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LAVERA STEWART
Editor-in-Chief of the Gym Expert
People's Choice #1 HulkFit 1000-Pound Capacity Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage
Top Multifunctional Marcy Smith Cage Workout Machine
Marcy Olympic Multi-Purpose Strength Training Cage
HCI Fitness PTX Gym Folding Functional Trainer
FreeMotion Dual Cable EXT Crossover
People's Choice #1
HulkFit 1000-Pound Capacity Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage
Top Multifunctional
Marcy Smith Cage Workout Machine
Marcy Olympic Multi-Purpose Strength Training Cage
HCI Fitness PTX Gym Folding Functional Trainer
FreeMotion Dual Cable EXT Crossover
Best Overall: HulkFit 1000-Pound Capacity Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage Review
HulkFit 1000-Pound
- Cable crossover machine is compatible with both all HulkFit Power Cages. Assemble dimensions: 120 x 81 x 31.5 inch. Product weight: 140 (cable crossover only)
- 1000-Pound weight capacity. Heavy duty square steel frame construction with wide open base for max stability and safety
- Wings are wide open so it won't block you using the power cage even when you are using 7-ft barbell
- Extra long 2" diameter weight posts accommodate multiple weight plates with 2" diameter openings
- Recommended capacity: 500-Pound. Nylon coated aircraft quality cables were tested 1000-Pound
Comprehensive Exercise Options: Marcy Smith Cage Workout Machine Review
Marcy Workout Machine
- All-steel construction – This home gym system is made with heavy-duty steel frame reinforced with durable powder coated finish. It utilizes sturdy aircraft cable With a tensile strength of 2, 000 lb. That’s guaranteed to withstand intense long-lasting use
- Multi-functional press arms – this versatile weight system home gym is designed with dual Action press arms. The press arms allow you to perform a variety of arm and chest exercises to develop your biceps, triceps, pectorals, and other muscle groups!
- Dual-action leg developer – featuring a dual-function leg developer with six oversize rocker pads and a row/curl bar, This unit comes with a pivot point that facilitates proper body form during workouts, allowing maximum effect on targeted muscle groups
- Olympic free-weight rack – engage in intense weightlifting or strength training right in the comfort of your home! It includes 6 weight plate pegs that are built into the frame, letting you organize weights/barbells on the machine for easy accessibility
- All-in-one workout station –This complete training system features an innovative structure that combines arm and leg stations for strengthening different muscle groups and executing comprehensive workouts, limiting the need to switch between gym equipment
Pull-up Station: Marcy Olympic Multi-Purpose Strength Training Cage Review
Marcy Olympic Multi-Purpose Cage
- ADJUSTABLE STYLE BAR CATCHES – This strength cage is designed with an adjustable, commercial-style bar catch so that you can move from bench press to squats easily. This workout machine also has a multi-handle pull up station with wide and narrow grips.
- HIGH AND LOW PULLEYS – The high and low pulleys offer a wide range of upper and lower body exercises for a strong and confident physique. Build up your chest, shoulders, back, biceps, triceps, and abdomen using the cable pulleys to target all muscles.
- WEIGHT PLATE STORAGE – The Olympic Strength Cage features weight plate shelves, allowing you to pile dumbbells and kettle weights for easy access and storage during workouts. This weight stack trolley, as well as weight plate storage rack holds 150lbs.
- HIGH- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION – This training machine is made with a commercial-grade solid steel frame to ensure years of use, making it a versatile machine that gives you the ability to exercise in the comfort of your home or office.
- Exercise Station Types: Pull-Up Bar, Low Pulley, Ab Crunch Station, High Pulley, Dips Bar
Portable Home Gym: HCI Fitness PTX Gym Folding Functional Trainer Review
HCI Fitness PTX Gym Functional Trainer
- The PTX GYM Functional Trainer home gym stack has a combined stack weight of 220 lbs.; The weight stack also converts into free weights to compliment all workout combinations
- Most compact functional trainer on the market. The mobile compact footprint folds and fits easily into any space. Stored Dimmensions 24" x 20" x 73"
- The folding bench offers seven adjustment positions and folds easily and stores into the unit
- Accessories included are (1) ankle strap, (2) D-ring handgrips, (1) Triceps Rope, (1) 20" straight bar, (1) 12" straight bar
- Warranty: Lifetime Frame and Welds, Parts and Wear Items: 5 Years
Provide a Total-body Workout: FreeMotion Dual Cable EXT Crossover Review
FreeMotion Dual Cable EXT
- STATE-OF-THE-ART STRENGTH TRAINING EQUIPMENT- Step up your fitness routine with the FreeMotion EXT Dual Cable Crossover constructed out of sturdy 7 and 11 gauge steel tubing for outstanding durability and can support up to 350 lbs. Plus, it is electrostatically powder-coated for added resilience. Dual Cable Cross Dimensions: 60 L x 113 W x 84 H inches / Weight: 925 pounds.
