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LAVERA STEWART
Editor-in-Chief of the Approved By Coach
But first of all, let’s breaking down the list of the best home gyms under $500, which are recommended by buyers and which can gives you outstanding results above the price:
HulkFit 1000-Pound Capacity Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage
Fusion Motion Portable Gym
INTENT SPORTS Portable Home Gym
HulkFit 1000-Pound Capacity Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage
Fusion Motion Portable Gym
INTENT SPORTS Portable Home Gym
As we mentioned earlier, in this part we’re going to tell you about the best home gyms by famous brands that give outstanding results and all-around training for all who’d like to workout at home. Let’s check out the gym sets from Total Home Gym, Gold’s Gym, Weider and Marcy!
Best Overall BOWFLEX PR1000 HOME GYM SET
TOTAL GYM XLS Universal Workout
Best Overall
BOWFLEX PR1000 HOME GYM SET
TOTAL GYM XLS Universal Workout
Best Overall – Bowflex Pr1000 Home Gym Set Review
Sale
Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
- 60 plus exercises for a fully body workout
- 210 pounds of Power Rod resistance, upgradable to 310 pounds or 410 pounds
- Bowflex provides 7 free trainer-built workout regimens
- Sliding seat rail allows you to perform aerobic rowing and leg presses
- Multiple cable pulley positions enable custom workouts
If you are a beginner or looking to strengthen your muscles, this is the ideal choice for you. Its dimensions are 84L x 38W x 81H. It can also be used for cardio sessions and offers 30 different exercises. It also builds up the muscles in your chest, abdominals, back, arms, and legs (basically your entire body). In terms of quality, this is a unit that you can trust. BOWFLEX is sturdy and quite durable. It’s very comfortable, ranging from bench and seat to padded grips. It also offers easy folding for storage. This portable home gym is highly recommended because of its quality, a variety of positions, and easy assemblage.
Here’s the kicker: it packs a maximum of 210 lbs and a minimum of 5lbs of inertia-free resistance, 3 pulley positions, and the sliding seat feature. However, some of the drawbacks include no resistance upgrade, and the weight labels of the rods have been reported to be misleading. All that aside, it is a pretty good home gym equipment under 500$ with impressive user ratings.
Good Choice – Gold’s Xrs50 Home Gym Review
Gold's Gym XRS 50 Home Gym System
- 112 lb. Vinyl Weight Stack, 112 lbs. of weight, 280 lbs. of resistance, Durable, built to last
- Combination Chest Press/Fly Station, 4-Roll Leg Developer; High Pulley to sculpt lats and back muscles, Low Pulley tone glutes and leg muscles
- Multi-grip lat bar, Sewn vinyl seats with durable & comfortable material
- Exercise Chart designed by a Certified Personal Trainer
- 300 lb. User weight Capacity, 90-Day Warranty
Offering over 36 exercise options, this Golds Gym home gym is suitable for beginners and intermediate users. With its focus on the upper body, this gold’s gym home gym system is a worthy unit to be considered in your search for the best home gyms under 500. Dimension wise, it measures at 48L x 18.9W x 16H. This gold’s gym xrs 50 exercise guide is an aesthetic and comfortable nature, very impressive, with black and gold quality vinyl material, easily adjustable seat, preacher/curling pad, and backrest. It features 2 pulley stations, a staggering maximum resistance of 330 pounds, a weight stack of 125lbs, a four-roll leg developer, 6 workout stations like chest press, and leg attachments.
However, on the downside, this budget Gold’s Gym home equipment has no middle pulley, a short warranty, and has been reported by customers to be somewhat difficult to assemble. That aside, unless you are a very heavy weightlifter, this is a good option for you. Also, did we mention that this Golds Gym workout machine deal includes an exercise chart?
Top-rated Home Gym – Total Gym Xls Universal Workout Review
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Total Gym XLS Men/Women Universal Total Body Training Foldable Home Gym Workout Machine with Squat Stand, Leg Pull, 2 Ankle Cuffs, and Exercise Chart
- CHOOSE FROM 80 ROUTINES: Equipped to handle more than 80 exercises with 6 levels of resistance in 1 machine for a total body workout; Maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds
- FULL BODY WORKOUT: Concentrates on all the major muscle groups: cardio, strength training, and stretching
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDE: Comes complete with ribbed squat stand, wing attachment, leg pull accessory with 2 ankle cuffs, exercise wall chart, training deck, and nutritional/meal planning guide
- FREE VIDEO ACCESS: Includes access to stream workouts from Total Gym TV for free for extra guidance and training; perfect for all fitness levels
- SAVE THE HARD WORK: No assembly required and folds for compact storage; Dimensions (L x W x H): 90 x 19 x 43 inches; Folded dimensions (L x W x H): 51 x 19 x 9 inches
This Total Home Gym is among the best home gyms under 500 and offers a whopping 60 different exercises such as leg raises, chest press, abductors, and many more. It is your best bet for holistic workouts. The dimensions are 95.2L x 16W x 43.2H. It also possesses a maximum user weight of 350lbs. Now here’s the deal: it offers 12 different resistance levels. Also, it depends on your body weight and gravity to supply resistance, ranging from 3-45% of total body weight.
