Free weights offer many benefits for muscle and strength training workout routines. If you are investing in a home gym, (something we highly encourage you to do), then you should probably look at investing in a free weights set of your own. Most weight sets allow you to change the barbell weight load, making them a space-efficient option for home.

Generally the highest quality types of free weights are Olympic weight sets. The major physical difference between Olympic and standard weight sets is the size of the placement hole, which is larger in an Olympic set of weights. The larger hole makes for a more secure, sturdy and well balanced fit. An Olympic weights set is made of the best quality metal and unlike a standard set, the weights are completely guaranteed to be accurate. Generic brands aften turn out to weight slightly more or less than advertised.

Olympic free weights typically comes in a 300 lb standard set that includes the following items:

• (1) Olympic 7 foot Chrome Bar
• (2) 45 lb Plates (2) 35 lb Plates
• (2) 25 lb Plates (2) 10 lb Plates
• (4) 5 lb Plates (2) 2.5 lb Plates
• (2) Olympic Spring Collars

Free weights are used in official Olympic events like weight lifting. As the name suggests, the competitors in Olympic events use a standard Olympic weight set configuration when competing against each other.

The clean and jerk event and two handed snatch are two competitive Olympic events and require the bar be lifted from the floor to over a competitor’s head. The clean and jerk is a two-stage lift. It involves lifting the weights from floor to shoulder height in the first stage (the “clean” phase), followed by an explosive manouver to position the weights from shoulder to directly over the lifter’s head (the “jerk” phase). This lift is knows as the king of lifts because it is the weight lifting technique that results in more weight being lifted above the head than any other technique.

Of course free weights are not only useful to competitive weight lifters. They are used for general strength training and achieving more highly defined muscle tone or endurance when used in a lower intensity and more continuous way. Weight training can help you improve posture or enhance your performance in various sporting pursuits.

If you are seeking a powerful chest or abs that are rock-hard or perhaps wish to tone up your body from shoulders to legs or obtain lean, shaped triceps and biceps, a free weights set can help you achieve your goal from within the comfort and conveninence of your own home saving you costly gym membership fees.

If money is tight than you might find a cheap olympic weight set by purchasing a second hand set. Read our article on cheap exercise equipment for ideas on where to find the best discounted weight equipment.

Studies have proven that regular exercise can produce a dramatic increase in terms of health, lifestyle and general quality of life. We at FitnessSpaces.com consider one’s fitness to be the most important investment one can make and whether you consider Olympic weight sets or standard ones, a free weight set has it’s place in any home gym.

Many people think that to build strength and muscle requires expensive gym equipment that can only be found in a commercial gym. While this can undoubtably be effective, for those a little pressed for time and/or money can get excellent results from basic weight sets that and compact, adjustable and can be easily used in their home.

In fact you could go so far to say that a basic weight sets set is an essential addition to any home gym. A weights set, in it’s most basic form comprises of a collection of weight plates and a barbell. A weights set can either be an Olympic weight set or standard weights sets.

Olympic weight sets have standard components that includes a 7 foot barbell and weight plates ranging from 2.5 lb, right up to 100 lbs (sometimes more). Olympic sets tend to be higher quality than standard sets making them the better choice if you wish to acquire a free weight set that will last you virtually forever.

Some free weight sets include a dumbbell component as well. Dumbbells are smaller than a barbell and designed to exercise one arm at a time, or both arms using two dumbbells in sync. It is possible to purchase a dumbbell weight set as a seperate kit, or together with a barbell within the same kit. If you have more space and more money you might wish to consider a weight bench set on top of or instead of just a weight lifting set with only weight components. With a bench weight set you can perform additional exercises like bench presses and leg extensions. Advanced benches offer further variety, supporting convenient attachments such as lat-pulldown lever, pectoral attachments and squat rack.

If you are purchasing a weight set for your personal home gym use, you might consider looking for a set that features plastic coated weight plates. These can be a little bulkier than fully metal ones, restricting your ability to add more weights onto a barbell, but are less damaging to delicate floorboards when dropped.

Probably the first place you should go to when buying a weight set is your local gym store. If budget is a concern to you, then buying locally will save on shipping expenses, but truly cheap weight sets can usually be found buying second-hand. Again you probably want to stick to your local area. You could try your luck online too as some companys offer special shipping deals. Ebay and Craigslist are good places to do an online search as you can refine your search criteria to your local area with both of these websites.

Almost all your basic strength training can be performed with simple weight sets. If you are busy with work and don’t have the time to visit your gym on a regular basis, than you will be pleased to know that you can still stay in shape at your own convenience in a time-efficient way by working out with a basic weight set from home.