The Best Multi-Station Home Gym Equipment: Reviews, Comparisons, and Buying Guide For Year 2023

You have limited space in your home, and you want to get the best multi-station gym equipment for your home to fit the space. You are confused if this giant workout equipment can be squeezed into a limited area and get the best workout.

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Man working on a multi station — Man using a Multi Station Equipment

The guides and reviews of some of the best equipment below will help you make an educated decision.

First, what is Multi-Station Equipment, also called Universal Gym Equipment? On the first look, it appears to be some ‘transformer being’ with arms here and there.

They are several weight machines joined together. They share the same stack of weights, thus saving space.

You can perform many exercises on just one piece of equipment with ease, and time is saved.

For starters, this is strength-building equipment with multiple function pulleys all around. Every part of your limbs can be exercised, and with a little creative imagination and with some expert help, you can structure any muscles on your body the way you want them to be.

You can easily build beautiful show-off muscles with this equipment and impress everyone with the bodily changes.

Some of these machines come with a punching bag if you are interested in building a boxing fist or practicing some kicking blows. Nowadays, these machines are smartly designed to incorporate multiple exercises with ease and placed in an efficiently enclosed space.

Mostly, these strength machines are used by teenagers who realize their bodies are not in the shape of people they admire, people who would like to tone the selected muscles, those who have had surgery and are recuperating, bodybuilders, sportspeople, and athletes who would like to excel further in their competitive sports, and lastly, by ordinary people who like to keep fit.

With this resistance training equipment, you can perform all of the same exercises that you would at a gym or club in the comfort of your own home, burning calories, increasing muscle mass, improving metabolic rate, building powerful muscles, losing unwanted weight, and much more.

Buyers Guide-Points to consider when getting a Multi-Station Home Gym Equipment

Space: Again, this is one of the most critical factors to consider when buying one station. Try to get the footprint of the machine and understand every single movement of the station. If you can get this information, try to imagine the exact placement of the equipment in your room and picture yourself or someone bigger than you doing exercises in the space.

For example, if you are doing the rowing pull in front of the machine, you need to have enough space to angle yourself and exercise. Or if you are punching and kicking the punching bag, enough space should be there.

And the most important is safety. Getting your head or body knocked on a regular basis is a no-no.

Types of Multi-Station: Depending on individual goals and programs, there are so many types of stations to choose from. It varies from a simple weight pull machine to advanced multifunctional stations.

So, understanding your needs is very important.

Some of us want to strengthen certain muscles. For example, building the quads and knee muscles after an operation on the meniscus, or getting the super-duper machine to work out all the muscles from the top to the bottom of our bodies, or wanting to be a bodybuilder.

Budget: A simple or dual station will be inexpensive, but a multifunctional station will be more expensive.

This will also depend on the structural building, the quality of the material used, how versatile it is, types of weights, good pulleys that are smooth and not resistant, and many more cost factors. And some come with a removable weight bench for more diversity.

And hopefully, by the end of this post, you will have enough information to pick the right one for you or others.

Best Multi-Station Gym Equipment For Home 2021-Updated November 2020

For those who insist on purchasing a multi-station gym equipment right away, the models listed below are comparable good models. Click on to read more features and reviews about the machines.

Now we go into the reviews of each machine (not the above ones). There will be Three Main Breakdowns, categories of machines costing US500 and below, US1000 and below, and US1000 and above. I hope this will help everyone own one machine.

Multi-Station Home Gym Equipment Reviews Under $500

Marcy 150-lb Multifunctional Home Gym Station MWM-990

We start with the Marcy 150-pound Multifunctional Home Gym model MWM-990. Marcy is one of Impex’s brands, a manufacturer of fitness products for many well-known fitness equipment companies.

Their commitment is to provide the ultimate customer service and high-quality products at competitive prices.

First, the assembled dimensions are 68L x 36W x 79H inches and weigh around 300 pounds.

For personal free movement, have at least 36 inches (this is just an estimate) around the machine. The back can have about a foot for maintenance.

This home gym system is constructed with heavy-duty steel tubing and reinforced with guard rods that hold weight in place during a workout. Easily select the weights (each stack is about 10 pounds) you desire with the safety lock, up to the maximum weight of 150 pounds, which is provided.

