Trainers are a must-have for serious workout enthusiasts and athletes.
They help you target specific muscles, and they’re also great for rehabilitation after an injury. But if you’re short on space, you might not be able to have a full-sized trainer in your home gym.
Fortunately, there are now several compact functional trainers on the market that offer all the benefits of a full-sized trainer in a smaller footprint.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best compact functional trainers on the market, and we will share with you everything you need to know about their benefits.
So whether you’re tight on space or simply looking for a more convenient option, you might find it in our list of the best compact functional trainers.
What’s a functional trainer anyway?
A functional trainer is a type of weight machine that allows you to perform a variety of exercises using a single piece of equipment.
Unlike traditional weight machines, which are designed for specific exercises, functional trainers provide a more versatile workout by allowing you to adjust the position of the weight stacks and pulleys to suit your needs. As a result, you can perform a wide range of exercises including chest presses, shoulder presses, rows, and curls.
In addition, many functional trainers also include features such as built-in storage racks and weight plate holders, making them a great choice for small home gyms. The term “functional trainer” refers to the fact that this type of equipment can be used to train the body for activities that occur in everyday life.
For example, functional trainers can be used to improve balance and coordination. They can also be used to strengthen the core muscles, which are essential for good posture and proper body alignment.
Our choice for the best home functional trainers of 2022
Editor’s Choice: XMARK Functional Trainer Cable Machine
Key Features
The XMARK Functional Trainer Cable Machine is the most versatile piece of equipment for your family’s home gym. It can easily be adjusted for anyone in your household, whether young or old, short or tall.
With its dual 200 pounds weight stack, it gives you unlimited training possibilities and its quick-adjust pulleys with 19 settings are interchangeable. You can quickly and easily adjust the machine to target any muscle group. With so many options, you’ll never get bored with your workouts.
This functional trainer comes with inclusions like a pair of 8″ hand straps, a pair of 17″ long strap handles, a 23″ tricep rope, a short bar, and a 42″ long bar, a leg extension leg curl strap, and an ankle strap. With all these accessories, you can play around and mix and match with your workout routine.
The smooth gliding pulleys and weight stacks on the XMARK Functional Trainer are also equipped with smooth gliding pulleys which allow you to create a fluid movement that is easy on your joints. You’ll be able to safely and effectively work out without putting strain on your body.
Runner Up: Inspire Fitness Ft2 Functional Trainer
Key Features
This functional trainer features dual weight stacks that allow you to work each side of the body independently. This is a great feature for health and fitness enthusiasts who want to balance their workout routine. By working on each side of the body, you can ensure that you are getting a well-rounded workout.
The Inspire Fitness FT2 Functional Trainer’s preacher curl is compatible with our optional SCS Bench. This allows you to focus on isolating your upper body in the traditional preacher curl position. This is a great feature for health and fitness enthusiasts who want to focus on their upper body strength.
With the integration of the Smith Machine with the Olympic bar and weight stacks, there is no need for Olympic weight plates so you can save space in your home gym and have a more efficient workout. In addition, its dual pulley system adjusts to 32 positions, giving you unlimited functional training capability.
Best Value for Money: Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
Key Features
The Bowflex Blaze home gym offers over 60 gym-quality exercises that work all of your muscle groups. With 210 pounds of Power Rod resistance technology, you can maximize your strength training. With its sliding seat rail, you can switch between exercises like aerobic rowing and leg presses so you can keep your workout interesting and challenging.
This functional trainer has an angled lat bar that is perfect for building back and shoulder muscles quickly. The angled lat bar makes it easy to target specific muscles groups, and the tower is adjustable so you can find the perfect position for your workout. Its bench can be folded up when not in use, and the wheels make it easy to move the gym from one location to another.
Alternative 1: Body-Solid Powerline PFT100 Functional Trainer Cable Machine
Key Features
This functional trainer cable machine offers vertically adjustable pulleys that swivel smoothly through a 180-degree range of motion for unmatched workout versatility. It is the perfect model for those who want to tone their bodies and improve their overall fitness level.
The Body Solid Powerline PFT100 functional trainer cable machine also comes with two adjustable nylon cable handles. These handles allow you to perform a variety of exercises targeting different muscle groups.
These exercises include low and high cable crossovers, biceps curls, triceps press down, triceps extension, glute kickback, rows, delt raises, trunk twists, and more. With this single workout equipment, you can have a full-body workout.
Alternative 2: BodySolid S2FT Series II Functional Trainer
Key Features
This compact functional trainer’s independent weight stack system provides dedicated resistance, allowing you to perform a wide range of exercises from cable crossovers and shoulder presses to pull-ups, leg kickbacks, and everything in-between. It features rock climber grips that are perfect for building upper body and handgrip strength.
The BodySolid S2FT Series II Functional Trainer is ergonomically designed for your convenience. The adjustments and interchangeable cable handles offer workout variety, and the pulleys move independently to offer 34 different starting positions. This allows you to perform a wide range of exercises so you can maximize your workout.
This functional trainer also includes a 43 in. revolving straight bar for squat and deadlift exercises. Its 14” padded athletic bar offers complex movements that emulate baseball swings, tennis, and golf. This makes it easy for you to find the perfect exercise for your needs.
The BodySolid S2FT Series II Functional Trainer also includes fully-shrouded weight stacks. These weight stacks may not be aesthetically pleasing but they are safe and can prevent you from dropping weights onto objects.
Alternative 3: HCI Fitness PTX Gym Folding Functional Trainer Compact Home Gym
Key Features
This multifunctional trainer is perfect for health and fitness enthusiasts who want to be able to tone their bodies and have a great work out without having to go to the gym. The stack weight and free weights make this machine perfect for those who want to be able to work out at their own pace and level. The weight stack also converts into free weights to compliment all your workout combinations.
