We take a look at some of the most popular Total gym systems such as the Total Gym XLS Trainer, the Total Gym 1800 Club, the Total Gym 1100, the Total Gym 1700, the 2000, 3000 and some of the other popular products from the Total gym range.

Total Gym XLS Trainer

The Total Gym XLS trainer is a gravity based resistance system whose purpose is to allow you to build and sculpt your muscles. The development of this home gym equipment stems from the role of Total Gym in providing exercise equipment in rehabilitation centres for people recovering from injuries.

The Total Gym XLS trainer allows you to carry out a wide range of exercises in the comfort of your own home and comes with

• A nutritional meal plan drawn up by Dan Isaacson
• A wall chart with 35 exercises demonstrated
• 5 workout dvds
• A pulley and cable system, padded glide board and squat stand
• Pilates kit
• Leg pull accessory
• Nylon strap handles
• Training deck
• 400 pound weight capacity
• Different height levels possible.

It has been recommended by Chuck Norris and Christine Brinckley who have been using the Total Gym XLS trainer for over a decade.

Price

The recommended price of this trainer is just under $2,000 but Amazon normally has it on sale and is currently available at just under $700 which is a saving of over $1,200.

Click here to go to Amazon.

What do users say?

• “this machine is not worth $2,000 but I have had a Total Gym 1000 for years and I love it”
• “the strength of this machine is the use of your body weight for resistance and not bands or rods”
• “pull ups and handstand push ups are possible with this machine with the wing attachment provided”
• “you can increase weghts over time and increase the resistance of the squats with the squat board”
• “I wouldn’t buy the dip bars or press up bars as the wing attachment is sufficient”
• “I would recommend buying dumbbells separately as the bench press and chest fly exercises are too hard to do”
• “its great for an all body workout”
• “if you only have 15 minutes per day this machine will give you a great workout”
• “it will take up a good bit of space as it measures 7 foot long so allow for this”
• “if you have a ponytail make sure to tie it up as it will get caught in the wheels”

Total Gym 1800

If the Total Gym XLS is beyond your budget then the Total Gym 1800 is worth considering. It costs around $350 and can be easily folded up for storage.

Features of the Total Gym 1800

• Over 60 different exercises possible
• Increase resistance by changing the incline
• Exercise mat included
• Exercise dvd provided
• Exercise flip chart
• Maxumum user weight of 275 pounds.

Users feedback

• “like the large glider board and ab boards”
• “includes leg pulley kit, dip bars, press up bars and wing accessory”
• “convenient, compact and easy to assemble”
• “lots of adjustment required”
• “it was difficult at first to get started with each exercise but you do get used to it”
• “make sure to tie up your hair if it is long”
• “the beginners circuit training is a great starting point and I am feeling the benefit already”
• “be careful when folding it up as I caught my finger”
• “I trained with weights and machines for years but the resistance training provided by the Total Gym 1800 is far superior and better for my body”.

Click here to check out the Total Gym 1800 on Amazon where we have found the best price.

Total Gym 1100

The Total gym 1100 will set you back less than $300 on Amazon and works the upper body, cardiovascular system, abs and lower body very well with the resistance principle of exercising against your own body weight.

The Total Gym 1100 allows you to do up to 60 different exercises and you can increase resistance by increasing the incline.

What users say

“great upper body workout”

“good value on Amazon”

“not great for developing muscle mass or lower body”

“quality of machine is not great but I suppose at the cheap price that is to be expected”

“quite heavy and awkward but gives a great workout”

“better than I anticipated”

“love it for pull downs”

“I really like the leg pulley and squat bar”

“great set up for a small living space such as an apartment”.

Click here to learn what other users have to say on Amazon.com.

Other Total Gym Equipment

Other Total gym equipment that you might consider include

• Total gym ab crunches
• Weight bars
• Total Gym 2000
• Total Gym 3000
• Press up bars
• Pilates kit
• Home gym XLS
• Total gym 1700 Club

Conclusion

The Total Gym equipment range is built on sound fundamentals as it is based on the principle of using your own body weight to create resistance to work against.

The gliding motion involved in this machine ensures that impact on your joints is minimal and the pulley and cable system along with the various exercise dvds provided, depending on which model you choose, make their range a smart, economical choice when it comes to working out.

The nutritional meal and plan guide together with the wall chart provided with the top of the range XLS are worthwhile extras if your budget stretches to that level.

Click here to check out Total gym reviews on Amazon.

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Second Hand Gym Equipment

You might be surprised to learn just how many people buy brand new, expensive gym equipment and never use it. They then decide to resell it for a fraction of the price a year or more later. Buying second hand gym equipment is the best way to save a tremendous amount on your home gym.  In many cases, the machine is still in excellent condition, and is simply gathering dust in someone’s home.