Some of the actions that can be done on this machine are Dual Action Press Arms (chess press and vertical butterfly exercises), Upper Pulley (core ab crunches), Padded Press Arm (chest and pec fly exercises), Leg Developer (lower body and knee muscles), and Removable Curl Pad (removable for isolated bicep exercises).

There is a video below basically explaining all these exercises which can be done on this machine.

Marcy 150-lb Multifunctional Home Gym Station MWM-990

There are 30 strength training exercises, enough versatile functions to work on your biceps, triceps, pectorals, quads, and other muscles with a simple removal and insertion of a pin.

This machine has all the essential core workouts. It is sturdy and can be used daily with no issues.

Unboxing and setting up the machine will be a challenge for those who are not techie. Understanding the parts, instructions, illustrations, and tools provided before getting started is important. Pay extra attention to the right types of nuts, washers, and bolts before beginning, as if you are in the middle of the construction process, you might find some bolts are too short or extra long.

So try to have a complete understanding before beginning. It is good to work with another person, and it will be fun. And always, safety first.

On the negative side of this machine, some muscular guys might find the 150 pounds is not enough, and unfortunately, more stacked weights cannot be added to the machine. The pulleys and the wire cables are designed for a maximum weight of 150 pounds only.

In this price range, this Home Gym is one of the best, requires a compact space to place the equipment, and it’s an excellent machine, especially for those who are starting, but this machine gets the job done.

Marcy Stack Dual Function Home Gym MKM-81010

Another low budget machine by Marcy. The Marcy Stack Dual Function Home Gym is perfect for those who prefer working from home.

The machine’s assembled dimension is 73L x 39W x 85.5H inches, which is a major space saver without sacrificing quality or reduced workout exercises.

It is a full-fledged total gym, enough for anyone to have a total, comprehensive, full-body workout on any commercial machine out there.

You can easily build some serious muscles right from home. The complete system has a total weight of 200 pounds, enough for very beginners to average bodybuilders.

This stack gym equipment has a solid steel protective stack cover and weight stack lock for total user safety. It has high-density vinyl upholstery with high-density foam to offer a comfortable and safe workout.

And it has a variety of exercises (about 20). With some system adjustments, you can get arm curls to suit different body types, a dual-function leg developer for the total lower body, dual-function press arms for rowing exercises.

For the upper body, these multi-function arm presses target the pectoral muscles (large muscles of the chest) and switch from chess press to vertical butterfly exercises. There are many more exercises which you can do on this machine.

Below is a brief video review of this model.

Marcy Stack Dual Function Home Gym – MKM-81010

This machine weighs about 300 pounds. It is constructed with a heavy-duty 2 x 2.5 inch steel tube frame. So initially, setting up the machine will be tough. But this equipment promises quality and durability.

There are so many parts, so be careful about placing them in the right spot.

On the negative side, more weights cannot be added to the 200 pounds, which is again not so suitable for super-strong people. The machine is so heavy, and assembling the machine will be tough for most people with the not so clear instruction guides.

To summarize, this is tough, sturdy, and high-quality equipment to have, especially for those just starting out in the gym world. It will be an excellent addition to your home gym station and well worth the price you pay for.

Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

Suppose you are on a budget but want to have gym-quality workout results in your home, then the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym is the answer to that.

Bowflex has years of experience in home fitness, and they continue to develop breakthrough solutions beyond the traditional home gym concept to include innovative cardio and strength products.

This machine will get the results you are looking for quickly and efficiently, so that you can go on with your day healthier, happier, and lead a better life.

The assembled dimensions are 84L x 38W x 84H inches and weigh around 144 pounds. And a comfortable, recommended workout area is at least 127 x 82 inches.

But the wonderful part of this machine is that the bench can be folded vertically when not in use, thus saving 50% of the space.

Note that the various exercise resistance is not provided by the stack of weights you find on other machines, but by the power rods. And this model has resistance up to 210 pounds.

At the same time, the multiple pulley positions allow you to easily change the resistance angle, thus giving you more challenges in the exercises.

