UK’s BEST wall mounted pull up bars: 3 Reviews

Pull ups are a sure-fire way to build a huge back and can really build that V-shaped upper body taper. So knowing that, you want a pull-up bar, but you’re not sure which one? Well you’re in the right place!  A wall mounted pull up bar is a great way to get your chin and pull ups in without taking up valuable floor space. You can also hang rings for ring work or dips to make them even more versatile. Note: If you’ve landed here you are clearly an enthusiast and will already be well versed in the pitfalls of door mounted pull up bars which are …

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Free standing punching bags: 10 best reviewed

10 best free standing punching bags: REVIEWED!

If you’re involved in combat sports (or maybe you just like to let off some steam after a tough day in the office!) you will have looked at adding a punching bag to your home gym. As is becoming all too common the internet is unfortunately awash with poor quality products at jacked up prices – so today we’re taking a deep dive to find the best free standing punching bags available to suit all budgets. Let’s jump right in. And don’t worry – we won’t pull any punches… At a glance… The Century BOB is the best punch bag for martial art trainees Century’s Fight Simulator is the best …

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Bulldog Gear vs Rogue Fitness

3 ways to choose: Bulldog Gear vs Rogue Fitness

Here in Europe the gym equipment market is fragmented across a wide range of suppliers. This is great as it gives us a load of choice as well as competition in the market. This is great for innovation and, ultimately, prices – but it can be tricky for us to pick out which suppliers will have longevity and deliver quality products compared to those who are ‘chancing their arm’ with lower caliber merchandise at premium prices, only to disappear or make the refund process difficult. Two brilliant suppliers we have access to are Rogue Fitness and Bulldog Gear. Both occupy a similar niche supplying CrossFit related strength …

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Ironmaster Kettlebell Review

My Ironmaster Kettlebell review: After 3+ YEARS!

I bought the Ironmaster Quick-Lock Adjustable Kettlebell Handle in March 2018 and have been using it in my garage gym every since. It’s not my favourite piece of equipment and I do think of it as a luxury, but one I enjoy having access to none the less. I’ve written a blog post on the Ironmaster quick-lock dumbbells previously, so I thought I’d take a critical look at the kettlebell handle as well. At a glance… The Ironmaster Kettlebell is the best adjustable option on the market How useful a kettlebell is to you will depend on your unique training goals and style …

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Best weightlifting shoes for narrow feet

Best weightlifting shoes for narrow feet: Compared

I’ll be honest, the width of my foot is not something I had committed much thought to as an adult. It simply didn’t make an impact on my life… Until I got in to weightlifting!  Weightlifting shoes come in all shapes and sizes, with one of the key differentiators between styles and brands being the width of the shoe. I’ve tried a few different pairs of training shoes over the years and the difference the width makes to the feel of the shoe is significant, and definitely worth considering before you buy. So there we have it – width matters! At a glance… Every weightlifting …

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Best squat rack for small spaces

11 BEST squat racks for small spaces (2x are FOLDING)

One of the challenges when building a home gym is trying to fit everything in! When buying equipment I always pour over the dimensions to make sure I am getting the most bang for buck in my modest gym area.  Having had three different home gym set ups (upstairs, downstairs, garage) I’m more convinced than ever that regardless of your space, there will be an ingenious way to squeeze the most out of it. Today, let’s take a look at the centrepiece of our gym by reviewing the best squat racks designed for small spaces. Some of these are really neat! At a glance… 11 awesome space-saving racks reviewed below Best overall is …

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UK's best half rack with a pull-up bar

This is the UK’s best half rack with a pull up bar!

A half rack offers a great way to maximise your options for lifting weights in a small home gym. Heck, a half rack can even squeeze in to your bedroom or dining room and not dominate as much as a full on power cage! To make the most of your space then you should plan on getting a half rack with a pull up bar as well. Not only does it let us do pull ups and chin ups on demand, but it also adds a bit of rigidity to the half rack which helps it feel a bit more stable. I think it’s even MORE important …

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Strength Shop 2028 Barbell Review

5 BIG problems: My Strength Shop barbell review

So I have owned a Strength Shop Original 2028 black oxide bar since February 2015 – so a whopping 6 and a half years! That’s pretty crazy to me, not the least because the bar in some evolution has been on sale continually since then. Well done to Strength Shop for keeping this bar alive and kicking! I thought it was worth sharing my experience as detailed reviews of Strength Shop barbells are thin on the ground. At a glance… I’ve been using the 2028 bar regularly for 5 years It is the best budget Olympic bar available, but has several downsides The build quality is not …

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Best weight benches in the UK

The 5 BEST weight benches in the UK in 2022

2020 and 2021 were strange years with the Corona-pocalipse which descended has impacted all our lives. 2022 is looking brighter, but still a bit strange compared to the old ‘normal’! There is a surge in people moving from public activities such as going to sports matches or using public gyms to something more private – think PPV TV and… Home gyms! Stock levels across a lot of suppliers have been under pressure as a result, so trying to find the best weight bench here in the UK in budget can be tough. I’ve pulled together this guide to outline a few of the best …

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Bodymax CF375 Review

1 BIG problem: Bodymax CF375 Power Rack Review

So you’re in the market for a cheap – but importantly, good – power rack and you’re not sure where to start. This is super common – particularly in the UK as we have a much smaller pool of options to buy from. The CF375 is a pretty standard place for us all to start thinking about our home gym set up – it’s readily available, cheap(ish) and looks like it means business. But is it good enough? In short, yes, but no… At a glance… The Bodymax CF375 is made of 14 gauge / 2mm thick steel This ultimately …

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