These gym machines like the Total Gym are no longer in the product listing on their site. In fact WeiderFitness site now routes to the Proform site.
Total Gym type exercise machines
3 Major Alternatives To Total Gym that are valuable to know
In the realm of alternatives to Total Gym (TG), there are 3 major exercise machines for home gym machine. These all have one important difference to TG. They are designs that all include resistance bands that can connect the glide board to the base of the frame to increase exercise resistance. All of these machines are popular and highly rated.
Resistance bands
Resistance bands are part of the Pilates Reformer design that carried over to these exercise machines. If this is an important element to you, than you should be investigating these types of exercise machines. These home exercise machines may be a more affordable option that is right for you.
I now focus on 3 categories. Weider… which is a company that has been in the fitness industry for over 70 years and is still going strong. They began as a sports nutrition company in 1936.
I also cover a new company that makes GR8Flex. They look really great and are extremely popular. The only mistake I see from them is that they have a style for a machine that is called military. This is one that I would stay away from because of the fabric choice for the camouflage pattern that gives it this name.
The third category is Pilates style gym equipment. There is a wide variety in these machines. I prefer ones that are capable of a great variety of exercise options and quality construction.
These are the 3…
Weider machine
There are 2 models of this exercise machine. They are essentially the same… differing by the colors and the padding in the glide board. Their specifications are the same. The Ultimate Body Works is the newer model, and the other is called the Total Body Works 5000. It is more and more difficult to find…
The Weider model is most comparable of the alternatives to Total Gym 1400 and the Total Gym 1600. They handle the same weight as this model. The TG 1400 and 1600 are both 22″ longer, and are narrower and lower to the floor. The Weider model is significantly less expensive than these Total Gym models. The TG 1400 & 1600 models both are pretty much the same price.
Weider model is comparable to the Total Gym 1400 & 1600 models
The pulley systems of both machines are very comparable. Basic accessories are also very comparable. It is important to point out that the Weider design has the resistance bands (4) to attach the glide board with the base of the machine, which the TG models do not. These resistance bands are very much like the old familiar Bungie cords, with specialized connections for the machine.
The support/incline design
Weider has an extremely unique support system that is made to work with the double pulley system to adjust the incline and height of the machine. This is a design that I have never seen elsewhere. It is something that you need to examine closely and is an important consideration before you buy this exercise equipment.
Weider Ultimate Body Works/Total Body Works 5000
Dimensions: 71” X 26.5” X 49.5” Handles up to 250 lbs Folds for easy storage Top attached pulley system that is a metal cable design Multi-function handles (wing attachment) Squat stand The incline is changed by means of an angled support bar and pulleys on both sides Resistance bands (4) in the design and they are like Bungee cables and add up to 50 lbs of additional resistance Almost fully assembled, only a few fasteners to add.
GR8Flex
This line of exercise machines is new. They seem to be very popular, but they are still in the process of building their website. They are highly rated and selling well already.
Differences between GR8Flex and Total Gym Fit
Physically, these are both extremely similar in dimensions and appearance of the build of the Total Gym Fit. These machines have rubber stop bumpers for the slide board that the TG does not. The TG as the ability to attach weights. The GR8Flex has pairs of 10 lb. and 15 lb resistance band to attach instead.
Military style model – why not listed here
The slide board is cloth covered on the outside of the military style machine, the rest of the styles have what looks like the standard covering material. Typical fitness equipment have vinyl on the outside of seats, arm rests, and in these machines… slide board padding. This is important to know.
I would not want a machine with cloth. It is not as durable or easy to keep clean. This is a style choice as well, but these are the reasons that I do not include it here.
The support/incline design
This machine has more resistance levels, the 12 levels of the Total Gym Fit vs the 15 of the GR8Flex. The GR8Flex has smaller increments in the resistance levels.
This amounts to 12 resistance levels on the Total Gym Fit compared to what would be 14 TG resistance levels for the other, with smaller increments to the resistance levels absorbed by the remaining additional resistance level. Hopefully this can help you judge the comparability of these exercise machine resistance levels.
Attachments
The attachments are all very comparable. Although TG does have dip bars for the Fit, they do come standard for it. This machine also includes something called the EZ bar. This attaches for a fixed distance bar to pull upward with a different hold.