PTX gym’s folding bench offers seven adjustment positions and folds easily and stores into the unit, making it perfect for those who want to workout at home but don’t have a lot of space to spare. With its compact footprint, you can fit it easily into any space so you can still stay fit despite living in a small house or apartment.
This functional trainer comes with several inclusions like an ankle strap, D-ring hand grips, triceps trope, 20″ straight bar, and 12″ straight bar. These accessories make it possible for you to have a great workout no matter what your fitness level is. The PTX GYM is perfect for those who are just starting on their fitness journey or for those who are looking to take their workout to the next level.
Alternative 4: IRON COMPANY BodyCraft HFT Functional Trainer
Key Features
This functional trainer is constructed with a combination of heavy plate steel and heavy gauge and oval steel tubing coated with a platinum gray and textured Black finish that is electromagnetically applied in powder form to evenly coat all surfaces, then baked on at high temperatures for a tough, long-lasting finish.
The BodyCraft HFT Functional Trainer comes with everything you need to get started on your fitness journey. The attached exercise book provides guidance and support so you can make the most out of your workout routine. The long bar, short bar, tricep rope, assisted pull-up/push-up strap, ankle strap, 2 chains, two single handles, and built-in multi-grip chin-up bar are all included so you can customize your workout to target your specific fitness goals.
With the dual independent adjustable cable column pulleys on this model, it offers 31 different height positions so you can train from every angle and any height. It is also equipped with flexible nylon coated, strand aircraft cable, cable rides, fiberglass, and nylon pulleys with precision sealed ball bearings for a smooth and consistent workout experience.
Alternative 5: Body-Solid BFFT10R Functional Trainer and Cable Machine
Key Features
The Body-Solid BFFT10R Functional Trainer and Cable Machine features adjustable pulleys which swivel 180 degrees for a wide variety of workout starting positions. The BFFT10R also includes a weight stack, making it a complete all-in-one solution for a home gym.
This functional trainer includes a single 190 lb weight stack with a no-cable design. This design is ideal for health and fitness enthusiasts who want to target specific muscle groups without having to worry about the cables getting in the way. The BFFT10R also includes two adjustable nylon cable handles so you can easily customize your workout.
Alternative 6: Marcy Stack Home Gym
Key Features
The dual action press arms on the Marcy Stack Home Gym allow you to perform both chest press and vertical butterfly exercises. This functional trainer can target different muscle groups with this one piece of equipment so it is a versatile addition to your home gym.
The Marcy Stack Home Gym’s total leg developer feature will work your lower body muscles, while the cable standing biceps curls can be used to work on your biceps muscles. It also has a flip-up footplate that will help you to work your arms whether you are standing or seated.
Moreover, the Lat Bar that comes with the Marcy Stack Home Gym allows you to perform lat pulldown and pullover exercises to work on your back, and shoulder muscle groups, as well as abs and core strength. The ability to complete several exercises with the equipment makes your investment worth it.
Functional trainer FAQs
How do I choose a functional trainer?
There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a functional trainer.
- Consider the space you have available. If you have a limited amount of space, you’ll want to choose a trainer that is compact and easy to move around.
- Think about the types of exercises you want to be able to do. If you’re interested in doing a lot of different exercises, you’ll want to choose a trainer that offers a variety of options.
- Determine your budget. There are many different price points for functional trainers, so it’s important to select one that fits within your budget.
By considering these factors, you can be sure to choose a functional trainer that is right for you.
What are the benefits of using a functional trainer?
Functional trainers are becoming increasingly popular in gyms and home fitness equipment. They are versatile and allow you to perform a wide range of exercises. Here are some of the benefits of using a functional trainer:
- They provide a great way to improve your core strength. By allowing you to move in multiple planes of motion, functional trainers help to engage your stabilizer muscles, which are the muscles that surround your spine and support your spine in movement.
- Functional trainers help to improve your balance and coordination.
- They can be used to tone all major muscle groups.
- These trainers are relatively compact and can be easily stored away.
5. They are relatively affordable compared to other types of gym equipment. Functional trainers are versatile pieces of equipment that allow you to perform a wide range of exercises without the need of buying different equipment for each body part that you want to improve.
What is the difference between a functional trainer and a weight bench?
Functional trainers are designed to provide a versatile, all-in-one solution for strength training. They typically include a variety of attachments, such as pulleys, weights, and resistance bands. Functional trainers often have adjustable features that allow you to target different muscle groups.
Weight benches, on the other hand, are more specialized. They are typically used for exercises like bench press and shoulder press. A weight bench typically has a flat surface for doing exercises like chest presses and shoulder presses.
While weight benches are typically more affordable, functional trainers offer a greater range of exercises and can be worth the investment if you are serious about getting in shape.
How to maintain your functional trainer?
If you are using your functional trainer often, you should make sure to maintain them, no matter how busy you are. Here are five tips to help you keep your functional trainer in good working condition:
- Check the bolts and nuts regularly to make sure they are tightened.
- If needed, lubricate the moving parts regularly to prevent rust and wear.
- Inspect the cables and pulleys for signs of wear and tear.
- Keep the trainer clean and free of dust and dirt.
- Store the trainer in a cool, dry place when not in use.
By following these simple tips, you can prolong the life of your functional trainer and ensure that it continues to serve its purpose.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to using a home functional trainer. Not only will you get in great shape, but you’ll also be able to improve your overall health and well-being.
When choosing the best home functional trainer for your needs, it is important to consider the features that are most important to you.
Do you need something compact and easy to store? Or do you need a machine with a lot of resistance levels and adjustment options?
By considering your individual needs and preferences, you can find the perfect machine for your home gym. Have you tried using a home functional trainer? Share with us your experience. We would love to know!