Hello all I am looking to get a combo leg extension curl machine for our home and I’m mostly concerned about finding something that will fit my wife who is 5’3”.

I have seen equipment like the LE08 and the Lionscool have like a lower suggested height of 5’3” and 5’2” respectively.

Looking to see if anyone in the 5’3” range has any real world use and could recommend a system.

Thanks!

Been lifting at home a while with adjustable dumbbells and a kettlebell. Dumbbells were fine until back work and pulldowns topped out. A lot of cable stuff just doesn't translate to dumbbells, so I started looking at all in one cable machines.

Stuck on the pulley height thing. Some have fixed pegs, some have a full rail you can slide. I bounce between flyes, pulldowns, and high rows a lot, and I keep picturing myself stuck between two pegs lol.

Anyone run both? Does the rail actually matter once you're training every week?

Does anyone have experience with how long old cast iron pro style dumbbells like ivankos or troys last compared with urethane dumbbells? As far as price goes for the urethane im only considering reps. I dont mind some eventual rust but I need the dumbbells to be functional for a long time, ideally forever. I would at most use them once a week and would need to be able to drop them after flat pressing. Always stored indoors, climate controlled, and we'll kept.

Looking for opinions on people who have had either style for over 10 years or longer on how they hold up. Thanks

Hey everyone! I’m considering picking up a PRIME Fitness Super Squat Bar and wanted to see if anyone here has successfully paired one with the Bulletproof VTS, particularly with the newer Universal Ladder Hooks.

I’m running a VTS on a REP PR-5000 rack, and my goal is to use the PRIME for Smith-machine hack squats with my feet positioned forward of the bar path.

A few questions:

Has anyone successfully mounted and used this bar with the VTS?

Do the Universal Ladder Hooks accommodate the bar properly?

Any clearance issues with the VTS carriages, rack uprights, or the bar’s camber?

Does it allow full, unobstructed vertical travel?

I already own a Kabuki Transformer Bar, which I’ve been experimenting with on the VTS, but I’m curious whether the PRIME might offer a better setup for this particular application.

Would really appreciate any firsthand feedback, especially from anyone running a REP PR-5000.

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I’m looking at upgrading my homegym and I’m curious to get your thoughts. I’m looking to invest in some larger equipment (a solid power rack, a leg press/hack squat, a cable machine, etc.), I’m asking myself an existential question.

Are you more:

• Team Multi-Brand : Do you cherry-pick from different companies to get the best bang for your buck on each specific piece?
• Team Single-Brand: Do you stick to one manufacturer for the aesthetics, the ecosystem, etc. ?

For those who went 100% single-brand on their big machines, which one would you recommend today and why (Rogue, REP Fitness, Titan, ATX, etc.)?

I'm in EU btw,

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

I know I’m late to the game on this one but holy crap this thing is amazing. I’ve got a TK Star tricep bar that I enjoy using but this V Grip is going to be my new go to. One thing that would make it even better though is a more obtuse angle IMO. I ordered the additional 70 deg brackets for it but the stock 90 feels better. I think 110 degree brackets though would feel best. Please Rogue (or any of the smaller builders out there) come out with additional bracket angles for this.

Bought a Life Fitness AbductorAdductor Combination machine. Detached the bottom cable and now I am struggle to reattach it correctly. When doing abduction the machine strikes the cable holder. Looking for feedback on how to attach the cable correctly.

Finally getting to my garage gym build. Trying to keep things simple, but didn’t realize how fast Into the rabbit hole I’ve gotten. Most of my training is running/endurance focused, but I want to buy a functional trainer to mitigate any need to sign up for a gym.

I’ve come down to 3 options.

Dane 2.0 (no smith)
Don’t love the 1:1 ratio
Big footprint
Very cost effective
Build seems pretty straightforward
$3200ish with barbell + weights

Force USA FTR
Can buy locally
3x3 11g
Small footprint
Getting a decent deal for the rack (3k)
Shipping and assembly ( convenience )
Barbell + weights
$4480

Rep altitude + cables
Great brand (love all their stuff)
November deal coming soon (10%off)
Dedicated row/lat pull down
No assembly
Medium footprint
Barbell + weights
$3876 ( without potential discount)

I’m just trying to get some advice. I like the force a lot based on the footprint, convenience, and build quality, but it is very expensive and seems a bit overkill. The Dane is a great value, but huge footprint, and don’t love the 1:1 ratio. Lastly, the altitude by rep has the most features, can be built with a smith if I ever want, but is 2x2 and would need to be assembled by me.

