There are many benefits to creating your own home gym, and plenty of great home workout equipment options on the market, including smart equipment ranging from exercise bikes to jump ropes. But, if you want a streamlined option that's easy to set up and meets you where you are, the Total Gym FIT might be a good fit for you.
Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned home gym pro, the Total Gym FIT offers a variety of exercise options to keep you motivated. Also, it is designed to target and strengthen your whole body.
As far as home gyms go, the Total Gym FIT is a solid, streamlined, easily portable machine with customization at its core. Our in-depth Total Gym FIT review will help you decide if it is a good match for your home workout needs.
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A Quick Look at the Total Gym FIT
Total Gym CEO Tom Campanaro designed the first Total Gym incline trainer in 1974. The unique, gravity-based machine has been used by professional athletes, rehabilitation specialists, personal trainers, and fitness enthusiasts for decades.
There have been multiple iterations of the Total Gym over the years. The FIT is the newest of the Total Gym models. It is similar to the Total Gym XLS, but with more resistance and exercises, as well as a higher weight capacity.
All Total Gym models share the same design—a gliding board mounted on an angle, grounded by an adjustable base. The design utilizes body weight and gravity instead of weights. One noticeable improvement in this version of the Total Gym is that it offers more resistance levels than previous models. It may seem like a simple piece of equipment, but it offers customization for a variety of workouts. The accessories included also help provide a wide range of exercise options to target different body parts.
Whether you need a gentle stretch or want to conquer a full-on sweat sesh, you can work your arms, core, back, and legs with one easy-to-use machine.
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Total Gym FIT Review
Specs
- Folded dimensions: 18.5"W x 50.5"L x 8.5"H
- Unfolded dimensions: 18.5"W x 93"L x 44.5"H
- Weight capacity: 450 lbs.
- Resistance levels: 12
- Accessories: Ab crunch attachment, leg pulley accessory with detachable bracket, upgraded squat stand, and updated two-piece wing attachment for wider range of motion
- Exercise capabilities: Over 85 exercises options; stream free select workouts on Total Gym TV Basic
- Key features: Arrives fully assembled; customizable resistance; access to on-demand workouts
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty on frame; extended 2-year warranty on parts and priority processing
Dimensions and Weight Capacity
The Total Gym FIT is less bulky than some home gyms because of its streamlined design and lack of additional weights.
In use, the Total Gym FIT is about 18 inches wide, eight feet long and nearly four feet tall. When folded, it is only four feet long and around one foot tall. At 66 pounds, the unit is not difficult to fold up and stash away when you need the room.
The Total Gym FIT is best suited for someone who is roughly six-foot-four and under. The machine is solidly built with a 450-pound user weight capacity. The amount of weight a gym system can hold says a lot about the durability of the product. Given the weight capacity, the Total Gym FIT is not a flimsy piece of equipment. One thing to note, if you purchase the weight bar accessory and add your own weight plates, the weight of the plates plus your body weight need to be equal to or less than the total weight capacity for the Total Gym FIT.
Resistance
Controlling the resistance with your body weight and utilizing the glider seat is a low-impact way to get in an effective plyometric workout. The resistance level is adjusted by changing the height of the base—the higher the base, the more your body is fighting gravity, which makes the exercises more challenging. The 12 levels of resistance mean there are a dozen different height positions for the base to lock into place. The incline of the base will also depend on the exercise. This means that exercises like squats will have less of an incline than ones like ab crunches or tricep dips.
Accessories
The Total Gym FIT comes with a variety of accessories to help you customize your workout routine and challenge different body parts:
- Total Gym AbCrunch accessory locks into the frame with a metal pin inserted into each side of the frame. The cushioned handlebars and padded armrests keep you comfortable and supported for crunches and other killer ab exercises.
- The ribbed squat stand is wide and provides a sturdy platform. It is installed at the base of the Total Gym FIT and can be used for a variety of leg exercises such as basic squats, jump squats, and single-leg squats.
- The two-piece wing attachment provides a wider range of motion. It can be used to do pull-ups, chin-ups, or inversion exercises. The handlebars lock into place with a metal pin for security when in use.
- The leg-pull accessory comes with a detachable bracket and two ankle cuffs. By strapping on the ankle cuffs you are able to do basic leg presses, inner thigh pulls, hamstring curls, Pilates, yoga stretches, and more.
You can purchase additional accessories for your Total Gym FIT, like triceps ropes, a Pilates toe bar (also great for ab workouts), dip bars, and a weight bar to add your own weight plates.
