Home fitness has become the name of the game in the past year, with many of us looking to recreate an authentic gym experience in our own space. Sometimes, nothing hits the spot quite as good as having a full gym setup for your workout. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have the space and resources to replicate a full gym, so an all in one gym system in the next best thing.
An all in one gym can be a gamechanger if you’re looking to amp up your strength training even if you’re on a budget or have space constraints. These machines and systems aim to take the place of several pieces of gym equipment so that you can get a good full-body workout from the comfort of your own home. These gym systems are a much more convenient and affordable way to amp up the intensity of your strength training without free weights or expensive gym memberships.
There are several options out there for home gyms, so it can be overwhelming to decide which is best for your fitness needs. Today, we’ll be walking you through five options so you can find the best all in one gym for a well-rounded, challenging home workout.
Comparison Chart
BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0 by 1Loop – Full Portable Gym Workout Package, Includes 1 Set Of 2 Resistance Bands – Collapsible Resistance Bar, 2 Handles + more – Full Body Workouts For Home, Travel or Outside
Total Gym APEX G3 Versatile Indoor Home Workout Total Body Strength Training Fitness Equipment with 8 Levels of Resistance and Attachments
Reviewing The Best All In One Gym Equipment For Home
1.Bowflex PR1000
Bowflex has made a name for itself as one of the most popular home gym brands available, and the PR1000 is their entry-level all in one home gym system. This product uses cable pulleys for resistance that are powered by their Power Rod resistance system, which can give you up to 210 pounds of resistance for a good workout.
The bench is horizontal and does not change positions, but it does become a rolling bench if you’d like to use it for rowing. It also folds for storage, which is nice if you’d like to minimize the space it takes up when you aren’t using it.
Another nice perk of the PR1000 is that it comes with an included media rack, so you can follow along with a fitness program or have your tablet or phone easily accessible during your workout.
Pros
- Allows for 25+ different exercises
- Folding bench makes it compact
- Up to 210 lbs of Power Rod Resistance
- Included media rack
Cons
- Horizontal seat cannot be adjusted
Key Takeaway
Bowflex’s PR1000 has all the basic necessities that you’ll need to replicate the workouts you would do with a real gym’s cable machine. With several different angles and positions for the cable pulley system, you can perform many different movements to get a diverse workout. The fixed bench and 210 pounds of resistance might be limiting if you’d prefer to do more advanced workouts, but many will find that it’s enough for a diverse fitness routine.
2.Bowflex XCeed
The Xceed is one of Bowflex’s more advanced home workout systems and is a great choice for users looking for a serious workout. Like the entry level P1000, it’s powered by Power Rod Resistance and comes standard with 210 lbs of resistance, but this can be upgraded to 310 or 410 lbs depending on your needs.
This machine comes with different accessories so you can amp up your workout, including an ab strap, squat bar, and lat bar. It’s not the most compact option on this list, since it doesn’t fold for storage, but if you have the space to dedicate to this machine it makes up for its size with an adjustable seat and several pulley angle options.
Pros
- Over 65 possible exercises
- Can be upgraded to up to 410 lbs of resistance
- Multiple accessories included
- Adjustable seat
Cons
- Not foldable for storage
- Pricier option
Key Takeaway
The Xceed is a more serious machine that can accomplish nearly any advanced exercise your workout routine needs. The ability to add on extra weight lets even the heaviest lifters get a good workout, and it accomplishes nearly any job a gym’s cable machine would. It’s pricier than others, but if you’re looking for a really comprehensive workout with heavier weights, it might be worth it for you.
3.BodyBoss 2.0
The BodyBoss is an all in one gym system that claims to give you the ability to replicate any gym workout from the comfort of your home. This home gym relies on a resistance band system that you can attach to either the base or a door anchor. It will come with a compact base, cloth resistance bands, door anchors, and attachments including a bar and foam handles for various movements.
We love this product because of how compact and portable it is – its small base and resistance bands means that you can work out in even very small spaces and also allows it to be stored away easily. If you buy the BodyBoss 2.0 via Amazon, it will also come with a free workout program for ideas.
