Best home gym
- Excellent value
- Sturdy construction
- Lifetime warranty
- May not be enough weight for avid weightlifters
- Frustrating assembly process
- No leg press
You can spend thousands of dollars on a home gym, but reviewers say the reasonably priced Body-Solid EXM1500S is a great value. It features one 160-pound weight stack with 10-pound weight increments, and it comes with lifetime warranty coverage on all components. The EXM1500S provides a variety of workout stations, including chest press and leg extensions/curls. The gym's high-pulley station permits exercises like lat pull-downs and cable crossovers, while its mid-pulley station can be used for abdominal crunches. The Body-Solid home gym also includes a low-pulley station for seated rows, upright rows and cable curls.
Reviewers say this gym is sturdy and durable, and the weights move smoothly with consistent resistance. The Body-Solid's footprint is relatively small, according to reviews, so it's a good choice for those with limited living space. However, nearly every reviewer acknowledges that the assembly process for this gym is horribly frustrating; it takes between four and six hours on average. Most reviewers are satisfied with the workout provided by the EXM1500S, but more experienced weightlifters may want to look for a double-stack home gym. The BodyCraft X2 Family Xpress (*Est. $4,600) is a well-reviewed choice, and it includes a pair of 200-pound weight stacks as well as a leg press.
The Body-Solid EXM1500S home gym is reviewed at a number of fitness websites, but most of these evaluations are anonymous and make it hard to determine who is behind the analysis. As a result, user feedback is the most valuable source of information on this home gym. Amazon.com, Epinions.com and Buzzillions.com all have some reviews posted for this model.
Our Sources
1. Amazon.com
The Body-Solid EXM1500S gets a 4.5-star average overall rating from nearly 40 reviewers posting at Amazon.com. Users say the gym is sturdy and solid, and they're impressed with the value and range of exercises. However, assembly is a pain -- taking between four and six hours, according to reviews.
Review: Body Solid EXM1500S Single Stack Home Gym, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of April 2012
2. MadeMan.com
MadeMan.com, a men's-interest website, picks the Body-Solid EXM1500S as one of the top five home gyms. Editors say it has enough weight for most users, and the gym's pulley system will help you work different muscle groups.
Review: 5 Best Home Gym Machines, Aric Mitchell, April 17, 2010
3. Exercise Equipment Expert.com
Bret Spottke, a certified personal trainer, reviews a number of exercise machines, including the Body-Solid EXM1500S. Spottke recommends this home gym saying it's versatile and durable, plus it won't take up too much space.
Review: Body Solid EXM1500S, Bret Spottke, Not Dated
4. Epinions.com
Only seven owners review the Body-Solid EXM1500S home gym at Epinions.com as of this writing, but it receives above-average ratings. Although most of the reviews are several years old, users praise the Body-Solid's value and construction quality. Some advanced exercisers think the 160-pound weight stack is too light, though.
Review: Body Solid EXM1500S Multi-Station Gym, Contributors to Epinions.com, As of April 2012
5. Buzzillions.com
The Body-Solid EXM1500S receives an average overall rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5) from 16 reviewers at Buzzillions.com. Owners are very pleased with their workouts using the EXM1500S home gym, and several praise Body-Solid's customer service. As seen in other reviews, a few owners complain about assembly, however.
Review: Body Solid EXM 1500 Home Gym, Contributors to Buzzillions.com, As of April 2012
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Best Reviewed
Home Gyms
- Best home gym Body-Solid EXM1500S *Est. $950
- Best multi-station home gym BodyCraft X2 Family Xpress *Est. $4600
- Best compact home gym Bowflex PR1000 *Est. $450
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