Weightlifting Equipment

Abs Machines

Although your abdominals are a relatively small muscle group compared to others such as your legs, there are still a number of useful abs machines that work your abdominals, obliques and entire core from a variety of angles.

It can be difficult to decide on which ab machine is right for you. Our comparison chart will help you compare the basics, while reading any of their articles will help explain their use and benefits in a bit more detail.

Barbell Sets

The original and still arguably the most effective form of resistance for many exercises is the weighted barbell. Whether you are powerlifting, bodybuilding or lifting weights for fitness, the chances are you would have used this piece of exercise equipment before.

Despite the simplicity of the barbell, there is still a wide variety of products available and it’s important to choose the best weight set for you. These articles look in detail at the best barbell weight sets available today.

Bench Press

Whether you are looking to replace your existing weight bench or buy an entirely new bench press system, we take a look at a range of bench press products to suit all requirements.

With weight bench products that just supply the bench itself, to products that more closely resemble a multi gym due to how many additional exercises are possible, with added features on some designs including a pec fly section, overhead cable extension section and even allowing you to perform exercises such as leg extensions and hamstring curls.

Cable Machines

Cable machines come in many different forms, from those that isolate specific muscle groups such as the cable lat pulldown, to those that offer two adjustable cable pulley systems for performing exercises such as cable cross overs.

With even the larger cable cross over machines designed to isolate single muscle groups, this can be the perfect addition to any home gym where you already have a power rack or smith machine for performing heavier compound movements that use many different muscle groups at once.

Dip Station

Although usually designed with additional features, dip stations are a very effective product for building overall upper body strength. Many dip stations now also come with extra features such as pull up bars, push up bars and even punch bag attachments for boxing cardio after your weights.

It’s important to know exactly which of these features you will need before buying a new dip station, so we have put together a selection of some of the best and strongest dip station products available.

Dumbbells

Together with the weighted barbell, dumbbells are perhaps the most iconic symbol of weightlifting due to the fact they have been around in one form or another since more or less the very beginning of weightlifting.

The popularity of dumbbells is well founded thanks to the number of exercises you can perform with a variety of dumbbell sets. Whether you need rubber coated, adjustable or fixed weight dumbbell sets, we take a look at some of the best in the Dumbbells product section.

Leg press

The leg press is one of the best exercises for overall strength and size gains in your quadriceps and hamstrings, and there are some great products available that you can use from home without stepping foot in a gym.

With the weight limit of many leg press models being around the same as the commercial leg press machines (in excess of 450kg), and many designs making the best use of space by adding extra features such as being able to perform hack squats, our comparison chart aims to sum up the most important information for anyone looking to add a leg press machine to their home gym.

Multi Gym

If you are looking to buy a piece of exercise equipment for use at home, and want something where you can perform a wide variety of exercises without taking up too much space or requiring stacks of weight plates then a multi gym could be perfect for what you need.

Multi gyms are usually designed around creating resistance through a weight stack and series of cable pulleys.

With so many variations of multi gym, the articles in this section take a look at their differences and the features of each to provide a clearer idea of what you can get for your money.

Power cages and racks

If you are looking to perform some of the heavier mass building exercises such as the squat or overhead press, then you will often need a spotter to assist you with the weight if it gets too heavy, to prevent you getting pinned under the bar or getting injured.

Power cages were designed to do the job of the spotter when you are lifting alone or just want added confidence with lifting that heavier weight. There are some very high quality power racks available, including some that have pull up bars and can have cable pulley systems fitted. These articles take a more in depth look at some of the best designs available for either home or commercial gyms.

Smith Machine Systems

Smith machine systems are designed to do a similar job to the power racks, but in a much more limited range of motion which is usually restricted to either vertical or a 7 degree angle.

Smith machines have the added benefit of often being designed with many more additional workout stations, particularly if they are accompanied by a removable bench. It’s important to find a smith machine that allows you to perform all the exercises you need, while still making the most effective use of the space. The product comparison chart helps to make the most important information clearer if you are looking to buy a smith machine for home workouts.

Weightlifting Accessories

The term ‘weightlifting accessories’ actually covers a huge variety of products, from leg wraps that are used when performing heavy squat exercise, to weighted vests that can be used in bodyweight exercises or even during a cardio session on the treadmill or outside running.

With so many different types of weightlifting accessory, and even more variations of each accessory by many different companies it can be difficult to find the ones that are high quality, or even know how to use them properly. Our weightlifting accessories product articles take a look at as many of these types of product as possible to help the decision making a bit clearer, whether you are thinking of buying a new powerlifting belt or simply some weightlifting straps.

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