Last Updated on February 13, 2023
Using the gym for workouts and bodybuilding is a great way to prolong your years on earth. But you’ll agree with me that not everyone wants to deal with the pain of having to drive (or walk) to the gym down the road every day when you can build your gym.
However, building your gym is not that easy though. You’ll need some essential equipment, of which the cable machine is the most important one. If you keep up with trends in the fitness world, you’ll notice that cable machines are popular amongst those who exercise at home. It is one of the best options for home gyms.
While the Cable machine is quite expensive, it is a versatile home gym equipment that you can use for different exercises. Some of the exercises that you can do with this machine include triceps pushdown, seated cable row, cable crossover, overhead cable curls, etc. Honestly, with this equipment in your home, you won’t feel the absence of other gym equipment. Keep reading to discover some of the best cable machines for home gym.
Table of Contents
Quick List Of Top 7 Best Cable Machine For Home Gym
- Body-Solid Powerline PCCO90X Cable Crossover Machine
- Valor Fitness BD-62 Wall Mount Cable for Functional Home Gym
- Body-Solid Best Fitness BFFT10R Cable Machine
- XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine
- Inspire Fitness FTX Functional Trainer Cable Machine
- Fitness Reality X-Class Cable Attachment
- XMark Heavy Duty Lat Pulldown Cable Machine
Best Cable Machine For Home Gym Reviews
In this article, we’ll examine some of the best cable machines for your home gym. Our list of cable machines would get you the best value for every penny you invest in it.
1. Body-Solid Powerline PCCO90X Cable Crossover Machine
If you’re looking for a solid, high-quality cable crossover machine that’s functional but still goes for an affordable price, then this cross-machine is for you. First, it is sturdy, thanks to the material used to craft it. When you start using it, you’ll realize that this machine is flexible as you can adjust the pulleys for high and low pulley exercise.
Of course, it’s all thanks to the tall and wide mainframe. It’s a versatile machine that encourages your full coordination enhancement and balance improvement workouts. It’s perfect for building resistance and specific parts of your body like the abs, biceps, etc. Here’s a fact; everyone who exercises with this cable machine wouldn’t fail to realize how smooth it is to exercise with this machine.
You’ll enjoy smooth operation, and it’s thanks to the carriage system. The manufacturers created it with a patented nylon blushing technology. This technology is coupled with high-resin pulleys that are about eight diameters large. The pulleys can go 180-degree high and low.
2. Valor Fitness BD-62 Wall Mount Cable for Functional Home Gym
This wall mount cable machine comes with a dual pulley system for starters. Thanks to the pulley system, you have the luxury of adjusting the pulley in 16 different positions. As a result, you can try out different exercises. One of our favorite features about this cable machine is that it doesn’t take up too much space.
You can easily mount it on the wall to facilitate your strength training. To mount it on the wall, you have to attach it to the top and bottom using the BD-62. This feature makes it stable. If you don’t wish to mount it, use the BD-61. It comes with extra features like the two single strap handle you’ll find in the box. It also comes with functional pivoting pulley braces.
These braces sit on either side of the adjustment tube to aid motion during exercise. The manufacturer designed this machine to be a multi-functional unit. It is no wonder why it comes with quite a few gym accessories to make your exercise productive and fun.
3. Body-Solid Best Fitness BFFT10R Cable Machine
If you’re looking for a compact yet functional cable machine, you should opt for this machine, and we’ll tell you why. You can fit it anywhere in your home or home gym, for starters. Although it is compact, it comes in handy when you’re looking for a way to improve your sporting performance.
It has a fantastic pulley system that features adjustable pulleys that can move 180-degree to aid different starting positions for workouts. This machine also features the no cable change style, making it easy to switch from one exercise to another instantly. With two adjustable nylon cable handles that come with it, you can choose to attach it to the machine or detach it.
You can also use the single 190lbs weight stack with the machine. Nevertheless, this machine won’t body-build you to look like Johnny Bravo or those hefty-looking MMA fighters. But it would surely contribute to your muscle health by strengthening your muscles. The best part is, you’ll find it easy to assemble.
4. XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine
This machine takes home the award of the most versatile cable machine. The reason is that anyone can exercise with it, regardless of their age and height. By anyone, I mean both old and young. All you need to do is adjust the height to the convenience of whoever wants to use it. Viola! You’re good to go. You can also quickly adjust the pulleys using the 19 settings available to you.
The manufacturer spaced the 19 settings for the pulley adjustment at 3.5″ each. This machine comes with quite a few accessories which include; a 23″ tricep rope, a pair of 8″ hand straps, a short bar, a pair of 17″ long strap handles, and a 42″ long bar, leg curl strap, leg extension, and an ankle strap.
For more functionality, you can interchange the accessories however you please. When it comes to the construction, the manufacturers deployed a heavy duty 11-gauge 2″ x 3″ steel mainframe. The pull-up and pulley system is of commercial grade, making the entire system smooth.
5. Inspire Fitness FTX Functional Trainer Cable Machine
This machine is the compact option in the inspire FT series, which comprises the FTX, FT1, and FT2. Aside from its compact nature, it is also cheap. Although it doesn’t look as good as the FT1 machine, it is versatile. In construction, inspire did a great job with this machine. They deployed heavy-duty steel in constructing this machine. Then, they finished it off with a black matte coat to ensure durability and longevity.
This machine has two weight stacks that each weigh 165lb. The pulleys can swivel in 30 positions to aid you in enjoying your exercise without restriction. Consider this machine as all the functional training you’ll ever need.
You’ll enjoy the freedom of movement as you can move your body in any position while exercising with this machine. If you’re an athlete seeking to strengthen your body, lose weight or build stamina, you should opt for this machine.
6. Fitness Reality X-Class Cable Attachment
This machine can carry a 360lbs weight plate which suggests that it is made from high-quality material. The storage post is 7″ long, and it’s perfect when you want to use it with either standard or Olympic weight plate. The pulley system here is a bit unique. It comes with two rows, where one row is the lat or high and low system.
The pulleys are crafted with a high tensile strength coated with nylon. Like every other cable machine, it comes with some attachments. They include a 20″ low row bar that comes with density foam grips. It also includes a 44″ lat bar. It also has a chrome-plated attachment post and is an easy glide 2″ by 2″.
This machine is ideal for athletes who want to work on their upper body; it can help with that. It works specifically for your upper back, arms, and shoulder. If you still have enough to spend, you might want to consider pairing this cable machine with a utility bench by Fitness reality.
7. XMark Heavy Duty Lat Pulldown Cable Machine
The construction of this cable machine is impressive. XMark designed it to construct 2″ by 3″ 11-guage steel. Then, they coated it with a baked scratch-resistant powder finish. Thanks to the finish, the machine remains scratch-resistant.
The feet of this machine are carved from a solid material that makes the tires skid-resistant. The cables have an impressive 2200 pound tensile strength that makes them strong enough to receive any tension.
They are also coated with nylon, and their maximum pound load capacity is 400 pounds. Honestly, if you need a machine for strength training, this cable machine would be functional in your home gym. The footprint is minimal, and operations with this cable run smoothly.
What To Look Before Buying Best Cable Machine For Home GYM
There are things you should know before you start shopping for a good cable machine. For starters, you should know why it is used or what exercises can be done with it. You should also be curious about what kind of cable machine exists, the durability of the machine you will buy, the loading capacity, warranty etc. We have discussed these points in detail below. Curious to know this information? Keep reading.
Used For?
Before you prance into any brick-and-mortar store or e-store to shop for the best cable machine for your home gym, you have to decide what you intend to use the cable machine for. It generally helps you streamline your choices and avoid getting confused. There are two use cases for cable machines.
The first use case is if you expect to use the cable machine as your only exercise machine. That means you’ll do full body exercise with the cable machine. In this case, you have to invest in a high-end cable machine that can stand the rigorous task you’ll subject it to. Some exercise
The second use case is if you want it to be part of your exercise routine because you have other exercise equipment. Then you can go for a regular cable machine that’s not heavy duty.
Either way, you can use both types of cable machines to do all the exercises that can be done with a cable machine from cable flyes, seated cable rows, etc. The only thing is that the weight you put on both would vary based on the weight their cable machine can carry.
Types Of Cable Machine
When shopping for cable machines, you should bear in mind that there are different designs for cable machines. Keep reading to discover some of the cable machines that exist.
- Plate Loaded: You would benefit from this cable machine if the goal is to use it as a companion to a free-weight barbell setup. The reason is that you’ll find it challenging to use it without loading plates to the weight pegs. And truthfully, these plates come in handy for this type of cable machine and with the free weight setup.
- Power Rack Extension: The majority of this cable machine requires plate loading too. Using a pulley system, you can upgrade this cable machine. Consider this option if you want a cable machine that adds the final touch to your home gym if you’d like to add power racks heavy weight exercises.
- Functional Trainer: This cable machine seems a bit detailed. For starters, it has two weighted stacks and pulley systems. The good part about the pulleys is that you can adjust them to fit your suitable height and angles. You’d love this machine if your goal is to buy a standalone cable machine for your gym.
- Weighted Stack: If you regularly use public gyms, chances are, you’ve come across this machine before as commercial gyms deploy this type of cable machine. Just as the name suggests, you have to power it with weighted stacks to exercise with it. There are usually two types of this machine, and you’ll either come across a single weighted stack cable machine or a double stack cable machine. Either way, both are beneficial for what you need them for.
Features
One thing that makes any cable machine functional is the extra features it holds. For instance, a crossover cable machine is as functional as it gets. Now I’m not saying you have to buy a crossover cable machine to get the best value for your money, and you simply have to focus on certain functional product features in a cable machine.
For example, look out for cable machines with the best pulley system/ dual pulley system or an additional pull-up bar. You could also look out for portability, especially if you don’t have too much space in your home gym for a large cable machine.
Durability
When shopping for a cable machine, durability is a crucial factor you should look out for. The reason is, you’ll use your cable machine as often as you can. More so, family members or neighbors could decide to use the cable machine as often as they get access to it.
Hence, it would help if you were cautious about its durability. You do not want a cable to snap while you’re exercising with it. One way to determine the durability of a cable machine is to determine the materials used to construct it.
The manufacturer must ensure that the cable machine is built from solid materials that won’t fall apart under stress.
Weight Capacity
Considering the weight capacity of your cable machine contributes to durability, and here’s how. If a cable machine can only take about 150-200lbs weight, you should only use weighted stacks that weigh 150-200lbs with it. Otherwise, the machine would break down in no time.
So, before you use any weighted stacks with your cable machine, you should consider the weight the machine can take. You can use as high as 400lbs weighted stacks with a plate-loaded cable machine. Then again, you have to confirm the extent of weight your cable machine can carry to prolong its life span.
Size
Another factor you need to consider before you invest into any cable machine is the size of the machine. While some cable machine is referred to as “heavy-duty” machines, they are often bulky and take up a lot of space in your home gym. So, unless you have enough room to spare for a big and bulky cable machine, do not opt for heavy and massive machines.
Instead, opt for portable, lightweight machines carved from solid materials that make them sturdy. The idea of considering the size of the cable machine as a factor hangs on the amount of space you’ve got that can accommodate your desired cable machine. If you need to move your cable machine around a lot, you’ll also need to focus on the size.
Final Thoughts
With the best cable machine for home gym at your disposal, you’ll find it easy to engage in various exercise that keeps you in shape. Frankly speaking, shopping for a suitable cable machine to build your muscle health can be a nightmare at times, especially without the correct information.
And trust me, if you’ll use your cable machine for long and you want it to maintain its good shape, you’ll need to patiently shop for the cable machine that satisfies your fitness needs. The good news, you don’t need to worry too much about investing in the wrong machine as we’ve got you covered. Simply refer to this guide when you’re ready to hit the market.
