The 10 Best Functional Trainers for Your Home Gym (2024)

Functional trainers may not be at the top of everyone’s home gym shopping list, mostly due to their size and cost, but there’s a place for them in everyone’s setup. Yup, that includes people looking for the best compact exercise equipment, those in apartments, people who are always on-the-go, or those who are on a tight budget.

Don’t believe us? We’ve picked the best functional trainers on the market today, and we’re willing to bet there’s one on this list that works for you. We’ll go over what makes each one so special, why a functional trainer is a great addition to your home gym, and what you should look for when shopping for one. 

Our team of certified personal trainers, competitive weightlifters, and home gym equipment experts have assembled dozens of functional trainers, performed tens of thousands of reps to test cable pulleys, and tested attachments for durability and versatility.

After testing each functional trainer, we rate them based on an important set of factors including:

• Footprint: How much room does it take up?
• Stability: Does it stay still during use? Can you perform pull-ups (if it has a pull-up bar) without it shaking?
• Attachment versatility: Are the attachments of good quality? Are they included or do you have to purchase them separately?
• Pulleys: Are the cables smooth?

The 10 Best Functional Trainers in 2024 

• Best Functional Trainer Overall: Titan Fitness Functional Trainer
• Best Budget Functional Trainer: Bells of Steel Functional Trainer
• Best Commercial Functional Trainer: REP Fitness FT-5000
• Most Versatile Functional Trainer: Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym
• Best Compact Functional Trainer: Torque F9 Fold-Away Strength Trainer 
• Best Value Functional Trainer: Beyond Power Voltra I
• Best Smart Functional Trainer: Tonal
• Best Functional Trainer for Attachments: Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer
• Best Portable Functional Trainer: X3 Bar
• Best Functional Trainer on Amazon: XMark Functional Trainer

Best Functional Trainers Video Review

Best Functional Trainer Overall: Titan Fitness Functional Trainer

Good for: Those who want a budget-friendly product that still delivers on quality

Best Overall

Titan Fitness Functional Trainer

GGR Score: 3.9

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Product Highlights

• Smooth guide rods
• Dual 200-pound weight stacks
• 2:1 pulley ratio
• Multi-grip pull-up bar
• Free shipping

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Heavy 200-pound stacks (100-pound working weight) with a 2:1 ratio
• Aluminum pulleys
• Low starting weight of 20 pounds (10 lb working weight)
• Competitive price point

Cons

• Would’ve preferred a taller option (but the 82-inch height allows it to fit in home gyms with low ceilings)
• The unit can shake when using the top end of the stack, but not enough to be concerned
• Only comes with 1-year warranty

Bottom Line

The Titan Fitness Functional Trainer is much like the functional trainer you’d find in a commercial gym, in that it uses commercial-grade materials, but comes in a home gym footprint.

The Titan Fitness Functional Trainer took our top spot because it comes with seven different attachments, more than 1,000 adjustment positions, and a multi-grip pull-up bar for a great price (around $2,500). Plus, at 64 inches wide it’s more compact than other models so it can fit in more home gyms.

Cooper Mitchell, founder of Garage Gym Reviews and a home gym equipment expert, has used the Titan functional trainer for many years. “I personally think the Titan Fitness Functional Trainer is a great value for those looking to add a compact and high-quality functional trainer to their home gym,” he says in our Titan Fitness Functional Trainer review. “While there’s more affordable options out there, I think paying the extra money is worth it for a more high-quality machine.

It’s still an affordable trainer that comes with durable aluminum pulleys, dual 100-pound weight stacks with a 2:1 ratio (so 10 pounds really feels like 5), and a power coated frame. Coop rated the cable’s smoothness a 4 out of 5, saying they required some slight lubing. “It was a very smooth experience after that,” he says. “I like that they used something durable instead of a material that wears down faster over time, like plastic.”

Titan, however, only comes with a one-year warranty, whereas most functional trainers have a lifetime warranty on the frame (and shorter ones for other parts).

The Titan Fitness Functional Trainer is also a bit more compact and lightweight than REP’s, and despite the fact that it’s under 700 pounds, it’s still stable in use and doesn’t have to be bolted into the ground (there is some shaking at heavier weights, but nothing to be concerned about). 

Coop mentions that taller people may struggle with pull-ups due to the 82-inch height. “I wish Titan had a taller option, but this also allows it to be used in home gyms with shorter ceilings.”

