Garage gym for cheap

The cheapest options are craigslist and eBay, but not always the most reliable. This is a listing of equipment from Titan Fitness which is reliable, cost-efficient and only has minor quality drawbacks from time to time to get a new garage gym with reliable delivery.

Overview and review of the T2 rack and incline combo

The TITAN T2 and incline will put you back about $350 - $400. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which Titan rack to buy for under $500”

Overview of the T2 and incline combo

The T2 comes with 2x2 steel tubes and distinguished itself from the X2 line by having fewer extras straight out of the box. You will have fewer pull-up bars and less convenience on the uprights. The money saved for this can be put towards a bench as in this package. The features and specifics of this package are:

Rack and bench details:

Weight holders for storage and increased stability
J-hooks included
2" steel uprights
Chin up bar: 1 1/4" diameter
Adjustable Back and Seat
Rigid Steel Base
Comfortable Padding
Sleek Leather Finish

Rack Specifications:

Weight: 107 lbs
Height: 83"
Height of pull up bar: 80"
Opening: 44"
Depth: 48"
Inside front to back bar: 26"
Floor space: 48" x 48"
Capacity: 700 lbs
Material: Steel

Bench Specifications:

Overall Width: 27"
Overall Height: 48"
Bench Width: 12"
Bench Length: 51 1/4"
Capacity: 650 lbs

Pros of the T2 rack and incline

Two for the price of one is always nice which is the case with this one when compared to the direct competition.

Cons of the T2

You will be buying the lowest priced rack of a low price vendor. I am usually not a fan of that as this is inviting trouble.

Alternatives to the T2

T3 fold back rack
X2 and incline combo

The T3 uses a folding concept but with 2x3 steel tubes to be stored against the wall when you don’t use it.

The X2 is one of the cheapest series in the TITAN line up. With its 2x2 steel tubes, it uses the least material to build a rack. If you want to downsize on all ends to fit a bench and rack into $500 budget comfortably, this is for you.

Summary for the T2

If you desperately want to fit a bench and rack into $300 this is the way to go. Still, to have fun and be proud of your purchase you might go one notch up in the TITAN portfolio and save a little more for the bench.

T3 Power rack with lat pulley combo

The TITAN T3 with pulley will put you back about $600. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which Titan rack to buy for over $500”

Overview of the T3 pulley system

The main feature which distinguishes the T3 from other TITAN racks are the 2x3 steel tubes. Other TITAN models work with 2x2 or 3x3 depending on how much you are willing to invest. This lat pulley combo saves space and sets you up to train your entire body. Especially for forming a better back a lat pull machine can come in very handy. When you train with a barbell only the smaller muscles of the back sometimes get bit enough love. So the T3 lat pulley combo is a solid home gym option which comes in four variations. Here are the specifics for you:

uprights featuring 6" side hole spacing.
2"x 3" steel tubes.
1,100 LB rackable capacity
4,400 LB total rack capacity.
1.25" and 2" diameter pull up bars.
Gusseted J-Hooks and weight holders.
Pulley Tower for lat pulldowns and low lat rows.
Pulley Tower mounts to the inside of the rear uprights but does not interfere with squats and bench pressing inside the Rack

Short 24" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 230 LB
Height: 82 1/4"
Height of pull up bar: 77"
Outside width: 53 1/4"
Inside width: 42 1/8"
Outside depth: 32 3/4
Inside depth: 24"
Floor space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB

Tall 24" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 281 LB
Height: 91 1/8"
Height of Pull Up Bar: 89"
Inside Width: 42 1/8"
Outside Width: 53 1/4"
Inside Depth: 24"
Outside Depth: 32 3/4"
Floor Space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB
Material: Steel

Short 36" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 254 LB
Height: 82 1/4"
Height of pull up bar: 77"
Outside width: 53 1/4"
Inside width: 42 1/8"
Outside depth: 44 3/4
Inside depth: 36"
Floor space: 12.11 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB

Tall 36" Deep Power Rack

Weight: 281 LB
Height: 91 1/8"
Height of Pull Up Bar: 89"
Inside Width: 42 1/8"
Outside Width: 53 1/4"
Inside Depth: 36"
Outside Depth: 44 3/4"
Floor Space: 16.7 square feet
Rackable Capacity: 1,100 LB
Whole Rack Capacity: 4,400 LB
Material: Steel

Tall Pulley Tower

Overall Height: 88"H x 42”W x 34”D
Distance Inside Rack: 19.5"
Distance Outside Rack: 13"
Weight Post Length: 9.25"
Lat Bar Width: 37"
Lat Bar Diameter: 1.25"
Low Pull Handle Width: 14"
Low Pull Handle Diameter: 1.25"
Footplate Dimensions: 4" x 4"
Weight Capacity: 300 LB
Weight: 72 LB

