Building a Powerlifting Sanctuary: Mark’s $6,900 Home Gym
- Discover Mark Frascone’s $6,900 Home Gym: Perfect Equipment Selection and Value Maximization for Powerlifters
- Building an Affordable Powerlifting Haven: Mark Frascone’s Home Gym Ideas Showcase Smart Equipment Choices and Budget-Friendly Tips

Mark Frascone is a 64-year-old fitness enthusiast and powerlifter from Eagan, Minnesota. With a passion for lifting and a desire to train for something, Mark decided to build his own home gym.
After retiring from an IT job in information security, Mark found himself spending more time in the gym, leading him to pursue powerlifting competitions.
Choosing the Right Equipment
Mark’s experience as a personal trainer, when he was in college, helped him develop a clear idea of the types of equipment he wanted in his home gym. He began his search by looking for a power rack that would fit into the limited space he had available. After much research and consideration, Mark found a power rack that fit his needs and provided the safety he required.
Maximizing Value
Mark’s desire to create a home gym that fit his needs and budget led him to make some smart decisions. Rather than spending $3K on a dumbbell set, he opted for a couple of extra spin-on dumbbells with pancake weights for under $1K. He can load each dumbbell up to 100 pounds, making them a valuable addition to his home gym.
To save money on Olympic plates, Mark scoured Craigslist and purchased plates from four different sources, ultimately ending up with a nicely matched set for around $1.25 per pound.
Lessons Learned
In hindsight, Mark acknowledges that he could have traded his old plates with Minnesota Muscle and bought everything from them. However, he is thrilled with his home gym setup and is preparing for his first powerlifting competition in a few months, where he will compete in the master’s III raw division.
Home Gym Photos









Home Gym Equipment
- Power rack: Omni Fitness Beta Power Rack with Lat Pulldown $1,750
- Bench: Omni Fitness Northstar flat/incline bench $550
- Weight plates:
- Olympic plates 800 lbs used Hampton Fitness from Craigslist $1,000
- Walmart Standard 300 lbs pancakes for DB $450
- Omni Fitness Alpha Series Weight Tree $175
- Rower Concept2 mod D Rogue Fitness $1,000
- Misc gear (barbells, drop pads, etc.) $600
- Lighting 4 Metalux 4’ shop lights Home Depot $170
- Mirrors 4 4x6x1/4 shatterproof mirrors installed by local guy $800
- Flooring: Fleet Farm horse stall mats for 184 sq ft (8 4x6x3/4) $400
Total Home Gym Cost = $6,900
❓Questions? Need Help?
Got any questions for us or the home gym owner? Need a hand or some sick advice on setting up your home gym?
Hit us up at hi@gymnirvana.com , we’re all about home gym ideas!
✉️ Newsletter – Click to join the community!
< Home



