IYKYK - Home Gym Equipment Rundown
James Bond’s Home Gym Setup
I’ve been wanting to make some more videos that are focused on interior design, and I just started working on a new one that’s been in my head for a long time:
A dope home gym.
I have a sunroom off my bedroom that I have been using as my home gym for years. I have most the gear, but the vibes are way off.
As I revamp this room, I’m asking myself, “What would James Bond’s home gym look like?” (Daniel Craig version of course).
What kind of equipment would he be using?
What would the layout be like?
How would it be decorated?
Home gyms always seem to be the same. Kind of a hodgepodge of FB Marketplace gear, random dumbbells, maybe a cheap machine, and then clad in black with Ikea mirrors and maybe some awful fluorescent lighting if it’s in a basement.
That’s a no from me, dawg.
What I’m working on is a gym I want to be in. Something warm and rustic.
That said, it can’t just be good lookin’, it’s gotta be legit. It needs to have all the equipment I need for soul-crushing workouts.
I’m currently in the process of prepping all the plaster walls for paint (if you’ve worked with plaster, you know this can be a mess) and finding the right window treatments for the 7 windows in this small room. This place is over 100 years old, so nothing is commonly sized; it’s an endeavor.
While I get this all prepped, I wanted to share the breakdown of some of the equipment I have in here as well as a couple options for some - These are all good, but there are some extra premium options as well:
James Bond’s Home Gym Equipment Setup
Kettlebells
My favorite tool.
It’s so basic, archaic, primal. Our caveman ancestors would be drooling over this innovation. It’s metal ball with a handle on it - what guy wouldn’t love this?
I started out with buying singles. Magically, training each side on its own fixed some issues I created from my years of powerlifting and probably one side compensating for the other. I had a shoulder issue and a lower back issue. They were gone after training with these.
Then when I became familiar with these and had form down, I started getting doubles (35s, 44s, 53s, 62s), making them pairs. Then I could really start loading up weight on cleans, thrusters, front squats, etc.
Kettlebell Brands:
Rogue - Most of mine are these - I’ve had some issues with handles not being completely smooth. It’s an annoyance, not a deal-breaker.
Kettlebell Kings - The Cadillac of kettlebells. If you wanna go all in, these are my fav.
Bench:
My sunroom is small, and my goal is to have my setup comprehensive, without making the room feeling claustrophobic. I had an adjustable bench from REP that even had a leg-roller so I could do sit-ups. It was nice, but it was just too big for the space. I’m so much happier with a simple flat bench, and I LOVE the tripod design. It’s so nice not having anything interfere with your feet.
I’ve been able to get clever with a flat bench to cover all the bases (I touch on how later)
Bench Brands:
REP Fitness FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench - This is what I have. It’s a BEAST.
It’s rated to 1,000 lbs, so it can handle most of what I can bench.Eleiko Flat Bench - I reached out to Coop, the man behind Garage Gym Reviews, telling him my James Bond bench needs, and asking for his thoughts - This is the one he pointed to. It’s pricey, but it’s sleeeeek.
Side note: Coop is known for his take on gym equipment, but if you pay close attention, you’ll see he rocks some sleeper clothes and watches. He knows interior design too. The man’s got the juice.
Adjustable Dumbbells:
If you are gonna buy one piece of home gym equipment, adjustable dumbbells are what you need. You can do everything with these. And instead of having dumbbells lining your walls like at a gym, all of this can stay compact in the corner of your room.
My recommendation is to get something that can get heavy. If you’re training consistently, you’ll eventually need it. I had BowFlex dumbbells and they only went up to 52.5lbs and although they are a pleasure to use, the design keeps them the same size whether you are working with 10lbs or 50lbs. They are big. They are also plastic…
Adjustable Dumbbell Brands:
PowerBlock EXP - These are what I use. I have them built out to Stage 3, which is up to 90lbs each dumbbell. They are tanks - All steel plates. You’ll be able to hand these down to your kids. I like that they don’t have to be in a cradle to change weight. Say I want to do drop sets, I can take out the max of what I’ll be working with and just change everything out at my feet.
Rep x Peppin (“Reppins”) - I’ve yet to try these, but if I were in the market, I’d be doing a deep dive on them. These have become beloved in the industry.
Steel Club: Onnit
Not a necessity, but an old school tool that I use to warm up my shoulders. They look cool…
Steel Mace: Onnit
Also not a necessity but it’s really fun. I use these to warm up my shoulders and core. Know that the first time you use this will be shocking; you really want to start out with a lighter one if possible, like 10lbs. I started out with a 20lber and I’m surprised I didn’t rip my arm out of the socket the first time I took a swing with it. The bar itself is hollow; all that weight is in the ball that you’re swinging 3 feet away from you. It takes practice to get the coordination down for this.
