The busy schedule of many people prompts them to find ways to work out in their gym at home, in their free time and comfortable space. This necessity of home gyms led to the introduction of many best cable machine that is easy to use at home.
They are so versatile that you won’t get bored trying different and various forms of training exercises. However, the only issue is that there are a lot of machines to choose from, and each comes with its own sets of pros and cons.
So, how do you know which is the best cable crossover for your home gym?
If you have already purchased one of these machines for your home gym, learn how to set it up, utilize your space, and maximize your gains properly.
Best cable machines we will discuss this article
- Valor Fitness CB-12
- XMark Functional Trainer
- Powerline PCCO90X
- Body-Solid Pro Club Line SDC2000G2
- Valor Fitness BD-62
- Titan Fitness
- BodyCraft HFT
- ARCHON
Valor Fitness CB-12
Valor Fitness CB-12 is a complete home gym in a compact design. You can perform ample exercises thanks to cable locations of high and low cable pulleys. It also includes a latch pulldown bar, rows, and leg extension.
Key Features
- Strong, steel tubing frame
- High tension pulleys
- Adjustable seat pads
- Compact
Valor CB-12 has a strong steel tubing frame with high tension pulleys that allow you to use it securely and smoothly.
The adjustable seat pads and four base caps keep you comfortable and keep your machine stable when you work out.
Despite being compact, the CB-12 lets you perform numerous exercises like upright rows, tricep pulldowns, ab crunches, standing leg extension, and seated row.
This is the best cable machine for a personal gym since it is compact, sturdy, and comfortable.
Pros
- Solid steel frame
- Highly durable tension pulleys that ensure safety and smooth performance
- The plate-loaded carriage system can hold up to 250 pounds of resistance.
Cons
- Weight stack not provided
- Not suitable for very tall and heavy people
Valor Fitness CB-12 is budget-friendly yet effective, as compared to others. In addition, it is light, so it is easy to move around.
XMark Functional Trainer – The Best Cable Machine
If you are looking for a more versatile, slim, and decent system, then the XMark Functional Trainer is a piece of home gym equipment to add to your list.
Key Features
- Durable build
- Scratch-resistant
- 200-pound weight-stacks
- Adjustable
The mainframe of the XMark Functional Trainer is built from durable steel, with a corrosion and scratch resistance grey coat finish.
It comes with 200lbs, thus making it quite stable and robust, weighing over 800lbs when fully assembled.
This XMark offers you dual weight-stacks attached to cable pulleys and allows you to work each limb separately.
Nineteen exclusive column adjustments come with several accessories.
The XMark Functional Trainer requires little maintenance and operates quietly. In addition, it comes with a complete set of add-ons that makes it more versatile and functional.
Pros
- Offers true isolateral movements
- Easy-to-use pulleys that offer quick adjustments
- Exceptionally durable metallic cables with PVC covers for smooth operation
Cons
- Weight-stacks are not upgradable
- Expensive
- Tricky to assemble
The XMark Functional Trainer is excellent for all users as it offers you the possibility to do more than 35 gym-quality exercises. Although it is expensive, it offers great value for the price.
Powerline PCCO90X
PowerLine is an extremely versatile fitness gym machine that can fit perfectly in every room.
Key Features
- Sturdy frame
- Sized to fit indoors
- Eight resin pulleys
- 180-degree movement
- Chrome cable handles
The assembled dimensions of the PowerLine are 112L x 39W x 82H inches and should accommodate a room with a ceiling of seven feet.
The frame is made from sturdy steel tubing with bases that come with rubber stabilizers.
The PowerLine comes equipped with eight resin pulleys with large diameters and built-in ball bearings for maximum durability. In addition, it is designed to move 180 degrees to make it easy for the users to perform high and low pulley exercises.
This one offers the users two chrome cable handles but without weights. The users have the freedom to choose weights according to their needs.
The PowerLine allows users to perform as many exercises as they want because of the comfort and variation.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Can use both Standard and Olympic weight plates
- Can perform more than 50 exercises
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Exercise manual not included
- The top and bottom pulleys are fixed
PowerLine helps you achieve your goal of becoming a total performer with its remarkable features. It uses standard weight plates and can use Olympic weight plates, thus leaving room for weight adjustments and increments.
Body-Solid SDC2000G2
If you have limited open space in your house, those bulkier machines simply won’t do. Instead, the Body-Solid SDC2000G2 is a compact yet powerful tool that easily fits in a 3ft x 4ft area.
