When searching for recommended home gym equipment, the top rankings are filled with affiliate articles. That in itself is not a problem, but many of the highly rated commercial training equipment manufacturers and retailers in Japan do not have an affiliate system, so they will not be reviewed in such affiliate articles. As a result, more and more articles are being written about home appliances with high (actually poor) ratings on Amazon.
Therefore, we, who have been involved in the training equipment industry for many years but do not sell training equipment, have put together a list of recommended equipment for home gyms without relying on any manufacturer.
Although we recommend this product to general trainees, we have also selected products that can withstand use by competitive athletes such as powerlifters.
In this article, training machines will not be covered, and the list will focus on free weight equipment. We will also focus on free weight equipment such as power racks, Olympic bars, weight plates, and adjustable benches, which are often installed in home gyms.
Power racks recommended for home gyms
Although we recommend power racks for home gyms, our opinion is that MBC POWER is currently the only choice. If you buy an MBC POWER rack, you will never regret it.
MBC squat stand standard 210cm
It is well known that our products are reasonably priced despite having commercial specs, but MBC POWER's greatest strength is our customer-oriented product development system . MBC POWER understands what home gym users are looking for and the characteristics of Japanese housing, and is ready to immediately begin product development.
Convenient rack attachments have been developed one after another, and once you've used one, it's difficult to switch to another manufacturer because it's too easy to reach. Attachments such as the slide faller shown below are currently being developed by third parties, so the benefits you will receive by choosing an MBC rack will become even greater.
https://kuzuryu.official.ec/items/66787096
And since MBC POWER always has a large amount of inventory so that we can deliver products immediately, we have an overwhelming lead time in terms of delivery times, and we can say that we currently have no rivals in Japan.
For a power rack with a cooler design, we recommend the Rogue Fitness. Rogue Fitness has a strong presence around the world, and you can rest assured that we will continue to develop our products.
SML-1 ROGUE 70" MONSTER LITE SQUAT STAND
However, Rogue Fitness does not have an official retailer in Japan, so you will basically need to order it. Out-of-stock items and damage during transportation frequently occur, and we are not able to replace parts as quickly as domestic companies. Also, due to the weak yen and rising fuel costs, the price range will be 2-3 times higher than MBC POWER.
As for other overseas manufacturers, REP and Sorinex are also recommended, but considering shipping costs, there is almost no benefit in choosing these.
If you want to create a home gym at a lower cost, I think ONI will be an option.
On the other hand, we do not recommend choosing an unknown brand power rack based solely on price. If you choose a manufacturer that does not have a continuous development system, there will be cases where you will not be able to replace parts when the product breaks down, and in the worst case scenario, you will have to replace it, which will end up costing you the most.
Also, unknown brand items are not popular as used items, and it takes time to dispose of them, which is another reason why we do not recommend them.
Olympic bars recommended for home gyms
This Olympic bar is recommended for your home gym, but first of all, when choosing an Olympic bar, be sure to choose a barbell with a 50mm diameter sleeve. There are barbells with 28mm diameter sleeves on the market, but we do not recommend them as you will be limited by manufacturers when choosing weight plates.
Regarding the Olympic bar, there is no such thing as "absolutely this!" like the power rack mentioned earlier. There are various evaluation methods, but if cost performance is important, Jimway is the first choice.
Gymway offers 28, 28.5, and 29mm shafts, as well as short sleeve bars with a total length of 190cm that are great for home gyms. Prices in the 40,000 yen range including tax and shipping can be considered good value.
For the 30,000 yen range, there are barbells from ONI and Evolgear, but we do not recommend them as they are not suitable for commercial use in terms of evaluation criteria such as the feel of the knurling, plating, and tensile strength of the shaft.
If quality is your priority, Tenka no Eiko is recommended. The price range is around 100,000 yen, but the barbell is made from the highest quality Swedish steel and is a first-class product that cannot be replaced with anything else.
ELEIKO Powerlifting Competition Bar IPF Certified Product
Rogue Fitness is also recommended in terms of quality and design, but due to the weak yen, it can't be said to be a good value for money, so it's out of the price range for home gyms.
There are many barbells from other major manufacturers, but most of them are priced for corporations (assuming discounts are included), and the quality is not high, so there is no need to consider them.
A collar is also required when using a barbell, but a quick-release collar made of plastic is overwhelmingly recommended. A screw-type competition collar is unnecessary for general trainees, and a spring collar has no advantage over a quick-release collar, so it is not an option.
Recommended weight plates for home gyms
This weight plate is recommended for home gyms, but for general trainees, there are two options : grip plates or bumper plates . If you're doing deadlifts or cleans, a bumper plate is the only option, and if you're only doing training that doesn't involve dropping to the floor, such as bench presses or squats, a grip plate is fine. For powerlifting competitors, a thin steel plate is also an option (we will omit it this time).
For rubber bumper plates, the following Villain, Jimway, and ONI are recommended for their cost performance.
VILLAIN Competition Bumper Plate 2.0
GYMWAY thin training bumper plate
Regarding grip plates, Panatta's rubber plates are recommended in terms of price and quality, but they are often out of stock.
When it comes to products that are always in stock, we also recommend Evolgia's urethane plates.
Adjustable bench recommended for home gym
MBC POWER is also an adjustable bench recommended for home gyms. It is designed from the user's perspective in every aspect, including the width and thickness of the seat, angle adjustment, and storage capacity, and is unbeatable for a price in the 40,000 yen range including tax and shipping.
Of course, you may choose another manufacturer based on your brand preferences, but if you only look at the functionality and price, there is no need to consider anything else.
At the end
This time, we would like to introduce recommended training equipment for general trainees. Looking back, I have decided to introduce MBC POWER products in a slightly biased manner, but this is the result of continuing product development from the user's perspective, and as one of the largest free weight equipment retailers in Japan. I think that's the reason.
As for the floor mats for your home gym, we are proud to recommend our gym mats . We are proud to be the best in Japan in both quality and price, so please feel free to use us when building your home gym.
