It's one thing to build a garage gym. It's another to know the best ways to use it to achieve your goals. In this podcast I talk about the challenges of knowing what kind of training to do and launch the brand new YouTube channel: GymCrafter Training!!!

Featured in this video:

The GymCrafter Training Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GymCrafterTraining

Pain Free Performance Book - https://amzn.to/46n33dG

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

0:00 Intro

00:31 What To Do In the Gym?

10:48 Are We Helpful?

13:20 GymCrafter Training is Live!

13:47 Who It’s For

18:25 What’s on the Channel?

25:42 Coming Soon

34:22 Monetized?

36:35 Who Should Check It Out?

38:20 Wrap Up

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

How do you make sure you spend your home gym dollars wisely and build a gym you'll actually use and love for years to come? Try the toolbox method of building a garage gym!

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

0:00 Intro

1:30 Wood Shop

4:00 The Projects

7:20 The analogy

9:00 The basic toolbox

13:15 Job specific tools

14:49 Enthusiasts

16:34 Pendulum squat

19:29 bench vs rack

21:50 Smith machines

28:04 Results vs fun

32:16 What are you building?

36:52 Rent or buy?

42:27 Quality

45:38 Wrap up

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

The explosion in home and garage gym companies has brought some very cool products. It's also brought a lot of middle of the road, "me too" type stuff. In this episode, I cover when that stuff is good and when it's maybe not.

Mentioned in this video:

Rep Badlands Bar - https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-badlands-bar/

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

0:00 Intro

1:41 Home Gym Con Vendors

9:24 Comparing products

12:03 Vander???

14:53 What is “just fine”

20:48 Drawbacks to “just fine”

22:45 Customer service

23:16 Dangers of comparison

26:10 The “just fine” customer

30:42 A great deal!!!

34:10 When it’s not just fine

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

It's one thing to build a great garage gym; it's another to get great results from that gym. Even if you've had your gym for a while, plateaus can be depressing and hard to break. In this episode, I'll give you 10 ways to get a new level of results from the gym you already have!

0:00 Intro

3:00 Hire a coach

10:27 Work a program

17:36 Leave life outside the gym

22:08 Consistency

28:42 Expanding your training

37:00 Sell your old stuff

43:34 Make every rep count

49:14 Change your training

56:05 Go minimalist

1:03:52 Supplement break

1:10:39 Wrap up

Mentioned in this video:

Dr. John Rusin Coaching - https://www.drjohnrusincoaching.com

MAPS Anabolic - https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/maps-anabolic/

MAPS RGB Bundle - https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/maps-super-bundle/

Athlene X Programs - https://athleanx.com/the-training

Jeff Nippard Programs - https://jeffnippard.com/collections/all

Lebe Stark YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lebe-stark

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

If a reviewer is making money from their reviews, can those reviews be trusted? What things could reviewers do better to be more trustworthy? On this episode of the podcast, I dive deep into this topic and ask for your feedback too!

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

0:00 Intro

1:05 GymCrafter Update

7:42 I hired a coach!

8:24 The new channel

12:07 YT Reviews

15:51 Free products

33:50 Free trips

51:32 Pay to play reviews

1:09:51 Buyer beware

1:13:30 Affiliate links

1:30:51 The solution

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

Wouldn't it be great to know you were in the "good old days" while you were actually in them? Instead of looking back fondly, you could enjoy them more. In this episode, I make a case that for garage gyms, that's exactly where we are right now!

Mentioned in this video:

Home Gym Con: https://homegymcon.com

Apex Bench: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/apex-bench/

ABX Bench: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/freak-athlete-abx/

Hyper Pro: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/freak-athlete-hyper-pro/

Rep Smith: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-smith-machine/

Force C20: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/force-usa-c20/

Rep Altitude System: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-altitude/

1,000 True Fans: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

0:00 Intro

2:00 Home Gym History

5:45 CrossFit Influence

9:05 The ‘Rona

10:30 Commercial Gear Traits

13:20 Build Quality

15:26 Multi Function

17:07 Niche Products

18:44 High Dollar Experiments

20:28 Better Prices

21:45 Narrow Appeal

23:30 The Golden Age?

25:19 New Products

30:59 Poised For Growth

32:38 Wrap Up

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

In the last couple of weeks, Vulcan Strength has sued the Gluck's Gym You Tube channel for defamation because of a bad review. In this episode I dive deep into this lawsuit to dig out some lessons for us as consumers. Oh, I also weigh in pretty vocally on what I think of this whole thing!

