Top 8 Best Home Gym Under $1000 – Reviews & Guide

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Is a home gym worth it? Having your gym in your own house turns out to be very beneficial if you are highly involved in exercising. You can exercise whenever you want according to your work cycle and at your own ease.

You can exercise freely without having to worry about any distractions or concerns about people. Having your own gym gives you the personal freedom to feel your workout and bring the best out of it.

You also save up a lot on membership fees as you have your equipment, which will never lose its value over time.

In a hurry? The following are the 8 best budget home gyms that you can find within $1000:

How to Choose the Best Home Gym for Under $1000?

#1. Weight Capacity

The weight capacity of the home gym will depend on your fitness requirement. It will be different if you want to build a muscular body compared to just conditioning it for mobility.

Once that is determined, the weight capacity of the machine can be decided. There are two weights in any home gym: the machine’s weight and the maximum weight of the person it can handle. The weight capacity might also depend on your body size and the maximum weight you can lift.

#2. Footprints

Another important aspect while choosing a home gym is the area that the gym will occupy. For smaller homes, a small gym is suggested. But in the case of garages and extra rooms, weight stack home gyms can also be used.

If there is less space, room for functional trainers and other gym equipment that can be folded is preferred.

#3. Available Exercises

Different gym systems offer different exercises. But you are interested in fitness and want to move beyond the beginner level, and you can go for the weight stack home gyms or free weight systems.

The functional trainers are also adept in providing several exercises, as high as 50, and can be a good choice if maximum available exercises are sought for.

If the number of available exercises is not a matter of concern, then a free weight system or functional trainer can be used.

Top 8 Best Home Gym Under $1000

1. Marcy Smith Cage MD-9010G Total Body Training Home Gym

The Marcy Smith Cage or Marcy Diamond MD-9010G is an all-in-one workout station that allows you to perform full-body workouts.

It is a Smith machine with a steel frame that uses aircraft cable to provide strong resistance and long life.

This machine includes dual action press arms, dual-action leg developers with a curl bar, Olympic weight plate pegs, low pulley, pec deck station, and a high cable crossover with a pulley cable system.

This Marcy home gym comes with more attachments like triceps rope, single handles, ankle strap, and shiver bar.

It can provide great lateral stability due to its frame design and strength due to an all-steel body.

Some exercises that could be carried on this machine are cable crossovers, bicep curls, overhead press, seated rows, close grip bench press, preacher curls, pec fly, and incline bench press.

The maximum amount of weight of a person lifted by this machine is 300lbs, and the adjustable bench can bear 600 lbs of equipment weight.

A warranty of 2 years is provided for this machine, which is 380 lbs and takes 8 hours to assemble on average.

Pros

  • 8 workout stations
  • Additional accessories
  • Strong steel-frame body

Cons

  • Difficult and time-consuming assembly
  • Curved bench
  • Weights & pull-up bar not included

2. Total Gym XLS

The Total Gym XLS is a compact and efficient machine that enables partial bodyweight training. It provides increased endurance as it enables you to work in all planes of motion to increase strength.

It is designed to coordinate the muscles as it delivers a free and wide range of motion. It also incorporates an upgraded pulley system with head support.

Almost 80 activity-specific exercises can be performed with this machine and apart from sports-specific exercises.

Complete support for the back is provided so that the abdomen’s muscles and the back can be stabilized.

It has a complete exercise system to target all muscles and assist with complete strength and endurance exercise-system.

It is one of the best Total Gym machines for rehabilitation from injuries and great for people who want to exercise at home. There are some complaints about the accessories, but you can always replace them.

Pros

  • 80+ exercise options
  • Complete body workout
  • 400lb weight capacity

Cons

  • Low-quality pulley
  • Difficult to assemble
  • Requires large space

3. Bowflex Blaze Home Gym

Bowflex Home Gym Series

The Bowflex Blaze is another complete workout machine that can be upgraded to 410 lbs but comes at 210 lbs of resistance.

