My Favorite BUDGET Functional Trainer Rack No One Talks About!

The All-In-One Trainer from Bells Of Steel is a great value play, but with some caveats...

0:00 - My Favorite BUDGET Functional Trainer Rack No One Talks About!
0:31 - Overview
1:36 - Dimensions and Form Factor
3:14 - Non-Standard Upright Size & Proprietary Attachments
4:56 - The Functional Trainer Component
5:19 - Weight Stack & Ratio
7:30 - Lat Pulldown and Low Row Considerations
9:38 - Pull-Up Bar & Center Upright Functionality
10:21 - A Word on Assembly
10:34 - Pricing & Comparing to the Competition
11:25 - Final Thoughts

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[BELLSOFSTEEL]

Really appreciate all the kind words and detailed review of our all in one coop!

[woteugene]

As an owner of this unit, I want to point out that there are a few issues that haven't been highlighted here. One of them is that the cable along the center up-right runs very close to the upright, and any attachment where the pin goes through the front-to-back style, like their seal row pad, will end up rubbing the cable behind the center up-right. I actually returned the seal row pad after I tried it due to this issue. The other issue is that all the accessories are extra... so after you add the j-cups and safety spotters, it's another +$200... at that point you are getting really close to the price of a Fringe sport Dane which I think is a much better value for $$ with 2 stacks, 3x3 uprights, smaller footprint, uprights with laser cut number markers, etc. And you could have gotten the Dane during their labor day sale for like $1600 which would really blow this one out of the water.

[Jasonmilei-riob]

I’m from Germany and this year I did a two-month trip along the East Coast. For us, it was important to train every day. Some hotels had a gym, and I have to say that a machine that was the same in every Holiday Inn actually turned out to be the best in the end.

It was a V-shaped tower, similar to the one you’re presenting, but a bit more robust. With this tower, you could do almost everything, but you still need a barbell that you can attach to the cables. Because with this barbell, this tower really becomes a game-changer. You can do push-ups with a bench underneath, you can do rows if you stand in front of it, as well as barbell curls, deadlifts, and so on. I think these V-shaped towers are the most underrated, and you can really train most muscles with them, so I think it’s great if you review more of these.

[PFMFIT]

My budget cable recommendation is to buy two titan fitness wall mounted pulley towers to create a functional trainer for around $500, which is what I did in my home gym

[enatp]

I'm in a deep dive on researching functional trainers and this was really helpful. Thanks! Also really appreciate seeing movements on the machine.

[RDiaz-yj]

Really like the plate loaded version functional trainer that I have for more than a month. In the small space that I have this unit can do almost everything you could want without spending $6, 000+.

I have bought lots of attachments from BOS and other companies and so it’s flexible and very capable. Have lots of cable pulley exercises + barbell, EZ-Curl with lots of plates (like old school type cast iron plates that last forever with no bad smell).

Have learned to hit every area of the body with this machine and accessories. Also learned that using plates provides more calories burned to carry and setup the plates for all the exercises than a weight stack. Have cast iron dumbbell set plus loadable dumbbell bars for the Olympic plates so have maximum flexibility. Like the BOS Flat / Incline / Decline commercial level Weight Bench for lots of exercise options.

Besides the pull up bar, use it for hanging abs straps, TRX straps, and added carabiner anchor points to use various sizes of resistance bands.
Getting lots of value out of this rack for my garage gym for an average Joe.

[TheSterlingY]

Coop, you nailed it "Hi-te", it was a little spicy but we are all proud of you. Keep killing it with these reviews. Thanks, Brother.

[SeanFarrell]

Feels like the better budget move is adding a functional trainer rack attachment instead of a stand alone unit. Frees up more space in the garage.

[wildernesspath]

If you want the plate numbers in the back I'm assuming you put this together yourself so if that's true just put the plates on backwards so the plate stickers show that way.

[davidclark]

I'd love to see a review of one of the functional trainers sold by Costco. They currently have 3 models for sale all by the same brand, Centr. The cheapest one is $699.99, the most expensive is $2499.99. All include an adjustable bench too.

[edzegles]

Love the videos. I am always looking at low budget home gym equipment. Thanks for the great work you do.

[jasonvichinsky]

Your reviews are consistently excellent. About the best on youtube. I recommend you to everyone who tells me they are looking to buy equipment.

[b]

They have plans to make a true 3x3 version of this in the next year or so. I saw it on their product roadmap the other day.

[johndenny]

Thanks for doing this review Coop! I don't own one of these but have looked at them extensively. With BOS, you have several options and have to weight the pros and cons of the different units. They have this All-In-One here that can be used as a functional trainer and squat rack type of unit, they also have their actual Functional Trainer and it has dual stacks, and a third option would be their two cable tower squat stands with back uprights. These cable towers are sold together on their site and linked by a pull-up bar. This would have dual stacks, can be used as a functional trainer and squat stand as well. It would not be a corner unit though. I really like the dual stack versions because multiple people could work at once on them. All of these are pretty similarly priced if using the plate-loaded versions. I haven't been able to decide, so I'm still without a functional trainer unit!

[steverapos]

I really like this option - i think it stands up really well against the competition for all in one units. There are not many all in one units that offer a weight stack in this price range. Also, the spacing for the functional trainer and squat rack looks to be about 2 inches - most budget all in ones have an almost unusable 4 inch spacing. The quality of the hardware used (uprights, pulleys) is superior to other budget options and they have a ton of accessories they sell for the unit. The middle upright with holes offers a ton of accessory options too. I am pretty surprised how negative most of the comments are as this looks great on paper and now multiple reviewers (Gluck, Coop) are giving good reviews

[kostakigogos]

Just ordered one of these yesterday during the labor day coupon deal. Gonna use the $200 kickback towards attachments and a barbell.

[randerodr]

Review the MAXUM Fitness SX2 all-in-one rack + smith + functional trainer please.

[Rcoven]

Got on a zoom with BOS and they helped me with a not so easy installation. Great support. Worth noting is a known issue with the weight plate trolley they sent me - it does not move freely on the posts. Check this before you keep going on the assembly. They are sending a replacement trolley but now I have to dissemble the unit again to remove and replace it arghhh . Other than the hassle of repeating the assembly again, this unit is a beast!

[freedomfighter]

I love my Bells of Steel gym equipment.

[jonathannapier-morales]

I'm glad you reviewed this and liked it. Its been out for awhile. I was wondering what you thought of it. Wish this had come out in 2020. I would have gotten this instead of piece mealing everything. Bells of steel is killing it and doesn't get enough love on this channel. Please review BOS chest expander.