What was pre-pandemic/extortion pricing for weights?

[Neil4Speed]

Hey all,

As a finally moved into a house I decided to give myself zero excuses by building a very small gym area. Pretty simple really... just a squat rack with a bench, a bowflex (which I still need to buy), spin bike, and a set of adjustable weights.

I recently got the squat rack and didn't totally expect the cost of olympic bars/weights (~$2.50/lb) to be as much as they were... I am willing to bite the bullet in the sake of not being totally dad-bod prior to actually becoming a dad, however, more of a curiosity, does anyone know how much they used to cost (used generally) before this whole home fitness drive??

[FunWheelDrive]

https://www.treadmillfactory.ca/300-lbs-virgin-rubber-grip-olympic-weight-set

I bought these before Covid it was $300 or $329 for a complete set including the bar

[sabad66]

I think $1-1.25/lb was pretty standard price before.

[D'z Nutz]

Yeah I remember it being about $1/lb for new and about $0.50/lb for used, particularly if you could find a gym clearing out their old equipment.

[Cagare]

Iron plates were typically $1.50-2.00 per lb and then it goes up if you want more accurate. Competition bumper plates are $4/lb or more. You can still get these prices if you are willing to wait. If you want to buy now you will pay $2.50-3.00/lb for iron and go up from there for other things.

While not in stock right now Strongarm Sport, a local Calgary company, will be getting stock on iron plates, at around $1.50/lb you can get a kit from them. Sounds like they are coming in May, although sometimes can take longer.

https://strongarmsport.com/collections/strongarm-brand/products/strongarm-pounders

A decent barbell will run you $250-300 locally. Two companies offering that, including the company above or another Calgary company Bells of Steel. These prices are the same as pre-pandemic in most cases.

https://www.bellsofsteel.com/product/barbell-plate-package/

[vengie]

Prices have literally doubled or tripled.

I look forward to buying cheap equipment from kijiji once this nonsense passes.

[austic]

1-1.5lb a lb, rubber bumpers were always expensive at 2.5+ lb

[austic]

I think its going to be a while until we see cheap equipment. The cheapest equipment i have found is gym closures but they are still somewhat expensive for the quality stuff.

[Neil4Speed]

https://www.treadmillfactory.ca/300-lbs-virgin-rubber-grip-olympic-weight-set

I bought these before Covid it was $300 or $329 for a complete set including the bar

Wow... that is insane... I didn't think it would be that different.

Thanks everyone for their input. Hopefully things drop a bit here in the next few months.

[Tik-Tok]

Prices have literally doubled or tripled.

I look forward to buying cheap equipment from kijiji once this nonsense passes.

Fitness equipment is the kind of thing that lingers unused for years until a person moves homes. I don't there will be any firesales.

[vengie]

Fitness equipment is the kind of thing that lingers unused for years until a person moves homes. I don't there will be any firesales.

We'll see....

[dirtsniffer]

fuck you pricing used to be $2 a pound

[Neil4Speed]

https://www.costco.ca/tp-104.2-kg-(230-lb.)-high-performance-v2-bumper-plate-set.product.100754564.html

Popped up on Costco and I picked it up - seemed ok price-wise (2.13/lb), probably will sell out quick. I wasn't overly fussed with Bumper vs. Steel/Iron, but I figure this was worth going for.

Worst case I guess I could sell them and pick up the StrongArm Pounder sets when they come back in stock.

[Kjonus]

Give Lee with LifestyleSports [email protected] an email. He's pretty well stocked at the moment. I bought dumbbells from 35 to 60lbs from him. Great guy to work with. www.facebook.com/llifestyleSports/?ref=page_internal

Otherwise I've also heard someone mention https://ironnova.ca/

[sexualbanana]

Fitness equipment is the kind of thing that lingers unused for years until a person moves homes. I don't there will be any firesales.

I plan to get rid of my my adjustables and bench as soon as I feel like there won't be more restrictions. My place isn't that big and I'd rather have that space for something else.

[zechs]

didn't totally expect the cost of olympic bars/weights (~$2.50/lb) to be as much as they were

Steel/iron prices have gone up dramatically the past while (due to multiple reasons), and I don't expect them to come back down ever unless there is an economic crash.

So the current price may be the "new" price for a long time. Food for thought.

[roopi]

Seems like a decent price to some of the prices I've seen:

Note these aren't Olympic

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/cap-barbell-1-inch-cast-iron-weight-plate-black-single-50-lbs-50/6000201437569?cmpid=AF_CA_1536241_1

[brucebanner]

Bells of steel is apparently raising prices early next month if anyone is considering their equipment.

[bulaian]

You could buy iron plates in standard/olympic sizes for $0.90 -$1 per lb at some places pre pandemic, like fitness depot. Nowadays $2lb per lb or more is more of the norm.
Cheapest I've seen lately have been around $1.70 per lb. If you go for set, like 300+ lbs you can get pricing down a bit lower, like $1.60 per lb.

[Proyecto2000]

GYMVMT might be having a sale if they go under and clear equipment out

[Neil4Speed]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Received the Bumpers from Costco, they seem decent enough but have a bit of grease still on them - even after a few cleanings with Lysol. Will give it another few go's.

Overall my budget gym is coming along well.. I ended up getting the Fitness Reality Bench/Rack combo from Walmart for <$500, and I must say both feel solid.

I got a Marcy all in one from FB Marketplace from someone who didn't charge me extortion pricing for it, just need to set it up.

Last pieces are a Bar (Fitness Depot), some Lock-Jaws, a set of 5's and 2.5's (2") and I think that's it! Can't wait for it to be up and running.

[bulaian]

Nice, I was looking at the rack/bench combo on Walmart too - odd that the rack and bench are priced the same as the rack itself.
Does the rack feel pretty sturdy when you do a pullup?

I ended up getting a rack from Bells of Steel instead - still waiting on shipping

I debated between a few bars from Fitness Depot - I picked up the $149 one

[firebane]

Nice, I was looking at the rack/bench combo on Walmart too - odd that the rack and bench are priced the same as the rack itself.
Does the rack feel pretty sturdy when you do a pullup?

I ended up getting a rack from Bells of Steel instead - still waiting on shipping

I debated between a few bars from Fitness Depot - I picked up the $149 one

The rack is fine if its on a solid floor and assembled properly. I have zero issues doing pull ups and just made a pulley system for mine.

[bulaian]

The rack is fine if its on a solid floor and assembled properly. I have zero issues doing pull ups and just made a pulley system for mine.

Great to hear. I was just a little hesitant with the inner rear stabilizer bars vs the top and bottom supports on other racks

[firebane]

Great to hear. I was just a little hesitant with the inner rear stabilizer bars vs the top and bottom supports on other racks

The two bars on the back are for a lat attachment.

[bulaian]

98949

Are those not for stabilization?

[firebane]

98949

Are those not for stabilization?

No.

https://fitnessreality.com/fitness-reality-810xlt-super-max-power-rack-cage-with-lat-pull-down-and-low-row-cable-attachment/

[bulaian]

okay but the site you linked refers to them as rear stability bars

98950

[importracer]

Did prices for adjustable dumbells go up as well?

Specifically interested in the Powerblock sport exp. Currently seeing them between 500 to 550 for the 50lbs and expansion kits for 199 in incincirments of 20lbs; up to a max of 90.

Tough to find stock right now, however, curious if they were any cheaper pre-pandemic or not.