- VERSATILE AND DURABLE DESIGN - Its durable and versatile features can withstand frequent heavy use to ensure optimum exercise. This well-designed system is ideal for a full-body exercise that improves strength, tone, and stamina. Each arm rotates vertically in 12-Inch setting and horizontally in 9-Inch setting to accommodate nearly any movement pattern. Arms are counterbalanced for easier positioning.
- ENDLESS VARIETY OF STANDING STRENGTH EXERCISES - Perform a variety of standing strength exercises to condition different sets of muscles. Some exercises allow you to focus on muscles used in specific sports such as golf or tennis. It also comes with a velcro-padded ankle cuff for more comfortable and secure placement. Plus, the weight stacks are enclosed to limit access to moving parts.
- FREEMOTION SYSTEM FOR A MORE CUSTOM WORKOUT - The FreeMotion system permits a diverse range of activity for a more custom and comprehensive workout.
- DAZADI MONEY BACK GUARANTEE and WARRANTY - Your item will arrive with all the necessary parts, without defect and/or shipping damage. Well ship new replacement parts or an entirely new bike for free in the event of defect or damage. If you still arent satisfied, youll get a full refund. All our items ship for free to your door, but we also offer in-home delivery and assembly for an added fee. Manufacturers Warranty: Lifetime for frame, 10 years for parts, 1 year for cables and labor, 90 day
What is a Functional Trainer?
Functional trainers are also commonly referred to as fitness cable machines, or simply cable machines. It is a workout machine that makes use of two independent weight stacks, cables, and pulleys. The results of using a functional trainer cable machine are agility and strength in different body muscles.
You can add a minimalist training machine to your home gym or commercial gym and reap incredible benefits.
Do You Need a Functional Trainer?
If you are conscious about your health, wellbeing, and fitness, we assure you that getting the best functional machine would be an excellent decision.
Despite being more affordable than equipping a full gym, purchasing the right trainer on its own is pretty expensive. This, and the fact that we don’t want you to end up with a piece of junk, is why we are going out of our way to ensure you get the best functional trainer.
But before getting to the buying guide, let’s look at the benefits of a functional trainer. You want to be ready with the right information when your machine gets home.
Benefits of a Functional Trainer
Here are reasons why you should add a practical trainer to your gym collection:
- They are more affordable than purchasing various small gym equipment.
- They are safe for use for all age groups. Actually, you are bringing home a machine for the entire family.
- They work on strengthening numerous body muscles.
According to Senior Fitness, you only need six weeks with functional training to see changes in body strength and agility. A proper functional trainer would help you achieve these goals with ease. It can never get easier with your workout than seeing the results a few weeks into it.
Buyer’s Guide
Functional fitness exercises are designed to help your body boost its performance of daily activities. Unlike many other fitness programs that aim to strengthen a muscle at a time, this kind of fitness focuses on toning and strengthening various body muscles.
And how do you optimize your fitness journey in this new era? Easy; by getting the right trainer for your specific needs.
Are you looking to optimize your functional fitness journey? Getting an excellent functional trainer would be a fantastic way out. With an excellent functional trainer, you will be able to improve your body agility and coordination, prevent injuries during a workout, and improve your body balance and posture.
What would you look for in an ideal trainer? Accept it, you have already read loads of functional trainer reviews, and there is no harm at all. That’s an excellent way to go; to do thorough research before spending your money on a trainer.
However, you should know what works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Furthermore, you should know that some reviews are subject to bias. And this is why we want to equip you with factors to consider when shopping for a functional trainer machine.
Without further ado, let’s dive right into factors to consider when shopping for a functional trainer.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Functional Trainer
Whether you are searching for equipment for your home gym or looking for ways to incorporate simple exercises into your workout plan, a functional trainer would be a fantastic fit. It would help you combine multiple activities into a centralized unit.
