The Gray Matter Lab – V5
Last updated on April 30th, 2024 at 06:58 pm
The Gray Matter Lab – V5 is officially here. In V4 I mentioned, I didn’t think V5 would ever happen. Well, I was wrong. Very wrong.
I have been exclusively lifting from home since 2013. My gym started as a pipe, some hose clamps, and 100lbs of plates, and after a lot of changes, new equipment, used equipment deals, cleaning, refurbishing, painting, prepping, and more. We are here.
Links throughout may include Affiliate Links. These help fund the site at no expense to you.
What Is New
The biggest change for The Gray Matter Lab – V5 comes from the Inspire Fitness FT2 in place of the Powertec Levergym. Keep in mind, I LOVE the Levergym. It did awesome stuff for me for years. But with the way my gym is laid out, my wife and daughter using the equipment more, and the way my workouts are structured now, the FT2 opens up a lot of accessibility and options. So, Levergym is good, FT2 is simply better for our needs.
I ripped the built in attachment storage out of the FT2 and dropped in the custom monitor mount and keyboard/mouse tray. This is because I was going to use my Wall Control storage for my attachments and needed a place to set up the monitor and keyboard/mouse for the computer. I now have a full 6 boards for attachments and I think I finally own every cable attachment I’d been eyeing (plus some more).
This allowed me to move the mass storage to the other side of the garage and use both sides, maximizing space for all the fun toys. I was also able to leverage part of my Wall Control set up for my bands, chains, and various nick nacks.
Customization
Plate Snacks helped me customize my 9 bar holder which holds the more awkward bars, while the wall still adorns the bars like the EliteFTS compound does, weapons ready for war!
The Rogue Fitness R3 is now adorned with the Mutant Metals Snap Backs and UDA, as well as my custom paintwork on the J-Cups, Spotters, and Pins.
This version feels more welcoming, more balanced, and more efficient. Something about the flow works.
On the list is some more specialty bars, and a few aesthetic projects. You can see what I am contemplating in my Review Pipeline.
Is all of this necessary? Not at all. I made gains with far less. But I love it. And I’m lucky enough to be able to spend some of my disposable income on something that helps me be happy and healthy, and my family uses as well.
The Gray Matter Lab – V5 YouTube Tour
Full List of The Gray Matter Lab – V5 Equipment
This is about 98% of everything in the V5 gym. Not listed below are my weights which you can read all about in this VintageWeightsPGH interview. Flooring, which is Horse Stall mats and a DIY platform. Various wall accessories like flags and banners. And some odds and ends like shoes, my Spider Chalk, WARD Smelling Salts, and other nick nacks.
If I missed anything you want to know more about, or would like to request a review, let me know.
Rack & Attachments
| Item | Review Link | Other Details |
|---|---|---|
| Rogue Fitness R3 (w/ additional jcups, spotter arms, and safeties) | Link | |
| Mutant Metals Snap Back Rollers | Link | |
| Mutant Metals Ultimate Dip Attachment | Link | |
| Mutant Metals Hatfield Squat Handles | ||
| CFT Performance Roller J Cups | Link |
Bars
| Item | Review Link | Other Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ivanko OB-84 | ||
| Rogue Bella Bar | ||
| OSO Kid’s Bar | ||
| Texas Deadlift Bar | In Progress | |
| Rogue Log | ||
| Edge Fitness Systems Cambered Bar | Link | Edge no longer makes most of their bars |
| Edge Fitness Systems Rickshaw | Link | Edge no longer makes most of their bars |
| Bandbell Earthquake Bar | Link | |
| Rackable Curl Bar | ||
| Seal Row Bar | ||
| Strengthshop Knurled Fat Bar | ||
| Prime Fitness Super Squat Bar | Link | |
| Primal Armor Appalachian Bar | In Progress | |
| Intek Strength Neutral Grip Bar | In Progress |
Machines / Bigger Accessories
| Item | Review Link | Other Details |
|---|---|---|
| Inspire FT2 | In Progress | |
| Freak Athlete Nordic Hyper GHD | Link | |
| Booty Sprout | Link | |
| Body Solid Calf Block | ||
| Prime Squat Wedges | Code GGC saves 5% |
Cable Attachments & Cable Accessories
| Items | Review Link | Other Details |
|---|---|---|
| TK Star Larry Scott Triceps Bar | Included Here | |
| Triceps Ropes x 2 | ||
| Spud Inc Triceps Strap | Included Here | |
| APT Ankle Cuffs | ||
| American Barbell Rotating V Bar | Included Here | |
| MAG Handles – Close Supinate, Medium Supinate, Medium Pronate, Medium Neutral, Mid/Wide, Wide | Link | |
| Mutant Metals Jack Hammer | Included Here | |
| Iron Grip Twist Yo Wrist | Included Here | |
| BWTG Canonball Grips | Included Here | |
| Trak Handles | Included Here | |
| Prime Fitness Kaz Handles (Small) | Included Here | Code GGC Saves 5% |
| Prime Fitness 4 n 1 Handles | ||
| Prime Fitness 3 n1 Handles – Small & Medium | ||
| Prime Fitness ROT-8 Handles | Code GGC Saves 5% | |
| Prime Fitness Spreader Bar | Code GGC Saves 5% | |
| American Barbell Chin Up Handle | Included Here | |
| Troy VTX SupraCurl | Included Here | |
| Troy VTX Butterfly | Included Here | |
| Rogue Dog Bone | ||
| Rogue Pull-Up Globe | ||
| Various Inspire Fitness Attachments | ||
| Gorilla Strength 2 Cable to 1 Cable Adapters (Wide and Close) | ||
| Performance Pins x 4 | Link | Code GGC Saves 10% |
| Fat Gripz | ||
| Gym Pins x 2 |
Storage
| Item | Review Link | Other Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wall Control | Link | Wall Control Bundle Use Code GGC to save 10% |
| Inspire 3 Tier DB Rack | ||
| Archon 9 Bar Vertical Storage | ||
| Husky Mass Storage | Tons of options on Amazon like this, this, and this | |
| Maxicam Olympic Weight Tree |
Everything Else
📌Want to SEE and VOTE on what I’m going to review next? Check out the Review Pipeline!
🏅 Own a home gym? Like to save money? Check out my full list of discount codes.
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Joe Gray
My name is Joe Gray - aka Gray Matter Lifting - and I've been lifting at home since 2013. In that time I've built a badass gym, deadlifted over 600lbs, helped grow r/Homegym to over 1 Million subscribers, created the Garage Gym Competition and written a ton of posts here on this site. I love the Garage Gym Community... If you do too, I hope you stick around.
