Home Gyms & Functional Trainers
There’s no denying that the best way to get in shape is to have access to a quality home gym. And while the cost of a membership may be high, there are some ways to save on your fitness expenses and still get a great workout at home. Among them, there’s the option to buy home gym equipment that can do much more than just help you build muscle.
These machines are the newest trend in health and fitness and they’re not just good for the gym–they can be used anywhere. They allow you to perform a variety of movements that help train your body for all sorts of challenges. You can strengthen your core, work on rotational movements, or even hone your baseball swing.
The key difference between a home gym and a functional trainer is that functional trainers can be operated by virtually anyone, without the need for assistance. In addition, they require very little space and are more budget-friendly than traditional home gyms.
Functional trainers are also known for their exercise variety and the ability to adjust each pulley’s height vertically, which allows you to use different weight stacks and other manipulatives. And with that flexibility comes the ability to customize your workouts and build a custom strength program just for you.
Some functional trainers are designed to automatically adapt to your strength level, so you’re always lifting Goldilocks weight–not too light, not too heavy, but just the right amount of tension to build muscle. For example, the Tonal smart home gym has artificial intelligence that monitors your strength levels as you do various exercises and adjusts its resistance accordingly to keep you feeling challenging while avoiding strain.
One of the coolest things about this machine is that it has a built-in Smith Machine, which means you can do bench press and squats with just a barbell and no extra plates. It has seven unique handles, an exercise booklet, 2×5 lb additional weights, and a wattle bottle holder, so you’ll have everything you need to get a solid full-body workout at home.
If you’re a serious home gym owner looking for a functional trainer that will provide you with plenty of exercise variety, the REP Fitness FT-5000 is the best choice for most people. It’s a durable, high-quality machine that ships partially assembled, sells for $2,500 (a very reasonable price), and comes with a lifetime frame warranty.
The IRON COMPANY BodyCraft HFT Functional Trainer is another great choice if you’re looking for a functional trainer that’s compact and has a lot of options. It features a dual stack of up to 150 pounds each, 31 pulley positions that can be rotated 180 degrees, and seven different handles. Plus, it has a multi-grip pull up bar that can work all the back muscles.
There are lots of other functional trainers on the market, but these are our favorites for their versatility and quality. They’re perfect for any type of exercise enthusiast, and they’re sure to make your home gym a more enjoyable experience.
Milena Estêvão is a YouTuber passionate about sharing her experiences (challenges, successes and motivations) in the fitness activities she is involved in.
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