Performing regular workouts from home is an ideal way of fulfilling your exercise requirements and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Your home gym cannot be complete without a multipurpose exercise tool like the Total Gym 1000.
What you want to achieve should guide the choice of your workout gear. Some training machines are suitable for strength enhancement, while others go well with cardio workouts. Others are versatile enough to allow the user to achieve maximum gains in several areas. There is a wide assortment of gym equipment on the market. The options are seemingly unlimited. Although most of them promise similar results, they work in different ways.
If you are a home exercise enthusiast, we have some in-depth product reviews for you. We have selected four reasonably priced home exercise machines and compared their overall value. Let’s get started with Total Gym 1000.
What Is the Total Gym 1000?
The Total Gym 1000 is an innovative gym machine engineered for home use. The manufacturer provides a DVD that illustrates how you can make the best use of this product. You can exercise any muscle group by trying out various movements and different positions.
This machine is useful for both bilateral and unilateral moves. By this, we mean that you can work either your arms, your legs, or both at the same time. You can even isolate a single limb or focus tightly on a muscle group. The machine is useful in toning the upper body when you move your arms in opposite directions, for example.
There is truly no limit to the different exercises you can do with the Total Gym 1000. You can do arm pullovers; leg pulls, abdominal crunches, squats, twists, hip abductions, thigh pulls, and many others. The weight you move during a given exercise depends on the incline of the rails. You have the option to position the glide board using the attachment wing or the pulleys. This helps to control the intensity of your workout.
Product Specs
When assembled for use, the Total Gym 1000 is 88 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 44 inches high. The user requires at least an arm’s length on either side of the machine to exercise freely. The Total Gym 1000 can fit in confined spaces like under the bed when folded. It measures about 50 inches, 16 inches wide, and 9 inches high for storage.
Pricing
The exercise machines we reviewed for this article have a price range of around $$$ to $$$. A new Total Gym 1000 kit goes for about $$$. However, the product was out of stock in most stores at the time of this review.
We found second-hand units at Mercari and eBay with prices ranging between $$$ and $$$. You may be able to find units in good shape locally.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar gym machines available on the market to see how they compare with Total Gym 1000. Our selection included the Total Gym 1400 Deluxe, a Marcy 120 Lb Single Stack Home Gym, and the TRX Training BASIC Suspension Trainer Kit.
For each product, we explored the features, pricing, ease of use, setup time, workout quality, and warranty. Our analysis helped us to come up with brief lists of the pros and cons we noted for each item.
Total Gym XLS Plus AbCrunch Bench
Price ($)
The Total Gym 1000 costs about $$$. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not produce these machines anymore. Finding a new one is hard. During our research, we found a few online outlets offering used total Gym 1000 machines for $$$ to $$$.
Ease of Use
The Total Gym 1000 allows the user to exercise most body parts. It supports many positions and maneuvers for both cardio exercise and strength training at various levels of intensity.
The DVD sold with this product is handy for instruction on different ways to configure and use the product. This machine is far more home-oriented than commercial. You don’t need an instructor to exercise with the Total Gym 1000. Once you have viewed the video and experimented a bit, your muscles should tell you if they are getting good work.
One shortcoming of this machine is that some exercises are too hard to perform as described. In some suggested positions, the difficulty experienced varies with the height of the user.
Setup Time
Deploying your Total Gym 1000 from the folded storage mode to the workout position is straightforward. It takes less than two minutes to complete the process. If you get confused, you can consult your manual or locate and view a YouTube video for a little help.
Workout Quality
The quality of the workout achievable depends on the user. Simply put, shorter people may also have a challenge in performing some exercises on the Total Gym 1000. Generally, the upper body and abdominal exercises are more effective than what you can attain on the lower body.
The Total Gym 1000 offers minimal resistance for leg exercises such as squats. Though useful for general weight loss, it does not work well for people looking to gain significant muscle mass or tone. It doesn’t come with weight bars. However, it’s a good piece for its tag price and for its time. Today, this manufacturer offers somewhat advanced and pricier units suitable for more intensive workouts.
Warranty
Total Gym backed this product with a 60-day money-back guarantee. There is a lifetime warranty for the frame and two years for the moving parts. The machine is not warranted for commercial use.
PROS
- Relatively cheap
- Quick setup and breakdown for storage
CONS
- Lacks weight bar or dip bar option
- Frustrating for some shorter exercisers
Total Gym XL7 Home Gym
The Total Gym 1400 deluxe is another piece of gym equipment intended to let you work the whole body. This machine comes pre-assembled but folded in a kit that measures 19 by 51 by 9 inches.
When fully set up for use, the Total Gym 1400 dimensions change to 19 by 90 by 43 inches. The unit weighs 82 lbs, making it a challenge to reposition on one’s own. This machine has a durable design consisting of a steel frame and pulley case. Its cables have a maximum tension rating of 1000 lb. The padded glide board and handles enhance your comfort as you perform even the most intensive workouts.
This Total Gym model supports more than 80 exercises to tone up almost all muscle bundles. It essentially brings a gym environment into your home, enabling you to perform a solid, full-body workout in about 30 minutes. It supports cardio exercises, strength training, and stretches.
Apart from the machine, the Total Gym 1400 package comes with a workout DVD, nutrition guide, and a workout chart. Routine use of this kit can help beginners and experienced trainers alike achieve positive results.
