training equipment: bench, olympic plates, power rack

[dobroblues]

in the next few months, i'm going to be in the market for a quality incline/flat/decline (maybe not so much decline, but it wouldn't hurt) bench for when i get a power rack.  i plan on this being my all purpose bench..  i'll be using it for benching with barbells, dumbbells, and using it for everything in between.  i was wondering through experience of use/purchase, what would be a good quality bench to buy.

also, my 300lb sports authority barbell set could be outgrown in the months to come and that would put me in the market for some quality olympic plates.  i'll probably end up just buying 2 45lbs as that will give me an extra 90lbs in addition to what i already have for starters.  any suggestions here would also be helpful.

in regards to the power rack, i'm heavily leaning to getting the powerline ppr200x.  it has good reviews from what i've seen and it will fit in my basement just fine.  but, if you know of a better rack around the same price range, i'm all ears..  the dimensions need to be similar (definitely can't be any taller) and that's about it.

[Patrick Ward]

do you have a link to the rack?

for weights, i would search craig's list or a used sportting good store (we have play it again sports here in az) to get a solid olympic weight set that will last you forever.  You could also pick up a decent bench...all of that will save you on shipping too.


patrick

[dobroblues]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VLRVSC?ie=UTF8&tag=stronglcom-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000VLRVSC

what brand names should i be looking at for the plates and the bench?  i'm not sure on what is considered quality.  i know names like york, ivenko, etc are around, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are quality or what series of their weights is best.  as i said earlier, i don't need a whole set, just individual plates.  the bar i have is true with no bends or signs of bending.. granted, when i get into bigger weights i might want a lot better quality bar, but right now the one i have seems to be holding up quite well.

[Patrick Ward]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VLRVSC?ie=UTF8&tag=stronglcom-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B000VLRVSC

what brand names should i be looking at for the plates and the bench?  i'm not sure on what is considered quality.  i know names like york, ivenko, etc are around, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are quality or what series of their weights is best.  as i said earlier, i don't need a whole set, just individual plates.  the bar i have is true with no bends or signs of bending.. granted, when i get into bigger weights i might want a lot better quality bar, but right now the one i have seems to be holding up quite well.

Any of those brands are fine.  Hampton is okay too.  Just look for Olympic Weight Sets.  Don't worry about the brand of plates - just make sure they are a normal olympic weight set and round.

I can't comment on the rack as I have never used that one, or brand.

patrick

[dobroblues]

It looks like we have a Play It Again Sports store here in town too... so that's a pretty good place for fitness equipment?  I'll have to check it out.

We have a lot of fitness places since I live in a pretty big city, St. Louis, but if I could find a good quality used store that would be awesome... might be able to even find a better power rack than that particular one if it were same size about.

[Patrick Ward]

Play it again out here is great.  I have gotten olympic plates from them, they have olympic bars, bumper plates, I bought my airdyne there, and I have bought some kettlebells from them too.

patrick