Home Gyms: Reviews

The Hoist V5 is the top-rated high-end gym, according to fitness equipment reviews. This home gym includes a lat pulldown bar, chest press and leg curl, along with a chest-high cable for a variety of core conditioning and… dumbbell-type exercises. The weight stack is 200 pounds. The leg press is an optional addition, which extends the width of the system by another 34 inches; without the leg press, the Hoist V5 home gym costs about $2,700. Hoist offers a lifetime warranty. While Outside Magazine calls this Hoist the "Cadillac of all-in-one weight-lifting machines," reviews say less expensive home gym equipment can also give you a good workout.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

If you have more than one fitness buff in your family, the BodyCraft X2 home gym accommodates multiple users with two 200-pound weight stacks, an adjustable-position cable system for dumbbell-type exercises and an… abdominal crunch station. There is also an optional hip station or knee raise/dip station. The leg press has a 2:1 weight ratio, allowing up to 400 pounds of resistance. Unlike the Hoist V5, this home gym doesn't have a pec dec (for working pectorals), and it takes up a lot more floor space (see dimension information in comparison chart below).

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Reviews say the BodyCraft Galena combines a solid multi-station gym with a compact design (58" x 72"). All of the Galena's features, which include an adjustable pec dec, lat pulldown bar, abdominal crunch station, leg… curl, low-pulley station and 200-pound weight stack, are accessible from one side, which allows the machine to easily fit into a corner, further saving space. There is also an optional leg press (*est. $300), which extends the width of the machine to 92". Like all BodyCraft machines, the Galena offers a lifetime warranty on both the frame and the parts.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

If you're a serious weight lifter, reviews say the Powertec Workbench is a combination between free weights and a home gym, primarily because you don't need a spotter and you can do squats. You will need to provide your… own weights, but you can lift large amounts: 500 pounds on the press, 350 pounds on the lat pulldown, 300 pounds on the squat and 250 pounds on the leg lift. An optional 200-pound arm curl is available. Home gym reviews say this isn't the best option for a beginner, and you'll have to factor in the additional cost of buying your own weights. Powertec offers a lifetime warranty on the frame and two years on parts.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

The Weider Max Ultra has undergone several name changes in the last few years; it was last called the Advantage, and before that, the Crossbar and Crossbow. Like the competing Bowflex home gym, the Max Ultra uses bendable… bars and cables instead of weight stacks. Home gym reviews say that while weight stacks provide for a smoother and more even movement, the Max Ultra's type of resistance (240 pounds, upgrades to 440 pounds) can still provide a good workout, though it may take some getting used to. A downside is that the warranty is only 90 days; an indicator from the manufacturer of relative quality.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse