For the majority of the home gyms, the central component is going to be the classic barbell and rack. This simple setup will allow many exercises to build strength and put on mass.
However, some people are in a situation where adding a weight machine could make an awesome edition. You'll have a larger variety of exercises, creating more versatile workouts. The only issue is what weight machine you should buy for a home gym.
This article will go over the different types of weight machines you can add to your home gym and their specific benefits.
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What Is A Weight Machine?
Before we go further, we want to define what a "weight machine" is. To keep things simple, we'll just define a weight machine as any equipment that isn't free weight and has moving parts that support the exercises.
However, it must be somewhat complex. For example, we're not going to count things like GHD machines and landmines. While we love these pieces of gym equipment and think they can enhance any home gym, they're a bit too simple for what is generally regarded as a "machine."
However, if this is what you're looking for, be sure to check out our picks for the best GHD machines to add to your home gym!
Further, it won't include Smith Machines. We are not part of the anti-Smith Machine movement, but those are really just variations of a rack.
Top Weight Machines For Home Gyms
The term "weight machine" can refer to a variety of gym equipment. Every piece is unique and better suited for different needs and training styles.
Keep this in mind as we go through some of the most popular types of machines for home gyms. And remember, you can always buy more than 1!
Whatever you choose to buy will give your home gym a serious uplift.
Cable Crossover Machines
Cable crossover machines are among the most versatile pieces of gym equipment you can add.
They consist of two uprights connected by a long crossbar at the top. Depending on the product, the bars for support provide support. This gym machine is so versatile that on each of the two uprights is a cable pulley system attached to a load, either a weight stack or plate loaded. You can then adjust the height of the pulley and use different attachments.
Together, these allow you to perform a litany of gym exercises. This includes;
- Bilateral exercises
- Unilateral exercises
- Compound exercise
- Isolation exercise
In addition, you can place the pulleys at different heights to hit the muscle from different angles. Together, these attributes allow you to perform a ton of exercises, including;
- Cable flys
- Kneeling single arm shoulder press
- Standing rows
- Triceps pushdown
You could list over a hundred different exercises to do in your home gym. The point is that these are easily the most versatile weight machines you can purchase. A good cable pulley setup that's paired with a barbell and rack will provide some serious training.
Wall Mounted Cable Machines
A similar, compact variation is wall-mounted cable machines. These will generally still consist of two pulley mechanisms. However, they will be significantly closer to each other, maybe around 18".
While this limits your ability to do some bilateral exercises, such as flies, you can still perform these unilaterally.
The most important part is that these are generally much cheaper options and equally compact. That can make them a premium pick for a weight machine for your home gym.
Check out these cable machines we hand-picked for your gym!
Lat Pulldown Machines
The lat pulldown machine is similar to the cable machine. In fact, many cable machines can be altered to support a lat pulldown, but you should be familiar with this distinction so you know what you're buying.
Lat pulldown machines use a cable system that attaches to a high pulley. You can then adjust the weight to perform various back exercises, such as the lat pulldown. These are one of the best exercises for training your back or working on your pull-up performance!
In addition, you can use various attachments to perform a variety of back exercises, such as;
- Close grip pulldown
- Supinated grip pulldown
- Straight-arm front pulldown
- Single arm pulldown
Again, if you are trying to save space, we encourage you to look for a cable system or rack with an integrated lat pulldown. These can save space and money!
Here are some of our favorites you can check out for your home gym!
Leg Press And Hack Squat Machines
One of the more popular weight machines for a single exercise is leg presses; this might include;
- Leg press machine
- Hack squat machine
- Vertical leg press machine
- Combos
All of these have unique benefits and drawbacks. However, in general, these are weight machines specifically used to train the lower body.
Leg press machine
The leg press machine is a staple of any serious strength and bodybuilding gym, which is why some serious lifters have started using them in their home gyms. There are various products, but their primary role is to replicate squatting movements.
You can also alter your foot placement to target different muscles or use one leg at a time.
Hack squat machine
A hack squat machine is a leg press with your feet placed on a platform while your torso rests on a sliding sled with a back pad and shoulder pads. When you perform the movement, the mechanics are such that you target your quads with minimal hip flexion.
You can also perform a reverse hack squat on some of these that target your posterior leg muscles.
Vertical leg press machine
A vertical leg press machine is a unique type of leg press that requires you to lie with your back on the ground. Your legs then push a loaded sled that moves up and down vertically.
As the load increases, these machines generally save space, making them an option for small home gyms.
Combos
Luckily, many products are coming out that use a design that combines a hack squat and leg press. These are obviously very nice to have as they are two weight machines in one, yet generally, take up the same amount of space and are priced relatively equal.
We have our top selection right here! It includes leg presses, hack squats, vertical leg presses, and combos!
Functional Trainers
Functional trainers can be an awesome addition to your home gym. In fact, they can be your home gym.
These are a type of gym equipment that serves as an all-in-one weight machine. They will combine several pieces of training modalities into a single functional unit. This can include;
- A power rack
- Smith machine
- Cable pulley system
- Pull-up bar
- Vertical leg press
- Attachments for hack squats and jammer arms
Obviously, the exact equipment will differ depending on the product. Either way, you get all of that equipment in one weight machine! While these can cost a bit upfront, as you can see, that will probably be all you'll need to buy!
Well, people who have home gyms know you never stop buying, but get the point!
If you want to buy the only weight machine you need, check out our top picks here!
Belt Squat Machine
The belt squat machine is one piece of gym equipment that tends to get overlooked frequently.
A belt squat machine has a slightly raised platform attached to a weight stack or level. A hole in the middle of the platform allows a weight belt to be attached to the weight using a cable system.
The lifter then stands on the platform and wears the weight belt to perform leg exercises. While generally associated with squats, you can perform several movements with the belt squat machine. Some of these include;
- Romanian deadlift
- Sumo squat
- Split squat
You can even adjust where you wear the belt or use different attachments for more exercises.
Regardless, the primary benefit of the belt squat machine is it allows you to put a lot of volume on your legs while mitigating stress on your back. As the weight belt sits around your waist, you can perform these lower body movements while saving your back.
These are the perfect weight machines for someone with back issues but still wants an awesome leg workout. Or, perhaps you like training legs with a lot of volume but want to give your back a break.
Check out this list of belt squat machines we picked for your home gym!
Adding A Weight Machine To Your Home Gym
While you can get a lot done with a rack and barbell, adding one of the weight machines above can instantly level up your home gym! We all have our own special needs and styles of training.
By choosing the right weight machine, we can fill in these gaps left from just using a barbell and create a more well-rounded gym workout routine. More importantly, it's personalized to your special needs.
The one piece of advice we have when looking at weight machines to buy is to look into the future a bit. If you know you're going to want to add on other features, try to choose a weight machine that will be able to support those plans.
Most people are limited in what they can buy, held back by space and money. Therefore, when you make a buy, be sure it's going to cover your needs. This might even include purchasing a slightly more expensive weight machine if it will mitigate the need for another purchase in the future.
Either way, it's your home gym and budget, so only you know what's best. Therefore, as always, be sure to do your research before your purchase.
Prepare to maximize your gains with our exclusive 12-week hypertrophy training program. Choose between a 4 or 5 day training split and gain 2-12 pounds of muscle over 90 days...
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