Looking for something myself and the wife can both use. I want some of the freedom and advantages of free weights, yet still have it be easy enough for the wife to use, who is not used to real gym/free weight equipment..

So my local Sports Authority has these 2 units on sale for $799

Gold's
http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2909663&cp=710956.710958.698440&parentPage=family

Iron Grip Strength
http://www.impex-fitness.com/proddetail.asp?linenumber=222

I was in the store for over an hour inspecting each one, and each one seemed to have pro's and cons.
The Gold's unit seemed to be built with bigger bulkier metals, but yet it didn't feel quite as sturdy as the Iron Grip unit, which was strange.. maybe it was due to the "off the floor" design of the Iron Grip unit. Another thing i noticed is the Iron Grip has metal chrome pullies as opposed to plastic on the Gold's.

The other 2 feature differences in the 2 units I noticed are...

Gold's
1. Vertical Smith machine as opposed to angled.
2. Dual high pullies for lats

Iron Grip
1. Angled Smith machine
2. Lat Pulldown station as opposed to dual high pullies.

Is vertical vs angled smith a big difference in actual workouts?

So, i really need some advice form the "Experts" on which of these 2 units seems to be the better choice.
thanks!!

B

Gold's
http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2909663&cp=710956.710958.698440&parentPage=family

Iron Grip Strength
http://www.impex-fitness.com/proddetail.asp?linenumber=222

Frankly, neither one of these is going to be "easy" for the wife to use. There's still going to be a fair amount of reconfiguring of the equipment to do most exercises, and depending on how strong/agile she is, it might be tough for her to move things (like the bench) around.

If that's not a concern, I would probably lean towards the Gold's Gym model, primarily for the dual overhead pulleys (which will give you a lot of options beyond just the lat pulldown). Also, you could at some point drill holes through the frame to install safety rods for squats, etc. In fact, I'm surprised that the "cage" doesn't already have that option.

One other thing to consider is that the Iron Grip unit has "convertable" pegs for all of the bars/posts/etc. You can take the plastic sleeves off and use standard size plates. The Gold's unit will only accept Olympic plates. Not sure what you already have, or what your plans are in terms of the plates you plan to use...

also, with dual overhead pulleys you could do assisted chinups. That's what I do. Just get yourself a pair of abslings, hook each one onto a pulley, pull them down and kneel in the abslings. By choosing the right amount of weight, your wife could do 10 chinups. When she's able to do 15, reduce the amount of weight attached to the pulleys, so she can still do about 8 or so, etc...eventually she might be able to do 10 chinups without assistance! That would be pretty cool.

I prefer the Golds gym because it looks more sturdy, and another reason is off the high pulleyss it has.
I think the Golds gymm is a better piece of equipment over the other one.

Thanks for the input guys.. i will most likely go with the golds unit.

but
Its weird because the Gold's unit does appear to be bulkier and more stable when looking at the two side by side , and the individual parts do not seem to be flimsy at all, yet it uses plastic pulleys, while the Iron Grip uses chrome pulleys.. and doesn't quite wobble as much when i shake it.
i guess this Gold's unit is kind of new, cuz i haven't seen any reviews out there for it.

i guess there is no perfect unit out there for this price range.

the other concern is the vertical smith vs angled on the Iron Grip.
Does it really matter either way?

Looking for something myself and the wife can both use. I want some of the freedom and advantages of free weights, yet still have it be easy enough for the wife to use, who is not used to real gym/free weight equipment..

How about teaching her to use free weights?

I'm using BodySolid pulleys on a rig I have.

They're basically plastic. But the inners are ball bearings.

Bodysolid also has aluminum pulleys as an upgrade. For looks.

So far my Bodysolid plastics show no signs of letting me down.

I've thrown some serious weight on them.

Personally I prefer the vertical action on the Smithster...but that's just me.

I notice the Gold's has freebar safeties on it....so you can do bench,squat and deads off it with a free bar. Also Mil Press, Partials, and B/O Rows.

Check to see what kind of bearings the Gold's has. Or what kind both of them have for that matter.

That can make a big difference.

I saw the Golds at Costco. Maybe it was just me, but the bearings on the bar didn't seem that smooth. Mind you, Costco just barely sets up those things and maybe it wasn't tightened up enough. Just to be safe, you should check how you like the motion.:confused:

I saw the Golds at Costco. Maybe it was just me, but the bearings on the bar didn't seem that smooth. Mind you, Costco just barely sets up those things and maybe it wasn't tightened up enough. Just to be safe, you should check how you like the motion.:confused:

you saw this particular Gold's Pro series unit at Costco? How much was it there?
http://tsa.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p4172935dt.jpg

I was just at Costco and I took a look at it again. I realized one of the guide bars was not tightened up, so that could have something to do with it.

