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There are many benefits to working out at home. For one, you’ll never have to wait for the gym bros to surrender the free weights and, two, you’ll save time and money on gas. Garage gym systems can provide home fitness fanatics with a compact way to perform a variety of resistance training machines in a single unit.
By having a combination of a functional trainer, smith machine, power rack, pull-up station, dip bar accessory, and dual adjustable pulleys, you’ll have the freedom to work out on your schedule, freedom from monthly gym membership fees, and freedom from the crowds of sweaty, grunting gym rats.
As a home gym enthusiast, I’ve tried just about every setup there is. Here are my top picks for the best all-in-one gym equipment system.
Table of Contents
Planning Stage: Garage Gym Ideas
Give your muscles a good pump in the privacy of your own place with these five garage gym ideas before you get started sourcing equipment.
1. Wall Decoration
Before you start building your garage gym you should have an idea of how you’ll decorate the walls. It’s simpler to paint the walls when the garage is empty than when it’s full of stuff. Color plays a vital role in the mood; painting the walls can help you stay motivated.
Consider painting the gym walls black, white, red, grey, and green. An alternative is to hang decorations that fire you up, which will increase your determination and help you to push harder.
2. Lighting Concepts for Your Garage Gym
Personally, I prefer to work in a bright training space as it keeps me alert and awake. The amount of light our body receives can give different signals to our body. Low light can signal your body for bed.
I suggest you use lighting that mimics the sun such as LED lights as they are cost-effective, long-lasting, and flexible. You’ll make great use of them when winter comes as it gets dark earlier.
3. Heating and Cooling Ideas for Your Garage Gym
This depends on where you live, your gym can become too hot in the summer or freezing cold during the winter. Both of these extremes can make your workout unbearable, so to handle this, you need to think about how to heat or cool your gym.
The gym size can affect the option you’ll choose. Small gyms can get away with options such as portable heaters, radiators, or fans. If your gym is big you could install mid-split heating and air-conditioning systems to allow you to choose the exact temperature of the gym.
Also, ensure to insulate your garage gym; this factor is often overlooked and could cause moisture retention, no air barrier, and odor retention if the insulation has not been addressed.
4. Flooring Ideas for Your Garage Gym
The best flooring you can have in your garage gym is a layer of rubber, you may notice it the last time you went to a commercial gym. Rubber flooring is durable and it can support the weight of your equipment.
The concrete floor of your garage is not ideal for your home gym, it’s harsh on the body and your equipment. If you’re on a budget, you can use individual mats they are just as effective as rubber gym mats but cheaper
5. Available Space
The most crucial factor to consider when creating a garage gym is knowing how much space you’re dealing with. Can you convert your entire garage into a gym? Or are you limited to using half of the garage? Nonetheless, you need to measure the square footage of the space available to keep organized and ensure you have enough room remaining in your garage for your other needs.
Best Garage Gyms
Here are my top 10 garage all-in-one garage gyms to allow you to work the entire body in the comfort of your own home.
1. Force USA G20 All-in-One Trainer
Price: $5,999.99
Product link: https://www.forceusa.com/products/g20-commercial
Pros:
- It has 29 functional attachments
- Can do over 400 exercises
- Dual integrated 289lbs weight stacks
Cons:
- Expensive
- It is big, bulky and can take up lots of space
This machine combines an entire commercial gym, into a single unit that can be fitted in any room with standard ceiling height. You can perform over 400 exercises in this compact system. Yes, it may look a little overwhelming, but these 29 attachments will help you to pack on muscle while simultaneously building your strength and endurance. This compact home gym takes only 80”(W) x 53”(H) x 80”(H) of space.
2. Force USA G15 All-in-One Trainer
Price: $5,499.99
Product link: https://www.forceusa.com/products/g15
Pros:
- It has 18 functional attachments
- Can do over 375 exercises
- Dual integrated 285lbs weight stacks
Cons:
- Expensive
- The weight might not be enough for heavy lifters. Force USA G20 trainer at a similar price point.