The Bowflex PR1000 can provide up to 30 unique kinds of exercises covering the entire body. Some of it is described as follows,

For the chest, you can do the Bench Press, Back – Seated Lat Rows, Arms-Standing Bicep Curls and Triceps Pushdown, Shoulders – Crossover Seated Rear Deltoid Rows, Trunks – Trunk Rotation, Seated Abdominal Crunch, Legs – Calf Raise and Leg Presses, Cardio and losing weight – Rowing Option by easily converting the bench, and much more.

Below is a short video review of this model.

Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

Also new is the newly integrated media rack, where you can stream and watch your favorite entertainment or training videos during a workout.

With this model’s purchase, seven trainer-built workouts and two training videos are included to follow along. This will be of enormous help for beginners as they can take the correct steps and not injure yourself.

Unboxing and setting up the machine will be a challenge for those who are not techie. Understanding the parts, instructions, illustrations, and tools provided before getting started is important.

Pay extra attention to the right types of nuts, washers, and bolts before beginning, as if you are in the middle of the construction process, you might find some of the bolts are either too short or extra long, as you might have initially made a mistake in placing the wrong nuts.

So try to have a complete understanding before beginning. It is good to work with another person, and it will be fun. And always put safety first, as parts can be heavy, and watch out for sharp edges. Enjoy and take your time assembling it.

On the negative side of this machine, some sturdy guys might find the 210 pounds is just not enough, and unfortunately, more resistance cannot be added to the machine. They designed the pulleys and the wire cables for a max of 210 pounds only.

In conclusion, the Bowflex PR1000 home gym is great for you and the entire family. So many types of exercises can be done; it is right for beginners, those undergoing rehabilitation, those who want an intense workout, and many others. It is value for money, of quality, gives a smooth performance and a worthwhile investment.

Note that this particular model PR1000 has an older version which was popular. The difference between the above newer one and the older one is that everything is the same except that the newer one has a media rack added.

Multi-Station Home Gym Equipment Reviews Under $1000

Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Home Gym

The Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Home Gym is another excellent model, one of the best-selling Power Rod Home Gyms by Bowflex. You will feel and look better on this model.

The assembled dimensions are 53L x 49W x 82H inches and weigh around 186 pounds. And a comfortable, recommended workout area is at least 96L x 78W inches.

The workout space required is much less than the other models, if you noticed.

In this model, there are about 70 various kinds of exercises that can be done easily. You can easily move from a leg exercise to a hand exercise more quickly and easily with no cable changes. This way, you save time and keep your heart rate up as you progress through your workout.

It also comes with the ergonomically designed Adjustable Seat, Abdominal Shoulder Harness, 5-way hand-grip/ankle cuffs, Lat Bar, Gym Style Ab Crunch Strap, and the Squat Bar, but the Preacher Curl Attachment is optional if you want to add this. Overall, there are enough exercises to work out the entire body, covering every inch of muscle.

The standard resistance which the system comes with is 210 pounds. But we can upgrade it to 310 or 410 pounds if needed.

The good thing about the resistance or ‘weight’ given by the Power Rods is that it feels as good or better than the traditional stack weights and without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights sudden jerks experienced.

Below is a brief video review of this model.

Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Home Gym

With the purchase of this model, the 7 free Trainer-Built Workouts are included for you to follow along with. Guides you will get to follow along with are 20 minutes better body, 20-minute upper body, 20 minutes lower body, bodybuilding, circuit training anaerobic, true aerobic, and strength training routines.

For beginners and advanced users, this will be of enormous help as we can take the correct steps and not injure ourselves.

Unboxing and setting up the machine will be a challenge for those who are not techie. Understanding the parts, instructions, illustrations, and tools provided before getting started is important.

This machine’s negative side is that the numbers on the rod and the actual free weight do not correlate. But if you take the numbers as numbers and not weight equivalents, you will have no issue as both are different.

Another negative part is that you have to buy additional rods if you find that 210 pounds is not enough. Also, as these rods lose their strength over time, it is good to buy some spares and keep them.

Overall, this is an outstanding piece of home gym equipment that is versatile, easy to operate, used by many, and will give many years of quality service to you and your family.

Total Gym XLS Plus AbCrunch Bench

Total Gym has become one of the industry’s longest-running home fitness successes.

