Home Gyms & Functional Trainers
Whether you need to add an extra piece of equipment to your home garage gym or just want to replace your traditional barbell sets and dumbbells, functional trainers are a great option. They combine both free weight and cable exercises in one machine, so you can get the most out of your workouts with minimal space requirements. The best functional trainers offer plenty of exercise variety and can stand alone as a complete home gym (though it’s usually recommended to get a power rack or Smith machine in addition). To help you choose the right functional trainer for your fitness goals, our team at Garage Gym Products has put together this list of six of our favorites. They all feature smooth pulling action, a decent set of included attachments, and sturdy builds backed by warranties meant to put your mind at ease.
This versatile functional trainer from Inspire Fitness is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home garage gym. It’s incredibly compact, with a footprint of only 3’ x 6’, and it features a pair of 289-pound stacks that provide a total of 660 pounds of resistance. It also has 17 included attachments that let you work out almost all the major movements, including pull-ups and chin-ups. The cables used for the dual 289-pound stacks are aircraft-grade and have a 2:1 ratio, meaning for every two pounds you lift on the stack you’ll be working against one pound of resistance.
The XMark Functional Trainer is another excellent choice for those looking to upgrade their home garage gym, offering a total of 19 different adjustment positions that can accommodate nearly any member of the family, short or tall. Its cables are super smooth and durable, while the frame is made from high-quality steel that can withstand temperature changes. This unit also ships partly assembled, which is a huge plus when it comes to functional trainers that can often take hours to put together.
Another solid option for those wanting to upgrade their home gym, this model from Rep Fitness attaches to any PR-4000 or 5000 power rack system for maximum compatibility. It has a lot of the same features as other top functional trainers, including a 2:1 cable pulley ratio and a pair of 220-pound stacks that provide 110 pounds of actual resistance. The PR-4000 Ares Functional Trainer also has 17 included attachments and an impressive lifetime frame warranty.
For those with limited space in their home garage gym, this small functional trainer is the best solution on the market. It can be folded flat when not in use and fits in a 4’ x 3’ area, making it ideal for those with small spaces. It also offers a pair of 210-pound stacks and includes 17 attachments for a wide range of exercises. The frame is made from high-quality steel that’s rated to withstand a lifetime of heavy use and features a durable powder coat finish.
Milena Estêvão is a YouTuber passionate about sharing her experiences (challenges, successes and motivations) in the fitness activities she is involved in.
FIND HER ON INSTAGRAM OR YOUTUBE THROUGH THE BELOW LINKS