You don’t need a lot of equipment to start barbell training. If you are just getting started keep it simple. One of the biggest barriers to getting started training is finding the right gym for you. Some com-mercial gyms have amazing, high-quality equipment and great support staff. If you find one, you are among the lucky few. If you aren’t sure about a gym, here are a few things to look for:

1. A barbell: Most barbells at commercial gyms are 45 lb. (or 20 kg), and this is a fine starting place for many people. You, may need to start lighter, however. Lighter barbells are available, and a good gym will stock at least a few.

2. A squat rack: For safe training, a squat rack is a must. This will allow you to perform all the lifts necessary to train. We have some additional information below on what makes a good squat rack. Your prospective gym should have at least one (the more the better) available when you plan to train.

3. A place to bench press: A flat bench inside of a squat rack is a great setup for your bench press. Just make sure you have safety arms set up or access to someone who can spot your lift.

4. A place to deadlift: One question to ask is whether the gym allows deadlifts and power cleans. Some gyms don’t like deadlifts or require that you “set them down gently” due to noise. If that’s the case, this is NOT the gym for you.

Finding a Gym/Building a Gym

The Test:

“Do you have/allow chalk?”

Ask this. If the answer is no, this is not a barbell training gym. Get out and keep looking.

A good commercial gym that supports effective barbell training is a great place to start but is not avail-able to everyone.

Your best bet is to build a home gym. This is easier and probably less expensive than you may think: https://youtu.be/7JLVotvGYsg

SpaceEight feet by eight feet. That’s all it takes to strength train effectively.

Squat RackA high-quality rack is the foundation of every home gym. We recommend fully enclosed power rack over free-standing “squat stands” for safety, stability, and utility. A power rack is going to allow you to train all the main lifts and the accessory lifts that you will add as you get stronger.

Your rack should be built from heavy-duty metal. It should also have 1- to 2-inch hole spacing for support hooks. And, it must have a safety support mechanism (e.g, pins, pipes, or heavy-duty straps) running be-tween the uprights.

Our favorite standard rack is the Rogue R-3 Power Rack (starting at $695). The Titan T-3 Power Rack offers a sturdy, budget-friendly option.

BarbellA quality barbell is the single most important piece of weight lifting equipment you’ll ever own. A standard high-quality steel barbell should be 7 feet in length, 28-29 mm diameter in the gripping region. For general strength training, there should be a knurled portion in the center of the bar.

Some of our favorite standard barbells are:• Rogue Ohio Power Bar • Rogue B&R 2.0• Starting Strength 20kg Bar (also available in 10kg and 15kg)

WeightsFor versatility, bumper plates are your best option here. But if you need to save money then start collecting budget iron weights. Look for plates on resale websites and garage sales. Search for a set of Olympic-style weights. “Olympic style” here refers to a 2-inch diameter hole in the center (to fit the 2-inch diameter on the ends of the barbell we discussed above), NOT the so-called “Standard” 1-inch hole.

Shoot for 300-400lbs of plates to get started. The increments that you purchase are important. For a single male, at a minimum you’ll need:

• Two 2.5 lb. plates• Two 5 lb. plates• Four 10 lb. plates• Two 25 lb. plates• Enough 45 lb. plates

Fractional Plates Often overlooked and underestimated, fractional weight plates are a staple of long term training. The beau-ty of barbell training is that it is scalable to your needs and fractional plates makes that scale almost uni-versally adjustable. You will have times in your training when you need to add less than 5 lb. to a lift. You can only do this with fractional plates. We suggest Micro Gainz for well constructed, affordable fractional plates. (Save 10% off your order at Micro Gainz with the code “logic”)

Bench A simple, flat, heavy-duty bench that easily fits into your squat rack is an absolute necessity. Avoid benches with a “joint” or “hinge” in the center. You will not need an adjustable bench press. Standard dimensions are 17 inches high, 12 inches wide, and 48 inches long.

We like the Rogue Flat Utility Bench.

PlatformYou’ll want to protect your floor and give yourself a sturdy place to lift. If you are lifting on top of a con-crete floor you can get away with stall mats to cover the floor (ask your local feed supply store). But an actual platform is worth the time and effort of putting together. The platform will need to be a minimum of 8 feet wide. Once you get the basic supplies are obtained, the job can be completed in under an hour.

Fortunately, Brett McKay and Matt Reynolds wrote up a How-To guide on this here: http://www.artofman-liness.com/2016/09/15/how-to-build-a-weight-lifting-platform/

That’s it! There are a lot of other things you are going to want, but you can get started with these few items. If you need any more help with equipment recommendations, check out Coop from Garage Gym Reviews here: https://youtu.be/7JLVotvGYsg

Or send us an email (fahve@barbell-logic.com).

Barbell Logic Exclusive Online Coaching Discount

Sign up for Online Coaching and use the code “fahve” for $79 off your first month of Premium or Standard level coaching services.