And like the clubs… they look cool. I’m all about having chalky primal weapons, repurposed for workouts, lined up along the wall.
Pull-up Bar & Dip Bar:
I currently have a pull-up bar that goes in my doorway and a dip bar that is a stand on the ground, but ultimately, I’d like to have these together to make good use of space.
I’ve been looking wooden Swedish ladders but I haven’t nailed down if this is a viable choice yet give my room setup. Still working on nailing this down.
Pull-up bar though… that’s essential.
Truth be told, I saw Action Bronson using these in a video a long while back - It looked like a gnarly workout. I had to have it.
It’s leather and filled with sand and wool. Mines the 30 pounder. It’s gonna look real good with a patina on it.
It’s not a necessity by any means, but it’s fun to use especially for warmups. More often, I use it on my flat bench placed in line under my shoulder blades to act as an incline for incline dumbbell press.
Yoga Mat:
This was my yoga mat, but Giacomo likes to hang with me when I train (or do literally anything), and being that he likes soft things, this is usually where he’s hanging. He’s often playing on it or chewing on some super gross rawhide.
I really love the WaterRower. It’s the most beautiful piece of workout equipment out there. A work of art. It’s strange to say, but it’s beautiful to use too - being that your paddling against water, it’s easy on joints, but it’s the whooshing sound of the water that is almost meditative.
I like doing cardio outside and I love running in really hot weather, so mostly use this in the wintertime, when weather in the midwest can get miserable. It keeps me sane. It can really deliver a brutal workout - the harder you pull, the more resistance it gives.
Great buy.
(I made a video on this a while back, btw)
I use a chalk ball in a little container to keep things less chalky (still makes a mess). Only necessary when my hands start sweating and I want to make sure I don’t send a kettlebell through my window.
Dip/Pull-up belt:
I actually made mine back when I have my leather goods business. I made it out of a beautiful English bridle leather. I run this belt through my kettlebells when I want to load up weight for pull-ups and dips. Works great!
Recovery Tools:
I’ve never done much for warm-ups and recovery until the past 5 years. I’m still not great at it, but here are some tools that I do use:
Roll Recovery R8 - My old business partner and dear pal has some screws loose and runs ultra marathons. One day I was over at his house and saw this - I tried it out on my leg and it blew my mind. I ended up buying one.
The first time I did a real rolling session with mine, I had tears coming down my face (I’m not kidding) - I had so many knots in my legs and they were SO painful to roll out. After a week of this, the knots were gone. Couldn’t believe it. This thing hurts, but it works.Chirp Wheel - The first thing I’ll say is, if you have started getting back problems, you probably aren’t getting old, you might just need a new bed. Seriously.
I started getting back problems in my 20s - Way too young. I thought I liked a stiffer mattress, but it turns out my body didn’t. My mom bought be a new mattress for my birthday one year, and all my pain went away after one night on that. I couldn’t believe it.
I ended up getting a bigger bed, got a new mattress, it’s way too stiff, and my back problems are back. I use a Chirp wheel to roll things out. I have the set of 3 but only use the smallest of the kit, the 6”. It helps, but I really just need a new bed.Audio Equipment:
I have music playing almost every waking hour of my life. It’s one of my most favorite things on Earth. You best believe I’m cranking music when I’m exercising.
Sonos Move 2 - My favorite Sonos speaker. It’s really impressive. Big battery life, big sound for its size, and I don’t worry about it getting dirty with chalk and stuff. It can take a weight room setup.
I already am in the Sonos ecosystem, so this buy was a no-brainer as it can connect with my entire system or just act as a really great bluetooth speaker, say I want to take it outside. I have the green one. It’s a great color.WWJBD (What Would James Bond Do) - What else would you add?
Do you have anything you’d add? Are there any brands or equipment that I should know about? Let me know in the comments!
p.s. Are you subscribed to my YouTube Channel where I go in depth on all of this kind of stuff??? You should be.
p.p.s. Some of these links toss me a commission without costing you any extra. This goes to buying more things so I can talk about them.
Cheers!
Dominic
jump rope. easy, cheap, no space, plus you look badass when you get good.
Ironically just built mine in my garage. Used coops videos for inspiration. If you get any kind of rack, you WILL go down rabbit holes on every type of attachment known to man.
I went with Titan for the rack. And then an assortment of rogue and Titan for attachments.