I like to make stuff myself because I find it enjoyable and interesting, especially if it will save me some money in the process.
For example, I showed you How to Make Your Own Sandbag a couple of years ago. It was very cheap and easy to make, and I still use it to this day.
Today I’m going to show you how to make your own weight lifting/powerlifting chains.
Here’s What You Need:
- Several 5 foot 5/8” chains (if you can’t find 5/8” chains, you can use 3/8” – they are smaller but will work). Please note that 6 foot would probably be better for squatting; 5 foot works well for bench pressing and deadlifting.
For the “Collars”:
- Two 1 foot 3/16” chains
- Two 3/16” carabiners
Five feet of 3/8” chain ends up weighing about 7-8 pounds. Ideally you would use 5/8” chains because they are bigger/heavier. I wasn’t able to find them at my local Tractor Supply, so I settled for the 3/8” chains. If/when I find 5/8” chains, I’ll let you know where.
Here’s a video to show you more:
So basically you buy as many chains are you want to use, and then thread them through the one foot 3/16” chains, attach the carabiners to one end, and then use those as the “collars”, as shown in the video.
So far I have used them for bench presses and deadlifts, and I have to say I really like the change of pace and the new “feel” of the movements.
This was my first time deadlifting with the chains. My dog doesn’t like them because they make too much noise. : )
Who should make their own chains?
Well, anyone who wants to add variety to their training program. I really think weight lifting chains are better suited for advanced trainees, simply because everyone else can just benefit from getting stronger with barbells, dumbbells, and bodyweight exercises.
If you are just starting to squat, deadlift, press, bench, and row, do yourself a favor and just get stronger before adding too many toys into the mix. Get strong now with barbells, dumbbells, and your bodyweight, and save the chains for later.
Can you use the chains for anything else?
Absolutely! The chains are great for adding resistance to bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, chin-ups, parallel bar dips, planks, etc.
Hell, they can also be used to scare people. Do you really think someone is going to mess with you if you have 20 plus pounds of chain wrapped around you?
So there you go – now you know how to make your own weight lifting chains. If you try it out, let me know what you think!