Advice & Guides

A weight bench is one of the most important pieces of gym equipment that most lifters can own. I consider it to be one of the 'core four': a power rack, a barbell, some plates, and a weight bench... especially for the home gym. Benches can range in price, features, quality, etc... which can be a challenge when narrowing down...

If you're in the market for some fixed dumbbells in your home gym or facility, Rep Fitness is a great company to consider. Generally speaking, I'm a big fan of Rep Fitness because of their quality, their prices, and their innovative approach to equipment overall. When it comes to dumbbells, Rep Fitness has three distinct offerings, each of which has pros...

BLACK FRIDAY IS HERE! *Updated 12/2/19 @ 9:50 am* There is simply no better time to shop for gym equipment than on Black Friday. As 2019 deals are announced, I'll be posting them below and highlighting some of my favorites in the 'GGL's Top Picks' section.  Until those deals are announced, you can see some of the 2018 offerings below to give you...

The trap bar, or as some call it, the hex bar, is one of my favorite specialty bars for building strength and explosive power while also minimizing injury risk (when compared to a straight bar). The trap bar is the first specialty bar I ever used at a local YMCA, and it's one that I come back to frequently in...

**2021 Update - As the world begins to return to a new normal in light of COVID-19, home gyms are still experiencing unprecedented growth. I believe the home gym movement is just beginning. If you're looking to start a home gym of your own, you're in the right place. To make your life easier, Garage Gym Lab has released its...

The Swiss bar, sometimes referred to as the football bar or multi-grip bar, is a very popular piece of equipment for building strength. Not only does the Swiss bar help you get strong, but it also improves training variety and it's great for those with shoulder/upper extremity issues. The Swiss bar was actually the first specialty bar I purchased for my...

I'm seeing it more and more... Folks are one-stop shopping when it comes to building a home gym. Hey, I did it too when I first started mine... a full-on Rogue home gym. Rack, bar, bench, and plates - all purchased from Rogue Fitness. Of course I've expanded my lineup since then, but Rogue makes it very easy to outfit an entire home...

This is a guest post by Daniel Walter, co-founder/owner of Bar Shield USA and expert on barbell maintenance. #1 - Bar Storage Where are your barbells stored? Are they in a climate-controlled gym or a gym that is continually exposed to the elements? Depending on the climate that you live in, this could pose an immediate threat to your barbell(s). Climate-controlled gyms...

Squats, and bench, and deadlifts, oh my! Whether you're a competitive powerlifter, an aspiring powerlifter, or just someone who wants to build total body strength centered around the main three lifts, having the right equipment is paramount if you want to make real progress. A great way to do that? Build a powerlifting gym at home. The problem that arises for powerlifting-minded people...

Let's be honest for a second... Buying gym equipment isn't cheap. It can actually be pretty freakin' expensive. But it doesn't have to be. I'm a HUGE advocate for sourcing gym equipment in the used marketplace. Places like Craigslist, Facebook, OfferUp, LetGo, etc... can be gold mines when it comes to finding quality pieces to outfit your gym. You'd be surprised, for example,...