The Hoist V-Express Gym – Circuit Training in One Unit

Even though it is designed for the home, the Hoist V-Express Gym is a commercial quality fitness system. This machine is an exemplary product for anyone in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, and it provides a variety of exercise for the upper body. However, the lower body exercises are lacking.

The Gym

The Hoist V-Express Gym single-stack system comes with Hoist’s articulating press arms that offer the user 3-dimensional movement to perform flat, incline, decline press or fly exercises. The adjustable back pad provides comfort and support during exercises, and the gym includes a pair of adjustable hand straps and a padded ankle strap for exercises off the pulleys. The Split Weight Cabling increases the travel of the cable, which delivers 50% of the resistance to mid and low pulley exercises.

The Hoist V-Express includes:

• 150-lb Weight Stack
• V-Express Press Arm
• High, Mid, & Low Cable Stations
• Standing Leg Curl
• Adjustable multi-function roller pads
• Adjustable Seat & Pivoting Back Pad
• Integrated Accessory Storage Rack
• Dimensions – 63"L x 48"W x 83.5"H
• Warranties: lifetime frame; 10 years moving parts; 1 yr cables, upholstery, paint
• Accessories: aluminum curl bar, strap handles, ankle strap, 14-link chain to adjust user height, exercise poster

Options: 50-lb upgrade ($100), Weight Stack Shield ($199), V-Ride Leg Press ($1,200), Stationary Leg Press ($850).

Compare Hoist Strength Training Equipment Here

The Buzz

Trainers like that the Hoist V-Express Gym includes many workouts for the chest, shoulders, arms, and back including lat pull downs, pec fly, all angles of presses using the Press Arm, and all curls, rows, crossovers, kickbacks, etc. using the high, mid, and low pulleys. Leg workouts include glut and thigh kickouts (using the ankle strap) and the seated leg extension and standing leg curl.

Fitness equipment reviews of Hoist home gyms praise their quality, which is not surprising considering what you pay for one. For those people new to resistance training and not familiar with the workouts, Hoist supplies an outstanding Exercise Chart with each machine they ship. Not only does the V-Express come with an illustration of every workout station, it lists two sample workout programs for the week as well as training tips.

Our Take

The Hoist V-Express is a superior quality home gym, but it isn’t a complete gym. There is nothing to fault this system in terms of smooth, quiet performance, solid feel, and beautiful craftsmanship. Yet the drawback of the Hoist V-Express is that you have to pay an additional $850 to get a leg press station. For our money, if it doesn’t have a leg press exercise, we’d like to see a standing squat station … aaand it doesn’t offer that either.

Another potential drawback is that the 200-lb stack might be light for guys who can lift heavy. Since the Hoist V-Express Gym is a quality home gym and it gets generally good reviews, you still might go with it -- if you already have free weights to perform squats to work the lower body. Otherwise, it isn’t worth it to spend $850 or $1,200 for the leg workout attachment on top of $1,899 for the price of the gym.

Show me other Hoist Home Gyms

Return from Hoist V-Express Gym to the Home Gym Reviews Index Page