Multi-Gyms - worth the money?

[A911DOM]

The Mrs and I have given some thought to having a multi-gym at home.

We very rarely have the time to get to the gym due to school / creche commitments - plus then getting to / from work etc.

So, we thought a multi-gym at home might give us the opportunity to exercise once the kids are in bed / at the weekend - whilst not needing to join a gym and travel again etc.

I appreciate that its never going to be as good as having dedicated machines or loads of free weights etc - but is it going to be worth it?

Ive seen a couple of reasonably priced machines on John Lewis website for upto 600 quid.

Thoughts / recommendations / warnings would be appreciated.
Cheers

[Halb]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Forget it and buy one of these instead.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5...

[CHIEF]

Dont bother but if you must a decent adjustable weights bench and a decent weights set.

[ShadownINja]

The only thing I like about them is the pull down/up bits. For the rest, I can (prefer to) use free weights for a better workout.

[CHIEF]

ShadownINja said:

The only thing I like about them is the pull down/up bits. For the rest, I can (prefer to) use free weights for a better workout.

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf660-lat-pulldown.php

[posterboy]

waste

Just get an Olympic barbell + weights

You can do up to 20 exercises, just be creative

[ShadownINja]

CHIEF said:

ShadownINja said:

The only thing I like about them is the pull down/up bits. For the rest, I can (prefer to) use free weights for a better workout.

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf660-lat-pulldown.php

Thanks. Bit much just for one exercise, though! I would rather just install a fingerboard above a doorframe.

[spikeyhead]

I bought one of ebay after making a mess of my shoulder. Used it to exercise until it was strong again and then sold it for about the same amount on ebay. Only cost £60 for a decent multigym.

[Lost_BMW]

Might seem a bit left field - and obviously it'd depend on what sort of training you wanted to what effect - but you might want to consider the Lifeline Train Station at c. £45

http://www.thestrengthcompany.co.uk/details1.asp/P...

I have one in my garage gym - mounted on a 6 foot long 2" by 4" wooden block and rawl bolts, done by a professional builder - and my brother uses the portable version.

After nearly 30 years of weight lifting etc. with multi gyms, Olympic sets and all sorts of heavy duty machines this is such a fantastic find. We both love it.

You can vary resistance by type and number of cables and even by moving in or out (so good for training beyond where I'd normally fail - if I'm trying stuff like lactate tolerance training) and can do pretty much exercise at any angle. It's great for rows, pulldowns, lateral raises, upright rows (but lying down!), flyes, extensions and curls etc. but also for sports specific and core type work such as rotations, power lunges, squats etc. Just standing on the cable(s) and using the hand grips or bars offers loads of exercises, all detailed in a DVD & booklet that comes with it but imagination is the only limit I can see.

I reckon one of these with a set of kettlebells and Powerbags would be a good substitute for a commercial or multi-gym for many people and at a reasonable cost and taking little space - though you do need about 2 to 3 metres in front/to the side for the extension type work to best effect.