Home Gyms

As for more traditional home gym equipment that uses a weight stack, Outside Magazine calls the Hoist V5 (*est. $3,400) "the Cadillac of all-in-one weight-lifting machines." This sentiment is echoed in the recommendations by Men's Journal, where the Hoist V5 is the Editors' Pick as the highest rated home gym. This gym includes a lat pulldown (for your upper back), chest press and leg extension/curl features, along with a chest-high cable for dumbbell-type exercises. The weight stack is 200 pounds. The leg press is an optional addition, which extends the width of the gym by another 34 inches. Without the leg press, the Hoist V5 costs about $2,700. In 2004, Men's Journal also liked the step-down Hoist V4 home gym (*est. $2,600 with optional leg press), saying the wide range of settings will safely accommodate users "whether you're 5'5" or 6'5"". Both the Hoist V5 and Hoist V4 fit on a 4' x 6' mat, but Men's Journal notes that the attempt to fit a lot of fitness equipment into a small footprint results in some awkward workout angles and parts getting in the way during certain exercises. Hoist offers a lifetime warranty on the frame and five years on other parts.

If you have more than one fitness buff in your household, the BodyCraft X2 Family Xpress (*est. $3,300) accommodates multiple users with dual 200-pound weight stacks, an adjustable-position cable system for dumbbell-type exercises, an abdominal crunch station and an optional hip or knee raise/dip station. The included leg press has a 2:1 weight ratio, allowing up to 400 pounds of resistance. This home gym doesn't have a pec dec (for working pectoral muscles), but Home Gym Review says that the adjustable-position cable system offers a greater variety of exercise options than a pec dec. You'll need to clear a large space for this home gym though, as it has a footprint of 104" x 105" (with optional attachments).

The BodyCraft Galena (*est. $1,300; $1,600 with optional leg press) is another model liked by home gym critics. This gym has an adjustable pec dec to simulate traditional and dumbbell-style flys, a 200-pound weight stack, an abdominal crunch station and an optional leg press. Plus, it's designed to fit in the corner of a room, so it takes up less space than other weight-stack equipment, with a footprint of only 58" x 72" -- a huge plus for many reviewers. The Galena receives a top review from Home Gym Reviews as well as a Best Buy rating from Consumer Guide. Both reviews cite the Galena’s combination of a multi-station gym and a compact design. Four contributors to Epinions rated the Galena, giving it five stars and saying it's solid and has everything you need for a good workout. BodyCraft offers a lifetime warranty on its home gym.

The Body-Solid EXM line is highly rated by reviewers, who say these home gyms offer great value for the money. We included the Body-Solid EXM 2500S (*est. $1,200) in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers in our last report, but a check of the manufacturer's website reveals the EXM 2500S has been discontinued. It was a reviewer favorite in the past though, and can still be found on many fitness equipment websites, so it's worth considering if you see one still available. The EXM 2500S home gym has a 210-pound weight stack, a pec dec (although this uses handles instead of the more traditional padded arm rests) and a separate cable abdominal crunch station. Optional added features include a leg press and vertical knee raise. The lower-end Body-Solid EXM 1500S (*est. $660) is still available, but this home gym only has a 160-pound weight stack and no optional features. The higher-end Body-Solid EXM 3000 LPS home gym (*est. $3,500) has a 210-pound weight stack and space for three people to work out simultaneously -- which, of course, takes up more space. This home gym also has a pec station and a 2:1 weight ratio (up to 420 pounds) for the leg press. Like the BodyCraft home gym equipment described above, Body-Solid gym offers a lifetime warranty.

If you are looking for a functional-trainer-style gym, the Hoist V6 (*est. $2,800) offers a large amount of versatility at a reasonable price for a weight-stack gym. Functional trainers use adjustable pulleys and cables that provide resistance from a number of directions, which experts say can offer a more comprehensive workout, exercising stabilizer muscles (muscles key to performing everyday tasks and preventing injuries), which rigid machine workouts often overlook. The Hoist V6 features two 200-pound weight stacks connected to two pulleys that adjust to any of 35 height settings. The Hoist gym comes complete with handles, ankle straps, weight straps for assisted pull-ups/lunges and a long bar to utilize both pulleys at once.

Life Fitness (formerly Parabody) also offers a comprehensive functional trainer with its Life Fitness G7 (*est. $2,900), though its model only offers two 160-pound weight stacks and its pulleys only adjust to 20 different positions. The machine does come with an instructional guide for exercises that is mounted on the machine, which can be very helpful for new users, and has an optional bench (*est. $400). Both the Hoist V6 and Life Fitness gyms are relatively new, so there aren't many reviews out on them, though previous models in both Hoist's V series and Life Fitness' G series receive very positive reviews from both users and experts. Both machines offer a lifetime warranty on the frame, along with ten years on parts for Hoist and three years for Life Fitness. It should be noted that many machines, such as the Hoist V5 and BodyCraft X2, offer cables that can provide free-motion workouts, though their versatility is limited when compared to functional trainers such as these. Also, experts note that functional trainers can be difficult for beginners to use, who may need instruction on proper exercise technique to get the most out of them.