Its roots began in rehabilitation centers where its key focus was helping those recovering from physical injuries, and today, it has gone through improvements.

You can find Home Gym equipment in many homes.

The Total Gym XLS Plus AbCrunch Bench is Total Gym’s best-selling machine and top-of-the-line home fitness system, and it is great for ages 8 to 80. It is safe and convenient for the entire family to get a full-body workout.

An entire gym full of equipment is ONE machine, and it just takes 10-20 minutes a day to reshape your body into the body you have always yearned for. It will be easy and fun to work on it.

The assembled dimensions are 93L x 18.5W x 44.5H inches and it weighs around 83 pounds. And you don’t need a big surrounding area to work on. But the beneficial part of this machine is that it can be easily and conveniently folded for storage under a bed or closet when not in use. Suitable for studios or apartments.

In this model, there are about 80 various kinds of exercises that can be done easily. Because of its unique design, you can easily move from a leg exercise to a hand exercise more quickly and easily with no cable changes or changing weights. This way, you save time and keep your heart rate up as you progress through your workout.

It has a maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds, and it helps to work out all major muscle groups like cardio, strength training, and stretching. The result is full-body conditioning and extraordinary results at every level for the beginner to the advanced elite athlete.

Below is a brief video review of this model.

Total Gym XLS Plus AbCrunch Bench

Included is the Ab Crunch Bench attachment, Leg Pull Accessory, Ribbed Squat Stand, Wing attachment, 5 workout DVDs, Exercise Chart, Training Deck, and Nutritional/Meal Planning Guide.

You will never be bored with the easy-to-follow charts and a plethora of exercises to follow along on the DVDs. It introduces you, like having a personal trainer at home, to many kinds of exercises you can do and enjoy and feel good after each exercise.

The 5 DVDs cater to those starting for the first time, Beginner, Intermediate and High/Lower Body, and Ab Crunch.

How this machine works is that it uses a percentage of your body weight as resistance. You set the resistance level high if you want to build bulk muscles or lower for toning and losing weight. The various height levels accommodate every fitness level.

The padded glide board provides excellent support for the back. The smooth gliding motion goes effortlessly over the joints. Using the natural percentage of your body weight as resistance gives actual results proven by many people who have used this equipment. Just choose a part of the body you want to tone, and there is an exercise for it.

The best part of this machine is there is no assembly required like the other models, but read and understand all safety precautions before unboxing it. Most of the accessories given are click on, so once you get the hang of it, it is just a smooth flow all the way.

The negative part of this machine is that it will not be a challenge for heavy bodybuilders. Those who want to build bulk muscles will not find weights on this machine.

In summary, the Total Gym XLS is easy to use, easy to store, sturdy, quiet, quality, and has overwhelmed many people over the years in rehabilitation centers, weight loss, and strength building. It will be a proven successful machine for you too. It will provide satisfactory results for you and your family for a long time without fail.

Marcy Smith Cage Home Gym System MD-9010G

Marcy Smith Cage Workout Machine Total Body Training Home Gym System with Linear Bearing MD-9010G — **Marcy Smith Cage Home Gym System MD-9010G**

The Marcy Smith Cage Home Gym System MD-9010G is a super total home gym designed to have all the commercial machine features.

And if you are looking for the absolute best home gym equipment, then the all in one Smith Cage Workout Gym Station System by Marcy is the one to look at.

You can build up more muscles, achieve a stronger physique, and stay healthy without having to leave the comforts of your home or pay any membership fees.

First, the assembled dimensions are 95L x 79W x 86H inches and weigh around 430 pounds. For personal free movement, have at least 36 inches (this is just an estimate) around the machine. The back can have about a foot for maintenance. Because this machine is heavy and difficult to move once assembled, make sure the location where you will assemble it is confirmed.

This home gym system is an all-steel construction made with heavy-duty steel safe and comfortable frame design, and it uses sturdy aircraft cable with a tensile strength of 2,000 pounds that is guaranteed to take up all the challenges you will give it.

It incorporates all the safety catches and stoppers, and there are no worries about whether it will last with your intensive beating on the machine.