Key Features
- 160-pound weight-stacks
- Strong, durable frame
- Adjustable
- Smooth
The mainframe is strong and made from 2 × 4-inch heavy gauge steel.
Fully adjustable vertical pulleys can easily be moved up and down with help from a pop-pin arrangement.
The pulleys and cable are of premium quality, ensuring that you have a smooth and exciting workout experience.
Pros
- Compact, uses less space
- Uses aircraft quality cables and pulleys
- It comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Fewer prospects for exercises that can only be done on wider machines
- Expensive
The greatest thing about the Body-Solid SDC2000G2 is that you can carry out more than 100 diverse exercises.
Valor Fitness BD-62
The Valor Fitness BD-62 is ideal for home use with its compact, space-saving design. However, despite its small stature, it still allows you to perform various functional exercises.
Key Features
- Dual pulley system with 16 height adjustments
- Plate loaded using regular or Olympic weight plates
- Unilateral and bilateral action
- Wall-mounted for increased stability
Cable machines, especially those that feature twin weight-stacks, take up a lot of space. In contrast, the Valor Fitness BD-62 is narrow enough to fit into even the smallest workout space. In addition, with no fixed weight stack, you can use as many (or as few) weight plates as you like, which means it is suitable for all exercises, from beginners to advanced.
Pros
- Ideal for household use
- Allows for a wide range of exercise
- Compact, space-saving design
- Supplied with all necessary handles and attachments
- Suitable for upper body and lower body training
Cons
- Narrow design
- Weights are not provided and need to be purchased separately
If you are short on space but still want a functional, helpful home gym, the Valor Fitness BD-62 is an excellent choice. Possibly not as versatile as a full-sized crossover machine, that’s a small price to pay for something so compact.
Titan Fitness
The Titan Fitness is a no-frills cable machine designed for home use. With no built-in weight-stacks, you can add as little weight as possible, making it ideal for beginners and advanced users.
Key Features
- Freestanding
- 8’ height so suitable for most rooms and garages
- Two independent weight towers
- Four fixed pulleys
- High-quality pulleys and cables
This lightweight, functional training machine is designed specifically for home use. The manufacturers suggest that you can slide it out of the way when not in use. Its four pulleys (two high, too low) allow for a reasonable range of exercises. It’s supplied with two nylon handles.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Light and easy to install and move
- Ideal for home or garage use
Cons
- Not fixed to the wall or floor and could be unstable
- Center beam not suitable/strong enough to pull-ups or chin-ups
- Weight plates and accessories must be purchased separately
- Pulley height is not adjustable
The Titan Fitness is very budget-friendly, but it lacks many of the bells and whistles to be found on more expensive machines. Its lightweight, mobile design may mean that it’s unstable, which could be a drawback for advanced exercisers who want to lift heavyweight.
BodyCraft HFT
Bodycraft HFT is one of the most flexible, functional, and space-saving options today.
Key Features
- Compact
- Sturdy construction
- Adjustable
- Two 150-pound weight-stacks
- 31 height positions
The Bodycraft HFT is a real space saver with the dimensions of 56″W x 38″D x 82″H. The HFT is built with a heavy steel plate and a robust 1-gauge steel tube coating.
Even though it is very compact, it holds an independent adjustable cable column system.
It comes with two 150lbs weight-stacks on both sides that can be upgraded to 200 pounds for a more vigorous exercise.
The cables are weighted at 2000lbs, and they are coated with flexible plastic and use aircraft cable.
Each pulley in this HFT is fully adjustable and thus allows more than 30 height positions with 180-degree.
Bodycraft HFT holds many attractive features such as a 180-degree swivel, 31 height position, fiberglass nylon pulleys, and laser-cut weight stacks that help you perform smoothly.
Pros
- Includes several accessories
- 31 height positions
Cons
- The included 150lbs weights may not be enough for many individuals
Along with the limitless workouts, one can perform effective strength training workouts with the Bodycraft HFT. It lets the user exhibit a great range of motion and mobility.
ARCHON
Where most have built-in weight stacks, the ARCHON uses 1” and 2” weight plates. This makes it easier to install and ideal for home use.
Key Features
- Two separate pulley machines
- 19 height adjustments
- Two wall mounts per station
- 180-degree swivels
- Suitable for unilateral and bilateral upper and lower body exercises
The ARCHON is a commercial-style machine designed for home use. With two separate pulley machines, you can position each one according to the available space. Plate loaded instead of supplied with weight-stacks is versatile and suitable for beginners and advanced exercisers.
