Powertec Workbench Leverage WB-LS

Reviews recommend the Powertec Workbench Leverage Gym WB-LS as a budget compromise, since it costs less than a regular home gym but is safer than lifting heavy weights without a spotter. You do need to provide the weights, and experts say it's not the best option for a beginner. However, this setup does let you lift large weights safely: 500 pounds on the press, 350 pounds on the lat pull-down, 300 pounds on the squat and 250 pounds on the leg lift. This is an advantage over most home gyms, whose 200-pound weight stacks limit what you can lift. The frame carries a lifetime warranty. If budget is a priority, reviews recommend the Weider Total Body Works 5000 (*Est. $175), a gym with resistance bars instead of weights.

We found two detailed single-product reviews of the Powertec Workbench Leverage Gym WB-LS -- both quite enthusiastic. Personal trainer Bret Spottke recommends it without noting any drawbacks, while the more detailed review at Home-Gym-Review.com notes two. Only a handful of owners rate and review this gym at Epinions.com, with one owner highlighting several criticisms worth reading before making a decision.