Atlas Stone Platform - Custom/DIY

Name: Atlas Stone Platform - Custom/DIY
Brand: Custom/DIY
Rating: 4.95 (6 reviews)

A home-built alternative to a commercial atlas stone loading platform, assembled from dimensional lumber (or pressure-treated lumber for outdoor use) and plywood rather than purchased as a finished product. The typical design uses a multi-bay frame with each bay set to a different loading height – commonly stepped in two-inch increments across a 48-60in range – so a lifter can progress the load-to-height challenge in a single session. Each bay’s top has a plate-sized hole routed into the plywood so a loaded stone stays centered instead of rolling off, and the open space underneath doubles as stone storage. Because it’s builder-assembled, quality and durability depend on execution: builders commonly reinforce the front-facing lip – where a stone repeatedly hits the platform on the way up – with extra timber, a glued double-layer (~1.5in) plywood top, and a rubber edge guard, and either bolt the frame to the floor/wall for stability or leave it freestanding.

Mounting	Freestanding, or anchored to the floor/wall with concrete screws or frame fixings for stability
Construction	Builder-assembled from dimensional lumber and plywood (pressure-treated lumber recommended for outdoor use)
Platform top	Plywood with a barbell-plate-sized routed hole per bay to keep the loaded stone centered
Stone storage	Open space underneath the frame, sized to the largest stone in use (commonly ~24in diameter)
Top thickness	Commonly a glued double layer of 3/4in plywood (~1.5in total) for added strength
Bay configuration	Commonly 2-4 bays, each at a different loading height
Recommended add-on	Rubber edge guard (e.g. repurposed floor mat) on the front lip to absorb repeated stone impacts
Typical height range	48in-60in across bays, usually stepped in 2in increments

What is a Strongman?

Strongman equipment trains raw, functional strength through odd-object lifting, carrying, and loading — atlas stones, yokes, farmer’s handles, sleds, logs, and tires — rather than the fixed, balanced resistance of a barbell. It’s a fit for lifters who’ve plateaued on conventional strength training and want to build the grip, bracing, and full-body coordination that competition strongman and functional fitness demand, or who simply want the most direct training carryover to real-world lifting and carrying tasks. Most pieces are bulky and some (tires, natural stones) are sourced or repurposed rather than bought outright, so plan for storage space and, in a few cases, DIY sourcing as part of owning this equipment.

How it compares

	Atlas Stone Platform - Custom/DIY	Dinnie Ring Set	Natural Stone - Custom/DIY	APE FITNESS Workout Sandbags
GymRadar rating	4.95/5	4.93/5	5.0/5	5.0/5
Price		$60.00		$49.99
Mounting	Freestanding, or anchored to the floor/wall with concrete screws or frame fixings for stability
Construction	Builder-assembled from dimensional lumber and plywood (pressure-treated lumber recommended for outdoor use)	Hand-forged by blacksmiths at Lockhart Ironworks, Logan, Ohio
Platform top	Plywood with a barbell-plate-sized routed hole per bay to keep the loaded stone centered
Stone storage	Open space underneath the frame, sized to the largest stone in use (commonly ~24in diameter)
Top thickness	Commonly a glued double layer of 3/4in plywood (~1.5in total) for added strength
Bay configuration	Commonly 2-4 bays, each at a different loading height
Recommended add-on	Rubber edge guard (e.g. repurposed floor mat) on the front lip to absorb repeated stone impacts
Typical height range	48in-60in across bays, usually stepped in 2in increments

5.0/5 · 6 GymRadar reviews

Reviews by source

Expert	4.95/5	6 reviews
Youtube	4.3/5	3 reviews

This entry covers the DIY-built atlas stone loading platform rather than a single manufacturer’s SKU, so quality depends heavily on the builder. Functionality is the standout dimension: three independent YouTube builds converge on the same core design – a multi-bay frame at staggered heights (commonly 48-60in in two-inch steps), a routed center hole sized to a barbell plate so the stone can’t roll off, and open storage underneath for the stones themselves, all of which lets a lifter progress height and load in the same session. Build quality is workable but self-reported rather than independently verified: builders reinforce the front lip with extra timber and glued double-layer plywood tops (roughly 1.5in thick) specifically because that’s where stones repeatedly slam into the platform, and more than one builder calls simple single-layer designs a weak point without that reinforcement. Durability is the weakest dimension – there’s no long-term wear data, only builders’ own “overkill is good, it’s going to get put to the test” reasoning and a recommendation to nail down a rubber edge guard (old floor mats work) to blunt repeated stone impacts. Versatility is a genuine strength: bay count, height increments, and even permanent vs. movable mounting (screwed to a wall/floor or left freestanding) are all builder’s-choice.

+Functionality: staggered multi-height bays (commonly 48-60in in 2in steps) let a lifter progress stone height and load in one session (YouTube: Irish Strength)
+Functionality: a plate-sized routed hole in the top keeps the loaded stone centered instead of rolling off the platform (YouTube: Irish Strength)
+Value: framed as clearly cost-efficient versus buying a commercial platform outright, using standard dimensional lumber and plywood from a home-improvement store (YouTube: Arabian Gains)
+Versatility: bay count, height increments, and permanent (wall/floor-screwed) vs. movable mounting are all builder's-choice, and open under-platform storage doubles as stone storage (YouTube: Irish Strength, Buns and Biceps)
+Build quality: builders reinforce the front lip with extra timber and a glued double-layer (~1.5in) plywood top specifically at the point where stones repeatedly impact the platform (YouTube: Buns and Biceps)

−Durability: no independent long-term wear data exists -- only builders' own "overkill is good, it's going to get put to the test" reasoning, since the platform takes repeated heavy stone impacts (YouTube: Buns and Biceps)
−Build quality: quality is entirely dependent on the individual builder's execution rather than a consistent manufactured spec -- one build uses minimal single-layer bracing versus another's reinforced double-layer top (YouTube: Arabian Gains vs. Buns and Biceps)
−Durability: the front-facing lip takes the brunt of impact when a stone is rolled up onto the platform and needs a separate rubber edge guard (repurposed floor mats) to avoid damage over time (YouTube: Irish Strength)
−Functionality: no independent editorial or community review coverage exists for this generic DIY category -- all available signal is from build-tutorial videos rather than after-use reviews (knowledge base gap)