User Review
( votes)Functional trainers can elevate your garage gym by adding various exercises to your daily routine. We love this gym equipment for pulls, fly’s, curls, tricep push-downs, and everything in between. For the past few years, we’ve been examining the best functional trainers, and we’ve updated our list for 2023.
While high-end commercial-grade functional trainers can cost $5000 or more, a near-commercial-grade system built for home gyms can often set you back at less than $2500.
Our team at Garage Gym Products has six personal favorites regarding this particular piece of equipment specifically for home use. These units offer smooth pulling action, provide a decent set of included accessories, and offer solid builds backed by warranties meant to put your mind at ease.
Here are the best functional trainers for your home gym. [Updated on June 25, 2023]
Table of Contents
Titan Fitness Functional Trainer
Titan Fitness has been completely upping its game in recent years. The company’s work towards better-built products has culminated with V2 of its functional trainer. This particular unit is the mainstay option for the Garage Gym Products gym.
Why do we love this product from Titan Fitness? First, it features 200-pound weight stacks that glide smoothly across the unit’s aluminum pullies. There’s no noticeable drag on the unit, which makes it feels truly like a piece of equipment that can be used in a commercial gym.
In our opinion, functional trainers need easy one-handed maneuverability, and Titan Fitness has built that feature nicely into the unit. The adjustable handles glide up and down the left and right sides of the functional trainer, providing a great experience. The handles also pivot easily to the left and right, allowing for many different exercises to be easily performed.
Titan Fitness has provided a solid build for the unit, which comes in at nearly 700 pounds, and the powder coat is excellent. In fact, after nearly two years of daily use, my unit’s powder coat still looks like it did on day one.
We also love that it arrived in just 7 pieces plus the weight stacks and that the entire unit was shipped inside a giant wooden crate. There was zero damage on our unit, which is hard to come by today, thanks to FedEx and UPS shipping issues.
When we started looking at functional trainers that could reside permanently in our gym, a big consideration was the small profile of this unit. The depth is just 44″, allowing it to fit on a single stall mat, typically measuring 48″ in depth.
It’s also less wide than others on our list, at just 64″ at its widest point. The 82″ depth also provides enough room to perform pull-ups on the unit’s excellent pull-up bar, even in 8-foot ceilings.
Finally, this unit from Titan Fitness comes equipped with many included accessories. We particularly love the short bar, which has added a lot of dynamic hammer and swing movements to our routines. Check out the full list of accessories right here.
We’re two years into using this product in our home gym, and we still consider it among the best functional trainers for the price and build quality.
You can pick up the Titan Fitness Functional Trainer for $2599 with free shipping. There are plenty of reviews from customers that you can browse HERE.
Pros
- Excellent Build Quality.
- 200-pound weight stacks (in both pounds and kg).
- Multi-grip pull-up bar for added muscle targeting.
- Lots of included accessories.
- No noticeable drag when lubricant is regularly applied.
- Easy one-handed adjustments.
- Plenty of positions to choose from.
Cons
- The 1-year warranty could be longer (on a personal note, we’ve been using this in our test gym for 3 years with no issues).
- The lowest weight setting is 10 pounds which could restrict some muscle-isolating movements for some users.
You should also check out our full Titan Fitness Functional Trainer review to see why we consider it one of the best functional trainers for a home gym.
REP FT-5000 Functional Trainer
We only could test the Rep Fitness FT-5000 Functional Trainer in the wild, but we were immediately impressed with every aspect of this absolute beast, especially at the cost of just $2499.99 with free shipping.
Let’s start with some of the obvious winning components on the FT-5000. Rep Fitness has chosen fiberglass-reinforced pulleys that are smooth as butter and built to last. That’s the theme for this unit; built-to-last. In fact, after using this product, we truly believe all functional trainers should feature fiberglass-reinforced pulleys.
The powder coat on the Rep Fitness unit is better than most units we’ve tested. Rep uses a two-layer electrostatic powder coating that they claim is chip resistant. Indeed, the paint job feels and looks incredibly professional.