It has 3 different strength machines and 6 different exercise stations, and you can perform over 100 different exercises on this one compact machine. For example, built into this system are the cable routed pectoral fly station, safety Olympic bar catches, fully adjustable Smith bar catches, an Olympic free-weight rack, and a multifunctional weight bench.

The Multifunctional Press Arms allows you to perform various arm and chest exercises to develop the biceps, triceps, pectoral, and other upper body muscle groups. The Dual Action Leg Developer is for the lower body, a dual-function leg developer. Olympic Free Weight Rack (weights not included, purchased separately).

You can engage in intense weightlifting or strength training for the total body. One workout station is the complete system that easily combines arm and leg stations to strengthen unique muscle groups.

Below is a brief video review of this model.

Marcy Smith Cage Home Gym System MD-9010G

Some attachments which come with the machines are the Lat Bar, Triceps Rope, Shiver Bar, Ankle bar, Chrome row handle, and 2 single handles.

Unboxing and setting up the machine will be a challenge for those who are not techie. Understanding the parts, instructions, illustrations, and tools provided before getting started is important.

So try to have a complete understanding before beginning. It is good to work with another person, and it will be fun.

And always, safety first, as parts can be heavy and watch out for sharp edges. Enjoy and take your time assembling it.

Some cons on the machine take a long time to assemble them as there are so many parts, some parts are heavy, and the pulley system is quite complicated. And once assembled and if you are a beginner and not used to home gyms, you will be overwhelmed by the system’s complexity, as you will not know where to start.

Another negative is that the weights have to be bought separately according to your needs. But you can easily buy barbells outside if you want to.

In conclusion, the Marcy Smith Cage MD-9010G is one exceptional machine. For the price, this is a good buy. It is well constructed and of high quality and will provide many years of quality service in building and keeping you healthy.

Multi-Station Home Gym Equipment Reviews Above $1000

Body-Solid StrengthTech EXM2500S Home Gym

Body-Solid is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality fitness equipment for the home and commercial market and is recognized worldwide as the leader in home gyms and strength training equipment.

The Body-Solid StrengthTech EXM2500S Home Gym is one machine with a simple design that can perform the most demanding strength training routines and goals.

The assembled dimensions are 83L x 51W x 83H inches and it weighs over 400 pounds. If placed in a 120 x 96-inch space, it will be comfortable for a person to move around.

The machine is constructed of heavy-duty 2′′x4′′, 12 gauge high tensile strength steel for strength, functionality, and durability.

And the 2,200-pound tension strength cables with a nylon sheath are military specs. Steel aircraft cables provide smooth motion with the fiberglass-reinforced nylon pulleys throughout the machine. It provides durability with low maintenance and the confidence that it is not easily breakable.

There are so many exercises which can be done on the machine, and to name a few are Chest Press-horizontal and vertical grip Leg Extension, Standing Leg Curl, Upper Pulley–Lat Pulldown, Cable Crossover, Ab Crunch, Triceps Extension, Triceps Pressdown, Lower Pulley–Deltoid Raise, Seated Row, Shrug, Bent-Over Row, and Leg Adduction

Also included are the Full-Size Workout Poster, Lat Bar, Straight Bar, Utility Strap, Ab/Triceps Strap for the versatile workouts. It comes with 210 pounds of finely machined cast iron weight stack, i.e.a brief video review of 20 x 10 pounds each + the carriage.

Below is a brief video review of this model.

Body-Solid StrengthTech EXM2500S Home Gym

All of this can provide you with everything you need to perform your most demanding strength training routines. Easily achieve your goals that you have imagined with the EXM2500S.

Furthermore, their lifetime in-home warranty covers the frame and welds, pulleys, bushings, bearings, hardware, plates, guide rods, and cables, upholstery, and grips (but not normal wear and tear). Read more to understand their conditions to qualify for this lifetime warranty.

Unboxing and setting up the machine will be a challenge for those who are not techie. Understanding the parts, instructions, illustrations, and tools provided before getting started is important.

And always, safety first, as parts can be heavy and watch out for sharp edges. Enjoy and take your time assembling it.

On the negative side of this machine, some strong guys might find the 210 pounds is not enough, and unfortunately, more resistance cannot be added to the machine. The pulleys and the wire cables are designed for a max of 210 pounds only.

