Multi-Gyms: How to Choose the Best Multi-Gym for a Ripped & Toned Body!

When we get asked ‘How to Choose the Best Multi-Gym?’, the answer is always the same: “It depends on what your fitness goals are and what level you’re at”.

Let me explain.

Multi Gyms Offer Multiple Exercises on One Machine

Multi Gyms Offer Multiple Exercises on One Machine

If you’re a beginner, a multi-gym is a convenient way to get the weights & resistance setup just right, all in a tidy package that looks amazing and is a real pleasure to use!

At this level, there are multi-gym setups which will give you the basis of a great home-gym setup which will grow with you as you get fitter.

If you’re more advanced or you’re a bodybuilder, manufacturers have realized that they needed to develop multi-gyms which would satisfy your high standards and your need for extra weight and exercise combinations – and they’ve done just that! There are some multi-gyms out there that are absolute beasts!!

The truth is that the sheer number of options on the market means shopping for your home training setup can be totally overwhelming.

So, we’ve done the hard work for you. To help you figure out how to choose the best multi-gym for your needs, here’s what you need to consider and the multi-gym setups we recommend.

Heck, we’ve even gone out and found the ideal places on-line to buy from so you can be confident of getting a great deal whilst shopping securely & safely.

The Essentials

Convenience and Ease of Use

Years ago, one of our team bought an adjustable dumbbell set where you could change the weight of each ‘plate’ by filling it with water, sand, or some other, denser substance. He never even got around to using them for a workout, because water was too light and, as he says, he didn’t have any lead just lying around the house!

So, rule number-1 when choosing your multi-gym is to pick one that you can set up easily and use every day; and you’ll get far more out of it than he ever did with those weights!

Easy Adjustment

Your multi-gym should be relatively easy to work out on. If you like fiddling with gadgets and fine tuning equipment, then a more complex machine that requires thissort of attention may work well for you but if too many settings, adjustments, or options make you a bit uncomfortable, keep things simple. Look for a multi-gym withfeatures that you can adjust once to fit your body size, and never have to touch again. Many home training setups require nothing but a change in body position to go from one exercise to the next.

Safety & Value

Ok, so we all see adverts in the local free-sheets (or even craigslist if you’re net-savvy) for used exercise equipment. Truth is, even if it has the features you want (and chances are it won’t, and that will be the reason why the owner is getting rid of it!) you just can’t be sure if it’s safe to use. If it’s not been well looked after, it could be a death trap – literally!

Look, sorry to harp on about this but, when you use a multi-gym you are entrusting your body to a piece of equipment, in more ways than one. You’ll want something free of defects or broken pieces; something that you feel comfortable pushing and pulling on with the full force of your strength. So don’t cut corners on this. It just doesn’t make sense.

And what good is a piece of equipment if it breaks when you use it and is then a struggle to get fixed? I mean, how many people do you know whose job is ‘home gym repairer’?

Investing in a new multi-gym will let you get exactly the type of resistance training machine you want; with the type of exercise stations you want and need, and with a full manufacturer’s warranty. You’ll know that it’s been properly tested, it won’t have been misused, and it will be delivered to you gleaming and ready for you to get the most out of!

Ok, so let’s dig into the detail

Exercise Options and Growth Potential

This is the heart of why people invest in multi-gyms. We want to be able to do a number of exercises, all with the right amount of resistance; to target all of our major muscle groups.

The Essentials

Of course you will want to know how many different exercises you can perform on any given machine; and make sure that your favorites are included. More importantly than the sheer number of exercise options, however, is the ability to effectively work all of your major muscle groups. A good multi-gym should include exercise options that effectively work your arms, shoulders, chest, back, glutes, legs, and abdominals.

One multi-gym might let you target each of these areas from a seated position, while another might make you stand for biceps curls, and lie on a bench for chest and abs exercises. As long as the resistance and exercise positions provided let you get a full body workout, you’ll be set.

Resistance Methods

Though the type of resistance used in a machine doesn’t necessarily dictate the quality of the workout, it can make a significant difference in how your workout feels. A smooth running weight stack and pulley setup might feel quite different from a machine that uses resistance bands or flexing rods. Choosing the right form of resistance can be a lot easier if you read a few customer reviews before you buy strength training equipment.

Options and Add-Ons

Though some multi-gyms come with a certain, finite number of features, many others offer add-on and extension options. These can be great if you have big dreams for your home gym, but a smaller startup budget. Get yourself set up with the basics; then add other options when you can.

A Bench

An adjustable bench is a great multi-gym feature for serious lifters looking to get the shoulder and chest benefits they’re used to with free weight pressing exercises. If your multi-gym doesn’t include a bench, this should be your first supplemental investment. Benches often come with an apparatus for leg extensions and curls: which can provide a nice change of pace from doing squats every day.

Leg Press

In my opinion, the leg press is the epitome of a great lower body gym exercise. It’s a compound movement, which means that you move at multiple joints to work multiple muscles at once; and it’s a great way to test and increase your lower body strength. Though not all multi-gyms come with a leg press mechanism as standard, it’s a great expansion option that shouldn’t be difficult to find.

Lat Pull Down/ Pull Up Bar

These are the types of options that will turn a good multi-gym into a truly fantastic home workout system. A lat pull down bar will give your entire back a solid strengthening workout: great for improving posture or putting on size. A pull up bar will challenge your entire upper body, and let you see the benefit of all of those isolation exercises you’ve been doing.

Shop with Goals in Mind

Strength and Size Gains

One essential step in buying a multi-gym is to find one with a resistance range that fits your needs. You will want a machine on which you can get a great workout from day one; and that has the potential to grow with your muscles.

If your goals are serious lifting or body building, you will want to make sure to find a machine that can keep up as you put on size and strength. Find out whether a promising looking setup offers very high levels of resistance; and whether greater resistance and exercise expansion will be an option in the future.

Multiple User Options

If your home multi-gym investment is to be a shared one—used by roommates, family members, or even friends, in addition to yourself—you may want to consider a machine that can be used by multiple exercisers at once. Many machines have cables and handles on 2 different sides, or have multiple points of resistance, allowing more than one person to exercise at the same time.

Size Considerations

There are a number of size factors to take into consideration when shopping for a multi-gym; not the least of which is the amount of room your new dream-machine is going to take up. To make sure it will fit your body and your space, be sure to check out the dimensions and recommended user size on the retailer’s web page.

When looking for a multi-gym, take the time to figure out what exactly it is you want and need. Be sure to consider space constraints and ease of use; as well as how a machine feels during exercise, and how it fits your body. With the right range of resistance you should be able to work out effectively from the day you set up your gym, and for months and years to come. Remember, though: even the best piece of exercise equipment is only as effective as the work you put into it.

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