GR8Flex High Performance Gym
Dimensions : 55 x 21.5 x 12 inches
15 resistance levels
Two 10 lb resistance bands and Two 15 lb resistance bands
Includes wing bar, dip bars, leg harness/pulley system, cellphone holder/stand, EZ curl bar, Crunch ab accessory, soft grip handles, extra large squat stand, resistance bands, and mats to protect carpet/floor.
Over 100 possible exercises
lifetime warranty on the entire machine including all parts and accessories.
3 Different color styles : Golden, Military (Camouflage), Patriotic (Red, White, and Blue)
Dimensions : 55 x 21.5 x 12 inches
15 resistance levels
Two 10 lb resistance bands and Two 15 lb resistance bands
Includes wing bar, dip bars, leg harness/pulley system, cellphone holder/stand, EZ curl bar, Crunch ab accessory, soft grip handles, extra large squat stand, resistance bands, and mats to protect carpet/floor.
Over 100 possible exercises
lifetime warranty on the entire machine including all parts and accessories.
2 Different color styles: Carbon Fiber Black, White,
Pilates Reformer/Rebounder machines
Both of these machines have the Reformer/Rebounder combination. Rebounders are exercise trampolines. This machine design has a trampoline design foot platform for the Rebounder aspect. It does not replace a trampoline, but adds a lot and makes the Pilates machine so much more fun.
Pilates machines are popular in physical therapy and also with athletes. They both are able to handle up to 300 lbs. One inclines like the previous home gyms discussed. The other stays level but raise in level by 10″ with the inclusion of it’s stand.
Stamina AeroPilates 700 Premier Reformer
This is another Reformer/Rebounder machine that is a great choice. It is one of most popular as well as highly rated. This is the more traditional early style that stays level. The foot bar is wider and the Rebounder is 2″ taller than the standard Pilates Rebounder platform.
Stamina AeroPilates 700 Premier Reformer with Stand, Cardio Rebounder
Dimensions: 85″ L x 23″ W x 27″ H 4 Heavy duty resistance bands Handles weight up to 300 lbs Works well for those up to 6’4″ Includes a removable stand that changes the height by 10″ Two workout DVDs: AeroPilates Level 1 Workout & AeroPilates Cardio Workout featuring Pilates expert Marjolein Brugman Warranty: 3 years on frame, 90 days on parts
Pilates Power Gym ‘Pro’ 3-Elevation Mini Reformer Exercise System
Comes with 3 Pilates Workout DVDs 3 incline levels and 4 power cords give you 48 resistance settings Handles weight up to 300 lbs and comfortable up to people 6 foot 4 inches tall Strong carbon steel frame that is quality construction It features padded handles, comfortable foot straps and variable resistance cords that allow you to adjust the gym to your fitness level in seconds… Plus the quick-change height provides power for pro-caliber strength training.
Want to look at information about alternative to the Total Gym Models?
Maybe what you really still want is a Total Gym. Having run a ‘copycat’ version into the ground, I am a fan. So I decided to go for getting one. I love it so much! There are so many models now after all these years. Only a few are sold directly from the company still… this means there is a wide range of models and prices. Maybe what you want is very easy to afford…
Want to look at information about the best inexpensive home gym equipment?
You can do great fitness programs at home for free. There are extremely helpful exercise tools that cost very, very little. There is a wide range for investment. Figure out what is right for your home gym…
Strong Alternatives to Total Gym that went away during the pandemic
I used to have Vigorfit in this list… but they disappeared online. A few sites online notified that as of April 2021, they no longer sell gym machines. I decided to call their number listed on the site to verify this information and it is no longer in service. I guess that in itself is an answer…
Bayou Fitness machines have also gone away. Their company has permanently closed, their website is disconnected. Weider machines in this category have also been fading away. This is a shame, these were all really good machines.
Vigorfit & Bayou Fitness are gone
I tried to call the contact number for Vigorfit for their website on 9/30/22 (877-434-8496). It was a ‘not in service message’. Now this is the contact for a business called Tea Nani. The Vigorfit website is still active. If you are confident in buying Vigorfit or Bayou Fitness machines on ‘As Is’ kind of situation, then these are still an option for you.
Weider
Weider Body Works gym type machines have been disappearing from the scene as well. I find no information for this, but I think they have also left these machines behind.
These gym machines like the Total Gym are no longer in the product listing on their site. In fact WeiderFitness site now routes to the Proform site.