Before you buy second hand gym equipment, make sure you get to see and try out the sample machine. Check for damage and wear. If you notice any of these things, but they do not affect the functionality of the machine, try to get the seller to lower the price to compensate. Avoid buying broken equipment unless you are skilled enough to repair it. Using broken equipment can pose a serious risk of injury.

Beginner Gym Equipment

If you are starting out, then look for beginner gym equipment. These items are usually lower priced from the beginning because they come with fewer bells and whistles. Purchase cheap gym equipment first so you can get a feel for how often you will actually use it. You can always upgrade later on, when you are sure you will remain devoted to the task. Beginner gym equipment can provide you with everything you need for the basic exercises without the lofty price tag that comes with advanced machines.

Cheap Gym Equipment On The Internet

Use the internet to your advantage and search for cheap gym equipment. The lowest price is out there and much easier to find when you can browse retailer’s websites and classified ads. If you plan to buy online, make sure you check customer service policies and reviews. Even if you are going with a local seller, you can still learn about the company’s history and check them out on the Better Business Bureau website.

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The gym above is on sale right now on Amazon at a 25% discount and free shipping. Click here to find out more and what users have to say.

Buy Only What you Need

There are some very extravagant home gyms set ups available. While these may be considered the best home gyms to some, for others they are more machine than is really necessary. Determine how often you will use your home gym and which components you really want. Next, determine a budget and start shopping within that budget. Remember, the more extravagant the set up, the higher the price tag. Why pay for something you might not completely use, anyway? (Take a look at Weider home gyms and home gym machines also)

Customer Reviews can Help

Let another customer’s experience help you make a good choice. Look for the best rated home gyms. This can be easily done using the internet. Most retail websites now have customer ratings and reviews that allow buyers to share details about their experience with a specific product. Look for trends in this information. A previous customer’s comments are going to be one of your most honest resources when looking for the best home gym.

Comparison Shop before you Buy

Maybe you know exactly which make and model is the best home gym for you. You are ready to go out and buy it! That’s great, but if you want to save money, you still have some homework to do. Rather than buy your set up at the first retailer that carries it, do some comparison shopping. Check local sellers as well as online ones.  Look for the best prices. You may be surprised at the variation.

Customer Service Track Record

The best home gyms are going to cost you some money. Even if you have found the lowest price, make a point to review the return policy and customer service contact information. These should be readily available, even at a brick and mortar store. Once you are confident the seller is reputable, offers the lowest price, and will back up their product, you are ready to make the purchase. It may sound like a lot of work, but it is worth it to find the best home gym.

The Best Fitness BFFID10 FID bench is worth taking a look at on Amazon. It is a good value bench selling at a 43% discount currently and has very positive reviews from users. Click here to check it out.

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The Weider home gym offers models that are either weight-based stacks or crossbar versions which utilize cable resistance. Many of the Weider home gyms have resistance up to 240lbs. but are upgradeable to 440lbs. ensuring that your gym keeps up with your progress. There are many different Weider home gyms to choose from, a few that are highly recommended are the Weider Platinum Plus, Weider C 700, and the Weider Crossbar.

Amazon is a great place to get Weider home gyms because of price and free shipping.

Click here to take a look yourself.

The Weider Platinum Plus goes above and beyond the basics to include a full digital console and controls. Now you can adjust the resistance with a press of a button, instead of manually changing weights or cables. This gym offers 240lbs. of resistance, a lat tower, five workout stations, as well as a personal training console and 75 more exercises making this the complete home gym for the tech savvy.

The Weider C 700 is extremely effective at targeting all major muscle groups making it one of the most complete home gyms available. It consists of a leg developer, curl station, pull up, and high and low pulleys, vertical knee raise which folds for compactness, adjustable weight bench plus storage capabilities for weight plates, spotters and exercise chart for less cost than a gym membership.

The Weider Crossbar, comparable to the Bowflex but cheaper, is designed around a system of flexible rods with 240lbs of resistance. Using its Compound Resistance System (CRS) the range of motion is smooth and complete, allowing you to maximize your workout.
Whatever your personal style and goals are, with Weider you can now begin your journey to a healthier and fit lifestyle in the comfort and privacy of your home.

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1. Weider Home Gym Review
2. Weider Max Home Gym Review

A high and low pulley gives you a wider range of motion than other home gyms. This makes sure you are getting the maximum result out of each repetition and over 55 exercises to choose from.
Want to define your chest? This pro home gym has a bench press, a padded chestfly arm station and a lat tower targeting your chest, arms, shoulders and back. If your goal is great legs, you will love the 4-roll leg developer and leg press you can isolate your quads, glutes, hip flexors and hamstring. Weider also provides an ankle strap, a safety shroud and exercise chart. This pro gym is the total package. (Read Weider gym equipment and home gym machines also)

Another great pro home gym is the Weider Pro 575 home gym which is a cross between a smith machine and a more traditional home gym. The smith machine feature allows you to use safety cables with barbells ensuring your safety while giving you the results of free weights.