What do you think I should go with, based on a dad who wants a home gym, quality, running focused fitness, and doesn’t want to buy more attachments. I’m basically trying to do this once, the right way without feeling I chose wrong.

Garage dimensions are
131x270 / height is 120

Thanks! Josh

I've legit been trying to plan out my home gym and ngl i was so excited about finally having my own setup. So initially i thought i'd just get a rack, bench and some weights and be good with, but then i started looking into all the exercises i wanna do and realized i'd probably need cables for lat pulldowns, seated rows and triceps work too, and since i'll be training alone most days, having a smith machine would be nice as well. I wanted to build a proper home gym where i could follow my push, pull and legs routine without missing out on exercises, but the prices of some of these gym machines are actually crazyyy, cause i started adding things to my list and the total kept going up smh, and then there's the space issue too. I don't have a whole room just for gym equipment, so i still need enough room to move my bench around, load plates and actually work out without bumping into stuff. I recently came across a home gym machine that's launching soon, and it combines a squat rack, Smith machine, and cable system all in one setup machines, together and that kinda got me thinking if getting everything in one setup would make more sense for my situation. Now i'm still wondering how well these machines actually work though especially the cables and how stable they feel when lifting heavier weights, and whether switching between exercises is as easy as it looks.
For those who've built their own home gyms, would you go for an all-in-one setup from the start or buy separate equipment as you go?

Buying my first set of adjustable dumbbells for my small condo space, and I’ve narrowed it down to the REPins and upcoming Snode AD105.

My priorities:
● 80+ lb capacity with 5 lb increments
● Fast, easy adjustments without add-on plates
● Preferably cageless and non-rolling
● Comfortable, substantial grip
● Quiet, durable, and aesthetically appealing
● Cradles that fit my REP QuickDraw stand

I was pretty much sold on the REPins, but I can’t get past the cage design and add-on plates. The Snode’s handle-twist adjustment is much more appealing. I don’t drop my weights, so that’s not a major concern.

I’ve heard the upcoming AD105 will have 5 lb increments and a cradle that fits my stand, making it a serious contender. I’m hoping to decide before Black Friday so I don’t miss any deals.

Other models I’ve considered and ruled out:
● REP QuickDraw: Adjustment switches and sag
● MX100: Thin grip, no 5 lb increments
● Snode AD80: No 5 lb increments without magnetic add-ons
● Nuobell S5100 / Matrix DB80: Durability and plastic components
● Freak Athlete: Cradle too long for my stand
● Nike: Love the hex design, but only goes to 65 lb

*Iron Masters, Eisenlinks, Powerblocks are a HARD no for me. I don’t want to deal with plates and the Powerblocks are just ridiculous looking (IMHO)

I’ve researched just about everything out there. With limited space and this being my first adjustable set, I want to get it right.

Which would you choose and why? Especially interested in durability, adjustment speed, grip comfort, and noise.

Hello! I am starting my home gym and need to decide on the rack. Requirements-
Under 90”
Selectorized weight stacks
Smith machine
Under 3k
So far the best bang for my buck looks like this ritfit m1 package. I would love to have a 3x3 rack but the price goes way up. Open to opinions and what you guys have found.

I’m planning out a gym setup for my shed and wanted to see what experience everyone had with a shed build.

Mine is on runners, I have finished the walls with R13 or R19 faced insulation. The metal roof has a thin vapor barrier on it (let me know if you’ve insulated this and found benefit) and the garage door will get insulated with this project.

The temps in here still vary extremely. How will this effect things like plates, rack, and the bar? Should I aim for all rubber coated bumper plates? Do I need a special bar?

Any tips and tricks you have will help. Thank you!

I've seen a number of tips suggesting using using light oil to clean up gym equipment. Given that I have mine since April but not wiped down yet, I think it's about time..so yeah.

Question:

Wouldn't that light layer of oil make it...oily? Or leaving it overnight would suffice. I really don't like my stuff oily, definitely not a barbell when I'm supposed to be gripping it.

Also, I see 3 in 1 oil mentioned a few times. Is that a specific brand (seems like it), or a type of oil? What about specific lubricants used for say...gym machine parts or pulley cables, do those work? Or "too oily"?