Pros
- Very compact and portable
- 300+ possible exercises
- Included Workout Program when bought via Amazon
- Very reasonably priced
Cons
- Limited resistance adjustability
Key Takeaway
The BodyBoss 2.0 is a great solution for someone who doesn’t have a ton of space but still would like to get a diverse workout. Since its system relies on resistance bands, it doesn’t offer very much in the way of heavier resistance training, but if you don’t need a lot of resistance to get a good strength training workout, this is a good pick for a good price.
4.Total Gym Apex G3
The Total Gym Apex G3 differs from the other products on this list because it uses both your bodyweight and cables to add resistance. This all-in-one home gym system uses a combination of a cable pulley system and a glideboard, which is great for working on core stabilization no matter what exercise you’re performing. The glideboard is smooth and quiet, so it’s ideal if you live in close quarters and want to keep the noise down.
This system boasts a huge range of diversity, with included accessories that can help you do up to 70+ different workouts to maximize your fitness routine. It also includes several different user manuals and guided workouts to walk you through the different workout possibilities.
Pros
- Cable pulley and glideboard system for core stabilization
- Easily folds for storage
- 8 resistance levels
- Manuals, nutrition guides, and Total Gym TV access included
Cons
- May not provide enough resistance for some people
- Very long and takes up a lot of space when in use
Key Takeaway
This home gym system is an innovative way to work out your entire body using a combination of resistance and your own bodyweight. It works well for low-impact exercises and may not provide enough resistance if you’re looking for more serious strength training, but its wide range of uses can fit in with any workout program to work your whole body.
5.Fusion Motion
The Fusion Motion offers another compact all in one gym option that packs a punch. This set is another resistance band-powered option that also comes with a handy ab wheel for more workout possibilities. The steel-reinforced base can handle up to 290 pounds of resistance, and comes with two different sets of resistance bands, an ab wheel mode, handles for pushups, and a fusion bar (among other things!)
The biggest appeal of the Fusion Motion is its compact size. Since it is made of different lightweight parts, you can easily stow it away or even take it with you if you like to work out in different areas of your home. All of the accessories also means that it can support 200+ different exercise options, giving you the diversity you need for a full body workout.
Pros
- Maximum weight capacity of 290 lbs
- Steel-reinforced construction for durability
- 200+ exercise options
- Compact option
Cons
- Minimal resistance adjustment options
Key Takeaway
The Fusion Motion resistance band system lets you hit many of the workouts that you’d do at a regular gym but in a much smaller package. It comes solidly equipped with many of the accessories that you’d need to do the right movements for a full body exercise, but may not be the best choice if you need more resistance.
Our Top Pick, And Why!
If you’re looking for an all-encompassing all in one home gym, look no further than the Bowflex PR1000.
This machine will give you enough options to perform a wide range of exercises with the added bonus of 210 pounds of resistance for building strength and muscle. It may be pricier than the more compact systems, but it provides you with enough weight that you can do the majority of your workouts for a long time without having to buy more equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should every all in one gym have?
Every all in one gym should have enough diversity for your fitness routine and enough resistance to provide a challenging workout.
Since these products do not give you the same freedom to diversity your movements and change up your workout that you would have with free weights, all in one gym should allow you to replicate or replace those movements that you need to strengthen and tone your body.
Most all in one gyms work with a system of resistance bands or cable pulleys to provide the resistance you need to strengthen the train. Resistance bands are nice because they are compact and can have multiple uses, but they may not provide enough resistance for some of your workouts. Cable pulley systems generally come with more adjustment options if you like to work out using different weights and resistances. However, since they are fixed to machines they may limit the movements you can do with them.
If the all in one gym system you’re looking to purchase doesn’t target the muscles and movements that you like to incorporate into your fitness routine, it’s best to look elsewhere.
What are the benefits of purchasing an all in one gym machine?
There are several benefits to buying an all in one gym, rather than buying equipment in pieces, including:
Cost-effectiveness
Fully stocking a home gym can quickly become expensive. Real gyms will have several pieces of equipment, including dumbbells, barbells and cable machines, to name a few.
