The GymCrafter Podcast

Good Enough To Go Again? Home Gym Con 2025 Wrap Up | Ep 51

Home Gym Con 2025 in Louisville, KY was a fun, amazing, memorable blur. In this first of 4 Home Gym Con podcast episodes, I review the event overall, talk about what I liked and what should have been different, and lay out my plans for 2026!https://homegymcon.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@UCF-kK-HyM64cSH3H8QeMfMw Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

Is Your Garage Gym Gear Good Enough? | Ep 49

Instead of overspending on equipment for our home and garage gyms, sometimes, the smart decision is to look for stuff that is "good enough". In this episode I talk about how to find out what is good enough for your gym and what isn't.American Barbell Grizzly Bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/ab-chewy-bar/Rep Badlands Bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-badlands-bar/Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

What Coverage Do YOU Want to See From Home Gym Con? | Ep 49

Home Gym Con is 16 days away and the biggest reason I'm going is to bring you as much coverage as I can. With 125 vendors, I won't be able to cover everything, so in this podcast I review my current content plan and ask you to help in every area!Home Gym Con: https://homegymcon.comVendor List: https://homegymcon.com/vendors/Rep NightHawk bench: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-nighthawk/Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/0:00 Intro0:59 What is Home Gym Con?3:49 Why I’m going9:58 2 things I’m not doing11:12 Brands I’m not covering14:13 Brands I am covering 28:28 Content plans32:33 What would you like to see?*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

10 Things I Wish I’d Done Differently When I Built My Garage Gym | Ep 48

I've built or helped build quite a few garage gyms in the last 8 years of running GymCrafter and I learn things every time. In this episode I review 10 things I'll do differently next time!Freedom Fitness Flooring: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/freedom-flooring/Code GC1 saves you 5%Walking pad: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/walking-pad/Code GYMCRAFTER saves you up to 30% off purchases over $279American Barbell power bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/ab-ss-elite-power-bar/American Barbell Chewy bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/ab-chewy-bar/Rep Black Diamond bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-black-diamond/Rep Badlands bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-badlands-bar/Rep open trap bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-open-trap-bar/Bells open trap bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/bos-open-trap-bar/Rep cambered Swiss bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-cambered-swiss-bar/Bells Arch Nemesis bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/bos-swiss-bar/Bare Steel EZ curl bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/bare-steel-ez-bar/Black Widow VHS bar: https://blackwidowtg.com/products/vhs-bar?_pos=1&_sid=74073b561&_ss=rFreak Athlete Hyper Pro: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/freak-athlete/Tib Bar Guy Sled Tred: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/tbg-sledtred/Rep NightHawk: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-nighthawk/Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/0:00 Intro2:50 Different flooring7:01 Paying for installation7:48 Running electric9:47 Side mount garage door opener11:22 Clearing the space first12:54 A place to walk19:49 Less barbells24:06 More specialty bars28:33 Being more open minded31:05 Home Gym Con33:19 Less overthinking36:19 Wrap up *GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

8 Ways To Get More From Your Garage Gym! | Ep 47

Having a great garage gym is only half the battle. Getting the most out of it is the other half. In this episode I review 8 common ways people miss out on the benefits of their garage gym.MAPS Anabolic: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/maps-anabolic/Slant Stack: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/slant-stack/Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/0:00 Intro2:16 Letting perfect be the enemy of good4:58 Trigger sessions9:17 Micro sessions15:52 Getting more from what you have23:30 Learn from others27:46 Training discipline30:45 Training smart33:16 Periodization36:05 Movement variations38:09 Implement variation39:47 Staying focused45:55 Wrap up *GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