Mentioned in this video:

Summary of suit: https://ppc.land/fitness-equipment-maker-files-defamation-suit-against-youtuber/

Pdf of actual case: https://ppc.land/content/files/2025/11/gov.uscourts.ncwd.121655.1.0.pdf

Garage-Gyms review: https://www.garage-gyms.com/vulcan-talos-power-rack-dual-stack-multi-function-cable-trainer-review/

No Fate 24/7 Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc6AlmLW5gE

Gluck’s Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUmEEvx5MM0&t=2s

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

0:00 Intro

1:26 Disclosure & qualifications

3:37 Lawsuit summary

7:11 My opinion

9:33 Vulcan’s reaction

15:18 Consumer lessons

16:04 Written reviews

27:05 Intentionally bad reviews?

33:37 Learning from negative reviews

35:44 Don’t trust those who don’t train

41:21 They actually sent this for review?

43:44 Company research

45:24 Pay to play

59:19 Review sites

1:04:59 The impact on YouTube reviewers

1:09:10 Types of reviews you can trust

1:15:48 What I do to be trustworthy

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

"Buy once, cry once" is a saying you hear alot from people buying gear for their garage gym. But what does that acutally mean? What do you get when you spend more money? In this episode I cover many of the things that come with higher priced products and why you might want them.

Mentioned in this video:

Rep Fitness Ares 2.0: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-ares-2-0/

Fringe Sport Dane 2.0: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/fringe-sport-dane-2/

Synergy Custom Fitness: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/synergy-custom-fitness/

Badlands Bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-badlands-bar/

Black Canyon Bar: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-black-canyon-bar/

Eclipse Grips: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/eclipse-grips/

ATX Details Matter: https://youtu.be/bxbVSZpuerU?si=882fFce2OWsG6A5N

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

0:00 Intro

2:30 Overview

7:34 Customer service

12:50 Shipping

17:14 Instructions

20:54 Finish

24:24 Tolerance

28:42 Build quality

36:53 Details

45:26 Wrap up

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

Get 5% off anything at Force USA, including their new 3x3 line: forceusa.com/gymcrafter

With almost 26k views and 600 comments, the videos I published about Force USA's new 3x3 line have had me thinking and comparing them to the competition. In this podcast, I answer the most asked questions and share how your input has changed my mind about these products!

Gymcrafter main affiliate page: GymCrafter.com/partners

Mentioned In This Video:

Save 5% on Force USA: ForceUSA.com/GymCrafter

C20: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/force-usa-c20/

FTR: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/force-usa-ftr/

Tandem Tower: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/force-usa-tt/

Sliding Bench: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/force-usa-sliding-bench/

Bells of Steel Oblivyon Tower: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/bos-3x3-tower/

Get Rxd Phoenix Tower: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/get-rxd-phoenix/

Rep Athena: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-athena/

Rep Ares 2.0: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/rep-ares-2-0/

Swivel Shackles: https://amzn.to/47tk4CJ

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to keep making videos like this for you as often as I do!

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

At some point in our lives, we have to start training for our "healthspan". In other words, will we be capable people long into our older years? In this episode, I cover training for more than just size and strength, and how we can use our garage gyms to live well for a long time!

Mentioned In This Video:

Dr. Mike vs. Special Forces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60vVC-L-KBY

Live Lean RX: https://liveleanrx.com

MAPS 40+: https://gymcrafter.com/recommends/maps-40-plus/

Functional Power Training: https://drjohnrusin.com/product/fpt/

Pain Free Performance Book: https://amzn.to/4hkBh5R

6 Phase Dynamic WarmUp: https://drjohnrusin.com/the-perfect-10-minute-warm-up/

Outlive Book: https://amzn.to/48Bda0l

OVR Jump Training: https://ovrperformance.com/collections/ovr-jump

Partners & affiliates: GymCrafter.com/partners

Website: GymCrafter.com

Newsletter: GymCrafter.com/Subscribe

Insta: Instagram.com/gymcrafter

Review Guidelines: GymCrafter.com/review-guidelines/

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

5:41 6 Areas To Train Weekly

14:20 Cautionary Tales

19:15 My Markers

24:32 The Importance of a Plan

29:50 Recommended Programs

33:31 Warm Up Tools

36:23 Cardio vs. Conditioning Tools

47:16 Committing to Conditioning

48:30 The Importance of VO2 Max

52:24 Athleticism

*GymCrafter is viewer-supported. I may earn a commission if you purchase through my links. A huge thank you to anyone who helps out in this way. It's what allows me to continue to make videos like this for you as often as I do!

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases