Exercising is an activity that can provide a great workout, strengthen multiple groups of muscles and increase your overall fitness. Chances are that if you’ve ever worked out at a gym or fitness center that you were exposed to many different kinds of exercise machines that were designed each for a specific muscle group.
When you’re at home, though, and want to achieve the same results as if you were at the gym, you can buy a multi-gym (also called universal gyms). A multi-gym is a stand-alone setup machine that has support for multiple exercises and repetitions you can do.
Multi-gyms make it easier and more convenient to work out in the comfort of your own home instead of taking the trip to the gym to get the workout you want. That being said, there are several brands of multi-gyms you can buy that offer a diverse range of exercises that you can perform on your own, including those that come with free weights, resistance bars, stacked weights and other setups.
Weider Multi-Gyms
Weider has several popular multi-gym systems that seem easy to set-up and operate. First, the multi-gym brand has the Weider Club 8980 W system. The 8980 has both high and low pulley systems on which you can perform more than 65 individual exercises.
The 8980 W system also has a 4-roll leg developer, which can be useful if you want to develop your quads, hamstrings or glutes. If you decide to invest in this system, the average home user–and those that want a great workout–finds the up-to-175 pound resistance sufficient for getting a thorough workout.
The X-Factor Home Gym is another multi-gym by Weider. With a unique design and shape of an “x” as the name states, this is a total body system that fits conveniently in your home or your personal workout space. The Weider X-Factor is designed to strengthen your core abdominal muscles, promote a muscle-building and fat-burning workout.
This multi-gym comes with 2 each of handles and ankle straps, and 4 connection clips. In addition the core X-Factor multi-gym, you get an exercise chart and workout DVDs that give instructions for an intense workout plan.
BodyCraft Home Multi-Gyms
BodyCraft makes several home gyms that can be used if you want a good cardio workout or you want to focus on strength training. For strength training workouts, the BodyCraft Elite and the BodyCraft XPress Pro are two home gyms that offer several exercise stations rolled into one. The BodyCraft Elite uses an Active Balance system that allows you to change up your bench press workouts depending on if you want a traditional “machine style” or “barbell style” workout.
A simple yet effective overhead pin engages and locks the press arm and allows you to make the switch. The BodyCraft Elite contains both a high- and low-pulley system, allowing you to practice lat pull downs, triceps push downs, leg curls and arm curls. You can also use the Elite’s ab crunch station to work out your abdominal areas.
The BodyCraft Galena Pro has a unique corner design that makes it convenient to use since it takes up much less functional space than other home multi-gyms. The BodyCraft Galena gives you up to 300 pounds of resistance, features a chest press, optional leg press, leg extension station, a low pulley system and ab crunch machine. With this particular multi-gym, you can perform a wide variety of exercises that reach the major muscle groups.
MEGA Smith System Multi-Gym
The MEGA Smith System combines several functions and exercise stations, including a chin-up bar, pull down station, and power rack on which you can do squats without the need for a spotter. The dip station gives you an upper body workout.
The MEGA Smith home multi-gym also has a pec station and an optional leg press. The machine also comes with cable cross-overs so that you can strengthen your chest or perform them in combination with other exercises. Overall, the MEGA Smith offers a great combination of exercises and durable materials that almost any experienced trainer or exercise enthusiast can get interested in.
Body-Solid Multi-Gym Systems
Like most other major multi-gym brands, Body-Solid offers more than one type of multi-gym that can keep your body toned and strengthened. The Body-Solid EMX1500S was rated #1 with Consumer Magazine.
Perhaps because of its slim nature yet effective workout routine, the Body-Solid EMX1500S, you can complete full strength training, trimming and toning routine on this machine. You can tone and strengthen your abs, leg muscles, biceps, and even chest and shoulders with this one simple machine.
The EMX1500S centers on a 160 pound weight stack, which you can adjust to your preferences in 10 pound increments. To start your workout, you can use the multi-grip press arm to exercise with your chest and shoulders, workout with your legs on the roller system, perform leg extensions and do crunch exercises with the machine’s ab strap.
To finish off your workout, you can use the lat bar to work your upper back and then use the straight bar with the low-pulley system for biceps curls, wri st curls and other exercises.
Body-Solid also makes a multi-gym called the Fusion 400 Personal Trainer. This particular unit functions as a personal trainer and allows you to get all the strength training you need with Body-Solid’s proprietary press arm and pulley system. You can choose from either a 210 pound or 310 pound weight stack.
The Fusion 400 Personal Trainer’s press arms move independently of each other, allowing you to isolate one arm at a time so that you can customize your workout routine. With this system, you can effectively isolate, train and strengthen one muscle group at a time or combine muscle group exercises for a personalized workout. It also includes a leg press and rear-mounted vertical knee raise and chin dip stations.
You certainly have many choices when looking for the perfect home multi-gym to set up and use for your personal workout. The type and brand you get depends on your preferences as to what exercises and routines you’d like to perform, though home multi-gyms usually range in price from around $500 to $2500 or more.
With the chance to strengthen multiple muscle groups all at once without ever having to leave your home or take a trip to the gym, multi-gyms are the best bet for both hard-core, exercise enthusiasts and beginners.
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