It is a home gym that has Power Rods that are long-lasting and have a lifetime warranty. The Bowflex model comes with a 5-year warranty, which can be extended.

This machine offers more than 60 exercises to strengthen all muscles from the upper body to the lower body.

It comes with a cardio rowing station, which offers cardiovascular endurance and strength conditioning at the same time. Equipped with leg extensions, this machine also focuses on the quadriceps and ligaments around the knee.

It has three pulley positions, which can build the upper body, core, and lower body. The handles can be used for hands and ankles alike. The maximum weight of the person using this machine should be under 136 kg.

This machine is intended to save space and be easy to assemble.

Pros

  • Full body workout
  • More than 60 exercises
  • Smooth increasing resistance

Cons

  • Suitable for the average height
  • Not adept for cardio purposes
  • Power rods lose tension.

4. Powerline by Body-Solid BSG10X

Body-Solid BSG10X Home Gym Machine 160-Pound Weight Stack Without Leg

The Powerline BSG10X has a strong steel frame with a stack that weighs around 160lbs. It can be assembled in as few as 9 steps and 30 minutes since it is already pre-assembled partially.

It has a low space-consuming design taking up only about 7 feet of length and 4 feet of the floor’s width.

It also has 3 pulleys and an adjustable weight stack. Apart from a press arm, the BSG10X comes with a leg developer as well.

The press bar has been designed in such a way to enhance chest flexure and strength. The lat pulldown station also is provided in this compact machine, which is easy to use, store, and maintain.

The cables are military-grade which can bear 2200 lbs of tensile strength. These cables are highly durable and do not need frequent maintenance.

The finish of this home gym machine is powder-coated with an electrostatic method.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble
  • Sturdy frame
  • Durable

Cons

  • Short warranty
  • Low maximum at 160 lbs
  • Weight range not upgradable

5. Marcy Stack Dual Function Home Gym – 200 lb. Stack MKM-81010

Marcy 200 lbs. Stack Home Gym Multifunction Total Body Training

The Marcy Stack Dual Function Home Gym has a good 200 pounds lbs in the weight stack, which has a safety component to it about which more is explained below. Each of the plates weighs 16 lbs with security pins.

It has dual press arms through which the transition from a chest press to a vertical butterfly can be made. The leg developers are also dual-function, meaning that it has extenders as well as curls. It has arm curls, which can be attached as required.

Considering safety as a priority, it has a weight stack lock and protective stack covers made of steel.

The assembly of the machine requires tools other than included with the shipping and persons more than one. As it is a bulky machine of more than 300 pounds, it cannot be easily moved, which may be a problem for many.

Pros

  • Great mid-range home gym
  • Strong steel frame
  • Wide base
  • Dual function arm & leg developers

Cons

  • Difficult to move
  • Non-adjustable seat
  • For average height

6. Body-Solid Best Fitness BFFT10R

Best Fitness by Body-Solid BFFT10R Functional Trainer Cable Machine, Full

The BFFT10r is known for the 19 adjustments provided by the vertical pulley, which can move 180 degrees.

It has a weight stack of 190 lbs and a no cable change design apart from two nylon handles. This brand offers a 3-year warranty on the frame and a year worth of warranty on the motor and other parts.

It has a straight chaining bar and takes up less area as compared to other machines. The overall weight of the machine is 308 lbs.

Pros

  • Excellent service
  • Easy to assemble
  • Sturdy

Cons

  • Short cable length
  • No accessories
  • Bad quality

7. Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

The Bowflex PR 1000 is a home gym that has a rowing station built within it. It allows for more than 30 exercises and has a media rack to play songs or videos, which can be further folded.

It comes with several workouts built by trainers. This machine also has a Power Rod resistance of 210 lbs and a list of workouts for beginners. The Power Road resistance has a 5-year warranty, and the frame has a one-year warranty.

The height of the bench seat is 86,” which is compact. Apart from that, there are also handles and an adjustable bench. To allow rows, there are sliding bench seats as well.

