It’s a common misconception that, in order to effectively maintain or develop your body, you must secure a gym membership. Thankfully, there are several options for those who want to get in shape at home. Some of the best smith machines for home gyms are below:
- Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage
- Body-Solid Series 7 Smith Machine
- Deltech Fitness Linear Bearing Smith Machine
Advantages Of A Smith Machine
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Design
Since the Smith machine’s barbell is attached (unlike a power rack), this affords the user a certain amount of safety. The user can lock the barbell at any point during their exercise routine with a quick flick of their wrists, eliminating the hazard of being pinned beneath the barbell.
Privacy
One of the main advantages of buying yourself a Smith machine is the comfort of privacy. Even if you aren’t particularly shy, there’s a lot to be said for being able to cast off the obligations of acceptable societal behaviors. This frees you up to focus more on your workout and less on what others around you may be thinking or seeing.
Safety
Although power racks do give the user a few safety features, a Smith machine allows the user to end their exercise mid-repetition. The Smith machine’s barbell has hooks on each end with adjustable rubber stops on the support posts, ensuring that the barbell never falls on the user. All Smith machines come with this feature.
Convenience
In addition to all of these benefits, a Smith machine affords you the freedom to work out at two in the morning without having to get dressed and drive across town.
Lightweight
The Smith machine is great for those who cannot use a power rack’s forty-five-pound Olympic weights. The counterbalanced barbell of the Smith machine allows everyone to do barbell exercises!
Cost Effective
Your gym membership is your rent since you own all of the equipment you use in your home for your workout, making this a highly cost-effective decision.
Best Smith Machines – What to Consider?
Product Reputation
Research several types of Smith machines before making your decision. Any specific types of Smith machines that have received multiple negative reviews should be eliminated from your list. The ones with strong reputations are the ones to which you should pay the closest attention.
Personal Needs
Pay attention to what the individual Smith machine offers your workout. Are you looking for equipment that develops one area of your physique more than another, or are you looking for equipment that gives you a full, all-over workout? Take this into consideration when purchasing a Smith machine for your home gym.
Overall Effectiveness
Although some of us might be more concerned with developing one aspect of our musculature, in particular, we should not forget the possibility of “overuse injuries.” It’s important to find a Smith machine for your in-home gym that evenly works all of your muscle groups, despite which groups you are most interested in developing. Ignoring the rest of your body in an effort to develop one aspect of it is a grave mistake.
Downsides And Risks Of A Smith Machine
Smith machines are not inherently risky when properly used, but there are some downsides to opting for them in lieu of purchasing a gym membership.
Motivation
The same reasons why a Smith machine is great for convenience can also work against you. Although the opportunity to work out is right there in the next room or in the basement, this may be a great way to make an excuse for when to work out. Having access to a Smith machine right at home opens some people up to procrastinating.
Risk of Injury
In a traditional gym setting, there are people near you who can recognize when you may need a spotter. When you are at home, the probability of you working out alone is much higher. If you run into trouble, you may be one your own, which can result in serious injury or worse. Most of this risk is neutralized, however, because all Smith machines have safety features in place that combat this issue.
Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage
The Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage machine is an all-encompassing home workout machine. Not only does it help the user work on their upper bodies, but also gives them the ability to focus on their leg workouts as well. It has several safety features as well as a great warranty.
PROS
- Ridiculous weight capacity
- Equipped with a chin up bar
- Sturdy construction for its price range
- Accommodates squats for users of all sizes
CONS
- J hooks could be longer
- Not tall enough for standing overhead presses
- Paint chips off easily
Stability – The base frame is actually designed to be off the floor, so you won’t have to worry about the machine wobbling while using it.
Helps focus on legs – The Marcy Diamond also gives the user the ability to properly isolate their leg muscle with a precision pivot point on the leg developer, ensuring that the user is able to efficiently work their legs. It comes with six over-sized roller pads for added comfort, as well.
Adjustable – The Marcy Diamond offers the user the ability to adjust the bar catches.
Safety – The bar catches actually come with safety stoppers to provide the user added peace of mind when working out alone. The Marcy Diamond features non-slip foot braces, too, preventing injury when performing seated row exercises.
Warranty – The Marcy Diamond also comes with a two-year limited warranty on all parts.
Weights are not included, so you will need to purchase those on your own.
Assembly of this machine is time consuming and can be confusing.
Body Solid Series 7 Smith Machine
The Body-Solid Series 7 Smith Machine is another fantastic piece of equipment that offers the user increased safety during their workout. It focuses more on the upper body than it does on legs.
Pros
Safety – The Body-Solid Series 7 comes with twenty lockout points, granting the user the ability to safely stop at any point in their routine. It also comes with fourteen racking positions for easier dismount when the user needs to quickly get out from under the weight bar.
Easy To Control – Whether you’re an experienced gym-goer or completely amateur, the Body-Solid Series 7 features a large diameter weight bar that responds quickly and only weighs twenty-five pounds.
Cons
Standard Equipment – The leg developer attachment is not of Olympic standard, so if that is important to you, you will need to swap out this part of the machine.
Deltech Fitness Linear Bearing Smith Machine
The Deltech Fitness Linear Bearing Smith Machine is excellent for those who want to start out slow to see if the home gym is right for them.
Pros
Capacity – The bar allows for 700 pounds of eight to be applied.
Storage – There are bars to store the weights when not in use, saving your weight bar.
Cons
Not Included – Weights are not included, so you will need to purchase your own.
Our Conclusion
The best smith machine listed here is clearly the Marcy Diamond, as it allows the user to focus on several different aspects of their physique while employing many safety measures. This is a great piece of equipment for those interested in deadlifting in safety and those who wish to also develop their leg muscles.
It gives the user the privacy, convenience, and cost effective benefits that they need from a Smith machine while still ensuring that they receive the same quality of workout that they would find in a traditional gym setting.