Overview
Features
Quality
Performance
Value
Rating
Overall Score
4.8
Putting together a home gym can be expensive, confusing, and take up a lot of home space. This can often put people off, which is definitely not the best way to fuel your exercise and fitness goals. So what’s the answer? Well, I think it may be the compact home gym. In this article, I’m going to delve deeper into the world of compact home gyms, with a particular focus on the Total Gym XLS.
What makes this one special—should you spend your money on it? Or should you avoid it and go for something different?
What Is the Total Gym XLS?
Total Gym’s ethos is really quite admirable: to provide great products for almost anyone looking to improve their overall fitness and well-being. Whether you’re aiming to build or rehabilitate muscle, there’s something for everyone. Total Gym simply provides products that are versatile enough for any exercise level.
The Total Gym XLS does just this, living up to the company’s goals. It’s a compact home gym which is suitable for anyone of any age. Whether you’re fit as a fiddle and ready to gain some muscle, a complete novice, or simply looking to keep your fitness at a plateau, you can achieve your goals!
Compact home gyms are great for a number of reasons. They contain almost everything you’ll need to exercise every muscle in your body. This particular product actually uses your own body weight to give you an all-around workout with plenty of exercise options available.
So what does a compact home gym do exactly? Let’s take a look:
Total Gym offers a few compact home gyms, so let’s see what this type of equipment can really do for you.
What to Look for in a Compact Home Gym
I think now would be a good time to break down the pros and cons of compact home gyms. Why are they a great investment, and why might it be better to invest in something different?
Saves Money
If money is no object, then this won’t apply. However, a lot of people looking to start building their own home gym have to consider the expense. Gym memberships can sometimes cost an arm and a leg, so by opting for your own home gym, you’ll certainly be saving money in the long run.
With that in mind, a compact home gym is an even better way to save more money. Instead of having to purchase all that additional equipment, just this one item may be enough to achieve all your fitness aspirations.
Suitable for All Ages and Abilities
Due to the variety of exercises a compact home gym offers, it’s suitable for almost anyone. With the option of multiple workouts, which help build muscle strength with minimal impact, even your grandparents can use it! This addition to your home won’t just be for you but for the entire family.
Saves Space
A home gym is often somewhere that you don’t want to be too cramped. You wouldn’t want to feel confined, as not only can this distract you, but it could lead to health and safety issues.
As we’ve already mentioned, by purchasing a compact home gym, you’ll have no need for any extra machinery. Instead, these machines can work almost every muscle on their own, eliminating or at least limiting the amount of other equipment you’ll need to buy.
Warranty
I know I’d much rather put my faith in a company that believes in their products. Do you know a good way to figure this out? Their warranty.
With a long warranty comes greater trust from me, that’s for sure. If a product has a long warranty, it shows the company has faith in its own product, which certainly bodes well for the customer.
Compact
You’re likely thinking that a home gym is going to take up a lot of space. Well, it doesn’t have to, and a lot of the best ones out there actually fold up to be stored away. This makes for great functionality, so definitely look out for this if you don’t want to dedicate an entire room to a gym.
Comfort
This may seem trivial, but comfort is an important factor for any home gym equipment. Without comfort, you open yourself up to distractions, which can hinder your gym performance.
Look out for padded seats and foam grips. This way, you’ll limit the possibility of injuries that may prevent you from exercising to your full potential.
Compact Home Gym Con
The idea of a compact home gym is pretty cool and, if it works, it will really save the user money, time, and space. That said, the only issue of the compact home gym is a potential lack of functionality.
A product that does so much within such a small space might not be able to give you everything you need. Indeed, by neglecting particular elements of an exercise routine, you may avoid working out certain muscles.
This is why we’re taking a closer look at the Total Gym XLS compact home gym to see if it has everything you need. After all, we expect a full-body workout from a product like this.
Standard Total Gym Features
As we’ve already seen, Total Gym offers a number of compact home gyms, which all include these features:
- Adjustable board
- Workout DVD(s) included
- Comes fully assembled
- Padded board
- Foam handles
- Squat stand and pulley system
- Wing attachment
Review of the Total Gym XLS
For now, though, I’m going to focus on the Total Gym XLS in particular.
Manufacturer Specifications
- Product dimensions: 19″ × 90″ × 43″
- Shipping weight: 92 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
- Material: Chromed steel
- Color: Black and blue
- Warranty: Lifetime frame warranty and a 6-month warranty on parts
This foldable machine is a compact, versatile addition to any home gym. With over 80 exercises to keep you occupied, you won’t get bored with this particular model.
What sets the Total Gym XLS universal home gym apart from the other home gyms on the market is the workout DVDs available. With a compact gym, you should really have prior knowledge of working out—how else are you supposed to know what to do with each element? By including an array of workout DVDs, you can follow countless regimens to suit you.
This is a fantastic way to keep you motivated to work out, as it will be like having a personal trainer! It’ll also ensure your workout remains varied so you don’t get stuck using the same pieces of equipment and working the same muscles again and again.
An added bonus with this product is that, on purchasing the Total Gym XLS, you’ll also have access to a meal plan guide and exercise chart.
This will help you make the most out of your new exercise routine, since you can tailor it to your needs, keeping track of your progress as you go. Want to lose weight, gain muscle, or remain the same? You’ll have all the tools available for you to achieve your personal goals successfully.
Pros
- DVDs included
- Compact foldable design
- Meal plans and exercise chart provided
- Comes fully assembled
- Has all the add-ons to give you a varied workout
- Over 80 exercises available
- 400-pound capacity
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Only 6 months warranty on parts
- Not as varied as some other compact home gyms available
The Total Gym XLS: Is It a Winner?
In this Total Gym XLS review, we’ve taken a look at some of the top elements of a compact home gym to contemplate before taking the plunge. Does this machine live up to this list of factors? Yes, the Total Gym XLS ticks all the boxes.
Not only is it compact so you can pack it away when not in use, but it also has all the add-ons you need for a full-body workout. Want to challenge your arms, legs, core, or glutes? Whether you’re young or old, anyone can join in with the fun and achieve their fitness goals.
I particularly love the extras Total Gym provides their customers. A compact home gym can be really daunting for a beginner, as the array of potential workouts is overwhelming. By providing all the tools needed to learn as you go, your workout will remain varied so you can stay excited and focused on your goals.
If you’re looking for a machine that does it all, perhaps this is the one for you? It’s now up to you to make this decision for yourself.