That Nov Decision that Every American Must Make

[hector]

Black Friday happens.

You already have a fully stocked home gym.

But just because your home gym is complete doesn’t mean it can’t be enhanced.

So, do you buy a yoke?

Or, is there some other crazy, absolutely unnecessary shit you buy just because you’re an American and exploiting Black Friday deals is your birthright?

I had a yoke before. Loved it. But my housing situation was deeply sub-optimal. Using the yoke was not convenient.
Well, shit is even worse now. So, of course, I’m strongly thinking about buying a yoke again.

[DanCR]

@hector, please elaborate on "fully stocked." Then we can suggest crazy, absolutely unnecessary shit that's missing.

[hector]

Fully stocked = squat rack, multiple specialty bars, dumbbells, and lat pull-down.

Basically, so much stuff that it’s possible my real hobby is buying fitness equipment rather than lifting.

[DanCR]

- Chest supported T-bar row station (I know that you T-bar regularly but have assumed from the floor)
- Hack squat machine
- Leg curl machine (preferably seated rather than lying)
- Preacher curl station

Belt squat probably a solid move but I can’t personally recommend it because I don’t use it. (Yet.)

I’ll refrain from getting into cables and machines without an express invitation haha.

[Michiganian]

I'll be buying more plates, for sure. I may decide to max-out my weight tree and be done with it

I may buy a dip attachment to use with my Titan X-3 short squat stand. It's more likely I'll buy the preacher curl attachment for my IM Pro bench.

Already talked myself out of the Titan tib machine; any kind of ab machine (for now); and I've currently no room for the seated, chest-supported row machine I plan to add someday.

Kind of toying with the idea of REP's SS bar, but I think that'll wait until I've improved with leg presses on my leg sled, TBDLs, and front squats. (My legs are really lagging.)

[Hardartery]

By Yoke, are we talking the thing EliteFTs calls a Yoke and everyone else calls a SSB? Or are we discussing a Strongman Yoke? Asking for clarification, but honestly my answer is yes either way. Need is a funny word, but a good SSB is a primary gym building purchase. Cable stacks are great and all, but frivolous relative to a SSB. Bands are a cheap extra that can be useful but can be a PITA to set up. A really good bar is better than a specialty bar, so it depends what you have. An Axle is also a key component IMO - for any gym - maybe good collars if you only have cheap ones. I will be looking to see if anyone runs a deal on soft belts, I also want to get some stuff for my wife and Mother-in-law to use in the US gym. Like a technique bar and some small bumpers like the Rogue 2,5;s and maybe some of the technique plates. My stuff tends to be too heavy for them to even get started, so some of that stuff is useful apart from directly to me.

[hector]

By Yoke, are we talking the thing EliteFTs calls a Yoke and everyone else calls a SSB? Or are we discussing a Strongman Yoke? Asking for clarification, but honestly my answer is yes either way. Need is a funny word, but a good SSB is a primary gym building purchase. Cable stacks are great and all, but frivolous relative to a SSB. Bands are a cheap extra that can be useful but can be a PITA to set up. A really good bar is better than a specialty bar, so it depends what you have. An Axle is also a key component IMO - for any gym - maybe good collars if you only have cheap ones. I will be looking to see if anyone runs a deal on soft belts, I also want to get some stuff for my wife and Mother-in-law to use in the US gym. Like a technique bar and some small bumpers like the Rogue 2,5;s and maybe some of the technique plates. My stuff tends to be too heavy for them to even get started, so some of that stuff is useful apart from directly to me.

I meant the strongman type yoke that strongmen load up and walk around with.

I have the other kind (I just call it a SSB bar) and love it!

Thank you for the suggestion and encouraging me to get a yoke! If there’s a good Black Friday sale, or maybe if there isn’t, I will probably get one!

