Coop Helps Will Tennyson Build a $2,000 Temu Home Gym

^{We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. If you use our links to purchase something, we may earn a commission.}

POWERED BY

Welcome to Home Gym Club! Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

• Coop helps fitness influencer Will Tennyson build his home gym

• Reviewing the Sun Equinox sauna

• The ultimate protein powder guide

• A badass squat bar with an Olympian stamp of approval

• Plus: Our favorite deals of the week

Watch Party

Coop Helps Will Tennyson Build a $2,000 Temu Home Gym

When Will Tennyson emails you and says, “Fly to Canada—I’m building a $2,000 Temu home gym,” you don’t ignore it. You pack your bags, grab your emotional-support mug, and prepare to witness greatness… or so you think. Coop touched down north of the border, ready to do what he does best: deliver a brutally honest assessment.

Between walls coming down, lighting debates that get highly scientific, and a gear list that escalates fast, Will’s plot for a full-blown basement transformation got Coop’s gears spinning. Naturally, our gregarious founder couldn’t help himself, giving his upgrade recommendations, roasting bad ideas, and casually reminding Will that in a real home gym build, you have to think about everything from soundproofing to flooring to the terrifying question, “What if you get pinned under the bench?”

In this part home gym makeover, part Temu experiment, see whether Will’s bargain-basement build holds up under Coop’s careful inspection—and how quickly a “$2,000 gym” turns into a wall-knocking, sauna-and-soundproofing master plan.

A Message From FITAID

Tiny Gift, Big Daily Upgrade

Give the Gift of Feeling Good: 25% OFF Flavored Creatine Sticks

Looking for a thoughtful stocking stuffer? FITAID's made it easy for you. Our convenient and delicious Creatine Sticks are a simple way to elevate everyday routines and boost overall wellness. Creatine supports daily energy and mental clarity to help cut through the brain fog of the busiest time of the year. They're the perfect item for the person in your life who loves taking care of themselves -- or wants to start.

Give the gift of feeling good. Use code STICKSZN25 at checkout for 25% off Fuji Apple and Watermelon Rush 14ct Creatine Sticks.

Don't elf around, get your stocking stuffers TODAY --> SHOP NOW

Holiday offer ends 12/15.

Test Drive

Sun Home Equinox Review

If you’re ready to turn your post-workout recovery into a full-on, at-home wellness ritual, the Sun Home Equinox might be the perfect vessel to make that happen. This full-spectrum infrared sauna earned an impressive overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 from our team of experts, with our reviewer summing it up best:

“Literally zero complaints.”

Built from kiln-dried eucalyptus and loaded with modern comforts like a “killer” Bluetooth surround sound system and medical-grade chromotherapy lighting, it’s designed for those who want a premium sweat session without leaving the house. Most importantly, the Equinox shines with its stellar heat performance, warming up fast and holding its temperature incredibly well.

Is this premium-priced two-person sauna the right fit for your needs and budget? Check out senior staff writer Amanda Capritto’s full review to see whether the Equinox belongs in your sweaty recovery rotation.

Trainer’s Corner

The Ultimate Protein Powder Guide

Whether it’s stored on top of your fridge, stacked in grocery aisles, or sprinkled all over your social feed, protein powder is everywhere. Heck, you might even have a half-used tub quietly judging you from the back of your pantry. But what is protein powder, really?

Although it’s a broadly used term in the health and fitness industry, the truth is that protein powders are just as diverse as the clientele inside your local gym. But here’s what most people don’t realize: Different protein types digest, taste, mix, and support goals differently, including muscle building, appetite control, weight loss, and overall health.

To understand the full scope of this uber-popular supplement category, we enlisted the help of registered dietitian and longtime GGR contributor Sydney Lappe. By the time you reach the bottom of the container (or guide, in this case), you’ll be motivated to actually use your protein powder rather than let it sit on top of your fridge collecting dust.

Editor’s Pick

One Bar To Rule Them All

Written by: Caine Wilkes, Senior Staff Writer

Being a competitive Olympic weightlifter, I rarely use anything besides a weightlifting-spec barbell. Over the last couple of years, however, I've started using the heavily knurled REP Fitness Helios Squat Bar to help with my back squats. Sure, it’s a specialized bar lacking versatility, but I appreciate its high tensile strength of 200,000 PSI. Paired with a thick 32-millimeter diameter, the bar barely flexes until I'm at maximum weights.

I like the barbell's lack of flex because it feels more controlled at heavier weights while also forcing me to engage my posterior chain better; there's no catching any bounces with this bar. I think this focus on control with the Helios bar led to a personal record on my best one-rep back squat earlier this year—my first in nearly 10 years.

GGR Deal Zone

Welcome to the Deal Zone — where the gains are BIG and the prices are LOW. Each week, the GGR squad tracks down the best sales and promos on everything from strength and cardio equipment to supplements and recovery tools so you can stay on top of your game without breaking the bank.

Let us do the hunting so you can focus on the sweating.