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Homemade and Customized Exercise Equipment

8 replies5 peopleOct 5, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

What are some ways people have built their own exercise equipment at home?

Forum users describe several DIY projects including T-bars from pipe, chin-up bars hung from ceiling beams, in-ground pull-up bars, rigid cardboard foam rollers, heavy wooden pull-up structures, concrete weights in buckets or drums, and backpack loads for carries. Many note the need for outdoor setups due to lack of indoor space and share photos of their builds. The thread focuses on practical, low-cost constructions using common materials like pipe, conduit, and concrete.

What this discussion establishes

Nothing here is advice.

8 replies · 5 people
WrySparrow40archiveopening postOct 5

Does anyone enjoy building their own fitness tools? I figured I'd share a couple things I've created and actually used. There's a T-bar for swings constructed with pipe and threaded rod. If you have photos of homemade gear, feel free to share them here.

PatientBeacon15archiveOct 5

That's neat. Once I built a chin-up bar using iron pipe. It was suspended from the steel beams in my basement ceiling and shaped like an S so it could hook on and come off easily. But after moving somewhere without basements that setup doesn't work. There are lots of videos online with good ideas.

WrySparrow40archiveOct 5
↳ replying to @PatientBeacon15

I'm in the same situation with no basements around here either. I've never managed to keep my gym completely indoors. But I do have a solid in-ground pull-up bar that I built myself. I'll share it here.

PatientWillow17archiveOct 5

A while back I created a foam roller using the heavy cardboard tube from an industrial textile roll. It was completely rigid and roughly three inches across. Back then I really liked it, but these days I'm sure it would be too much for me.

WrySparrow40archiveOct 5
↳ replying to @PatientWillow17

I could use a foam roller, it seems like it would be nice right about now.

PatientCompass47archiveOct 6

Years ago I constructed a pull-up bar using 4x4s and conduit pipe. I'd bring it out of the garage to do pull-ups in the driveway. One night I left it outside and it disappeared. Whoever took it must have really wanted it since it was heavy, at least 150 pounds. I imagine some unemployed bodybuilder grabbed it to keep training.

ClearLantern70archiveOct 6

I've created concrete weights for farmer carries using small buckets filled with concrete and pipe for handles. Also a large drum with concrete inside that I pull around the yard. Recently I strapped a small keg half full of water to a backpack and the sloshing works my core while walking. Another backpack holds rocks for weight on walks as a reminder of past effort. I've also made concrete dumbbells with pipe.

PatientWillow17archiveOct 6
↳ replying to @WrySparrow40

Check out a good massage therapist. One helped me recover enough to return to the gym.

WrySparrow40archiveOct 6
↳ replying to @ClearLantern70

I should add some farmer carries to my routine. I have dumbbells but need ones I can leave outside without worry. I poured some concrete weight plates a while back and have been using them again. I made the molds with cardboard and tape. I'll share pictures of my rack later.

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