Home Gyms: Work Out Whenever You Want

Did you make a New Year's resolution to go to the gym more often to get in better shape? So did a lot of other people, and now the gym is so packed that it's impossible to work out without waiting for 30 minutes or longer for the weight machine and every other piece of equipment. If you invest in a home gym, you can work out whenever you want for as long as you want without waiting in line and dealing with a crowd of people. Which home gym is right for you? We've selected four for you to look over.

home gymsIf you've ever taken a Pilates class or worked on a Pilates machine, you'll find the Total Gym XLS to be very similar to a Pilates machine as it mimics 80 of the many Pilates Reformer exercises at a far less cost than the typical Pilates Reformer machine. A phenomenal lifelong fitness regime, this machine uses resistance so that you are lifting, rowing, or pressing a ratio of 5% to 60% of your own body weight, depending on the level of incline you choose. If you're looking to build big muscles, this is not the home gym for you. However, if you want to get lean and toned while getting cardio to lose weight, this is one of the perfect home gyms for you. Endorsed by both Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley, the newly upgraded Total Gym XLS comes with a video display, extra padding on the glideboard, a 35 exercise wall chart, and four DVDs to keep you motivated as well as instruct you on the 80 possible exercises.

home gymsIf you are looking to build big muscles, there are many home gyms to suit that purpose, like the StarTrac Fitness Functional Trainer. With adjustable vertical towers, you have multiple exercise options that will target the upper body and core muscles. A cable crossover system with two pulleys on each tower that can be loaded with independent weight stacks, you can choose from a variety of attachments to hit the chest (pulls, crossovers), abs (crunches), back (cable flies), triceps (press downs), biceps (cable curls), and legs (extensions). The one drawback of this home gym is a bench is not included, so that would be an added expense to the already expensive price.

home gymsOne of the most well-known names in home gyms, Bowflex offers several home gym options, including the Bowflex Revolution XP. Using SpiraFlex Plates to simulate the feel of free weights, you have a choice between the XP design, a compact upper-body machine, and the full-size, total-body Revolution machine. Another unique feature of this home gym, the patented Freedom Arms can lock into ten different positions from straight up to straight down and everywhere in between. Also included are a squat harness to build glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, and an optional lat tower, making this a flexible and compact home gym that provides a variety of exercises.

home gymsIf you like the Bowflex, but are put off by its $2499 price tag, check out the similar and less expensive (at $657) Fitness Quest BioForce 1.7 Home Gym. Using the TNT (Total Nitrocell Technology), this home gym features two nitrogen-charged cylinders that provide fluid resistance throughout every movement. A convenient feature, the no-change cable system allows you to move quickly from one exercise to the next without fussy change-ups. Able to work every muscle group in your body, this is a great home gym at a moderate price with a 95% customer approval rating.

Browse these home gyms and others in our Home Gym store.

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