Whether you work from home or are a busy parent with little spare time, there are plenty of reasons to consider building or adding to your home gym.
With so many all-in-one home gym options on the market, it’s challenging to know where and how to make this (possibly) once-a-lifetime purchase. You want something in your budget that is space-efficient, but the various options can feel overwhelming to navigate.
If you’ve got the urge to bolster your home gym but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered. BarBend teamed up with MAJOR FITNESS — three of their all-in-one home gyms might be the right fit for you:
- The All-in-One Home Gym Power Rack PLM03
- The All-in-One Home Gym Power Rack F22
- The All-in-One Home Gym Smith Machine Spirit B52
[Related: 7 Reasons to Buy an All-in-One Gym Machine]
MAJOR FITNESS All-in-One Home Gyms at a Glance
On the surface, the three MAJOR FITNESS home gyms look similar. They all come with:
- A rack for squats, overhead pressing, bench press, etc.
- A cable pulley system and various attachments
- Pull-up bar that allows for various grips
- A dip attachment
- A 360-degree landmine attachment
- Pegs for banded movements
- Storage hooks for cable attachments
Further, each all-in-one gym can be purchased on its own. You can add various other supporting equipment, including a bench and 230- or 320-pound bumper plate sets.
However, a deeper dive reveals that these models have some big differences that you should know about before purchasing. Let’s take a look.
MAJOR FITNESS All-In-One Home Gym Power Rack PLM03
The Power Rack PLM03 is a classic home gym rack. At 84.3 inches tall, it’s bigger than the F22 and the B52, both of which are 82.5 inches high.
The PLM03 features a single cable pulley system versus the dual system of the F22 and the B52. This gives the PLM03 a more open design, leaving enough room for strength training inside the rack.
Another difference is the PLM03’s pull-up bar. Not only is the bar higher, as the entire rack is taller, but it offers more grip options than the F22 and the Spirit B52.
Who Is the PLM03 Power Rack For?
The PLM03 is a great option for those performing heavy-weight training. Its full rack design ensures greater safety, even when training alone.
The extra few inches of height provides other benefits. The higher pull-up bar is favorable for taller folks, and exercises like lat pulldowns offer a greater range of motion, which is key for muscle growth.
To sum up: the PLM03 is a great choice if you’re tall, have the space, and want to lift heavy.
MAJOR FITNESS All-In-One Home Gym Power Rack F22
The biggest difference between the Power Rack F22 and the PLM03 is the cable pulley system. The F22 features a dual independent cable pulley system, compared to the single cable system of the PLM03. This feature allows you to attach weights independently to superset or enable two people to train on the machine at the same time.
[Related: 5 Essential Features to Look for When Buying an All-in-One Gym Machine]
Who Is the F22 Power Rack For?
The Power Rack F22 is ideal for those with more limited floor space. It’s geared for those looking to do more bodybuilding-style cable work than Olympic weightlifting. If you have the space, you can lift outside of the rack while reaping the benefits of the dual cable pulley system the F22 has to offer.
To sum it up: If cable supersets are your jam and you need to conserve space, the F22 is for you. The F22 is 55.5 inches deep compared to the PLM03 — 66.9 inches deep — and the B52 — 65.3 inches deep.
MAJOR FITNESS All-In-One Home Gym Smith Machine Spirit B52
The Spirit B52 is a five-in-one strength training system, rather than the four-in-one system featured in the F22 and the PLM03.
The B52 includes a Smith machine option in addition to the power rack, cable pulley system, multi-grip pull-up bar, and 360-degree landmine. The Smith machine has a spring-loaded safety mechanism to absorb the load of the bar on the machine. Like the F22, it offers a dual cable pulley system.
Who Is the Spirit B52 For?
At 405 pounds, the Spirit B52 is the heaviest and most stable of the three racks. The F22 weighs 243 pounds and the PLM03 weighs 255 pounds.
The addition of the Smith machine opens up more training options. You can perform bread-and-butter exercises like the bench press and back squat with added stability.
The strict path of the Smith allows you to focus more on the muscles rather than stabilize free weights. Some research suggests that the added stability of the Smith machine can help increase strength and muscle thickness more effectively than free weights.
To sum it up: For the sturdiest all-in-one machine to lift alone in, choose the B52.
Recap: The MAJOR FITNESS B52 vs. F22 vs. PLM03
While all three MAJOR FITNESS racks can be considered all-in-one, complete home gyms, the subtleties between the B52, F22, and PLM03 will determine which one is perfect for you.
- If lift heavy without a spotter, the B52, with its Smith Machine component, might be the right choice.
- If superset heavy cable exercises, the dual systems offered by both the B52 or the F22 are likely to serve you well.
- If your ceiling is low, you might steer clear of the PLM03. However, if you’re over 6 feet tall, the PLM03, with its higher pull-up bar, might be the best bet.
Ultimately, all three MAJOR FITNESS home gyms offer an effective and versatile functional training experience. Take a close look at the details — your training style, goals, budget, and space — to determine which is best for you.