Short Pulley Tower

Dimensions: 78"H x 42”W x 34”D
Distance Inside Rack: 19.5"
Distance Outside Rack: 13"
Weight Post Length: 9.25"
Lat Bar Width: 37"
Lat Bar Diameter: 1.25"
Low Pull Handle Width: 14"
Low Pull Handle Diameter: 1.25"
Footplate Dimensions: 4" x 4"
Weight Capacity: 300 LB
Weight: 70 LB

Pros of the T3 with pulley

The Pro is the cost of this combined solution compared to other TITAN racks. For the price you pay for a pulley alone with other vendors, you get a pulley and a rack. 2x3 is also more often than not the standard you will find in most commercial gyms.

Cons of the T3 with pulley

If you put a pulley at one side of the rack you can not step in and out there anymore. If you wanted to maximize the number of people who can do squats or pull-ups on one rack, this is not the way to go. You might also not be able to put this rack flush against the wall because of the moving parts.

Alternatives to the T3 with pulley

Here are some alternatives to the T3 with pulley rack:

The TITAN rack is the top of the crop rack from TITAN. It has 3x3 uprights and 1” bolts. This is the heaviest and sturdiest rack you can get from TITAN. Compared to market prices it is also very affordable.

The X3 is basically the same model as the Titan rack with two differences. It doesn’t have numbered holes on the uprights and the keyhole design. This means that you can use fewer attachments with it which you have not necessarily bought from Rogue.

The T2 model comes in various shapes and heights and can be configured differently for your home gym to make it fit your space. The main difference to the other Titan racks is that the uprights are 2x2 instead of 2x3 or 3x3.

The T3 rack model is also very similar to the Titan rack but comes at a lower cost. It is the same as the X3 except that it has 2x3 Gauge uprights instead of 3x3. In this version, you get it without the pulley.

Summary for the T3 with pulley

If you want to save space and money this is a good option. You will also not have to think a lot about how to configure your home gym as the thinking has been done for you in this option. You might also want to look at the T3 and bench combo options as an alternative if you rather want to start benching than pulling. With the T3 you get the middle of the range with extras from TITAN. If you are an elite athlete you might look for a rack with 3x3 beams instead.

Overview and review of the atlas bar

The Titan Atlas will put you back about $200. TITAN is well known for their very good prices compared to their competition and will get you started on your home gym. This review was originally posted in “which barbell to get from TITAN”.

Overview of the Atlas bar

The Atlas bar is the all-purpose, middle of the road bar from TITAN for all your needs. Only available in steel color this is a nice piece of equipment at a very reasonable price for all purposes. If you want to weightlift and powerlift and don’t care about competitions or fancy colors, this is the one for you. The features and specifications of the Atlas bar are:

Atlas bar details:

20KG 28.5MM Olympic Weightlifting bar.
Medium knurl provides a full, not sharp pattern allowing the lifter to decide their ideal grip.
220,000 PSI tensile strength gives the right amount of whip or flex to the bar for Olympic lifts.
Dual knurl marks allow you to use the Atlas Bar for multiple lifts on and off your Rack.
Bar weight: 20KG (44 LB)
Bar Diameter: 28.5MM
Knurl: medium
Center Knurl: No
Knurl Marks: Dual
Bushing/Bearing: Combination
Tensile Strength: 220,000 PSI
Warranty: 1 year

This is a solid first bar to start your home gym or to buy in bulk for commercial purposes.

Pros of the Atlas bar

As with all TITAN equipment, it has a price advantage when compared to their direct competition. That this bar also has partly bearing is especially attractive at this price point. The 220K tensile strength and whip round off the picture. A solid choice for starters and equipping gyms.

Cons of the Atlas bar

TITAN is known for cutting corners on their finishes. This doesn’t make the equipment less usable but at times optically inferior. As this is a budget bar which does the job very well, I doubt that will be a problem unless you open a gym in LA or NY for the rich and famous. If you want to hold official IPF or IWF lifting competitions the Atlas bar is not approved.

Alternatives to the Atlas bar

The blues city bar is the alternative from TITAN which will give you the choice of color with the Cerakote coating. This is a type of coating technique which has been adapted from the weapons industry.

The bombshell bar is the female version of the blues city. It also has more whip and would be the choice for Olympic

weightlifters.

The Rogue Ohio bar is the alternative from TITAN’s direct competitor which is built for the same purpose in Columbus, Ohio.

Summary for the Atlas bar

The Atlas bar is a solid choice if you want to buy your first proper barbell to start your gym on a budget. Also, if you want to outfit a gym for the first time, this can be a good bulk buy as these barbells will last you longer than the York ones.