Reviews say the Powertec Workbench (*est. $800) is a combination between free weights and a home gym, indicating that it’s a good option for serious weight lifters, primarily because you don't need a spotter and you can do squats -- a feature lacking on most home gym equipment. You will need to provide your own weights with this machine, 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. There's an optional arm-curl machine with 250 pounds. Reviews say this isn't the best option for a beginner, and the cost of buying your own weights will quickly bump the price over $1,000, but if you're an experienced heavy lifter who finds it hard to get to the gym, this Powertec home gym can be a convenient home option. Powertec offers a lifetime warranty on the frame and two years on parts.

We did see some positive comments for the Fitness Quest Total Gym (*est. $370 to $2,000, depending on model) , hyped by Chuck Norris on television. This home gym uses an inclined bench with pulleys in combination with the user's body weight, so your own body serves as resistance weight. Experts say the Total Gym may not give very fit people enough of a workout, and while some users posting to opinion sites report durability problems, others say it works well for those at lower fitness levels. One review tests the Total Gym XL (*est. $1,500) , saying it's a decent compact home gym for less-fit individuals. But for $1,500, you might also consider other machines with a wider range of workout options. It’s worth noting that Total Gym models get excellent reviews from owners at Amazon.com.

Another new infomercial exercise machine receiving positive reviews is the BioForce TNT System (*est. $800 to $1,000, depending on model) . This home gym uses resistance from rotating arms that can be adjusted to increase or decrease leverage. Reviewers on Epinions and FitnessInformercialReview.com praise the BioForce gym for its simplicity, particularly for how quick and easy it is to change between different workouts and resistance levels. There have been a few negative comments about the machine's construction, the high price of workout accessories and weight upgrades and the meager 12-month warranty, though most comments rate the BioForce as high as or higher than resistance-bar machines.

Important Features: Home gyms

Most home gyms include equipment for a press station and pec dec (for the chest), leg extensions and curls (thigh and hamstring), a high pulley for lat pull-downs (back), a low pulley for curls (arms), a seated row and abdominal exercises. More expensive fitness equipment adds squats, leg presses and sophisticated bench-press equipment.

Experts say the following about purchasing a home gym:

• Aim for a 200-pound weight stack. That should be enough weight for most users. If you think you may eventually need more, find out whether you can upgrade the weights later.

• Think about a second weight stack for multiple users. On some systems, a second stack of weights will allow another person to work out at the same time. These, of course, are more expensive and take up more space.

• Keep your space limitations in mind and consider where you'll install your home gym. Make sure the ceiling is high enough (you should be able to reach your arms overhead without touching the ceiling). You may also want to cover the floor to protect your body and flooring, as well as to keep the gym from shifting. Foam, rubber and other synthetic mats and tiles cost from 25 cents to $10 per square foot. You might also consider paying extra to have the gym assembled, since reviews and owners say installation can often be cumbersome and difficult.

• Do not buy a machine before trying it out thoroughly. All experts and reviewers agree: don't be ashamed to go to the store in your workout attire (or visit a gym) and check out all the different positions and features. Have everyone who will use the machine do the same, even if the machine will ultimately be bought over the Internet.

• The home gym should be made of heavy steel, with a stable, sturdy frame and smoothly moving parts. Reviews also recommend a tube frame at least two inches square, chrome or enamel finish, steel cables, nylon-reinforced fiberglass pulleys and adequate padding. One reviewer says to check that aircraft-quality nylon-coated cable is used to connect the weight stacks to each station.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
4	Body-Solid EXM (*est. $660 to $5,800)	details
4	Powertec Workbench Leverage (*est. $800)	details
3	Bowflex (*est. $700 to $2,500)	details
2	BodyCraft X2 Family Xpress (*est. $3,300)	details
2	Life Fitness G (*est. $1,600 to $2,900, depending on model)	-
2	Hoist V5 (*est. $3,400)	-
2	BodyCraft Galena (*est. $1,300; $1,600 with optional leg press)	details
1 each	Weider Max Ultra, Total Gym XL , Paramount FT-150, ProSpot P-600, Titan T1 , Bowflex Revolution , BodyCraft Xpress , Body-Solid G4I

The Body-Solid EXM and the Powertec Workbench Leverage both receive four top picks. Bowflex is liked in three reviews, although others note that the Weider Max Ultra is a less-expensive alternative. The BodyCraft X2 Family Xpress has two weight stacks, making it suitable for multiple users, and the BodyCraft Galena is rated as a solid, versatile and compact machine by users. Reviews recommend the Hoist V series if money is no object. The Life Fitness G series only has a 160-pound weight stack, which is 40 to 50 pounds less than the other models in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers (although a 50-pound add-on kit is available for higher-end G-series home gyms, and the more expensive Life Fitness G7 gym comes with two 160-pound weight stacks that can be used simultaneously).

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