Reader post written by Kauer

Let my story help you

I recently found this site while looking for some equipment that HGVE (Home Gym Vault Europe) had incidentally already reviewed. I recognized the struggle in regards to having a home gym in Europe – we don’t always have the access to the equipment reviewed by American-based sites.

This is why I really like his idea the HGVE website with reviews and much more. It’s such a great resource for what’s available here, what’s good, and what’s not so great here in Europe. I thus contacted HGVE and asked if I could help contribute voluntarily to the website.

Thomas, who runs HGVE, gave me the freedom to choose a topic. So I decided to write about the core question. A question where the answer depends depends a lot on each person’s situation: Why a home gym? It’s a question I think I can help you answer by retelling my 7-year home gym journey.

Beginning my Home Gym Journey

My home gym journey started in December 2017, long before I lived in Europe. At the time, my first daughter had just been born. I trained CrossFit and general strength training four or five times a week in a commercial gym. I also swam twice a week and played football with colleagues every week. All these activities meant lots of time away from home. But with a newborn baby, I wanted less time away from home while still staying active.

I got to work. I found a deal online on some good quality home gym equipment that included a 25 kg sandbag, a 24 kg kettlebell and 12 kg kettlebell from Ziva. Back then, the total cost was equivalent to 61 EUR with free shipping. Different times indeed. And since we were living in an apartment, this setup was perfect. Cheap, compact, and portable.

I used the kettlebells in a corridor past the kitchen because it was the furthest spot from the baby’s room. Soon after, I added a jump rope, an ab wheel and a TRX. These basics items now allowed me to have some pretty decent workouts. Hence, my visits to the commercial gym went from six or seven times a week to just two or three. Not because I didn’t enjoy the commercial gym. But at home I could train during work breaks and without leaving the house. Damn efficient!

Moving and Starting Over

In mid-2018, we moved to Europe. I could have brought my equipment since we already had to ship our furniture. But I decided to gift it to a friend and personal trainer instead. I figured I wouldn’t be using it right away anyway, since moving continents with a baby is no easy task. So, I decided to start fresh when the time was right.

For the first few months, we lived in an apartment. I joined a well-equipped strength training gym. It was here that I discovered European manufacturers like ATX and Strength Shop. Nice people and a nice gym. I really enjoyed the training. But it was at the cost of time with my family.

By late 2019, we moved into our first house. It was much larger than the old apartment and we even had a small garden. However, we had now moved further from the commercial gym. Hence, I started thinking about building a home gym again. I officially restarted my home gym in Europe by buying a Bulgarian Bag. But before I could acquire more equipment, the world was turned upside down.

The Pandemic Push

COVID struck. Everything sold out or was unavailable due to supply chain issues. I was stuck at home with just my Bulgarian Bag. Every day I was trying to get my hands on any piece of equipment I could find. After weeks of scouring the internet, I finally managed to secure a couple of kettlebells.

I was back in business. In the rest of 2020 I managed to add a 20 kg slam ball, a 20 kg kettlebell, a mace and a single gym mat. Training in the living room became the norm. While it wasn’t perfect it worked. I had time for family, work, and working out.

When gyms reopened, I joined another very nice gym. But the home gym bug had bitten me. I kept thinking about how I could grow the home gym. But I couldn’t expand the home gym without harassing my family. But, then new opportunities presented themselves.

Building a Dedicated Home Gym

With a second child on the way, we needed more space. Luckily, we managed to find a larger house in early 2023. And this time, I made sure that the new house had enough space for a home gym. But before taking the next big leap and acquiring much more equipment, I wanted to test myself.

So, I decided to test my commitment to home gym training. For one month, I only trained with my very limited selection of equipment four times a week. After being successful at this, I invested in a half rack, a barbell, a bench, bumper plates and much more rubber flooring. Most of the equipment was budget-friendly. Apart from my Rogue Echo bumper plates and change plates. They’re odor-free (important with kids around), aesthetically nice, and the change plates were a priority for me.

Throughout 2024, I expanded the home gym, improved its organization and worked on the aesthetics to make it more welcoming. The dedicated home gym area ended up smaller than planned (family life). But it is a fully functional gym. I use it four times a week, and my wife uses it twice a week. It’s a family effort, and I very happy with the setup (see pictures below).

Conclusion: Why a Home Gym?

So, why build a home gym? Because it gives you options, freedom, and the most valuable resource of all, TIME.

• Options: I can organize the space and train however I want. No waiting for machines or dealing with other people’s playlists.
• Time: My total workout time is about 75 minutes, including the shower. This is a fraction of what it used to be in the commercial gym.
• Freedom: I train whenever it suits me and the family. And to whatever music I feel like.

Does a home gym make it easier to stay physically active? No. Discipline is key. But it is more effective. And some people will miss the social aspect of commercial gyms. Will it save you money? Probably not. It will likely become a hobby, and hobbies cost money. Gym memberships are usually cheaper in the long run. But for me, the value of a home gym lies in the time, freedom, and options it provides.

For anyone considering it, I say go for it! Start small, adapt as you go, and enjoy the process. You don’t have to rush it. It took me six years before I got a dedicated home gym. If you have questions about equipment or setups, I’m happy to help.

Cheers
Kauer