Building a Home Gym in a Small Condo Room: Xavier’s $10,750 Setup

Do you dream of having a home gym that fits perfectly into your small condo or apartment? Xavier’s incredible home gym transformation is here to inspire and guide you on your fitness journey!

Meet Xavier, a top firm investment advisor who works too much and tries to balance fitness and work. He is a former college football athlete and his passion for training led him on a quest to build his dream gym right in the comfort of his 136 sq. feet guest room.

The Story Behind Xavier’s Condo Gym

Xavier’s fitness journey began with a desire to train at the level he wanted, without restrictions. Commercial gyms couldn’t meet his requirements, often lacking the necessary equipment and prohibiting Olympic lifts. Frustrated with gym closures during the pandemic, Xavier decided it was time to take matters into his own hands.

How To Build a Home Gym In a Condo: Xavier’s Advice

The biggest advice, if you plan to build a gym in a condo or apartment, do not spare expenses on flooring and noise isolation. That way, you won’t upset your neighbours or damage anything, and you’ll have all the space you need to rock those workouts.

I did a lot of research for weeks and looked at noise data and also how I’d set it up without breaking the bank. I found that 1” rubber mat and noise-cancelling and vibration-absorbing underlay would work best.

Also, keep it simple. I feel free weights are the best because you have the most versatility and you will keep the gym uncluttered. You’ll be able to enjoy a high-quality workout even if you are lacking space. In a house or a garage, do whatever you want if you want to save money.

Over the course of three years, I gradually built my condo gym, starting with basic equipment like resistance bands and eventually adding a bench and powerblocks for versatility. As I wanted to focus more on upper body exercises, I invested in a hoist fitness tree since I couldn’t install a pull-up bar elsewhere.

However, I decided to take it a step further and create a complete gym. I transformed my guest bedroom into the gym, but the real challenge was determining the right dimensions and how everything would fit together.

To tackle this, I experimented with the equipment and random objects to visualize the floor space they’d occupy. Once I had the measurements and optimized the layout, I searched for compact equipment and was thrilled to find Rep Fitness, which offered customizable solutions that perfectly fit my needs.

Home Gym Equipment

• Rack: REP PR-4000 $3,230
  • 6 posts 30” cross members and 93” height
  • Lat pull down
  • Weight horns
  • 2 pairs of rep j-Cups
  • Crash pads
  • Pin-pipe safeties
  • Land mine attachment
  • Safety straps
  • Leg roller attachment
  • Front foot stabiliser
  • Band pegs
  • Multi grip pull up bar
  • Rep spotter arms $150
  • Cable attachments (performance package) $115
• Bench:
  • Rogue fold up utility bench $320
  • Hoist Fitness 7 position folding bench $500
• Barbells:
  • REP Gladiators mx barbell $300
  • Bells of Steel multi purpose barbell 200$
  • Rogue Monster Lite barbell storage $68
• Weight Plates: Rogue urethane plates 390 lbs $1,458
• Dumbbells:
  • Power Block adjustable dumbbells 125 lbs original $700
  • Rogue power block cart $565
• Cardio: Ascend magnetic Spinning bike $300
• Bells of steel 6 in 1 plyo box 376$
• Hoist fitness tree $455
• Flooring: Armour Rubber impact tiles $2,000

Total Home Gym Cost = $10,750

Xavier’s Fitness Journey:

My fitness journey has been a rollercoaster of challenges and accomplishments. Initially opposed by my mother, I started football training at 17 and quickly excelled, thanks to my natural size and strength. Overcoming fitness deficiencies, I joined a gym and made impressive gains, eventually landing a spot on the top Canadian championship team. However, the weight gain for my new position led to knee problems and injuries, but I persisted, bouncing back stronger.

After enduring setbacks and surgeries, I pushed myself back into peak physical shape, dominating in rugby at the university level. Tragically, an accident caused a stroke, but I persevered through rehabilitation and regained my fitness peak. The COVID-19 pandemic further tested me, but I continue training for health and athletic performance. My passion for fitness remains unwavering despite the obstacles I’ve faced.

Condo Home Gym Photos