It's the same machine, and it was $1000 in Canada. It should be substantially cheaper in the US. Don't get me started :)

Oh, but it included something like 200 lbs of weights.

I was just at Costco and I took a look at it again. I realized one of the guide bars was not tightened up, so that could have something to do with it.

It's the same machine, and it was $1000 in Canada. It should be substantially cheaper in the US. Don't get me started :)

Oh, but it included something like 200 lbs of weights.

ok, interesting..
Does anyone know how much Costco in the US sells it for in store?
I don't have a costco membership, but might consider if this unit is priced much cheaper that sports authority.

ok, interesting..
Does anyone know how much Costco in the US sells it for in store?
I don't have a costco membership, but might consider if this unit is priced much cheaper that sports authority.

On the costco website it has the Gold gym GR 7000 and it is going for $599 US.

I just got back from my local Costco, and they didn't have any gym equipment at all :(

If they had the Gold's Pro Smith gym for under $799 I was gonna buy it

you saw this particular Gold's Pro series unit at Costco? How much was it there?
http://tsa.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p4172935dt.jpg

sports authority now has this Weider unit, which actually looks better than the Gold's, and it has linear bearings, and chin up bars too

except for having the weider name, it looks very nice

http://tsa.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p4215351dt.jpg

Hello All,

I came accross this website when starting to research a home gym and would greatly appreciate some advice as it seems like many of you are very knowledgable.

My profile is probably fairly typical...

Through 23 years of age I was overweight and had been my whole life, on my 23rd birthday I weighed 237 lbs (all fat) standing only 5'10 and I knew I had to do something. By the time I turned 24 I had dropped 55 lbs just by changing my diet and doing cardio work. I felt weak though and joined a gym, after another year I weighed 175lbs and felt very good, lean and strong, not much bulk but I was in good shape and could bench press my weight, something I never could have done before. Today, I'm 2 months from 33, weigh 200lbs, feel weak and haven't been to the gym in 2 years.

I've been married very happily for 2.5 years, have a 15 month old boy and another baby on the way in September. I've come to the realization that a home gym is my only option given a very busy schedule with work and family. I used to love working out, did it religiously for 5 years and desperately want to get back in shape, I've started eating better and want to get a home gym in time to drop 15 lbs by June.

I came across this unit at Cosco (see pictures above) and thought it along with a set of selectable dumbbells would make a good gym at $1500 taxes in.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? I have an empty basement and about a $2K budget but would stretch it a bit if worth it.

Thanks!!
Nelson

I came across this unit at Cosco (see pictures above) and thought it along with a set of selectable dumbbells would make a good gym at $1500 taxes in.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? I have an empty basement and about a $2K budget but would stretch it a bit if worth it.



It looks as if it could be an acceptable gym. With that budget, you have choices. Review some of the discussions here. Be sure and pick up an Olympic barbell set at a sports store you should find a 300 lb set for under $120, more plates or as free weights.

The smith has positive and negative features, I think the good out-numbers the bad. You might try one if you can to get the feel.

Thanks for the reply Rtestes.

I've done some searches on the site. Seems there are many different schools of thought here.

I've found a few threads on the Marcy Diamond Elite 9010. Would be interested on other forum member's opinions on what they would choose, Golds Pro or the 9010?

The 9010 would be slightly more expensive since it doesn't come with weights. In my area (Toronto) the Golds pro is on sale for $849 at Cosco while the 9010 is only available online for $899.

I had the golds model, set it up (what a nightmare) used it for a week, and took it apart and got a refund. I thought the dual pulleys would be nice too, because it enabled me to do a crossover type exercise. That is until I figured out I couldn't do a traditional pressdown. Now that's just a minor detail. My biggest concern with the machine was when I was performing deads and BB rows on the smith. Lots of movement in the bars. Did not feel stable at all. As far as the bearings go, I did not have any problems there. They were smooth. Just not a great piece of equipment in my opinion.

I'm not saying the other unit is better (I haven't used it) but I was definately NOT impressed with the golds model. Gotta thank Costco though for the full refund no questions asked. Hope that helps.

So has anyone purchased the Marcy 9010 smith machine?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!