Olympic Weights

[chathamf]

In piecing together a home gym, is there any real reason to bother to spend more to get the olympic sized weights? Up until you are lifting very heavy, is there any need to have them?

[maxomilll]

curl cinder blocks like marky mark.

Weight is weight man. You can actually buy these bowflex weights that are all on one bar, you can adjust the weight up to 50lbs, save's on space.

[chathamf]

Yea, I've been looking at those, they look sweet but expensive.

I already have a bunch of regular weights, was just wondering if people had any reason for forking out the extra dough.

[davidI]

As you say "Up until you are lifting heavy".

If you plan to get big, may as well splash out up front and get what you need rather than buying sissy weights and then having to splurge later on to get what you need!

[C_Dave45]

Originally posted by chathamf
Yea, I've been looking at those, they look sweet but expensive.

I already have a bunch of regular weights, was just wondering if people had any reason for forking out the extra dough.

How much weight do you have? It's just much easier with Olympic weights once you start benching your body weight and more. Trying to make up a bar weight of over 200 lbs with standard weights is too awkward.

I bought a 300lb set of Oly's for $250 off a local buy & sell. Then got standard 10 lb plates for my dumbbells, enough to make up to 105 lbs each.

Nice setup here for reasonable price: Link (http://www.buysell.com/Calgary-AB/OLYMPIC-WEIGHT-GYM/19-2976338/d/50-a-pt-sf-prx--z2baz1a1az1qz4y-333C2951/?kwd=Olympic&gclid=1085)

[lint]

oly plates don't have to cost more than std. places like fitness depot sell both for the same $$/lb regardless of type or size. if you want rubber coated, handles, bumper, then you're going to be paying a premium.

the biggest advantage of an oly bar are the rotating sleeves, although the really cheap ones aren't much better than than a fixed std bar. It doesn't really come into play for anything really slow or light, but when trying to move more weight and faster, especially where you need to change hand position (ie in a clean) the rotation of the plates will try to rip the bar out of your hands. and of course, the plate sizes are pretty much standardized with any gym.

if you're looking at putting together a home gym and looking at it as a long term investment, go with oly.

[chathamf]

Thanks for the input guys, will stick with my standard for now, but deff look like find some used olympics eventually.

[C_Dave45]

I was in this place today and they have a 300 lb Oly set for $279. Brand new.

http://www.fitnessequipmentcalgary.com/

[lint]

CT has a 300# set on sale this week for $249
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/4/FitnessWellness/WeightsAccessories/PRDOVR~0840798P/Olympic%252BWeight%252BSet%25252C%252B300%252Blb.jsp?locale=en

No idea on the quality of these, but this is the cheapest I've ever seen oly db handles. It's like getting the ez curl bar for free!
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5/SportsRec/4/FitnessWellness/WeightsAccessories/PRDOVR~0840700P/Apex%252BOlympic%252BHollow%252BBar%252BKit.jsp?locale=en