The G15 is a super sturdy all-in-one trainer that has more equipment than you would probably use. Be it an upper-body day, lower-body day, or a full-body day, you can isolate muscle groups to achieve hypertrophy with this equipment and perform movements such as squats, bench presses, overhead presses, deadlifts, pull-ups, dips, and many more. With the exterior at 80”(W) x 53”(D) x 87”(H), you can do various exercises using only a modest amount of space.
3. Force USA G6 All-in-One Trainer
Price: $3,999.99
Product link: https://www.forceusa.com/products/g6
Pros:
- Dual integrated 220lbs weight stacks
- Ideal for people who like to use cable movements in their training
Cons:
- Expensive
- The weight might not be enough for heavy lifters
The Force USA G6 allows a great selection of attachments to increase exercise variety and can be a great bang for your buck. This equipment combines a power rack, functional trainer, smith machine, dip station, pull-up station, core trainer, suspension trainer, leg press, and low row. The base of the G6 provides a very stable foundation thanks to the combination of two extra long flat feet. This machine brings the commercial gym to your garage requiring only 72”(W) x 37”(H) x 91”(H).
4. Force USA G3 All-in-One Trainer
Price: $1,999.99
Product link: https://www.forceusa.com/products/g3
Pros:
- Uses weight plates for resistance
- Include built-in storage for your barbells, weight plates, and cable attachments to keep your training tidy
Cons:
- Expensive
- It does not include a dip bar attachment
- It does not come with weight plates
If you are tired of driving to the gym and waiting on someone to finish using a machine, then the G3 is your answer. The structure of the frame is sound, the smith machine rolls smooth, and the free weights can be used with ease with J-hooks. Easy to assemble, and it is great for anyone who lacks space for equipment at home. This equipment is measured by 80”(W) x 55”(D) x 87”(H).
5. REP Fitness FT-3000 Compact Functional Trainer
Price: $2,399.99
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3RTbdRD
Pros:
- Versatile trainer
- Dual weight stacks that top out at 180lbs
- Lifetime warranty on the frame and one year warranty on hardware, pop-pins, and cables
Cons:
- Not ideal for people who train with a barbell in their routine
- Expensive
- It doesn’t come with many attachments
This garage gym equipment is designed to fit in smaller workout spaces. With dual 180lbs weight stacks and 1t5 cable positions, you can challenge your body with a variety of workouts targeting your arms, chest, back, core, shoulders, and legs. REP Fitness makes a high-quality product and the FT-3000 is no anomaly. When fully assembled, this gym takes up 53”(W) x 34”(D) x 78”(H).
Half Garage Gym Ideas
6. Rogue RML-3WC Fold Back Wall Mount Rack
Price: $620.00
Product link: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-rml-3wc-fold-back-wall-mount-rack-custom-color-edition
Pros:
- Space efficiency
- Choice of color
- Features a rotating hinge system, this unit can be folded away when not in use to increase space for your garage.
- A pull-up bar is included with the rack which detaches when not in use and increases stability when in use
Cons:
- Not to cheapest folding squat rack available
- Many people don’t fold the rack away which defeats the purpose of having a foldable squat rack
The Rogue RML-3WC is a popular space-saving squat rack for garage gym owners. What distinguishes this product from the others is the ability to be folded inwards and outwards for optimal space efficiency, while still offering sturdiness to the power rack. You can do squats, pull-ups, straight bar dips, muscle-ups, and Australian pull-ups on this rig. The gear specification of this product is 59”(W) x 24.75”(L) or 43.75” (L) x 90.375”(H)
7. Force USA My Rack Folding Power Rack
Price: $599
Product link: https://www.forceusa.com/products/myrack-folding-power-rack
Pros:
- Ideal for hybrid calisthenics athletes who primarily do bench presses, squatting, deadlifts, pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, and muscle-ups
- Convenience, the innovative fold-away design is great for tight spaces
- Competitive price point
Cons:
- Not as strong of a rack in comparison to ROUGE Fitness. The uprights use thinner12-gauge steel and the attachments use second-rate materials
The Force USA Folding Power Rack is a versatile power rack that can be folded up in seconds and can be used either freestanding or bolted into the floor to perform bench presses, overhead presses, squats, deadlifts, calisthenics, and many more. This is an excellent option for those who are short on space. In addition, the rack is highly customizable as you have the choice of 10 attachments to suit the way you train. The working dimensions are 49”(W) x 41”(D) x 84”(H).