Rep has gone with a rather impressive 220-pound weight stack on each side of the unit. The weight stacks, just like our Titan Fitness pick, feature a 2-to-1 ratio, which means 100 pounds equates to 50 pounds of effort. The ratio is pretty standard on these types of units but the additional 20 pounds on each weight stack is a nice added bonus.
The 11-gauge steel on this unit is pretty standard on top-notch functional trainers; with that being said, this unit is incredibly solid, and there is no shifting of the machine, even when swinging around on its very nice pull-up bar. The lack of swinging can also be attributed to the machine’s weight, which pops in at 1,001 pounds, more than 300 pounds heavier than the Titan Fitness choice. Part of the weight is attributed to the extra 20 pounds on each side of the machine’s weight stacks but also to a larger build that features a height of 85″, a depth of 45″, and a width of 72″ at its widest point.
As a bonus, this Rep Functional trainer changed up the V2 version, making it possible for users as short as 5’3″ to perform curls. There’s a good reason we consider it the top option among the best functional trainers for garage gyms.
Pros
- Commercial quality build.
- 220-pound weight stacks are among the heaviest you can buy.
- Numerous comfortable multi-grip pull-up bar options.
- Curls can be performed for people as short as 5’3″
- Limited Lifetime warranty for home gym owners.
- Plenty of adjustable positions to choose from.
- The best “no-drag” system among all trainers we have tested.
Cons
- We have no complaints when it comes to the Rep Fitness FT-5000 V2.
Rep Fitness doesn’t send as many attachments along with its unit but a premium upgrade kit is available if you want additional attachments that are also well-made and worth the additional cost. You can see all of the Rep Fitness Victory Functional Trainer features here.
Bells Of Steel Functional Trainer -The Best Budget-Friendly Functional Trainer
If you want to pump the breaks at high prices, the Bells of Steel Functional Trainer offers one of the best price points. This option is under $2000 and a solid choice made by a company known for producing high-quality gym products at rock-bottom prices.
With dual-weight stacks totaling 160 pounds each and a 2:1 pull ratio, this unit packs enough power for most casual to mid-level workout enthusiasts.
Much like our options for Rep Fitness, Titan Fitness, and Inspire Fitness, the Bells of Steel team included aluminum pulleys and a smooth bearing set that ensure very little drag is felt during even your heaviest of lifts.
The Bells of Steel functional trainer also includes a solid powder coat and four spots to hold your accessories.
While you’ll have to pay for your own accessories, the company offers some excellent options in the $19.99 to $59.99 range. You can click here to see a bunch of options or check out some of the accessories below.
One of my personal favorites from this trainer is the multi-grip pull-up bar. This option is often reserved as an additional add-on or a standard option on higher-end functional trainers. The entire point of a functional trainer is to work various muscle groups utilizing hundreds of different movements. A multi-grip pull-up bar allows for even more variation.
This unit is one of the best functional trainers for budget-conscious buyers.
Pros
- The sub-$2000 price tag is excellent.
- Very good build quality for a budget Functional Trainer.
- A Limited Lifetime warranty have you covered.
- The unique multi-grip pull-up bar offers a ton of muscle-activating options.
- Very little drag, especially for a budget-friendly option.
Cons
- 160-pound weight stacks with a 2:1 pull ratio mean only 80 pounds of pull per stack (probably fine for most people).
- 14-gauge steel is a little bit thin for a functional trainer.
Still not convinced this is the right trainer for you? Check out various user reviews for the Bells of Steel Functional Trainer.
Inspire Fitness FT1 Functional Trainer
A good friend of mine swears by their Inspire Fitness Functional Trainer. They’ve been using their unit almost every day for two years, and I have been awestruck by the condition of the unit after several years of use.
The Inspire Fitness Functional Trainer (Ft1) offers glide rails that are incredibly smooth with no real noticeable drag.
The Ft1 comes standard with 165-pound weight stacks, which are pretty low for functional trainers considering the 2:1 ratio on pulls. However, you can purchase additional 50-pound stacks for each side of the functional trainer, creating an effective pull of 215 pounds.
The unit’s dimensions are among the best selling points for garage gym owners with limited space. The Ft1 is just 47” in depth by 54” in width and features a height of 81.5″. We’d even argue that this is the winner among our best functional trainers list if taking up a small footprint is important in your home gym setup.
We love the extra attachments; they feel more commercial-grade than what Titan Fitness and Rep Fitness provide. Included accessories are a Multi-Functional Belt, Easy Curl Bar, Straight Bar, Ankle Cuff, Swing Handle, Tricep Rope, 2- Single Handles, and two 5-pound add-on weights.
The one big drawback to this system is the pull-up bar, which doesn’t offer as many grip options as the units offered by many other best functional trainers available on the market.
This unit is more expensive than our top two best functional trainers, but it has a benefit that’s hard to ignore, a limited lifetime warranty on the unit’s frame and parts.
Pros
- Near commercial quality build.
- A huge number of included accessories.
- A super compact trainer for people with limited space.
- Virtually no drag.
- Among the most position options for your handles.
- Lifetime Limited Warranty / 10-year Light-Commercial Warranty
Cons
- 165-pound-pound stacks with a 2:1 pull ratio provide just over 80 pounds of pull per weight stack.
- The pull-up bar is sub-par compared to many of the multi-grip options on the market.
The Inspire Fitness FT1 Functional Trainer is a bit more expensive at a starting cost of $2599.99, but it’s also a proven option that will last you for years. You can see all of its features here.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Inspire Fitness FT1 Functional Trainer – Compact at Home Workout Machine with Accessories – Two 165… | $2,999.00 | Buy on Amazon |
BodyCraft HFT Functional Trainer
The BodyCraft HFT Functional Trainer is a solid unit built by a team that has been making quality gym equipment since the 1990s.
Admittedly, this unit isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as the others on our list so far. Still, it’s a solid choice that reviewers and customers have given high marks.
The 150-pound weight stacks that come standard and feature a 2:1 ratio are not the best option on our list, but for around $200, you can purchase an additional 50-pound add-on. Given that the unit starts at $2499, you’ll pay the same cost of an Ft1, and you’ll receive 200-pound weight stacks on each end.
The pulley system glides smoothly on this unit, which, as you may have noticed, we’ve come to expect from the best functional trainers in the $2000 to $3000 range. The pulleys are easy to adjust, and they operate independently of each other, which is standard for these units.
The Bodycraft HFT also features seven attachments that provide plenty of exercises. Bodycraft also features a nice exercise booklet that will have you trying out new workouts right after assembly.
The pull-up bar on this unit is also different than the others. The bar provides narrow and neutral grips. We love the alternate grips since we already have an awesome Rogue Cerakote socket bar featured on our Rogue RM-4 power rack.
If space is a concern, the BodyCraft HFT is one of the smallest functional trainers on the market. The unit comes in at a width of just 56″, a depth of 40″, and a height of 82″.
Pros
- Perfect for small spaces.
- The pull-up bar provides for wide and narrow grip movements.
- The 7-included attachments are among the most we’ve found.
- An excellent workout booklet is included.
- Residential Warranty: Frame Lifetime. Parts Lifetime.
- 31-height positions are among the most on the market.
Cons
- 150-pound included weight stacks are sub-par but the $200 upgrade to add 50 pounds to each stack makes up for it.
The HFT also features a lifetime warranty on its frame and parts, making it the cheapest high-quality functional trainer to offer such an awesome long-term commitment. You can check out the unit here.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bodycraft HFT Functional Trainer 150 lb. Stacks | $2,495.00 | Buy on Amazon |
XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine
The XMark Functional Trainer comes standard with 200-pound weight stacks for $2,699 with free shipping; we’ll get into why the cost is justified.