What’s more, transitioning from one exercise to another is incredibly easy. This particular Total Home Gym comes with an exercise chart and 6 different attachments, which include leg pulleys, Pilates bar, and others. It has a sturdy, durable built. This equipment also supports cardio sessions and provides a silent operation. In terms of assemblage, it comes fully assembled and only requires unfolding and proper setting on resistance levels according to the user’s taste.
On the downside, it doesn’t offer much resistance, and there is no addition of extra resistance bars. Also, it takes up a lot of space when unfolded. Considering all factors, this Total Home Gym is one of the best home gyms under 500.
Budget – Weider Ultimate Bodywork Review
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Weider Ultimate Body Works Black/Red, Standard
- This item benefits from an Extended 90 Day Return Window
- Dimensions: 59" L x 27.5" W x 48" H
- Max. Weight capacity: 250 pounds
- Cushion material: Foam
- Cable-and-pulley system allows for greater versatility and an expanded range of motion
If you are looking to improve muscle strength and flexibility, then this is for you. It shares some features of the Total Home Gym brand, like adding the resistance from body weight. This home gym under 500 provides extra benefits, such as the possibility to attach up to 50 pounds to meet your workout needs.
It is one of the best complete home gyms. It is also very versatile and suitable for upper and lower body exercises at your portable gym, offering over 50 different variations. Also, it possesses a cable and pulley system that boasts of speedy adjustment of weight resistance. Its Tuned Steel frame promises durability. In terms of dimensions, it measures at 71L x 25.5W x 49.5H; the maximum user weight is 250lbs. Assemblage is easy as it comes fully assembled and can be set up with minimum effort in a short time.
On the downside, this home gym under 500 is somewhat bulky, with a weight of 80lbs. Although foldable, some parts have to be dismantled to fit it in small spaces. Customers have complained of workout charts missing from their package. This best home gym for women is a pretty good choice if you can live with the above-listed downsides as it provides the same services as its more expensive counterparts.
Safe and Reliable – MARCY MWM 988 Review
Marcy MWM-988 Multifunction Steel Home Gym 150lb Weight Stack Machine
- TOTAL DIMENSIONS: 68"L x 42"W x 78"H
- MAXIMUM USER WEIGHT: 300 lbs
- STEEL CONSTRUCTION: This home gym system is made of heavy-duty 14 gauge steel tube frame and vinyl coated for extra durability with a total weight of 150 lbs
- DOUBLE PULLEY STATIONS: Two separate lateral bars give you different options to strengthen your muscles
- PREACHER CURL BICEP PAD: This bicep pad is fully adjustable. Use it to pump some iron or use it with the lower pulley in a seated position
This home gym under 500 measures at 69L x 36W x 79H and weighs 271lbs. Its maximum user capacity is 300lbs. Marcy home gym 988 offers durability and comfort, mostly for users below 6ft, a variety of over 35 different exercises, and a maximum weight resistance of 200lbs with 150lbs weight stacks. Marcy total gym also comes with a workout chart, a generous warranty of 2 years, and 6 workout stations. Noiseless operation and a full-body workout are also guaranteed.
However, on the downside, Marcy universal gym doesn’t possess a middle pulley. Assemblage is somewhat tedious, and there are no adjustable seats and backrest. Weighing all the pros and cons, this is one of the best home gyms under 500 that you should consider.
Good Quality – MARCY MWM 990 Review
Marcy 990 home gym measures at 68L x 36W x 79H and the weight of 273 pounds. It is very similar to its sibling, the MWM988. These similarities include the number of possible exercises and 150lbs weight stack that is suitable for moderate and light use, but not for serious weightlifters. It also features upper and lower pulley. Comfort, durability, and the maximum capacity of 300lbs characterize both devices. They are also similar in warranty time (2 years), absence of seat adjustment feature, and tedious assemblage, to mention a few.
You’re probably thinking, ‘What is the difference then?’
Let’s play a quick round of MWM-998 vs MWM-990:
- The MWM 988 offers two color options, but the MWM 990 — only one.
- The MWM 990 features a bigger seat padding.
- The MWM 990 is a tad bit smaller.
This round of MARCY 990 vs 988 is getting heated.
- The placement of the preacher curl and dual-function press arm vary in both.
- MARCY 990 is an upgraded version of MARCY 988, which explains why it was rated above the former by Amazon (4.2/5 vs. 4.0/5)
- MARCY 990 has dimensions of 68×35×78 while that of MARCY 988 are 69×36×80
- MERCY 990 comes in black color only, MERCY 988 — in black and grey
Conclusion
When selecting home gym equipment, the most important things to consider are design, features, resistance, and purpose for purchasing it. After joining us on this journey, you are now equipped with the knowledge required to select the best home gym under 500 dollars. To meet all your exercising needs and budget, check stores or websites in your area to get the best deals. Enjoy your dream come true with a complete home gym experience!
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