Price ($)
This high-quality piece of gym equipment goes for about $$$. It’s available on Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Ease of Use
There is no hassle in setting up and using this machine. The exercise DVD makes the workout experience very exciting.
Setup Time
This machine comes assembled. All you need to do is unfold it and start your workout. The procedure should not take you more than three minutes.
Workout Quality
The machine supports many excellent workouts and individual exercises. It offers 12 levels of resistance, which makes it suitable for newbies as well as experts. With the attachments it comes with, you can tone your whole body and gain strength quickly.
Warranty
The warranty for the Total Gym 1400 includes a 60-day money-back guarantee, with two years of coverage for moving parts. The manufacturer extends the warranty for the frame to a lifetime. The product is not rated or intended for commercial use.
PROS
- Excellent, sturdy construction for the price
- Supports many exercises and workout routines
- Easy setup; simple storage
CONS
- Narrow glide board
- Heavy to move around
Total Gym XLS
If you are looking for a budget cable-system gym machine, the Total Gym XLS 120lb Single Stack Home Gym could be a good fit. It allows you to exercise all your major muscle groups at one station using this machine.
This Total Gym XLS home gym comes with a 120-lb weight stack, a dual-function leg developer, an independent motion-press pectoral fly unit, and other features. The main frame is made of heavy-duty steel. It comes with a straight bar and a single-handle attachment, as well as an ankle strap. An assembled Total Gym XLS 120lb Home Gym has a footprint of about 4 x 5 feet. It weighs approximately 230lb.
This model by Total Gym XLS has high and low pulleys to enhance upper and lower-body workouts. Its 2x resistance setting increases the 120-lb actual weight to about 220 lbs of resistance for the exerciser.
Price ($)
This gym equipment is available on Amazon. You can purchase it for around $$$.
Ease of Use
The two pulley systems of the Total Gym XLS 120lb machine allow for full-body exercise. The upper system supports chest workouts and lat pull-downs. The lower pulley acts as a leg developer and can also be an attachment for the straight bar and leg cuff. The pivot joint of the leg developer aligns with the knee joints for enhanced comfort. This machine is designed for efficiency, and your workout can be efficient as well.
Setup Time
Due to the numerous parts of the Total Gym XLS 120 Lb Single Stack Home Gym, it can take you up to three hours to assemble the machine. The manual comes with clear instructions, but some diagrams are too small to be useful. The numbering of parts eases the process, but it is time-consuming nonetheless.
Workout Quality
This machine is ideal for the chest fly, chest press, lat pull-down, bicep and triceps curl, and row motions it supports. You can also perform leg extensions, hamstring curls, and hip exercises to work your lower body.
However, the 220 lbs. of resistance that the machine promises is highly debatable. Some users say that the load did not deliver in that range.
Warranty
The manufacturer offers a two-year limited warranty for this home gym. The period is reasonable for a budget-friendly machine.
PROS
- Low price
- Comfortable design
CONS
- Small size
- Fairly light stack vs. promoted 220-lb maximum resistance
INTENT SPORTS
The INTENT SPORTS Trainer Kit provides fitness fans with an inexpensive way of performing effective workouts. You can achieve the gains of a home gym without springing for expensive and bulky equipment. With this 1.65-pound INTENT SPORTS kit, you can truly exercise in any place at any time. You can attach this handy exercise tool to a door, rafter, beam, tree branch, or just about anywhere to get some quick exercise.
This INTENT SPORTS system can help you gain strength and increase flexibility through a series of workouts. The package contains the INTENT SPORTS suspension training strap, a door anchor and suspension anchor, a 35-page workout guide, and a carry bag. You can gain access to online workout videos and PDFs by registering your INTENT SPORTS product serial number.
Price ($)
The INTENT SPORTS Training Basic Suspension Trainer Kit costs about $$$, and it’s conveniently available on Amazon.
Ease of Use
Any person can use and benefit from the INTENT SPORTS Trainer Kit, including senior exercisers. You can carry and use it almost anywhere. The manual and online videos present the user with many practical ways of utilizing the kit. According to INTENT SPORTS , this product should support at least 350 pounds.
Setup Time
It’s incredibly easy to get started with the INTENT SPORTS Trainer Kit. Once you identify an appropriate spot to hang it, you are good to go.
Workout Quality
This INTENT SPORTS kit enables basic exercises for beginners as well as intensive drills for fitness enthusiasts. You can exercise various muscle groups with workouts for arms & shoulders, chest, back, core, legs, and hips. The guide provided with a new kit has instructions on how to achieve your desired results within the shortest time.
Warranty
This product comes with a 5-year warranty.
PROS
- Portable
- Low price
- Varied workout drills
CONS
- Pricey for what it offers
Conclusion
The Total Gym 1000 is an effective gym partner developed by one of the leading home fitness equipment developers. Although the manufacturer stopped production of this specific unit, people who own this machine enjoy years of great use. Total Gym has since launched more advanced, versatile models.
You can get a whole-body workout and strengthen the muscle groups that matter most to you. The DVD guide that comes with the Total Gym 1000 is handy in enabling a user to achieve maximum gains. It has instructions for setup and for many exercises involving all body parts.
Some users, however, complain about awkward positions when performing some exercises. We concluded that Total Gym 1000 is a good value for your money. We awarded it four stars out of our maximum five.
