Cap Barbell OSG 300 Olympic 300lb Weight Set

Pros: Affordable and effective (when used properly and consistently!)
Cons: Cheap fit and finish. Not very pretty.

I purchased this weight set in Dec '04 after my membership with Gold's Gym finally ended (read my other review for that horror story). I had enough with commercial gyms, but I am a workout addict, so I decided to set up my own home gym. Although I ...

Pros: Sturdy, durable, functional
Cons: None

It's a few hundred pounds of iron. Not much to say about it. It works. The bar, the key element of the set feels high-quality, and is sturdy and functional. Iron doesn't really get much better than this. Unless you want fancy grip-plates or insanely expensive bumper plates.

The finish on the plates is durable, they don't smell, and they go on the barbell smoothly.

Free weights are the way to go, and even without a bench you can perform exercises for your entire body except for your chest.