However, you will only enjoy the benefits of a practical trainer if you get an effective one. Before placing an order for your machine, consider the factors discussed below.
Most exercise machines take up a lot of space, and that is a big no if you have little floor area to spare. Fortunately, they come in various sizes. So, ensure that your functional trainer fits in your area. You would be disappointed if you end up with something too huge for your space.
Start by measuring the dimensions of your room. With the sizes in mind, you can find yourself something good for your fitness journey and gym space.
- Go for Machines with Two Stacks
A lot of functional trainers have two stacks. However, a few of them have a single stack. It beats logic for a functional trainer machine to have a single weight stack.
A functional trainer with a single stack creates muscle imbalances, which may result in lots of pain. Also, the single weight stack puts you at risk of future injuries. Two weight stacks work independently, hence canceling out any weight imbalances.
- Go for a Training Machine with Adjustable Heights
Whether you are purchasing your trainer for personal use, or a commercial gym, always ensure it is adjustable to many different weights.
For a commercial gym, you know that the clients will come in different heights. So it’s only logical for them to adjust the heights to suit them.
Furthermore, if a functional trainer is not adjustable, some workouts will be awkward and difficult. You should be able to adjust any minimalist fitness machine to suit the exercise at hand.
Your workout equipment needs to be user-friendly. If they are difficult to use, you will not enjoy your workouts. You may even start thinking of skipping your workout.
When you get your exercise machine, give it a quick run to ascertain its user-friendliness. A comprehensive user guide should be a plus.
Ensure you can adjust the pulley’s height with ease. This way, you will not take a lot of time to shift from one exercise to another.
It is true; you can do a lot of exercises using your functional trainer. So, the question here is, how many activities would work go well with your training equipment.
You, of course, need to get something that is highly versatile. Something you can use for different workouts without any awkwardness. Why would you dig deep into your pocket for a machine that can be used for a single exercise?
To ensure your trainer is highly versatile, check out for additional accessories like ankle cuffs, long and short bars, and the D handles. More accessories mean that the item is highly versatile. However, if it comes with barely any accessories, it is a red alert of little or no versatility.
A long pulley journey enables you to take some steps outwards with the pulleys. The ability to take several steps outwards with the pulleys is ideal for the number of exercises. Some of the activities that come top of your mind are weighted sprints and power plunges.
A warranty is one way you know that a product is durable. A warranty tells you that the manufacturer makes durable and useful items.
With a warranty, you can quickly have the retailer or manufacturer replace it whenever you develop technical problems. So, if you find an exemplary training machine, with an extended warranty period, do not think twice.
Don'ts When Shopping for a Functional Trainer
Do not Buy a Functional Trainer in a Hurry
If you cannot wait to use a functional machine, you may as well get a gym with one and use it for the time being. Functional training machines are pretty expensive. This is one reason why you need to take your time shopping for one.
Purchasing a fitness machine and realizing you made a huge mistake after a week of use, is a nightmare you could avoid. You can only prevent this by researching thoroughly and reading lots of customer reviews.
Do not Overlook the Basics
A lot of people overlook the basic concepts of functional machines while shopping for one. This is one reason why you may end up with a useless piece of metal at home.
Some of the basics you should consider are the finishing, smoothness, materials used to make the equipment, and the amount of weight the machine and the accessories can sustain. This may seem so basic, but ignoring them could be so costly.
Functional Trainer VS Home Gym
A lot of folks are now quickly shifting from traditional home gyms to contemporary fitness equipment. The two share dozen or so of similarities, but the functional trainer seems to outsmart the home gym.
A functional exercise machine is first, more affordable than a home gym. Besides, the training machine wins the heart of fitness-conscious people for it occupies minimal space compared to a home gym.
Final Thoughts
A practical training machine is excellent and versatile equipment for your training journey. You can get yours from an array of designs, sizes, and variations. This is why, if you are not careful enough, you may end up with something not so useful.
To get the best out of training, you need to get the best functional trainer home gym in 2021. The best is knowing what to look for while shopping for one. With the above buying guide, we are convinced that you will make informed decisions while shopping for one.
Before we call it a chapter, we would love to hear from you. Do you have experience with any brands of functional equipment? Any compliments? Do you have any disappointment with some brands of minimalist trainers? Please don’t hesitate to let us know your thoughts in the box below.