The year 2020 presented new obstacles for fitness enthusiasts. More people than ever are working out at home and trying to set up affordable home gyms without spending thousands on pricey equipment.
Luckily, you can make your own PVC gym gear at home, saving money and avoiding the gym. Here are five DIY projects for building your home gym:
Parallel Bars:
Parallel bars are a fantastic option for home strength training. You can skip the expensive sets and make your own using PVC!
1. Cut 14 six-inch pieces of PVC pipe with a hacksaw—these will be your handles, support pieces, and bracing pieces.
2. Use PVC glue to attach elbow joints to the ends of your handles, adding a support piece on the other end of the elbow.
3. Attach a tee to the other end of the support, then connect a bracing piece to each opening in the tee.
4. Cap the open ends of the bracing pieces.
Voila! You now have your own sturdy parallel bars for your home gym!
Slosh Pipe:
If you haven’t heard of a slosh pipe, it’s a really effective way to work out at home. It’s basically a large pipe filled with water that works your whole body.
For less than $30, you can make your own slosh pipe.
1. Attach end caps to a piece of PVC pipe.
2. Fill it with water.
3. Add an adjustable end cap to the other end.
And there you have it—a slosh pipe for a great core workout!
Dip Station:
A dip station is another great piece of equipment for your home gym. It’s versatile and lets you do dips, handstand push-ups, or knee raises. Instead of spending over $80 on one, you can make your own with just a few simple steps.
1. Measure and cut your 5-foot long white PVC piping into six two-foot pieces and eight one-foot pieces.
2. Attach 90-degree elbows to the ends of two two-foot pieces to create the top dip bars, then glue the remaining two-foot pieces into the elbows to form the legs.
3. Add a tee to the bottom of each leg, then insert a one-foot pipe piece into each tee to create the feet. Cap the ends of the feet.
4. Secure all the PVC joints with glue and let it dry completely.
Complete Bodyweight Gym:
For the ultimate home workout, consider building a complete bodyweight gym. This setup can be used for chin-ups, hanging leg lifts, dips, and more, all using PVC pipe, fittings, and rope.
1. Build the base of the structure with elbows and piping.
2. Construct the sides using tees and pipes to create cross beams and parallel bars.
3. Tie a rope around the top cross beam to create hanging rings, using 6-inch PVC pieces as handlebars.
Foam Roller:
Taking care of your muscles after working out is essential, and a foam roller can help with relaxation and stretching. You can easily make one yourself.
1. Cut a piece of 4-inch thick PVC pipe to eight inches long.
2. Wrap it with a foam cover (crafting foam, a yoga mat, or even a shelf liner will do).
3. Secure the edges and both sides with duct tape.
With just a few dollars, some PVC pipe, and these simple tutorials, you can create a home gym that lets you stick to your fitness routine without breaking the bank. Train safely at home and protect your wallet!