A home gym is a significant investment, especially when purchasing weight plates. Traditional iron plates can degrade if not stored correctly; while investing in a decent set of bumper plates can resolve this problem, many bodybuilders prefer classic iron. Therefore, you need to store the weights properly to ensure longevity, and there are at least seven ways to do it.
1. A-Frame Rack
One of the most iconic fitness racks is the A-frame rack. As the name implies, it looks like the first letter of the alphabet, with two angular posts creating a triangle. The angle means greater stability when storing the weights, less chance of them slipping off. Unfortunately, the size of the tree is a bit cumbersome.
2. Weight Plate Tree
Unlike the A-frame stand, a plate tree has a singular post or trunk with racks or branches stemming from it. A typical tree will have between six and eight branches with a maximum weight limit of 1,000 lbs. Many tree designs incorporate wheels to allow for storage out of the way.
3. Horizontal Plate Rack
Typically designed for bumper plates, the dish rack of the weight lifting world, a horizontal plate rack is an interesting option. While the design takes up a bit of floor space, it is an efficient design for bumper plates, and it can come with wheels to make it easier to move around.
4. Wall-Mounted Storage
Wall-mounted storage options essentially look like thick, heavy-duty pegs secured into your wall. While convenient and space-saving, this is not the best option to carry a heavy load. To get the most out of this type of system, you will need to secure it to a beam, ensuring the most stable connection to carry the load.
5. Vertical Plate Dolly
A vertical plate dolly is a useful space-saving and transportation device for your weights, but it is not the most practical solution for a home gym. These dollies use a single rod from a wheeled base. You stack all of your plates on the rod, allowing for easy transportation, but not access.
6. Power Rack
A power rack is the simplest, most obvious, and best storage solution for weights in a home gym. These racks have built-in pegs and can hold a tremendous amount of weight. Additionally, keeping your weights on the rack can help stabilize it during workouts.
7. Front-Loading Rack
A front-loading rack is designed to sit against a wall while still providing access to the weights. While larger than some of the other options here, it has plenty of space to organize all your weights in an easily accessible way. Despite the size difference, a front-loading rack actually requires less space than A-frames or other options because you only need space in the front of the unit.
Are you in the market for a weight storage solution? If so, trust one of the seven solutions mentioned here. If you are not satisfied with the options presented here, consider heading to your local home gym supplier and asking for some other recommendations.
