We all know the benefits of keeping an active lifestyle, both for our physical and mental health. Your local gym is full of happy exercisers who come once a week, or people who train every day. What many people lack in a gym is sometimes the opportunity to train spontaneously and to be outdoors while they do it. One way to get around this is to create your own outside gym.
This is easier than you may think. Building your outdoor gym may feel like a big project that requires a lot of digging, and lots of concrete to stabilise the equipment – and above all, it sounds expensive. But with the help of ground screws, you do not need to dig or use concrete. So creating a foundation for your equipment can be not only quick but also cost-effective.
How do you build an outdoor gym?
The first step is to choose a good place in your garden for your outside gym. If you use a ground screw as your foundation you can place your foundations on most soils, so you’re not restricted where you put your equipment. You also do not have to dig up large stones or anything else that is in the way. It can be useful to make a drawing of where you want to place your outdoor gym. Decide what equipment you want and what materials you want to use. Measure carefully so that you get a sense of what the gym will look like and how much space it will take up. If you plan well, you can use minimal equipment for many types of exercise.
You do not need a special surface, but the grass will wear out and it will easily become slippery and muddy. You can either lay gravel, place the gym on asphalt or perhaps lay tiles where you stand when using the gym equipment. Remember not to place the gym too close to trees and shrubs as they grow over the years and may be in the way of future training. As we live in a place of varying weather conditions, you may want to consider some shelter from the elements also.
Choose the best materials
When you are going to build an outdoor gym at home, you do not need all the exercise machines that are in a regular gym. Use what nature has to offer and construct a gym from coarse timber, metal pipes and other wooden materials. It gives you the same training effect as expensive gear. You can buy most exercise equipment made from metal, but keep in mind that they rust over time. If you choose treated wood instead, you can make equipment that is both durable and environmentally friendly. Wood also blends better into the environment, and for a more sustainable result, you can use recycled material.
The foundation for the outdoor gym should be solid posts that are securely grounded to withstand a lot of use. If you choose to build an outdoor gym with ground screws, you get a strong foundation without destroying your garden. The damage is minimal because no heavy machinery or equipment needs to be used. However, it is important that you have a clear idea of what your outdoor gym should look like so that the ground screw is placed in the right place. If you want to build your gym on asphalt, there are no problems. The ground screw also attaches through asphalt.
Ideas of equipment for outdoor gym
To give you some inspiration when it comes to different training equipment that you can build, here are some of our best ideas to utilise your outdoor gym:
- FOR DIPS – You can create a smart training tool for dips with the help of two logs. Set them relatively tight and drill holes at the same height in each log. If you drill several holes at different heights, the whole family can train to lift their own weight. The poles are then easy to move.
- BENCH PRESS – Here too logs work well. Attach a tube between the logs that you use to lift them. The rear end of the logs is then attached to two standing posts using a pipe. The tube goes through the lifting poles and the standing pillars like a hinge. Build a wooden stand that they rest on when not in use, which is about 30-40 cm high. Make a wooden reclining plate in front. You can also use the logs for squats if you drill holes higher up on the posts where the logs are attached.
- MONKEY-BAR – Make a square frame at the top of four posts. Use metal pipes that you thread into pre-drilled holes between the upper logs in the frame so that it becomes like a horizontal ladder. You can also attach hoists and ropes with weights to the frame to be able to train to lift. If you have children, it is also a perfect frame to hang a couple of swings in.
- SIT-UPS – Attach a wider board either to the frame to the monkey bar or make a similar position as to the bench press where you can vary the height to be able to do sit-ups at different angles. If you make a stand with different heights, you can also use it for back lifting.
- STEPS – Build a staircase of logs to train your legs. If you want to combine the training equipment, you can use it with a board and get a good position for sit-ups.
- CREATE THE OUTDOOR SPACE AS AN EXERCISE PATH – If you spend a little extra time on the planning, it is easy to make an exercise track that you can use for training or just for the children to have some fun. Build a larger frame and hang climbing ropes, and Roman rings, make ladders and attach other training equipment to it, which can also function as a circular gym. It will be a compact gym but with many different functions.
When you use ground screws to anchor your equipment, you can start building your gym as soon as the ground screw is in place. No waiting time for the concrete to dry and no wasted effort on digging. You simply attach your posts to the brackets on the ground screw and then build. If you ever get need to move, it is easy to dismantle with minimal damage to your garden.
If you would like more information on how Stop Digging ground screws can help you build your own outdoor gym, please feel free to get in contact with us at: SALES@STOPDIGGING.CO.UK or 020 3970 3979