First, like the other four functional trainers on our list, the pulleys are fully adjustable, glide easily on their guide bars, and feel commercial grade.
The pulleys feel great on this unit with no noticeable drag, something that other reviews and customers agree upon.
Much like the other functional trainers on our list, the unit also features a bunch of different attachments with seven options that provide a ton of different exercises right out of the box.
The split pull-up bar closely matches the setup on our Titan Fitness functional trainer, which we love.
The dimensions of this unit are also small but not as compact as several others on our list. It comes in at a width of 65”, a length of 43.5”, and a height of 83”.
This XMark unit features a lifetime frame warranty and a 1-year warranty on parts. You can check out this full all-in-one functional trainer here.
Pros
- 200 Pound Weight Stacks come standard.
- Excellent build quality.
- Very little drag during pulls.
- Seven included attachments will take workouts to the next level.
- Lifetime Frame Warranty / 1-Year Parts Warranty.
Cons
- It takes up a considerable amount of space compared to other options on our list.
- The $2600+ price tag is on the more expensive side.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | XMARK Functional Trainer Cable Machine Home Gym, Dual 200 lb Weight Stacks, Cable Weight Stack… | $2,389.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Inspire Fitness FT2 – The Best Functional Trainer + Added Machines
The Inspire Fitness FT2 is more than just a functional trainer as if that was apparently from the inclusion of a Smith machine attachment which enables users to perform traditional compound exercises like back squats, an option rarely found in functional trainers. Moreover, the machine offers a remarkable range of pulleys, attachments, and adjustable angles, ensuring a diverse and dynamic workout experience.
However, it is essential to acknowledge the limitations of the FT2. It lacks compatibility with free weights, which may disappoint those accustomed to this training method. Several reviews have highlighted the potential hindrance posed by the Smith machine bar, obstructing certain exercises and potentially causing inconvenience. Additionally, individuals of shorter stature might encounter challenges in effectively utilizing specific equipment.
At nearly $5000 the Inspire Fitness FT2 may appear expensive, but keep in mind that combines the functionalities of a cable crossover machine and a Smith machine, eliminating the need for separate equipment purchases. It’s also a beast of a build, constructed from heavy-duty steel that matches the type of quality we’ve come to expect from the Inspire Fitness brand.
The FT2 presents itself as a robust and reliable training solution, supported by a lifetime warranty for residential use. Boasting an impressive array of eight pulleys and a dual 165-pound weight stack with a 2:1 ratio, this machine provides ample resistance. Moreover, users have the option to increase the weight capacity with a supplementary 50-pound stack, elevating the maximum effective resistance to an impressive 107.5 pounds.
While it is important to note that the Smith machine bar may impede certain exercises, this concern is primarily relevant to individuals of taller stature.
Overall, the Inspire Fitness FT2 is an extraordinary and uncompromising functional trainer that surpasses expectations. With its superior craftsmanship, comprehensive warranty, and diverse range of training possibilities, this machine stands as a definitive choice for those seeking an authoritative and premium fitness solution.
Pros
- Smith machine attachment allows for traditional compound exercises like back squats.
- A wide variety of pulleys and attachments.
- Cable crossover machine and Smith machine in one unit.
- Constructed with heavy-duty steel.
- An excellent lifetime limited warranty.
Cons
- Lack of compatibility with free weights.
- Some exercises may be obstructed by the Smith machine bar for taller users.
- Individuals of shorter stature may face difficulties in utilizing certain equipment effectively.
- It’s an expensive piece of equipment.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Inspire Fitness FT2 Functional Trainer & Smith Machine Station – at Home Workout Machine for Full… | $4,999.00 | Buy on Amazon |
We love all of the best functional trainers on our list. While they are not necessarily commercial grade, they are close to reaching that level. While there are some shortcomings for all non-commercial grade equipment, with all things considered alongside price, you’ll be happy with any of these machines.