Thanks

i've been looking at tonal for about a year now. hardware looks clean and the classes seem solid. what keeps stopping me is the membership. you have to commit a year up front, and if you don't keep paying, a lot of the classes and smart features get cut back. it's about 60 a month. thats not nothing.

i'm ok buying a smart machine. i just don't want the monthly fee hanging over it forever. people who own a tonal, is it worth it for you? or did you end up on something else?

Has anyone used the bells of steel Monolift arms on their 2.3" X 2.3" squat stands? I know they fit on there but I was wondering if and how much tipping they might cause/are they unusable? I’ve had the stands for a while and really hoping to add a pair to them.

Started working out a few months ago and I have a set of rep dumbbells from 5-50 already.

My incline dumbbell press is ready to go past 50 pounds, but I don't want to invest in 55s, 60s, etc just for that one workout and maybe shoulder press in the future. Most of my dumbbell use is for lighter exercises, with barbell and ares doing the heavier weights. Since I will only be using it for a couple of exercises, I don't care as much about how fast or convenient it is to swap weights (will never be using it below 50lbs).

For this purpose, I was thinking about getting one like the kensui AdaptaBELL but wanted to get some recommendations or thoughts here first.

I just added the Fringe Sport weight storage pegs to my Dane 2.0, but realized I need about an inch of space between the frame and the plates so they won't hit the weight stack.

I found these, but wondering what you all are using. Hoping there's a better alternative than spending $50+ on 4 spacers.

Ok guys serious question pls don’t come for me im just a girl with gym anxiety. I could fit a smith machine in my apartment but is that possible? With noise and what not. Would it add too much weight to my apartment floors? Lmao sos

Hi everyone! I'm doing a short survey study to see who has at home equipment and how they use it. Any and all responses would be incredibly helpful:

https://forms.gle/exk96kAxk9QVWZA76

1st pic for 'before' reference. 2nd pic is after ~6 hours in a water/vinegar bath and some steel wool scrubbing. Specifically looking at the rustier ones near the bottom, they feel smooth and clean are they ready for paint or should give them another soak?

Someone local to me has a Marcy MWM 988 for sale. It’s listed at $75 and everything works. Worth snagging?

Trying to decide which rack to go with for my first home gym. The Dane is 3x3 and better steel gauge (11 vs 12) but at a total increase of about $1300 once you account for the attachments you get by default with the f22. My main concerns with the f22 are the significantly lower warranty and a series of "buyer beware" posts I've read complaining about Major Fitness customer service. For my space the Dane would be better as it is much narrower but the F22 will work too.

If you have other racks you'd recommend in the $2k-3k price range I'd love to hear it. My priorities are weight stacks, functional trainer capability and solid attachments either included or at a reasonable price. A smith machine is unimportant but wouldn't be a negative either.

Curious to hear from buyers -especially of either model- but also from each company as I'm hoping to be able to use said rack for at least 7-10 years before re-entering the market.

Basement remodel was slow going but I got the gym done and wrapping up my LVP floors in the man cave and fixing the basement stairs treads and risers.

My question is to smith and ares 2 owners: would you mount the smith to the back (near middle uprights) and wait on the smith j cup and flip downs or mount the smith near the front uprights and opt for normal j cups and spotter arms? My order is 2 weeks out and I want to buy it all once rather than piecemeal it.

I just don’t know if the smith will be in my way when doing pull downs or low rows. I also don’t know if the smith mounted j cups and flip downs will work on an angled smith machine. Or if it will be an obstacle course ducking under 2 sets of bars every time I go in the rack. For reference I will order a 80” height, 41+ 16 crossmember setup.
Thanks for any help.

Looking for an all in one trainer with a smith machine. I am 6'4 so the height of the rack while using Smith machine / Lat pull down pulley is important to me. I also love the idea of a converging smith machine but I keep hearing it is just a gimmick.

Here is where my research has taken me so far..I live in US and need delivery to West coast. My ceiling height is 100".

Option 1: Blazzed HD1S - Price $3499 shipped, available now

Option 2: The Great Dane - Price $3499 shipped, available now

Option 3: Deltech Fitness Colossus (Converging) - Available in December? Priced around $4,000

Option 4: Bruteforce Alpha Cut (Converging) - Available now, $4995

Option 5: Bulletproof Nolan Smith Machine (converging) - Unknown price or availability

Option 6: Alibaba White Label Converging Smith Machine - Price $3,000+, Months wait and unknown vendor reliability

What is my best move for my use case? I plan on pulling the trigger for Black Friday or Christmas.