Best Budget Functional Trainer: Bells of Steel Functional Trainer

Good for: Those who want to a sturdy and well-built functional trainer for under $2,000

Best Budget

Bells of Steel Functional Trainer

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Product Highlights

• Dual 160-lb weight stacks
• 2:1 ratio (so 20 pounds is really 10 pounds of force)
• Hooks for easy storage
• Under $2,000
• Customers say assembly is easy and straightforward
• Smooth aluminum pulleys

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Smooth aluminum pulleys
• Hooks for easy attachment storage
• 160-lb weight stacks (2: ratio)
• Comes with a multi-grip pullup bar
• More affordable than most functional trainers

Cons

• Attachments cost extra
• 14-gauge steel is pretty thin for a functional trainer
• Only one height/depth option

Bottom Line

A relatively inexpensive functional trainer that's easy and straightforward to assemble.

The Bells of Steel Functional Trainer costs under $2,000 but has some of the same features found on much more expensive models. Before we even go over the many great things this machine has to offer, we should note that it’s incredibly rare to find a well-built functional trainer for under $2,000—and we’re usually wary of any such machine that costs that little.

Bells of Steel, however, has reliable construction and a 4.9 average customer review rating to allay our concerns. Alright, now onto the machine.

You get dual 160-pound weight stacks with a 2:1 pulley ratio, which means that 160 pounds is actually 80 pounds of force, which is still enough for most home gym owners to get some heavy resistance on isolation movements. The aluminum pulleys are what’s used on most home gym functional trainers to provide a smooth pull each time.

As a bonus, you get hooks for easy attachment storage and a sleek-looking black powder coat.

Our one knock against it is that it uses 14-gauge steel, which is thinner than what’s found on most other functional trainers (the bigger the number, the thinner the steel) but this is one of the ways that Bells of Steel is able to keep costs down and offer budget home gym equipment. Just make sure you take extra care of this functional trainer.

Best Commercial Functional Trainer: REP Fitness FT-5000 

Good for: Anyone who wants a top-of-the-line functional trainer for a reasonable price

Best Commercial

REP FT-5000 Functional Trainer

GGR Score: 3.8

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Product Highlights

• Frame constructed with 11-guage steel
• Chip-resistant powder coating
• Dual 224-pound weight stacks
• Multi-grip pullup/chin-up options
• Ships partially assembled
• Lifetime frame warranty

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Multi-grip pullup/chin-up grip options
• Ships partially assembled
• Lifetime frame warranty
• Dual 224-lb weight stacks

Cons

• There have been some complaints of inconsistent craftsmanship
• Starting weight may be too heavy for some isolation exercises

Bottom Line

The REP FT-5000 is a great choice for anyone looking for a functional trainer in their home gym.

The REP Fitness FT-5000 is our recommendation for home gym owners who want a high-quality machine similar to those found in commercial gyms. Plus, it ships partially assembled (a huge plus when it comes to functional trainers, which often take many hours to put together), sells for $2,500 (a great price for this kind of machine), and has a lifetime frame warranty. 

The dual 220-pound weight stack has a 2:1 ratio, which means that pulling 220 pounds gives you 110 pounds of effective resistance (functional trainers can have pulley ratios as high as 4:1). It also comes with a multi-grip pull-up bar that has a neutral grip, supinated grip, and wide-grip. 

Our one complaint is that the starting weight of 12.5 pounds may be too heavy for some isolation exercises, a concern some reviewers have voiced in their reviews of this machine. The handles are also only capable of reaching 52 inches off the ground, so taller lifters may not be able to get a full range of motion.

If none of those things are a problem for you, you’ll be rewarded with a 1,000-pound frame made of 11-gauge steel that’s sure to last in your home gym for many years, and you’ll have a lifetime warranty to give you peace of mind should anything happen to it. 

You can check out our in-depth REP FT-5000 Functional Trainer review for more of our thoughts on this machine.

Most Versatile Functional Trainer: Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym

Good for: Those who want their functional trainer to do just about everything 

Most Versatile

Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• 4-in-1 power rack (power rack, cable pulley system, multi-grip pull-up bar, and 360° landmine attachment)
• 1,000-pound weight rating
• Dual pulley system with a 2:1 ratio (20 pounds feels like 10)
• 14 adjustment positions
• J-hooks and safety arms
• Band pegs

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4-in-1 power rack
• 1,000-pound weight rating
• Spotter arms and J-cups included
• 35-day money back policy
• Free shipping

Cons

• Holes are not numbered

Bottom Line

The Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym combines four pieces of equipment in one, giving you a power rack, dual pulley system, multi-grip pull-up bar, and landmine attachment all at a reasonable price.

