Pros and Cons of Owning a Garage Gym VS. Having a Gym Membership

Thinking of making the switch from a health club membership to owning a home gym? Here are five benefits of owning a garage gym:

1. No Waiting In Line For Equipment

I’m sure I am not the only one who has gotten to the gym after work only to find that every single squat rack is occupied. The great thing about owning a garage gym is that you never have to wait in line again. Do squats and deadlifts without having to awkwardly ask the person doing bicep curls in the squat rack how many more sets they have.

2. Saving Time

A huge time sucker when working out at the gym is the commute. The closest gym to where I live is a 10 minute drive away, and that’s not even that bad. When you combine the commute time and changing into workout clothes, that’s 30 minutes of non-workout related time wasted right there. With my own garage gym, all I need to do is hop into my garage and start working out.

3. Saving Money

This might come to a shock at first, but investing in a garage gym saves money in the long run. Yes, there is certainly a pretty hefty upfront cost to building a garage gym, but you will never have to pay for a gym membership again. The typical box membership costs anywhere from $175 - $250 per month. You can easily recoup the costs of a single membership in a year by doing your WODs at home.

4. Consistent Workouts

It is much easier to develop healthy habits when you eliminate roadblocks from allowing you to take action. The fact that I can workout in the convenience of my own home makes it easier for me to exercise consistently. Barriers like bad weather or not having the time are no longer an issue with a garage gym.

5. No Distractions

Having a garage gym allows me to stay focused on my workout (and making gains) without getting distracted by other people. I can get in the zone without having to worry about other people talking loudly, blasting their music, or filming their newest Instagram video.

Owning a garage gym is not for everyone. Here are five cons of owning a garage gym:

1. It Is Not Air-Conditioned

Keeping a garage gym cool is pretty difficult and if it’s a hot day outside, training is a battle against the heat as well as the bar. If you are against working out in hot temperatures, having a garage gym might not be the best idea for you.

2. No Community

If you are the type of person who enjoys the social aspects of working out, building a garage gym may not be right for you. A garage gym is typically for the solo-minded individual.

3. Lack of Variety

Unless you are extremely rich, your standard garage gym will have just the essentials for getting a good workout in. If you need a lot of variety in your workout, or have specialized equipment needs, building a garage gym may not be right for you.

4. Takes Up Space

A garage gym does take up quite a bit of space. You will need to at least have one open garage stall at minimum to build a basic garage gym. If you don’t have enough space for at least a rack, a barbell, and weight plates, a garage gym may not be right idea for you.

5. Your Focus Is On Group Workouts

If you primarily go to the gym to workout in a group, owning a garage gym is probably not for you. If you are interested more in Zumba or Yoga, a gym membership might be the better route to take.

Can’t decide between the two? Get the best of both worlds by having a gym membership and owning a garage gym.

Interested in building a garage gym? Visit our Home Gym Packages page now to get started.