22 Places To Buy US Made, Tariff Free Garage Gym Gear | Ep 46

If you live in the US and want to avoid tariffs when buying gear for your garage gym, the best way to do that is to buy gear made in the US. In this episode, I give you a brief overview of 22 options to do that!Rogue: https://www.roguefitness.comBlack Widow: https://blackwidowtg.comElite FTS: https://www.elitefts.comSorinex: https://www.sorinex.comAmerican Barbell: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/american-barbell/Surplus Strength: https://surplusstrength.comStrayDog Strength: https://straydogstrength.comWright Equipment: https://wrightequipment.comHomegrown Lifting: https://homegrownlifting.comWeight it Out: https://www.weightitout.usIntek Strength: https://www.intekstrength.comThe Strength Co.: https://www.thestrength.coTexas Power Bars: https://texaspowerbars.comSolid Bar Fitness: https://solidbarfitness.comIron Master: https://www.ironmaster.comPowerBlock: https://powerblock.comAbMat: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/abmat/Darko Lifting: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/darko-lifting/Belt Fed Strength: https://www.beltfedstrength.comMicroGainz: https://microgainz.comArm Assassin: https://www.armassassinstrengthshop.comJD Gym Equipped: https://jdgymequipped.comPartners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/0:00 Intro1:40 Is made in the US better?2:47 Rogue3:40 Black Widow4:51 Elite FTS and Sorinex6:35 American Barbell8:29 Surplus Strength9:27 Stray Dog Strength10:25 Wright Equipment11:29 Homegrown Lifting14:03 Weight It Out16:25 The Strength Co18:03 Intel18:52 PowerBlocks19:35 Iron Master21:25 Texas Power Bar22:56 Solid Bar Fitness24:41 AbMat27:51 Darko Lifting29:01 Micro Gainz29:51 Belt Fed Strength30:57 Wrap Up*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

Should You Give These Garage Gym Companies Your Money? | Ep 45

Ethic and honesty should matter when deciding where to spend your garage gym dollars... But do they actually end making a difference in the end? How badly does a company need to behave before people stop shopping there? In this episode we take a look at some recent examples and whether or not they've actually made a difference.Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/0:00 Intro3:04 Legal disclaimer3:47 Integrity5:12 Episode overview6:10 Rogue vs Kleva22:53 Force 6 vs. Darko31:01 Mikolo vs. accurate specs35:07 BLUSLM vs. MAG39:20 PRx and redemption*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

Garage Gym Tariffs. What Can You Do? | Ep 44

Wondering how tariffs may impact your home gym purchases? Want to know what to do about adding new things to your garage gym when tariff related price increases are on the horizon? This is the podcast for you!Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/0:00 Intro3:41 Who is affected?4:15 Is this all new?5:08 How to react7:45 Will people stop buying?9:10 The “old man” approach11:19 The news14:03 How much will prices go up?17:04 Will they go out of business?19:00 How long will this last?19:45 When to buy20:53 Should you buy now?24:18 Will companies eat the tariffs?27:49 Will prices go back down?30:39 Who will rip off their customers?33:30 Why domestic prices are also going up36:51 Who will pay these prices???39:42 The biggest impact of tariffs43:29 Buy now?44:15 Buy domestically?47:37 Now is the time for used50:03 The importance of integrity50:41 Don’t shop angry51:00 Do you really need it?51:53 Doing more with what you have52:53 Being patient*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

Better Ways To Save Money On Your Garage Gym | Ep 43

When trying to save money on your garage gym, it can be tempting to go cheap. But other options will serve you much better in the long run. Learn how to save money AND build a gym you love in this episode!Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!0:00 Intro1:40 Recap of last episode5:44 Commercial to home gym9:10 Other’s mistakes11:12 New to working out12:40 Lever gyms14:19 Starting small16:57 2 more appropriate options21:02 When you can’t afford it23:14 When you might actually want to go cheap25:03 Never do this!

How Much Do You Have To Spend On Garage Gym Gear? | Episode 42

Ever wonder how two pieces of garage gym equipment with the same specs can cost drastically different prices? In this episode I take a close look at budget, mid-tier, and high end garage gym gear to see why they cost what they do and if they are worth your money.0:00 Intro & Overview3:55 Pricing & Value5:58 Hidden Differences7:28 Barbell Steel12:00 Rack Uprights17:46 Bolts & Fasteners21:16 Pulley Quality22:38 Cable Quality26:30 Weight Capacity30:53 Finish Quality33:26 Small Touches36:06 Customer Service47:16 R&D and Product Development54:45 IP Theft56:24 Buying on a Budget1:02:44 What Do YOU Want To See?Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partnersWebsite: GymCrafter.comNewsletter: GymCrafter.com/SubscribeInsta: Instagram.com/gymcrafterReview Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases