Thursday, May 17th, 2012

This is our first look at the Bowflex Revolution series. The FT is the most affordable Revolution model but does not include a bench unless purchased separately. This may be perceived as a positive or a negative, depending on your needs. Some believe a built-in bench on a home gym just gets in the way. [...]

The Body Solid EXM2500S Home Gym has been around in the same form for years, but is still a contender for the best value in the under $1,000 category. It was a Consumer Magazine #1 Home Gym when first released The EXM25005 approaches health club quality for its durability, versatility and smooth operation. A wide range [...]

The Marcy MWM-950 from Impex Inc. effectively delivers the bare essentials in a home gym, but not much more. This is not a bad option for those wanting a wide variety of basic exercises without paying for unwanted extras. To it’s credit, the multi-function design packs a wide array of upper and lower body exercises [...]

The HealthTrainer 660r is a mid-range recumbent bike that provides an efficient ride, without too many bells and whistles, at a very reasonable price. The bike is solidly constructed with a low profile design and is very quiet when in use. The magnetic resistance, a widely used and efficient system, is smooth and steady and [...]

This innovative, unique looking leverage system emulates free weight lifting while optimizing full body workout efficiency. The Stamina Viper VG1500 does not ship fully or partially assembled like many other home gyms. Assembly is complicated with many parts, nuts and bolts, but once completed it’s very sturdy and stable. For bench press, chest fly, shoulder [...]

The Bowflex PR3000 is similar to the popular PR1000 model but accommodates more exercises and adds the ability to upgrade weight resistance from 210 to 310 pounds. Like the PR1000 it uses Power Rod technology (see video below) as opposed to the SpriaFlex mechanics featured in higher end Bowflex gyms. In general, these systems offer [...]

This EXM1500S Single Stack Home Gym has been around for several years but we see no need for a model upgrade. This well-designed and sturdy little home gym does it all. Body Solid’s machine is built around a single 160 pound weight stack that incorporates all the exercises you need for a truly complete strength [...]

This review continues our recent trend of spotlighting exercise machines from trusted manufacturers that give the highest return on investment, without extra components that you may not want or need. This mid-range system offers great value for the dollar, plus added versatility not usually seen in home gyms in this price range. The Bowflex PR1000 [...]

The Ultimate 2 is the best-selling and most complete Bowflex home gym available. It’s also the most expensive — but you get what you pay for. This is a total-body solution that delivers everything you could possibly imagine in a home fitness system. One of the criticisms of Power Rod Resistance technology is the need [...]

As the bestselling Total Trainer on Amazon.com the 4000XL from Bayou Fitness represents the best bang for the buck in a fully loaded multi-station gym. The first thing you’ll notice is the deluxe double-stitched black leather textured cushion splashed with a bold patriotic red, white and blue logo. The Total Trainer 4000XL comes fully assembled [...]