8. ROUGE SML-2C Squat Stand
Price: $535.00
Product link: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-sml-2c-squat-stand
Pros:
- Portable as you can move the stands with ease and store them away when not in use
- Versatile workouts, it’s highly functional as you can do squats, bench presses, pull-ups, and chin-ups
- Affordable, squat stands are the most affordable options for holding heavy barbells
Cons:
- Spotter arms are not included, you’ll have to buy the attachment separately, and will cost you an additional $195
This squat stand is an excellent choice for fitness fanatics who want the ability to strike leg day and chest day while taking less room in their garage gym. It also comes with a pull-up bar so that you can crank out your calisthenics workouts with pull-ups, chin-ups, and straight bar dips. This equipment comes at 49”(W) x 48”(L) x 92”(H).
Small Garage Gym Ideas
According to Harvard Health, strength training should be performed two to three times a week. This will help maintain and even develop muscle mass and strength. It also helps prevent falls, keep bones strong, decrease blood sugar levels, and improve balance and coordination.
9. Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
Price: $899.00
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3LmS08G
Pros:
- Low resistance on the joints which is great for rehab, toning, and light strengthing
- Provides up to 210lbs of resistance
- Great for any fitness level, unless you’re a bodybuilder
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Not ideal for experienced lifters or calisthenics athletes
With this machine, you can perform over 60 resistance-based exercises in the comfort of your own home. This compact guy uses a power-rod resistance system that provides smooth and fluid movement that is easy to the joints. You can have a full-body workout targeting your chest, arms, back, shoulders, core, and legs, just like you would do with free weights. Dimensions are 38”(W) x 90”(L) x 83”(H).
10. Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
Price: $679.19
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3qQuxmW
Pros:
- Low resistance on the joints which is great for rehab, toning, and light strengthing
- Provides up to 200lbs of resistance
- Ideal for users working in tight spaces
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Not ideal for experienced lifters or calisthenics athletes
The Bowflex PR1000 is a great machine for toning and strengthening muscle groups and is easy to set up. This machine allows a lifter to perform over 30 strength exercises which is more than enough for a full-body workout.
The amount of resistance you can achieve from this is up to 200lbs, which is a relatively low impact on the body and is plenty enough for beginners. Also, the padded handles you can grab onto offer natural rotation that allows you to have a neutral grip and practice safe ranges of motion. The item dimensions for this are 33”(W) x 54”(L) x 8”(H).
The Takeaways: Why Buy a Garage Gym?
Having a garage gym is an excellent way to save money and time. According to Men’s Health, just eleven minutes of bodyweight exercise can offer long-term benefits. It reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, depression, and many cancers.
It allows you to work out in your own space to stay focused and crush your goals. When you set up racks at home, there is no excuse for you not to train as you will always have everything set up exactly how you want it. No need to wait for other gym bros to finish their set because you will have full control of your workout.
My personal favorite for the all-in-one gym is the Force USA G15 All-in-One Trainer and for the cheaper option, I would go for the Rogue RML-3WC Fold Back Wall Mount Rack. Both are great and they will help to take your fitness to a whole new level. If you’re looking to purchase smaller equipment for your home gym, check out these product reviews I’ve written below:
I’m Pat Chadwick, a qualified Level 2 and Level 3 calisthenics coach and certified personal trainer from London, England. I have over six years of experience training students specifically in the art of calisthenics. I’ve competed in various UK competitions, including the Kalos Stenos Championships, where I achieved third place in the lightweight category. My passion is highlighting the beauty of calisthenics as an authentic and pure form of body expression. I believe that everyone has the potential to become a champion of their body and mind, and that calisthenics opens the door to personal empowerment.