A Look at Cable Home Gyms

Cable Gym Reviews

From compound to isolated exercises, cable home gyms offer versatility and a change from traditional free weights and machines.

Cable home gyms can also include systems known as functional trainers and cable crossover machines. In short, these gyms would include any type of cable + pulley unit with a pin-selectorized weight stack for resistance. This home gym incorporates several different muscles groups when exercising, including the core to stabilize and keep your balance during movements while you are pulling on the cable and exercising the upper body.

Cable Specific Techniques

Cable exercises are usually very comfortable to perform, and the range of motion is smooth and natural. For that reason, people new to strength training can use cable home gyms since they are safe, easy to use, have the ability to change resistance levels quickly, and don’t require the balance and coordination of free weights (barbells and dumbbells).

Compare Cable Gyms at Amazon

Cable and pulley home gyms can be used to compliment work done with free weights, helping to chisel and tone certain areas using precise muscle contractions. Or, with the right training program, it can offer (almost) a full body workout. There is one main drawback though. You can do presses and all sorts of upper body exercises on cable gyms, but the design does not allow for expanded work on the lower body (trunk and legs). While you can perform leg kicks and extension by adding an ankle cuff strap on the low pulley, it isn’t ideal, as this places stress on the knee since there is no way to stabilize the joint during the extension.

Try to Buy...

Prices vary wildly on cable and cable crossover home gyms but try to buy one that includes the adjustable bench and comes with accessories (straight bar, curl bar, single handles, foot/ankle strap) included. Also, you have the option of upgrading to a heavier weight stack. Do it. If 150 pounds is the max on the original stack, you may exceed that limit within a few weeks of working out. With a well-designed system, you will have the tools to build strength, balance, and coordination for everyday activities or a particular sport. We review a number of cable home gyms on this site including units made by Body Solid, Hoist, Life Fitness and Star Trac. They range from $500 to $3,500.

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Reviews

Body Solid Deluxe Cable Center - A state-of-the-art cable crossover gym made of high quality, commercial grade steel to last a lifetime.

Hoist V6 Personal Pulley Gym - One of the best designs in an adjustable functional trainer.

Life Fitness G5 Cable Home Gym - One of the best designed and best built cable motion gyms on the market.

The Star Trac Functional Trainer - A sturdy, easy-to-use tower design cable crossover system.

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