Pros
- Customizable width ideal for home use
- Offers a wide range of exercise
- Secure and stable in use
- Smooth and quiet in use
Cons
- No center beam means no pull-up/chin-up option
- Must be wall-mounted and cannot be fixed to the floor
- Attachments and weights not supplied and must be purchased separately
This crossover machine is suitable for smaller training spaces because you can choose how far apart you place the pulleys. However, the lack of a central beam means you cannot do pull-ups and chin-ups, which, for some users, maybe a drawback.
Finding the Best Cable Machines for Home Gym
When you are searching for the best home gym cable system, here are a few things that you should consider:
Size of a cable machine
Cable machines are a piece of large-sized workout equipment and require some overhead clearance to install. Thus, make sure that you have enough room to assemble and use the equipment in your home.
Easy-To-Use
Always look for a cable machine that is simple to use. You won’t enjoy using your cable machine if you find it is not very easy to adjust the weights or pulleys. The home equipment, which is easy to use, will surely make your workouts quicker and more efficient.
Assembly Requirements
You should find out what you might need to assemble your unit. If it is easy to set up, you might be able to do it by yourself, but you will need an extra pair of hands if it’s bulky.
Price
Let’s be fair- a cable machine is a significant investment, so you will need to keep aside a large sum of money to purchase one of these gym units. However, if you are an ardent fitness enthusiast, investing in a good cable machine will be an excellent investment in your future. Before buying a cable machine for your gym, check its total stack weight, size, accessories, and budget. Don’t get the cheapest cable machine for your home gym; instead, think of it as a future asset for your gym and health.
How to Use a Cable Machine
The cable machine works on the same principle as any strength-building equipment. It helps to provide resistance for your muscles to work against. In the cable machine, the weights are attached to the cable with the help of pulleys.
You work out by moving the cables that remain under tension because of the added weights. Your muscle also remains under pressure while you exercise. It is worth noting that there is no ‘resting point’ when you work out with the cable machine.
Usually, every home cable machine consists of two weight-stacks attached with two cables. The trainer uses the space in the middle to stand and perform workouts. A set of outer pulleys can be adjusted to fix the cable attachments at varying heights.
This setup of a cable machine lets the user perform diverse types of exercises. You can stretch the cables in almost any direction, and they will still work against the same resistance. In addition, you can level up your training sessions by combining different cable accessories.
What Are The Benefits of a Cable Machine?
The flexibility of a cable machine means that it offers a large number of advantages that include:
The Versatility of the Cable Machine
With the best cable machine, you can perform extensive exercises and tone every muscle group. So, it becomes a great addition to your home gym if you are looking to buy a single price of gym equipment or your home allows just enough space for one.
Muscle Group Isolation
A cable machine is a perfect equipment to isolate specific muscle groups. You can perform different exercises that help work your chest, biceps, triceps, or other muscles.
A cable machine is Safe to Use
Once you have mastered using a cable machine, you can safely use it to perform exercises compared to other weight-lifting equipment that includes uncertainty. Also, using a cable machine reduces the need for a spotter.
Time-Saver
When using a single piece of gym equipment to work all your muscles, there is no need to switch machines and spend a long time loading and unloading weights.
Keeps You Interested
If you are bored with doing traditional exercises, a cable machine will ensure to revamp your old exercises.
Possible Best Cable Machine Exercises That Build Muscles
The cable machine can work out your shoulders, chest, and triceps. You can use it to exercise your lower back and lower body, like legs, abdominals, knees, and other body parts. Here is a list of the best exercises that you can do with a cable machine:
- Standing Cable Chest Press
- Standing Cable Row
- Cable Machine Squat
- Cable Forward Lunge
- Core Exercises
- Side Plank Cable Row
- Anti-Rotation Press
- Pall of Press
- Single-Arm Chest Fly
- Face Pull
- Shoulder Rotation
Note: Cable machines usually have a weight limit, and they are suitable for isolating smaller muscles; thus, it is recommended that you use less weight and higher repetitions. Be focused and work patiently on the muscles you want to work, and you won’t face any issues using these exercises to level up your training program.
Bottom Line
A cable machine makes an amazing addition to your home gym. They provide you with a comfortable, safe, and secure zone to perform various exercises with variations needed to build your muscles. In addition, it will help target your major muscle groups without needing other gym equipment except for perhaps a solid pair of workout gloves.