Reddit mentions: The best strenght training back machines

An unintended beauty I found with building a home gym is that because of budget restraints for most of us, you're often forced to boil down your routine into the basics early on. To me that's a wonderful thing. I've been a far more productive lifter focusing on more basic lifts and forgetting about all the ancillary isolation exercises. Granted, your lifting routine doesn't seem to get cute with the iso work. So I guess my point is, get what you need for the big lifts now. You can figure out alternatives to your complimentary lifts with what you have. For example, using different pull up grips, or using inexpensive bands as support in your pullups if you need to go high reps (in place of lat pulldowns) are possibilities.

In time, you'll get pieces here and there to add further variety. Many of these gyms you see here have evolved over time. Be patient, you'll be accumulating complimentary pieces in no time.

My advice is to put money in:

• a decent rack that has a lot of supporting accessories (Titan is a good brand for this)
  
  
• a sturdy bench (I like my Rep Fitness adjustable bench)
  
  
• some horse stall mats - I personally think a platform may not be necessary unless you're doing olympic lifts, and dropping from up high. I've deadlifted 500+ on 3/4" horse stall mats alone, with no damage to the concrete beneath.
  
  
• Dick's runs great deals for 300 lbs olympic weight sets (I've seen as low as $179). The bars that come with this are crap, but could last you 6 months if you're not going to heavy or beating on it until you get a good bar. Some people have been able to flip the bar immediately for money on Letgo or Craigslist.
  
  
• Solid barbell... look for deals, I got this one for $80 after some weird instant rebate on Amazon last July. It was posted in this forum. There's plenty of good barbells out there, just a little research should land you a decent one.
  
• Landmine - Best bang for the buck in my gym. I got one like this for ~$23 around the holidays. You can add a ton of variety to your workout. Just google 'landmine exercises'. You can put that cheap bar that came with the Dicks' set in there.

I have something like this tucked under one of the legs of my rack (not a T-2, but pretty similar) and it works fine. The Fitness Reality one has bolts over the top of the post to hold it down better if you want it more secure or don't want the knob sticking out. Mine doesn't move, though I sometimes catch bands or cables on the knob.

I was able to find a local guy selling his equipment as he was moving locations (squat rack, platforms, barbells, training blocks, benches). Another guy was selling LB plates to convert his gym to KGs. Another guy was selling a GHD and Reverse Hyper.
The best things I've bought off of Amazon:

1. https://www.amazon.com/A2ZCare-T-Bar-Plate-Insert-Landmine/dp/B06XGWKWF4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1521732154&sr=8-4&keywords=landmine
   
2. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CJHDTV8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
3. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BDLJ5G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   I also bought my dumbbells from Walmart. It looks like they have a combo dumbbell & bench deal going on- it looks like a good option!! https://www.walmart.com/ip/CAP-Strength-FID-Bench-with-150-lb-Dumbbell-Set/55121654
   
   

Landmines are pretty inexpensive: https://www.amazon.com/Yes4All-616320919672-T-Bar-Row-Platform/dp/B01077P1W2/

But I always appreciate a clever or well done DIY project.

I bought the yes4all landmine from amazon for $25. It can slide right under one of the side legs of the rack. Fits nicely and works great.

https://www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Deluxe-T-Bar-Row-Platform/dp/B07BSYX5V8?th=1&psc=1

Definitely worthwhile to me. I think a landmine is a great value considering the amount of exercises it opens up.

You can use a bunch of smaller plates or use an attachment like this if you want more range on your rows. The landmine on that page is the one I use, and like, but I don't use the eyelet.

T-2 Owner here - the yes4all one from amazon works pretty well for me too - lift one side and just slide it under the rail, then it clamps down.

I got this off amazon for 28 dollars. Seems fine so far.

https://imgur.com/a/J2WRXTd

Yes4All Deluxe T-Bar Row Platform – Full 360° Swivel & Easy to Install – Fits 1” Standard and 2” Olympic Bars https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01077P1W2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6u0VCb9WZ869Q

This attachment will work I’ve had one before and it works well.

I bought this and its great. Dirt cheap too

https://smile.amazon.com/d/Strength-Training-Back-Machines/Yes4All-Deluxe-T-Bar-Row-Platform/B01077P1W2/

I giant setted rows and kneeling ab wheel rolls with my benching on Tuesday. I must have did something right, because my abs and and upper back are on fire today.

u/brotisscrotis, it hurts my abs to breathe. Help.

Edit:

Also using the last of my father's day gift cards from the MIL, I bought this landmine

Will try out tonight!

2 days ago I deadlifted for the first time in nearly a year. 1x10 135, 1x10 175, and 2x5 225. I did all weights very slowly. It felt light and easy but I had to keep tension non-stop to prevent pain in my lower back. I didn't bother with higher weights.

So now I've postponed DL's and in the meantime, over the past 2 days now, I've done back extensions on a machine like this and will continue to do them every session (3-4x a week) so hopefully I can build up strength in the lower back. Even if it doesn't work and I still can't DL after a couple of months at least I'll have some muscle gain in the lower back.

You're exactly right. Here's the exact one, and the handles I have


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071S8P9WM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_psU2CbA0354MD


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0722RZD23/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZtU2Cb71VM3TM

This is an update on my pumpatorium/nasium

2 sets of Powerblock u-90s for quick changes or when buddies are around

1 set of sportblock 24 lbs for the wife

Heavy folding FID bench with leg lock downs

Multiple kettle bells 40, 35, 26, 15 lbs

Perfect push ups

Ab wheel

Arm blaster

A folding walker for dips (not pictured)

A pull up bar with rings


All in one corner

somebody buy me this for christmas

edit: or this

And amazon has a cheaper copy - no idea how the quality is:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XGZX8TQ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B06XGZX8TQ&pd_rd_wg=Yn3Ut&pd_rd_r=CJ63M0QT536RJ2DSMXDW&pd_rd_w=vqnff

I might have found a cheap alternative

But then again, quality might suck.

If you don't want the end of your bar to get all beat up you can also get one of these... https://www.amazon.com/Yes4All-Deluxe-T-Bar-Row-Platform/dp/B01077P1W2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1491580398&sr=8-2&keywords=t+bar


but my bar is shitty and beat up anyway so I don't care and jam it in the corner.