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Multistation Machines
There is no getting around it. When you begin looking at high end equipment, you can pretty much bet that you are going to have to spend quite a bit of money. These are often referred to as “home gyms.”
This piece of equipment is multi-purpose and able to serve more than one person at a time. They are designed with multiple work stations and the exercises are ones that can’t be done with barbells such as leg curls, lat pull downs, leg extensions, and cable movements.
Some things you need to take under consideration with this type of equipment is the size. Do you have sufficient space to house a multistation machine? They are pretty much stationery and not designed for portability. Cost is another factor as well as who will be using the machine. If it will be used by more than one individual the cost effectiveness of such equipment increases if you are weighing the purchase against joining a club.
Obvious advantages are that you and your partner can both use the equipment simultaneously and there is the added convenience of having the ability to train in your own home.
Variable Resistance Machines
What are variable resistance machines? Think Nautilus® or Bowflex®. Both are variable resistance machines that provide an alternative to free weight training.
The primary advantage is the constant resistance in the range of movement for the muscle group you are training. Another huge advantage over traditional weight training is that by working with constant resistance, you make the muscle stronger and you do it much faster than the traditional method.
This type of training also lets you deliver exactly the amount of exercise you desire to whatever specific muscle group you are working. There is the benefit of working that resistance through a greater range of movement as you can reduce your training time.
Variable resistance can be added to your free weight training routines to get much bigger and do it much faster.
Portability can be another advantage. These pieces of equipment tend to take up less space and many can be easily broken down in just one or two steps for storage convenience when not in use.
As far as which is better, free weights or variable resistance, it all depends on what your personal preferences might be. If you have established your budget and your goals, throwing variable resistance machines into the mix might be an option.
Regardless of which options you choose, let me remind you to shop around before spending too much money. There’s a good chance you can find used equipment that is just right for your purposes.
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