Home Gyms: Reviews

The Body-Solid EXM1500S is relatively affordable for a home gym, but reviewers say this value-priced machine provides an excellent workout. It has a single weight stack totaling 160 pounds, and the sturdy frame can… accommodate numerous exercises like chest presses, leg curls, tricep pull-downs, ab crunches, seated rows and bicep curls. A lifetime warranty is another plus. Reviewers are impressed with the gym's smooth operation, and the relatively small footprint makes it a good choice for those with limited space, owners say. The EXM1500S home gym is solid and durable, and Body-Solid receives a number of compliments for its responsive customer service. On a negative note, the assembly process can be frustrating; several users say the gym takes between four and six hours to put together because the instructions aren't always clear. Most reviewers are happy with the 160-pound weight stack, but advanced lifters say they need more weight.

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For serious weight lifters, the BodyCraft X2 home gym has two 200-pound weight stacks and can accommodate two users simultaneously. Other features include an adjustable-position cable system for dumbbell-type exercises… and an abdominal crunch station. Unlike the Body-Solid EXM1500S, the BodyCraft X2 has a leg press with up to 400 pounds of resistance. Even though it's expensive, reviewers say this high-quality BodyCraft home gym is an investment that will pay off for years to come. It's covered by a lifetime warranty, and the substantial weight stacks ensure you won't outgrow the gym as your fitness improves. Not surprisingly, the BodyCraft X2 is heavy and bulky, and some reviewers are surprised at just how much space it occupies in their home. Like the Body-Solid EXM1500S home gym (*Est. $950), the assembly process is complicated; the BodyCraft X2 Family Xpress includes more than 150 individual parts.

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The Bio Force 1.7 is a unique home gym that uses nitrogen-charged cylinders to provide resistance instead of weight plates. Reviewers say the gym's resistance is smoother than other weightless home gyms like those from… Bowflex, and the resistance is more consistent from the beginning to the end of each exercise. Weight can be adjusted from 10 to 170 pounds, and reviewers say the sliding dial makes doing so easy. The Bio Force home gym includes equipment for leg curls, lat pull-downs, bicep curls and more. Most reviewers are impressed with the Bio Force's value and ease of use, and unlike other home gyms, the assembly manual is clear and easy to follow. However, some users accustomed to working out with weight-based machines say the Bio Force 1.7 just doesn't feel as effective. The Bio Force 1.7 also has a shorter warranty (only one year) than other home gyms like the Body-Solid EXM1500S (*Est. $950).

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Among budget home gyms, the Weider Total Body Works 5000 gets very good user reviews. Most owners are very happy with the gym as long as expectations are kept in check. The Weider Total Body Works gym uses resistance… bands for up to 50 pounds of weight. These are connected to an incline bench, so you can make the exercises harder or easier by adjusting the angle of incline. Reviewers are impressed with the gym's overall value, and most say resistance is smooth and provides a decent workout. Assembly is also pretty straightforward. Even so, most users say this is a good home gym for beginners only, since the 50 pounds of resistance won't do much for advanced weight lifters. There's also a user weight limit of 250 pounds. We saw a few complaints that components can break easily (the Weider Total Body Works 5000 comes with a 90-day warranty), and some users would like to see more options for lower-leg exercises.

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