Free weights give you the advantage of really working your stabilizer muscles, more so than a weight stack. While the Weider Pro 575 is rather affordable, you do have to purchase your own free weights, something to keep in mind when budgeting out which home gym is for you. Depending on the weights you choose, you could essentially pay just under $500 for the whole pro gym and weights.

Take a look at the Weider home gym range on Amazon-including the Weider Platinum weight system, the Weider power tower, the Weider Total Body Works 5000 gym, the Weider X-factor door gym and Weider Max Weight system.

Whichever pro gym you choose, make sure you have an appropriate area lined up in your home for the gym. It seems like common sense, but double checking to make sure that it will fit the space you have is critical. Another thing to consider is how much this weighs and how you will get it home. If you drive a smaller car, you might want to see if the store you purchase from offers delivery.

Lastly, don’t expect to just start working out right away. These gyms are extensive in their assembly requiring 6-10 hours of time depending on the model. Get ready for a new body in just a few short weeks with your Weider Pro Home Gym.

Amazon is a great place to get Weider home gyms because of price and free shipping. Click here to take a look yourself.

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The bench is a multi position one which is detachable and many incline positions. The Weider C720 also has a chest fly station and a high pulley with lat bar which has a wide variety of hand positions. There is also a low pulley with a row plate and a rolled preacher pad which will allow a real good biceps and forearms workout.

It also features a 6 roll leg developer and adjustable weight crutches for cutomized workouts. The Weider C720 also has an Olympic smith rack and an exercise chart and users who have bought have commented on how easy it is to assemble and the solid construction of the Weider C720 home gym.

Weider Club Bench
The Weider Club bench will cost your around $750 and it features an adjustable chest press and a foldaway military press. The cable and pulley system has a resistance of up to 300 pounds and when the Weider club bench is assembled it is designed in such a way as to fit neatly into the corner of your allocated room because it has a unique “v” shape.

Weider Club 8980 W System
This home gym system features a high and low pulley. The high pulley will allow up to over 15 exercises and the low pulley in excess of 40 exercises. It also has a 4 roll leg developer and the cable and pulley system will resist force up to 175 pounds. It also comes with 175 pounds of vinyl weights and costs around $700.

Weider X Factor Home Gym
The Weider X factor home gym costs around $599 and uses a progressive resistance system to ensure a great workout. It comes with an 8 week nutrition guide, an exercise chart and 3 workout dvds.

It allows an infinite number of exercises and the dvds and exercise chart describe how to build toned, lean legs and washboard abs. it provides over 210 pounds of resistance and is a light weight and easy to assemble system which allows a full body workout with a facility to change resistance quickly and easily.

Amazon is a great place to get Weider home gyms because of price and free shipping.

Click here to take a look yourself.

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1. Weider Home Gym Review

Straightforward used gym equipment such as bars, weights, benches can be purchased with some confidence as there are not too many things that can be wrong with it and that is not visible from inspection.

However there are more advanced pieces such as exercise bikes, treadmills, elliptical trainers and so on which require a closer look. Because any machine with a motor or belt or other moving parts can prove problematic if they go wrong and you really do not know how much use or abuse the machine has experienced.
The danger in the future is that if a belt or motor or some other part breaks down you may have difficulty finding replacement parts.

For this reason you do need to negotiate hard and be clear of the terms and conditions under which you purchase. If you are buying from a private buyer you will not have any warranty and this can be costly in the long run.

On the other hand if you are buying from a reputable seller who may provide some sort of warranty depending on the piece of equipment and provided the reseller is a sound company of some standing then you may be able to buy with confidence and rely on the warranty.

2.Used Gym Equipment Replacement Parts

As alluded to already you may find it difficult to source replacement parts depending on what you have purchased, how reputable and long standing is the brand and the reseller. So you do need to tread warily and not rush in to a decision.

There is no doubt that with the increasing use of technology and the reducing of prices of new gym equipment you may, if you are buying something significant price wise, be better off buying new from a reputable seller and you will have the piece of mind of a warranty and after sales service should you have any problems.

A great place to look for used gym equipment is Amazon but generally the internet can provide you with a good choice..but the downside is if something goes wrong then you may have a major problem on your hands.

In conclusion if you address the 2 questions above you will give yourself a better than even chance of getting a bargain when you go looking for used gym equipment but do carry out your due diligence and the assistance of an expert or friend who knows about the problems that can occur with gym equipment would be a prudent move.

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The total gym 2000, total gym 3000 and the total home gym XL Norris are the three Total Home Gyms seen on TV and are their most affordable. The Powertower, GTS, total gym 26000 and the total gym 14000 are the other four models they offer and much more expensive.