[hector]

I'll be buying more plates, for sure. I may decide to max-out my weight tree and be done with it

I may buy a dip attachment to use with my Titan X-3 short squat stand. It's more likely I'll buy the preacher curl attachment for my IM Pro bench.

Already talked myself out of the Titan tib machine; any kind of ab machine (for now); and I've currently no room for the seated, chest-supported row machine I plan to add someday.

Kind of toying with the idea of REP's SS bar, but I think that'll wait until I've improved with leg presses on my leg sled, TBDLs, and front squats. (My legs are really lagging.)

L
Re tib machine, I got a tib bar and love it. Do big tibs actually do anything for you? Idk. But they’re easy to do between sets, and def make your calves look more jacked.

[Hardartery]

By Yoke, are we talking the thing EliteFTs calls a Yoke and everyone else calls a SSB? Or are we discussing a Strongman Yoke? Asking for clarification, but honestly my answer is yes either way. Need is a funny word, but a good SSB is a primary gym building purchase. Cable stacks are great and all, but frivolous relative to a SSB. Bands are a cheap extra that can be useful but can be a PITA to set up. A really good bar is better than a specialty bar, so it depends what you have. An Axle is also a key component IMO - for any gym - maybe good collars if you only have cheap ones. I will be looking to see if anyone runs a deal on soft belts, I also want to get some stuff for my wife and Mother-in-law to use in the US gym. Like a technique bar and some small bumpers like the Rogue 2,5;s and maybe some of the technique plates. My stuff tends to be too heavy for them to even get started, so some of that stuff is useful apart from directly to me.

I meant the strongman type yoke that strongmen load up and walk around with.

I have the other kind (I just call it a SSB bar) and love it!

Thank you for the suggestion and encouraging me to get a yoke! If there’s a good Black Friday sale, or maybe if there isn’t, I will probably get one!

I am nothing if not an enabler. At your service!

[James]

I kind of want to get some sand bags but the cheap ass in me is balking at the thought of spending $60-90 on a nylon bag. Hopefully something will be discounted.

[hector]

I kind of want to get some sand bags but the cheap ass in me is balking at the thought of spending $60-90 on a nylon bag. Hopefully something will be discounted.

I wanted some sand bags a few years back. (Back when I had a yoke and so could have thrown the bags over.) I got thrown into an infinite loop where I couldn’t buy the sand bags because there were cheaper DIY tutorials, but then I never made any bc I also thought it would be easier to just buy some.

[cole]

my next item will be a deadlift jack

[Hanley]

Black Friday happens.

What do you have for cardio equipment?

[hector]

my next item will be a deadlift jack

I have one. If you deadlift a lot it is absolutely worth it. One thing to consider is storage. They are kind of big.

[hector]

Black Friday happens.

What do you have for cardio equipment?

A kettlebell that I have used 5x in two years?

[Hanley]

Black Friday happens.

What do you have for cardio equipment?

A kettlebell that I have used 5x in two years?

Eh?

https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-echo ... d7EALw_wcB

They're wonderful.

[mgil]

Black Friday happens.

What do you have for cardio equipment?

A kettlebell that I have used 5x in two years?

Eh?

https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-echo ... d7EALw_wcB

They're wonderful.

Great buy. I have one.

That being said, waiting on my knees to not be super pissed off so I can get back to it. It’ll be nice to have in the winter.

[DanCR]

+2 on the Echo.

[Hardartery]

I had an Echo bike, it felt great to sell it. I never liked the thing, I think a treadmill is a million times better and a stationary bike is better as well, the only nice thing about them is that fan blowing on you while it's going. I know that that is a divergent opinion, but it is what it is.

All that said, other than the $99 cambered bench bar at EliteFTS I'm not very excited by any of the offerings so far. I am looking seriously because I expect inflation to get retarded next year once tariffs start happening and I would like to stock up a little ahead of that with things I plan to acquire eventually anyway. Not stoked about any of it at the moment.

[Hanley]

I never liked the thing

What did you dislike about it?