This gym comes with more than 200 lbs of resistance and allows for adjustable pulley points. It can support more than 300 lbs at once and provide workout placards for more information.

Pros

  • More than 30 exercises
  • Easily adjustable weights
  • Power rod technology

Cons

  • Less resistant
  • Lesser tutorials
  • It cannot be upgraded for more weight.
  • Lesser accessories

8. Total Gym APEX G3

Total Gym APEX G3 Versatile Indoor Home Gym Workout Total

The Total Gym Apex G3 allows for more than 70 exercises and includes charts, DVDs, and a guidebook. The DVDs and guidebooks are also accompanied by access to TOTAL GYM TV, which will provide workout education to the user.

The APEX G3 by Total Gym, which has been in the industry for more than 40 years, also includes a glide board, cable kit, pulley system, and wing attachments.

The glide board is padded and ergonomic, and the wing attachments are versatile to be held in hands or pulled with feet. The cable kit allows for further attachments to add exercises to the machine.

Some exercises that can be carried out on the machine are Hamstring Pulls, Inner Thigh Pulls, Leg Curls, Pull-Ups, Chin Ups, Sit-ups, etc.

The height bar is adjustable to add to a stand, squat stand, and dip bars. There are 8 levels of resistance as advertised by the company.

A quick assembly process comes with a one-year warranty and can be folded to store away easily.

Pros

  • 70+ exercise options
  • 8 levels of resistance
  • Workout DVD included

Cons

  • Not suitable for heavy exercises
  • Fewer accessories

Type of Home Gyms: Which Shoud You Choose?

#1. Weight Stack Home Gym

A weight stack home gym is a gym that consists of a set of plates in one stack or more. They can be adjusted according to your gym purposes.

It takes less space than traditional weight lifting and offers several exercises with different weights.

They can have either a single weight stack on one side, which can be used by one person at a time. They can also have two weight stacks on either end, which can be used by two persons. It is best suited for private use and gives value for money.

Having a dual-weight stack gym has some advantages over a single stack system. It allows for installing cable crossovers, which increases the possibilities of exercise.

#2. Functional Trainer

Functional trainers work with cables and have weight stacks, pulleys, and handles. It has independent stacks as well. They come in different sizes and shapes. They allow you to attach a lot of other accessories and are great for homes.

Some accessories that can be attached are tricep ropes, lat bars, v-shaped bars, and others. They take up less size than a gym, so they are well suited for homes and garages.

It is primarily meant to rehabilitate or provide mobility to the body. Functional trainers aim to train the entire body as a whole, with physical safety a priority.

#3. Bodyweight Training System

In the body-weight training system, there is no need for gym equipment or machines. You basically rely on your body weight to build muscles or exercise.

Many body-weight training systems are derived from some practices and combined to form different body motions to isolate the body’s unique muscles.

They are safer than weight training and are also used for rehabilitation purposes.

It is known as one of the oldest forms of exercise, and the system is highly effective in isolating the different muscles.

There is no cost involved in these training pieces, and they can be carried out without a trainer if you are a beginner.

#4. Power Rod Machine

Power Rod Machines are resistance based-technology that are touted as revolutionary in the field of fitness. The resistance increases with every rep. The more you flex the rods, the more the weight or the resistance increases.

It is highly effective and burns more calories during the workout than the other forms of training.

It supports many exercises and their variations. The resistance is different for each machine, and the system elements can be customized for various individuals.

One can develop the legs, abs, glutes, chests, and arms as well. It does not take a lot of space and is ergonomic as well.

#5. Free Weight System

The free weight system is one where you lift free weights to increase your strength. They can be used in a lot of ways and do not cost a lot. They isolate different muscles of the body but stabilize the entire body as well.

It also requires proper technique to isolate and strengthen the right muscles. It follows the fundamental concept of gravity and provides resistance to the body through gravity to oppose the body’s force.

It includes equipment such as barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells, etc.

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