best total gym alternatives

Most people who are enthusiastic about fitness are familiar with Total Gym. This is a brand of home workout machines that are designed to give you an all-around excellent fitness experience in one package.

Their main purpose is to provide homeowners on a busy schedule with a way to go through all kinds of training quickly - and without taking up lots of space with different equipment.

However, for those who don’t indulge in fitness their whole lives - a Total Gym machine may turn out to be a pricey proposition. It’s definitely a costly investment, so you may not be able to afford such a home gym right now.

But these days, being able to work out at home is perhaps more important than ever before - which is why we’ve got the best Total Gym alternatives for you right here! These will make a valuable addition to your home workout routine, without being too cumbersome for your wallet.

Best Total Gym Alternatives

1. Weider Ultimate Body Works Review

Weider Ultimate Body Works Review

We’re going to begin this list of worthy Total Gym competitors with Weider Ultimate Body Works. This is definitely one of the best home workout solutions out there; it might look like a total gym knockoff, but it's NOT.

With just one machine, you get more than 50 different exercises, which cover all of the basics you need; core strength, body weight, and resistance training.

It comes with easily adjustable bands that give you the option of specifically targeting all of the muscle groups you want. You can do all kinds of exercise movements with this, from oblique twists to seated rows.

To be more precise, these bands give you a potential resistance of a maximum 50 lbs; for those who want to work on their core strength, there’s not much more you need. And if you’re looking for calisthenics training, this machine will prove as well.

One of its best features setting it apart from the rest is a design that focuses on space preservation; you can easily fold this machine for easy storage if you don’t want to keep it outside all of the time.

If you live in a smaller home where floor space is a precious resource, that’s definitely an important trait. Plus, the system of pulleys and cables is sturdy and durable; the frame is filled with steel tubing of excellent quality, ensuring that even the heftiest users will have no breakdown issues.

What we like

  • Low cost and premium quality
  • Similar to the total Gym home gym
  • Easy storage due to the folding mechanism

What we don't like

  • While you do have 50 workouts, they aren’t mapped out in any chart
  • Somewhat difficult to adjust

2. AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 Review

AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 Review

Next up on our list of home-gym equipment similar to Total Gym, we’ve got the AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379. As you may have gathered by yourselves, this is a machine specifically designed for people who like pilates as at least a part of their training regimen.

It’s also great for resistance-based workouts because it comes with excellent-quality resistance bands. They’re also really well-designed for intuitive use because they’ve got color-coding that shows various levels of intensity and resistance.

Along with these bands, the Plus 379 model has accompanying 2 training DVDs, which puts it a cut above the rest of the machines that don’t provide such support.

These video guides are designed to help both veteran fitness enthusiasts and complete newbies on their way to a healthier life. Plus, the machine was clearly made with high-quality materials, allowing for a sturdy end-product, one that can support a maximum of 300 lbs.

In some ways, this is even better than Total Gym, at least in the sense of having the additional variety that pilates workouts provide.

What we like

  • Awesome entry-level machine for beginners without Pilates experience
  • Quick set-up and easy to assemble
  • A lot of video materials for beginners
  • Accommodate heavy users

What we don't like

  • Pricey compared to the rest of the reviewed machines
  • Somewhat choppy sliders

3. Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

Our third pick is the Bowflex PR1000 - a pretty well-known and renowned solution for your home gym needs. If you’re looking for a quick, no-fuss way of making your muscles stronger, this is absolutely a good choice. It’s made of a couple of components designed specifically with strength workouts in mind, but the whole system can alternatively be used with cardio workouts as well.

The power rods of this home gym product can give you about 200 pounds in terms of resistance, and there’s even the option of a DIY rowing station. It comes with 30 varying strength workouts you can perform with the Bowflex; you can use it to build lower-body strength, as well as your abs, arms, and chest.

What we like

  • High resistance
  • Practical in terms of space
  • Can be used for cardio
  • It has a horizontal bench press
  • An interesting variety of strength workouts

What we don't like

  • A little bit expensive

4. BodyBoss 2.0 Portable Home Gym

BodyBoss 2.0 Home Gym

Here’s another home workout system that heavily relies on a system of resistance bands. You get it in a compact case, wherein you’ll find various resistance bands designed for different exercises. There are also other nifty pieces of equipment, like a door anchor and a workout bar, along with plenty of workout videos that instruct you on how to use them.

Some people feel that iron weights are a better option for strength building, but bear in mind that the end result will not be different than something you could achieve in a brick and mortar retail gym. Plus, you save a ton of money in the long run.

The case the BodyBoss 2.0 set arrives in also serves as an anti-slippage platform you can stand on. Then, the resistance bands you want to use can be clipped in place - and you’re all set!

What we like

  • It's portable that means you can use it wherever you go
  • Not so expensive
  • Anti-slippage platform
  • It comes with 2 resistance bands, 2 straps, 2 handles, and a bar

What we don't like

  • It's somewhat hard to do some exercises with it

Conclusion

As you can see, these equipment sets and machines offer everything that the Total Gym package does, and in some ways more. These days, you might have the need to work out in the comfort of your household more than ever before.

That’s why you should consider snatching a bargain on one of these, instead of investing in a gym membership or a more expensive Total Gym product.

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