You don't need rogue fitness. You need gravity. Gravity is free. If you have $200 and a little hustle, you can build a gym that gets you just as jacked as a $5,000 setup.

The Strategy: "Sweat Equity"

You can't buy new iron plates for this price ($2/lb new). You have to scavenge or build.

The Shopping List

1. The Heavy Object: DIY Sandbag ($30)

You can't afford a barbell ($200+). So we build a sandbag.

• Buy: A surplus military duffel bag or heavy canvas laundry bag ($10). Check price on Amazon →
• Buy: 3 bags of Play Sand at Home Depot ($5 each = $15). Check price on Amazon →
• Buy: Duct Tape ($5). Check price on Amazon →
• Build: Put sand in heavy-duty trash bags (double bag). Tape them into "pills". Put pills in duffel bag. See our full DIY Sandbag Guide.
• Result: A 150lb shifting, awkward weight. Cleans, squats, carries, lunges. It is harder than a barbell.

2. The Suspension Trainer: DIY TRX ($25)

Do not buy the name brand ($150).

• Buy: two CAM buckle tie-down straps (automotive section) ($15). Check price on Amazon →
• Buy: two PVC pipe scraps for handles ($2).
• Build: Loop the straps over a pull-up bar or tree branch. Thread the PVC pipe onto the loops.
• Result: Fully adjustable ring rows, dips, curls.

3. The Cardio: Jump Rope ($10)

• Buy: A simple PVC speed rope. Check price on Amazon →
• Result: The most calorie-dense cardio known to man. 10 minutes of jumping = 30 minutes of jogging.

4. The Pull-Up Bar ($30)

• Buy: A door frame leverage bar (if renting) or build the pipe bar (if owning). Check price on Amazon →
• Result: The king of upper body development.

5. Remaining Budget ($105 spent. $95 left.)

Hit Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp.

• Search for: "Standard Weights" (1-inch hole). They are much cheaper than "Olympic Weights" (2-inch hole).
• People practically give these away. You can often find 100lbs of "cement filled" plastic weights and a spin-lock dumbbell handle for $50.
• Goal: Get two adjustable dumbbell handles and 80lbs of weight. Check price on Amazon →

The Resulting Gym

1. Heavy Compound: Sandbag Squats, Sandbag Deadlifts.
2. Upper Body Push/Pull: Pull-ups, Dips (on chairs), Pushups, Overhead Press (Sandbag).
3. Accessory: Dumbbell Curls, Lateral Raises (With the used weights).
4. Conditioning: Jump rope intervals.

Total Cost: ~$150 - $180. Capabilities: Elite fitness. Don't forget to protect your floor with horse stall mats.

Recommended Gear from This Article

Product	Best For	Price Range
Military Duffel Bag	Sandbag shell	$15-$25
Gorilla Duct Tape	Sealing filler bags	$5-$10
Doorway Pull Up Bar	Upper body strength	$25-$35
Speed Jump Rope	Cardio conditioning	$8-$12
Threaded Dumbbell Handles	Arm & shoulder work	$20-$30
Cam Buckle Straps	DIY suspension trainer	$15-$20