🏋️ Total Eclipse of the Bar

Welcome to Home Gym Club! Did you get to watch the eclipse? Fun fact: Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was proven during a solar eclipse in 1919.

What’s in today’s newsletter:

• The best bargain barbells for your home gym.

• We’ve found pre-workout powders without that pesky itchiness.

• A strength coach reveals the best glute exercises.

• Our team reviews the improved Torque Anker 7 functional trainer.

Barbell Blast

10 Best Budget Barbells

A budget barbell doesn’t have to feel like a budget barbell. Plenty of equipment delivers on quality without requiring you to give up half your paycheck. Great news, considering that a barbell is the one piece of equipment you need to make some serious gains in your strength training journey.

We understand it can sometimes be difficult to find gym equipment at different price points, especially as more and more people build their home gyms and drive up demand for things like barbells.

We know barbells, so whether you’re a beginner or a lifetime lifter, we’re here to help you with our top picks for the best budget barbells.

Supps Corner

Best Pre-Workouts Without Beta-Alanine

Beta-alanine is one of those ingredients that you either love or hate. Although it’s known for enhancing muscular endurance, beta-alanine often causes itchy or tingling skin, which can be distracting or uncomfortable for some. That’s why we took the time to identify the best pre-workout without beta-alanine in various categories.

Our team of dedicated product testers has tried dozens of pre-workouts. They’ve considered taste, solubility, formulation, side effects, cost, and third-party testing to narrow down the top pre-workout supplements that don’t contain beta-alanine. Whether you’re a beginner, trying to lose weight, following a vegan diet, or want a pre-workout without beta-alanine that will give you superior pumps and electric energy, there’s something for you on our list.

Targeted Training

12 Best Glute Exercises

The glutes are one of your body’s largest muscle groups, responsible for stabilizing your pelvis, helping you stand upright, and extending your hips. You need them to sprint, pick heavy things off of the ground, and jump high (or as high as you can) during your pick-up game at the rec center. Even if you’re not a world-class athlete or elite powerlifter, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of incorporating targeted glute exercises into your routine.

We asked certified strength and conditioning specialist Jarrod Nobbe to assemble a list of the best glute exercises for firing up your backside during a warm-up and developing strength and size for your other lifts.

Version 7.0

Torque Anker 7 Functional Trainer Review

Coop asked, Torque listened: Back when Coop reviewed the Torque Anker 3, he was impressed but had a few major callouts that kept him from giving it his full endorsement. Torque implemented many of Coop’s suggestions, rolling them out into the Anker 7 — the next model in the Anker line.

The best functional trainers allow you to train nearly any muscle group with cables and pulleys, offering a new way to mix up your training if you’re used to free weights like barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells. In this Torque Anker 7 review, we’ll explain the important features to help you decide if this ultra-slim functional trainer is the right fit for your garage gym.

Quick Hits

Train Your Shoulders and Biceps Together

• Shoulders and biceps aren’t a common training split, so our experts explain why you should consider training them together.

• Fruit for muscle-building? We asked a registered dietitian to share which fruits can help you build more muscle.

• We tried LMNT Electrolytes: Is this “Salty AF” hydration aid for you or Na?