In summary, the EXN2500S offers more features, is easy to use, more stations, and is ergonomically designed with the people in focus. It is an excellent Home Gym for the price, and with its lifetime warranty, you have more to gain, built for life.

BodyCraft XPress Pro 200lb. Single Stack Gym

The BodyCraft XPress Pro 200lb with FCA (Functional Cable Arm), Single Stack Gym is one of the many home gym products built by BodyCraft, based in Central Ohio, USA.

They build each of their products with safety, variety, design, affordability, and motivation as their purpose.

So you can be assured that a product of quality is delivered each time, and many of their products are found in homes. It is built to last for a lifetime.

The home gym that changed the industry, as this model was the first ever to incorporate adjustable cable arms.

This revolutionary feature opened up hundreds of unaccustomed exercises in home gyms today.

However, the XPress Pro is still the standard for others to copy, unequalled in value, versatile, and efficient design.

Rated as a Best Buy by Consumer Guide, it has all the features to shape your body, get strong, lose weight, and even improve your golf swing.

The assembled dimensions are 83L x 56.5W x 82H inches and weigh about 575 pounds. And the space-saving design of the machine allows placement against the wall. This in itself is a big space saver and gives more choice of location within the room.

It is the quality of the material used which weighs the machine down.

The machine is made of 12-gauge steel tubing, flexible nylon-coated aircraft cable with a tensile strength of more than 2000 pounds, 4.5 inch diameter fiberglass impregnated nylon pulleys with sealed ball bearings, 2 inch thick high-density foam covered with double stitched vinyl, chrome-plated 1-inch tubular guide rods, and noise-dampening perforated steel weight stack.

This model supports over 100 exercises covering functional core training, sports specific workouts, and rehabilitation exercises. Also, the machine’s creative design enables the 200-pound weight stack to be doubled to 400 pounds for some of the exercises. The 1:2 pulley-cabling combination does this.

The pulley system’s design and correct positioning ensure unrestricted natural biomechanical movement for various sections of your body. The mid-pulley is for ab crunches and triceps extensions, the higher pulley is for Lat pulldowns and triceps pushdowns, and the lower pulley has footplates for leg and hip exercises, arm curls, and much more.

The machine is so versatile that you can start exercising any muscles you want, just being imaginative and creative.

Below is a quick video review of this model.

BodyCraft XPress Pro 200lb. Single Stack Gym

The Adjustable Arms Cable Station is adjustable to 180 degrees and 11 positioning adjustments, allowing a vast array of exercises, which includes Functional Training, Core Training, and Cabled Dumbbell training, all on this one section of the machine.

The seat is easily adjustable while sitting. Squeezing the remote handle placed under the seat, the spring-assisted seat easily moves to your desired height. The back can also be adjusted front to back, and it automatically cradles you for a comfortable feel on your lumbar and spine.

And the machine comes with a lifetime of residential warranty on the frames and parts, applies to defects in material and quality, and does not apply to normal wear and tear. Read more to understand their conditions to qualify for this lifetime warranty.

There are options to upgrade the system at additional cost if needed. Some of the items are an additional 5 pounds, 50-pound add-on weights, Xpress Pro Leg Press, Triceps Rope, and Sports Stick (for golf enthusiasts).

And always, safety first, as parts can be heavy and watch out for sharp edges. Enjoy and take your time assembling it.

The negative part of this machine is the Leg Press, and the Triceps rope does not come with the purchase. It is an optional purchase.

In summary, the Xpress Pro is another excellent machine if you are thinking of having a home gym at home. It fits everyone, a good range of movement for people of all sizes, beginners to elite athletes, easy to use, and ergonomically correct, found in many satisfied customers’ homes.

In Conclusion

Above are all the reviews of some of the best multi-station home gym equipment.

They introduce more and more machines into the market every year, but they are not necessarily the best. It is always good to go with machines that have been tested out and with excellent reviews. It isn’t easy to find the perfect one, but I hope that the above reviews have helped you in a certain way to make a straightforward decision.

For posts on other equipment, you can click on the links below.

Note: This article contains Affiliate Links. If you purchase anything after clicking an Affiliate Link, I may receive some compensation, with no additional cost to you. Read more here.

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