Bare Minimum Equipment training

[Mtn_Nomad]

Recently acquired a utility shop and ended up with some extra space. Thinking about buying an adjustable bench and a set of dumbells and possibly kettle balls to start working out again. Im not a a complete newb but spent a few years in the gym a few years back before falling off the wagon. It wouldn't hurt for me to lose 40lbs or so. Any advice going forward after this goal?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Bare minimum??? A pull-up bar and a 24kg kettlebell.

 

[RWT]

Thick yoga mat and exercise rubber bands from Amazon. Prime offers free instructional videos. Find one and go slow. You will find it’s Yoga if it’s a good looking girl in stretchy pants. Otherwise it’s the same stretch’s you did in HS ball but with fancier names and there isn’t a coach hitting you with a whistle.

Try stretching first. Then see if you can do your age in push-ups in a single set
Weights aren’t needed at first. Use your body weight until you can do your age in push-ups and squats in a single set. Squats -no weight- MWF. Chest T-Th. Dead bug exercise every day for the core. Then add weights to the equation or rubber bands. I use the exercise bands as I travel for work.

 

[brca005]

Bare minimum??? A pull-up bar and a 24kg kettlebell.

Change pull up bar to gymnastics rings, but those 2 things are my main things to workout with for the last 5 years since the big C and gyms shut down. Haven’t looked back.

I’ve got a bunch of KB’s, but the 24kg is the one I use 98% of the time.

People don’t realize how versatile a KB is and how much it can kick your butt in a hurry.

If I could only choose one piece of equipment to workout for the rest of my days, it’d be a KB, so versatile and able to work every muscle in your body.

 

[bpitcher]

Big fan of Kettlebells and Sandbags especially. Very versatile with minimal space requirements and cost.

 

[rogerdoger]

Forget the dumbbells, kettlebells can do everything dumbbells can do and KB will give your stabilizer muscles a better workout. I like having multiple weights of KB’s, 26, 35, 44, 53, and a 70. Lighter for more stabilization work or odd movement up to the heavy for goblets squats, RDL’s, etc. You can get deals on KB’s at Amazon and Walmart for a fraction of cost of rogue or whatever. They do not have as great a finish but my KB’s don’t need to look pretty, I put a bit of WODWAX on grip if they are a tad slippery.

Throw in a jump rope, a homemade box and you are set.

 

[justinspicher]

I have a selection of KBs, rock rings, rings and a sandbag. Does everything I need. I also live in the mountains so that helps.

 

[brca005]

Forget the dumbbells, kettlebells can do everything dumbbells can do and KB will give your stabilizer muscles a better workout. I like having multiple weights of KB’s, 26, 35, 44, 53, and a 70. Lighter for more stabilization work or odd movement up to the heavy for goblets squats, RDL’s, etc. You can get deals on KB’s at Amazon and Walmart for a fraction of cost of rogue or whatever. They do not have as great a finish but my KB’s don’t need to look pretty, I put a bit of WODWAX on grip if they are a tad slippery.

Throw in a jump rope, a homemade box and you are set.

I’m a big fan of Titan Fitness, you can get competition style KB’s for cheaper than most and they offer free shipping.

I’ve got a couple Rogue KB’s and I always grab the Titan ones far more often.

REP fitness is another brand I’d recommend for some KB’s, they’ve got reasonable prices, I’ve got a few of those as well.

The Titan fitness 24kg KB I’ve got has been on every road trip we’ve gone on for the past 5 years, since it takes up minimal room and I’m able to use it anywhere, from a camp site to a hotel room and everywhere in between.

 

[gloveglobe]

Similar to hunting gear, craigslist and marketplace are gold for getting workout equipment. I've found that most people decide to "go all in" buy all the shit, and then realize it's a lot of hard work and end up selling it on the cheap to clear space.

I've got a garage gym set up w/ some stall mats, a couple sets of rubber hex DBs, some KBs, sandbags, bands, pull up bar, TRX system, box, jump rope, and got a sweet commercial treadmill for cheap (I had a newborn so got a lot of runs in with the baby monitor). All this fits compactly in the corner of our garage, is portable, and can still deliver some devastatingly effective fitness. Find what you enjoy doing and will consistently do, and build out from there.

 

[LCguy]

I've always been a dumbbell > kettlebell guy. I think kettlebells are fine but IMO dumbbells are a little more practical and versatile. As you mentioned, I would get both as both have their place. I also strictly train for hypertrophy and power so I think it also depends on your goals. Just want to improve your overall fitness? Kettlebells only would be fine. Want to see significant strength and size gains? Might want to go with dumbbells (or both).