates themselves? If so, what are they? The key differences between bumper plates include the materials used for the plates, their width, bounce or durometer rating and…
As you begin planning out your new home gym space, two things are going to quickly become mortal enemies – the equipment you want and your budget. So, as equipment expenses begin to add up you may start to wonder if gym flooring is really necessary. Gym flooring, like all gym equipment, is not exactly…
Gym flooring is an essential component for every home gym. Whether it’s a thinner foam floor or a thick, durable rubber floor – every gym needs protection for both the floor underneath as well as for the equipment if you’re on a hard concrete floor like a garage floor. Gym flooring thickness should be between…
Kettlebells continue to gain popularity within the fitness community – at commercial gyms, Crossfit boxes and home gyms. I believe this partly due to their use in Crossfit workouts, but also their versatility for being able to do a total body workout with just one piece of equipment. Figuring out how much a kettlebell weighs,…