Also, the "Nutritional Program & Meal Plan" by Dan Isaacson is also included in your purchase of the Total Gym FIT. Isaacson is an established fitness expert and helped create the Total Gym collection.
Exercise Capabilities
The versatility of this machine is pretty impressive, with 85 different exercises and a variety of accessories to help you customize and modify your workouts. Having options can keep things fresh and help you stay engaged. The more motivated you are, the more likely you'll be to show up for your workouts and challenge yourself. It's also good to have different exercises in rotation to keep your muscles guessing.
A workout book is included and illustrates the 85 exercises you can do with the Total Gym FIT. The Total Gym exercise wall chart is also included and serves as a quick-view guide that demonstrates 35 exercises you can do with the Total Gym FIT. You will also get the Total Gym Training Deck—another great resource to help you navigate your workout options. It can be attached to the stand and used for reference during workouts.
To help you walk through your workouts, be sure to take advantage of Total Gym® TV—an on-demand video platform to stream Total Gym® workouts from any device. The "Basic" package is included with your Total Gym purchase and provides base-level online streaming with introductory workouts from new trainer-led workout programs. You can stream Total Gym® TV via the app (accessible on Apple, Android, Apple TV, and Roku devices) or you can access it online. You can also choose the Total Gym TV Premium option to access new workout programs (with at least three new workout programs added each month).
Key Features
Versatility is the biggest feature of the Total Gym FIT. Plug and play with the accessories to target different muscle groups. The customizable resistance means you'll be performing exercises based on your ability level. Plus, you are in control of the weight and movement. You can use the included workout chart or on-demand videos for ideas, or get creative and build a workout that works for you. Either way, you can accomplish short, effective workouts for weight loss, muscle gain, stretching, and toning.
Another perk is that the Total Gym FIT comes fully assembled. All you will need to do is unfold it, and lock it into place with the safety hitch pin. The accessories will need to be configured to your personal preferences as well. However, don’t stress. You can do all this fairly easily and without the need for tools or an extra set of hands.
Warranty
The Total Gym FIT comes with a 30-day trial. If you decide that it isn’t right for you, you can return it within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or credit. The equipment also comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, plus an extended two-year warranty on parts (pulleys, cables, and handles).
Pros and Cons of the Total Gym FIT System
Still not sure if this system is the right fit for you? Here’s a summary of the high and low points of the Total Gym FIT:
What We Like
- Comes fully assembled and is easy to set up
- Folds away for storage
- 12 resistance levels
- Variety of exercises and access to Total Gym® TV for on-demand workout videos
What We Don't Like
- Not ideal if you're wanting to bulk up with free weights
- A bit more expensive than some other home gym options
BUY: Total Gym FIT
Final Thoughts on the Total Gym FIT
The Total Gym FIT is a great home gym option if you're looking for a small, easily assembled, highly customizable piece of equipment. Using your bodyweight as resistance on the glide board system makes exercises easy to modify, and this also offers plenty of flexibility to build your workouts to fit your needs. Although a bit more expensive than some home gym options, you can interchange the variety of accessories included in your purchase of the Total Gym FIT for 85 different exercises for a full body workout. You can also take advantage of the on-demand classes offered on Total Gym® TV to walk you through the workouts.
The Total Gym FIT comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and an extended two-year warranty on parts—nice safety nets if you're a bit hesitant about making the investment. The 30-day trial is also a nice bonus, so you can take it for a test run and see if it meets your fitness needs.
FAQs About the Total Gym FIT
Can you get fit with Total Gym?
The Total Gym FIT offers a challenging full-body workout. Since the resistance is adjustable, it works well for all levels and provides plenty of variety to keep you engaged (which means you'll be more likely to stick with it). A balanced diet and a healthy blend of cardio and strength training can all work together to help you look and feel more fit.
What is the difference between Total Gym XLS and Total Gym FIT?
The Total Gym FIT has a higher weight capacity (450 pounds) than the Total Gym XLS (400 pounds). The Total Gym FIT also offers more exercise options (85) compared to the XLS (80) and more resistance levels (12) than the XLS (6). While both Total Gyms are solid pieces of equipment, the higher price tag on the FIT reflects the fact that it is essentially an upgraded version of the XLS.
Is the Total Gym FIT worth it?
There are several key features that make the Total Gym FIT a great investment in your home gym setup. It is easy to set up and store away. Additionally, it is simple to use and offers a lot of customization. The variety of accessories and workout options will keep you from getting bored, and the adjustable resistance levels (based on your own bodyweight) reduce the risk of injury. Overall the Total Gym FIT is a solid piece of equipment that can help you slim down and tone up.
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