Date Published: 05/15/2008
The benefits of strength training are unmistakable and no matter your age, it is never too late to begin a strength-training regime at home. While we only recommend free-weight home gyms to experienced users, there are a number of home gyms ranging from budget-priced cable systems to more expensive resistance rod or weight plate machines. So whether you're looking for a space-saving power rod home gym or the ultimate home fitness center, Consumer Guide can help you find the best machine for you.
Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE
The Xtreme 2 SE is the high-end model in Bowflex's Xtreme range of power rod resistance machines. The gym's space-saving design impressed us, and the fact that it requires no cable changes to switch from one exercise to another makes it especially convenient; not only does this make the Xtreme 2 SE simpler to use, it will also cut down on your workout time.
The power rod system tends to offer less resistance than traditional weight plates, so we recommend upgrading from the standard 210 pounds of resistance to 310 or 410 pounds. This will add more to the overall cost of the machine, but it will make it substantially more effective. With a lifetime warranty on the power rods and a 7-year warranty on the frame, the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE should offer challenging workouts for years to come.
Home gyms can be space savers or whole fitness centers. Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE
Bowflex Ultimate 2
If you have a good amount of space available for a home gym and favor a machine that uses resistance rods, then the Bowflex Ultimate 2 could be worth considering. Unlike the company's Xtreme 2 SE, this gym is built around a horizontal bench that offers more variation on exercise angles but inevitably takes up more space. It folds for storage and features integrated moving wheels, but this is still a bulky machine.
The leg attachment, lat tower, preacher curl attachment and built-in rowing machine allow for more than 95 different strength and cardio exercises. The Ultimate 2 is more expensive than the Xtreme 2 SE, but the cost includes a higher standard maximum weight resistance of 310 pounds and a longer warranty on the frame, as well as a greater variety of workout options.
Bowflex Revolution
The Bowflex Revolution is our pick of the Bowflex home gyms we reviewed. It uses a new resistance technology known as Spiraflex plates; these plastic canisters are shaped like standard weight plates but are lightweight and almost silent in operation, which makes them ideal for use in an apartment or condo or in a house with small children. The range of motion we obtained from the Revolution was uniformly smooth and delivered a constant resistance, delivering exercises that feel closer to a traditional plate machine than a power rod unit.
This home gym includes a leg press station, a preacher curl attachment and an integrated rowing machine function, which allow for more than 100 different exercise possibilities. The standard 220 pounds of resistance can be upgraded to 300 pounds, and the leg press station offers a challenging 600 pounds of resistance. The Bowflex Revolution is bulky, heavy and expensive, but we rate it a highly effective home gym.
BodyCraft K1
You'll need plenty of space to house the BodyCraft K1, but if you can make room, this home gym will deliver top-quality results. It is solidly constructed, carries a lifetime warranty and delivers excellent upper and lower body workouts. The BodyCraft K1 also sports a relatively low price tag, which will appeal to your sense of value. The weight stack offers 200 pounds of steel plates, but the double-up cables convert the resistance ratio to 2:1 for certain exercises; for leg squats, for example, the K1 offers up to 400 pounds of resistance.
The K1's horizontal bench is fully adjustable, and the gym features a press arm station, leg extension and leg curl stations, as well as an optional leg press attachment. Beyond the space requirements, we can't find fault with the BodyCraft K1 home gym.
Body-Solid EXM4000S
Body-Solid EXM4000S
The Body-Solid EXM4000S claims to be the ultimate gym package, and we have difficulty arguing with this assertion. This monster home gym offers 12 different stations that can accommodate three users at the same time; if you choose to include the optional leg press station, you can even add a fourth person. Despite its impressive performance, though, this is not a home gym for everyone; with a footprint of more than 11X7 feet, you'll need plenty of space, and with an astronomical sticker price, you'll also need a sizable budget. The Body-Solid EXM4000S is a high-quality home gym that is backed by a lifetime warranty, but is too bulky and too expensive for most users.