Buying an all in one gym can help offset the cost. It may be intimidating to spend a couple hundred dollars on an all in one gym machine, rather than buying several cheaper pieces of individual equipment, but it can actually save you a lot of money in the long run to buy a system with multiple functions. The right machine will take the place of multiple different weights and accessories.
Compactness
Getting a good and comprehensive workout usually means having different workout equipment, but all of those smaller pieces can quickly add up to take up a lot of space, especially if you live in a smaller home. Purchasing an all in one home gym can take the place of individual dumbbells, barbells, and weight benches. They are also generally designed with storage in mind for the home gym, so many machines and systems will come in a much smaller package. You won’t have to worry about wrangling your free weights at the end of a workout or coming up with storage solutions to keep your space tidy, making it a great option for people without a lot of space.
Convenience
Buying an all in one gym can save you the hassle of tracking down and buying several pieces of equipment, especially right now when some pieces of equipment are in high demand and low stock. Buying an adjustable all in one home gym means that you can start getting a good workout in right away, rather than spending time hunting around for the right equipment that can challenge you.
What are the different kinds of all in one gyms for home?
There are 4 different kinds of all-in-one gyms that you can purchase for your home workouts.
Bodyweight Machines
These rely mostly on your own bodyweight to provide the resistance for your workouts (the Total Gym Apex is an example of this one). These tend to be good for lower-resistance workouts and can be used to tone the entire body, though they may not be great if you’re looking to build a lot of strength and muscle.
Cable machines
Cable machines use a system of cable pulleys that can provide the resistance for your workouts (see the Bowflex options listed above). These generally provide higher levels of resistance for heavier workouts, which is great for strengthening and building muscle. They do tend to be more expensive because of this, though.
Resistance band systems
Resistance band systems like the Fusion Motion and Body Boss 2.0 rely on resistance bands for resistance training. They either hook onto a base, connect to a wall, or are anchored to a door and are generally more compact and cheaper than the other options, though you may not get the same level of resistance that you would with weight training or other all in one home gyms.
Free weight systems
Free weight systems will include a weight rack, barbell, and a bench, along with the weights. These options will get you as close to a real gym environment as possible in your home but tend to be very costly. You may also have to end up buying individual weights and other pieces to have the most options, so this isn’t normally a choice people go for unless they have the space and the money for it.
What to look for when selecting your all in one home gym
Strength training is an important component of any fitness routine for building and maintaining muscle and improving your overall fitness, so it’s important to find the right machine. There are a couple of factors to keep in mind as you shop around for your all-in-one home gym, including
Versatility
The big perk of purchasing an all in one gym is that it can take the place of several individual pieces of equipment, so it’s important that your gym maximizes how many different exercises you can do.
Look for options that offer adjustability. For example, can you switch the setup on a cable machine to attack different angles, or adjust the bench for various exercises?
Many all in home sets will include a user’s manual that details the kinds of workouts you can do on it, so take a look and think about how those exercises can be incorporated into your own fitness routine.
Resistance levels
Your strength training progress can be really limited if your home gym doesn’t provide you with enough weight to challenge your muscles, so it’s important that you buy a machine that will give you as much weight as you can handle now and in the future. Remember, if you work out consistently you’re likely to get stronger and need more resistance to exert the same amount of energy, so think ahead and buy a machine that provides enough weight for you both now and later as you progress.
Space
Some all in one gym systems can be huge, so it’s important to keep in mind how much space you have to dedicate to your home gym area.
Other home gyms are very compact, particularly the kinds that use a system of resistance bands, so they might make the most sense if you have a smaller apartment or other small home that can’t accommodate a full machine. If you have a room or garage that you can dedicate to your home gym, you can probably get away with buying a more advanced workout machine that takes up more space.
Cost
These all in one systems will likely be some of the more expensive pieces of equipment you’ll buy for your home gym, so it’s important to keep your budget in mind. If you know that you like a serious workout with serious weights, don’t let the initial sticker shock scare you away from buying a more expensive piece of equipment. Keep in mind all the money you will save from not having to buy other weights and pieces in the future, not to mention the saved gym membership cost.