Bars and Benches

Gray Matter Lifting

We dropped the last video we will tackle for awhile, as we dive full steam ahead into the Adjustable Bench w/ attachments Showdown.

The BEST Barbell For Powerlifting

I’ve been asked countless times about barbells for powerlifting. Which I love answering questions, but some of them were flawed in their logic. This is where I typically decide to jump from answering one-off questions to making a full fledged video.

I cover barbells for Squats, Bench, and Deadlift, and ultimately tell you NOT to buy a new bar.

Adjustable Bench w/ Attachments Showdown Progress

I wrapped up the Wide Body Bench review last week. It isn’t officially published yet, but if you want a sneak peak, hit me with a reply and I’ll send it over.

Next up is the Prime Shorty Bench which I hope will be done shortly after this email hits your inbox. Gluck did a great job covering this bench in a video about a year ago, but oddly enough him and I see this bench fairly differently. I’m not entirely sure why, but this should be an interesting review to wrap up.

I dropped the original First Look at this bench long enough ago that I was still using my old camera, no lights, and doing things a little more old school. I’m really excited to share some official thoughts on this bench and the creativity that only Prime brings to the table.

After that, I’ll be tackling the Bells of Steel Buzzsaw 2.0. In testing so far I have managed to completely fill up the leg developer weight horn for leg extensions, hit a 300lb barbell bench, and do some fun stuff with the Preacher Curl attachment.

And we just posted the official Review Pipeline article for the Freak Athlete ABX.

I’m not positive what will come after that, but hopefully I’ll have some sneak peaks for you in the next Newsletter.

VOLTRA Update and Maintenance

I am preparing slowly for a video on the VOLTRAs for January, where I’ll be covering 2 full years of VOLTRA ownership. I’ve got some cool stuff prepped for this already, and just finished a chat this weekend that should bump it up another notch.

I had to finally perform my first round of maintenance on the VOLTRA, replacing my cables. This was fairly easy. Took about 30 minutes for the first one, but the second one had some hiccups. I ended up having to manually cut the cable down to size. No issues because of how it works, it’ll be perfectly secure and no problems at all. They really did a fantastic job of ensuring that this thing is locked and loaded.

The Spring Update gave us an Auto-Load Feature, which means that you can have your weight set, turn it off so you can get into position, hold tight for 3 seconds, and it’ll turn on the weight. VERY helpful for various hacks, DIYs, or exercises with an exaggerated stretch.

I snagged the Summer Update this weekend, which is freaking rad because it just gave us an Auto-Unload feature. So the exact opposite of the Auto-Load, when you finish a set and hold tight for 3 seconds, it’ll turn off the weight so you can safely dismount.

These are the kind of things that the VOLTRA does that NOTHING else can. And it keeps making me really excited to see how this is going to play out. You can check out the entire Summer Update right here. This includes a new rower function, which might just get me interested in some new toys as well.

Whats New In The Community?

ForceUSA hinted heavily about the new C20 at HomeGymCon, and then dropped some bombs during their AMA recently. Well they officially mentioned the launch, looking at Pre-Orders opening on September 8th.

From what I’ve heard and seen so far, this is promising to be the most decked out All-In-One rack ever made.

Ironmaster Sale

Ironmaster has 20% off their QuickLock system through the end of Friday 9/5. Use code: QUICK20 and if you can, use our link. https://graymatterlifting.com/Ironmaster

REP x Pepin Micro Gainz

We saw these at HomeGymCon… MicroGainz just released their new REP x Pepin add on plates.

Garage Gym Competition

It is September, which means we have a little less than 2 months to go for the Fall GGC. Hopefully you are plugging away, putting in the work, and using all that fancy gym equipment you got so you can put up some monster numbers.

Sponsor Highlight

There is a term to describe those that want a little more out of their home gym. More than just functional. Seeking gains, but turning the actual concept of owning a home gym into a hobby and passion itself. Home Gym Enthusiasts. You have them in every sector… people who ONLY buy their favorite brand.

Dudes with cars that can drive faster than any speed limit out there. People with specific tastes in cast iron pans, socks, you name it. For the home gym connoisseur it typically includes being focused on aesthetics and a custom yet functional build. Often created domestically, a lot of times by small shop manufacturing. No one does this better than Oak Club.

Prize Announcement

Oak Club is tossing up their KLO step (we have one) and a set of MAG Pins (we have like 10 or something stupid). This is a pretty killer prize because we end up using the KLO Step for a number of things. Step Ups, obviously, but also to reach tall stuff on the rack, get up for pull-ups for my daughter on her own, and other odds and ends.

Nutrition Basics From A Doctor

You voted during the last Pipeline Voting Survey, that the NUMBER ONE TOPIC to work on, was Nutrition For Powerlifters. So I went back to the drawing board and brought up an article I had set to the side before, as a starting point for this discussion.

This article is part of a series focused on Nutrition For Powerlifters. It is meant to be the first step you take in your diet journey towards bigger lifts.

Another way to look at it… Most diets are geared towards MAXIMIZING your results, which requires MAXIMUM investment. This is going to be a minimal effort plan, that will get you 80% of the way there.

And… it was written by a doctor, who is a GGC Coach. So yeah.

r/HomeGym

I love me a good used deal story. And this one resonates with me greatly. u/FoxyFilly snagged a killer deal on a Rogue Abram 2.0, and then had to get it onto the back patio and hilarity begins.

Upcoming AMAs

This might be the last AMA Warm-Up I do, and a great one to finish with… REP Fitness!

This week we have Bells of Steel stepping in for an AMA as another host backed out. They will be done by the time this email hits your inbox, so hopefully you check in during.

X-Mark is supposed to do one in October, but I haven’t heard anything from them. Freak Athlete is coming mid October, and Freedom Fitness coming late October.

One Last Thing…

At the beginning of 2025, we were sitting at just above 4k subscribers on YouTube. The goal was to hit 6k by end of the year. This weekend we crossed 6k with another 4 months left to go.

YouTube gives us some insights into the number of subscribers we are getting monthly, and right now it is just above 200. If we keep it rolling, we might be able to just barely cross 7k by end of 2025. Which means eyeing down that big 10k number is on the docket for 2026.

I’m already planning something for that. It won’t be a monster giveaway or anything, since I already give away so much stuff through the GGC. But I’m prepping something that I think will be pretty cool. I’ll be looking for some test subjects likely in early 2026. So keep your eyes peeled.