Multigyms
What multigyms do for you
Strength training with a one-fit-all machine. If you like the thought of having a strong, toned body but don't like gyms, consider home gym equipment, also known as home gyms or multigyms. In addition to keeping your heart healthy, they tone and build muscles - so they're ideal if you want to change your body shape, make yourself stronger, or build a bigger body. Strength training and resistance work such as weight lifting or Pilates builds muscle. The more muscle you have, the more efficiently your metabolism works and the more calories you burn.
What to look for?
- Sturdy built machine (really important).
- Options of adjustable seat and bars to allow a wide range of users.
- Options of weights and resistance to allow you to exercise yourself from low to high performance.
- A good warranty and service contract accompanied.
Kinds of machines.
Lots! In general, the more features a home gym equipment has, the more parts of your body it exercises. If you want toned arms, look for a lat bar and pulley; to do the same but in a forward/back motion instead of up/down, look for a low pulley too. For broader shoulders and chest, try press arms and a pec deck. And to build leg strength, check out a leg extension. With all those weights and attachments, home gym equipment can seem complicated. But each part has its own specific function, toning or building a distinct part of your body. Some machines have two weight stacks, meaning more than one person can exercise at the same time - or alternatively, one person can do many exercises without having to reconfigure the home gym. If you like to exercise with a partner, double-stack machines can be an excellent choice. Remember double-stack home gyms take up more floorspace.
For an even more detailed overview of what each machine or accessory can do for you please click on the main category links below. You will then be able to sort it by brand, best selling, price or customers review.
Technical data
Specs
Lat bar or lat pulldown: is the wide handlebar at the top connected by a cable. It's connected to the weight stack at the back. Sitting, standing, or kneeling, you pull it down and release it slowly to tone and build your upper arms and shoulders.
Low pulley: is like a lat bar, but its movement is forward and back, rather than up and down. It's at the bottom of the home gym, near your feet. You pull it inwards and release it in a rowing-style motion.
Press arms: are the parts you pull or push with your hands to exercise your arms and upper body. In most home gyms it's the part reaching around you as you sit at the machine. Look for press arms if you want to expand your chest or broaden your shoulders.
Pec deck: (found on top-end machines) is a pair of levers below the press arms, designed to exercise chest and arms in a different way. Pec decks give your body great definition, so try a pec deck if you want to show off!
Leg extension: is the roller-shaped T near your feet as you sit on a home gym's seat. You pull or push the padded part up or away to tone and build your legs, which is ideal if you also run as a hobby; strong legs help you handle the hills.
Station: is where you sit, lie, or stand while exercising. Some home gyms have more than one station, but this doesn't always mean two people can use it at the same time - the different stations are for one person as he or she does different exercises in sequence.
Weight stack: is the heart of a home gym: a pile of heavy blocks that provide resistance as you exercise. You adjust the resistance by moving a metal pin that connects or disconnects weights from the stack without you having to move them. Some home gyms use flexible bands or rods to provide the 'pull' instead of weights.
Space
Home gym equipment can take up a lot of space, roughly the same floor footprint as a double bed. As well as exercise machines and weights, you can buy an entire home multi gym. You’ll need a spare room to put it in, but if you get good use out of it you’ll save a fortune on gym membership fees in the long run. Item listings should include a gym’s height, length and width – if in doubt, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you. If only one person will use the multi gym at a time, a smaller single-station gym setup should be enough.