While each machine has its own specifications and features, these gyms only differ in their inclination and resistance levels. Each total gym model uses the bodyweight of the user for resistance. This resistance can be raised or lowered depending on the angle of the bench.

To sculpt and develop muscle, use a higher incline, for toning and sliming down, a lower incline is recommended. Total Gym is a good choice for those looking to spend the least amount of money for a quality machine.
The top two most expensive total gym machines are the Powertower and the GTS.

(The Total Home Gym 1100 above is one of the best value home gyms on the market-averaging 4.5 out of 5 with over 70 users on Amazon. See what they have to say here)

Both have a higher level of inclination available to the bench, therefore more resistance. They are quite expensive when you compare the only difference between them and the next price bracket, is flashy design, a few degrees of incline (about 6%) and some more resistance (about 9% more of your body weight).

Check out Total gym reviews here.

These two gyms will run you between $2,800-$4, 500.
The most affordable gym is the Total Gym xl, also know as the xl Norris. Many wonder if a simple bench really can deliver Chuck Norris results. Users tested this machine and found that while affordable, it was rather boring to use. Exercises only changed by altering the incline of the bench or angling the body. It does come with an instructional DVD and several accessories. At around $1800, it is a far more affordable Total Gym.

One great thing about the Total Home Gym is that it comes completely assembled. No spending hours upon hours tightening nut and bolts. It folds flat for storage under a bed or against a wall. You can do circuit training on the total home gym as well giving you a cardio work out with weight training. Best part of all is that you can get a full workout in just 10-20 minutes a day.

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It is equipped with more than 12 single-station machines, and each station is preset to its particular exercise machine. Without changing many settings, users can change stations to vary their exercise experience.

Exercises are driven by the lever arms, or weight plates that serve as alternatives to barbells, so that one is able to enjoy the same workout he or she would with free weights, but with the added safety and security of a Powertec home gym.

The entire apparatus operates free from any cables or pulleys, but instead functions through the use of the bearing-driven lever arms. This makes the experience not only safer, but smoother and quieter as well. Workbench accessories can be built by making use of the access tube and knob lock pin. This allows users to add Powertec’s “Workbench Machine Accessories.”

The Powertec Leverage Gym, on the other hand, is a home gym providing total body training. It does this through the use of over 20 strengh-training exercises that are built into the system so that users can gain maximum advantage of its features for whatever position or exercise in which they choose to engage.

This advantage allows one to work every single muscle group to their greatest capacities. Like the Powertec Workbench Multisystem, the lever arm is the main factor in each exercise one can perform on the Leverage Gym. The barbell is replaced in the same way by the weight plates loaded onto the lever. The Leverage Gym also makes use of a lock-and-load removable bench that can be removed to free up space for one to perform such exercises as squats, shrugs, and rows. The bench also features wheels for convenience and portability and handlebars for use during leg exercises.

Again, like the Workbench Multisystem, this system incorporates the use of an access tube and knob lock pin so that one can add Powertec’s “Workbench Machine Accessories” with little difficulty. While Powertec offers multiple types of gym equipment, the Workbench Multisystem and Leverage Gym are the most all-encompassing home gyms in its product line.

We think there are better value home gyms on the market such as Weider home gyms.

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Instead of using barbells, the Powertec Leverage System Gym has adjustable arm levers which provide effective strength training and safety. While other gyms boast 50+ exercises, the Powertec Leverage System has only 20.

This is not to say that these are just 20 run of the mill exercises, these are proven to give you powerful results. Standard with a lever arm, and three lat accessory bars, this home gym does require you to supply your own weights. Even so, you can get out the door for just under $800.

Powertec Workbench Leverage Gym is for those who are serious about their weight training and those willing to spend a little more. This gym doesn’t use pulleys and cables like so many other home gyms; instead it uses bearings for a smooth motion. The Workbench has three stations to complete your workout routine so there are no needs to contort and reconfigure yourself or equipment. Perhaps what makes this gym stand out from the crowd the most is the ability to do squats. This is a rare feature in home gyms and well worth noting.

This workbench frame also carries a lifetime warranty.
Not everyone wants a machine that offers extensive weight lifting capabilities.

That is where the Powertec Stack Drive System, a 2 station home gym, is a great choice. This machine still has the impressive leverage system like other Powertec gyms, but it is also a little pricy. The Powertec Stack Drive System has a 230lb weight stack, which is larger than its competitions’ 210lb stack.

With a lat bar, short curl bar, cable handle and barbell attachment for a press station, you can work your upper body with ease. The press station has an adjustable height lever depending on the area you are working on. The bench can be put into a flat position, allowing the user to perform the exercise lying down working both legs at once and saving time. Not to mention a low row position that can be used for the upper back or your thighs and butt. This machine has a lifetime warranty for the frame and two years for parts.

We recommend Weider home gyms instead for better value.

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