Just about every functional trainer can be described as “versatile,” but only one truly personifies that term: The Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym. It’s more affordable than other combination machines and will probably be the last piece of strength training equipment you’ll ever have to buy since it combines a power rack, a plate-loaded pulley system, multi-grip pull-up bar, and landmine attachment. You’ll also get band pegs and the opportunity to add even more attachments if desired.

Not sold on it yet? The entire rig has 13 different attachments, 31 adjustment points, and comes with J-hooks and spotter arms. Those last two attachments are critical for those who like to workout on their own, but one of the benefits of the all-in-one home gym is that it’s large enough for multiple people to use at once. You could have someone doing low rows while another person hits a few pull-ups, and a third person performing landmine rows with more than enough room for everyone.

A 1,000-pound weight capacity (800 pounds on the spotter arms) is similar to what high-quality squat racks offer, though at a much higher price than this trainer. Taller people may struggle to perform pull-ups with full range of motion, though there’s still dozens of full-body exercises from them to choose from with this piece of equipment.

It’s also much more compact than other trainers, combination machines, and functional trainers. That, combined with the fact that it saves you from having to buy other equipment, makes it a no-brainer for people with limited space.

Best Compact Functional Trainer: Torque F9 Fold-Away Strength Trainer 

Good for: Home gym owners who don’t have a lot of space but still want a functional trainer 

Compact Option

Torque F9 Fold-Away Functional Trainer

GGR Score: 3.9

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Product Highlights

• Compact functional trainer 
• Fits in a 3-foot-by-3-foot corner
• Comes with fold-away doors 
• Available in 3 different weight stack sizes 
• 6 different accessories available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact and easy to store
• Well-designed and versatile
• Perfect for a gym looking for a space-saver

Cons

• Reviews show that assembly is difficult for some
• Expensive (especially the 225 LB stack)

Bottom Line

The F9 Fold-Away Functional Trainer is a full trainer with a small footprint that can be easily stored. Its design is sturdy and versatile, it even comes with a handful of accessories to help you customize your workouts.

When in use, the Torque Fold-Away Strength Trainer tucks into a 3-foot-by-3-foot corner while still giving you up to 94 inches of cable travel. There are functional trainers much larger than that without nearly that much range. 

But the beauty of this trainer is its ability to be folded to an even more compact footprint, which is not only great for those looking to save on space, but also for anyone with small children who may want to play with sharp and heavy objects. Simply fold the doors, and your little ones won’t be able to access any part of this machine (until they get old enough to figure out how it works). 

It comes with multiple accessories, an optional stow-away bench, and pulleys with a 2:1 ratio (you can pick from a 150-pound, 200-pound, or 225-pound dual weight stack). Just know that you’ll be sweating as much, if not more, assembling this thing as you will working out with it. Several reviewers claim the instructions are not very helpful, and that it took several hours until it was installed. 

If you already have a squat rack, another great option is the Torque Relentless Rope Trainer.  While it may not be as versatile as some of our other options, it fits on most racks and gives you a full-body workout that doubles as your cardio session. 

Read our Torque F9 Functional Trainer review for more.

Best Value Functional Trainer: Beyond Power Voltra I

Good for: Those who want to get the most bang for their buck

Best Value

Beyond Power Voltra I

GGR Score: 4.17

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Product Highlights

• Portable cable trainer
• Up to 200 pounds of resistance
• Easy to attach and detach
• Data tracking

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Portable
• Up to 200 pounds of resistance
• Can be brought through airport security
• Real-time data tracking

Cons

• Expensive
• Only has a one-year warranty

Bottom Line

The Beyond Power Voltra I packs all the benefits of a cable machine into a portable design, though it comes with a high price tag.

To address the elephant in the room, yes the Beyond Power Voltra I is an expensive piece of equipment but you’re essentially getting a functional trainer and a personal trainer in one. This portable cable machine produces up to 200 pounds of resistance, can be used with multiple attachments, and has a smartphone app that tracks your sets and reps so you can track your progress in real time.

Cooper Mitchell, home gym equipment expert and founder of Garage Gym Reviews, adds that the unit is very durable, awarding it a 5 out of 5 in that category. “The design and engineering on this are top notch,” he says. “The cable that come with it is very sturdy, too. This is a synthetic cable that claims to be stronger than steel.”

In other words, it’s money well spent — at least we think it is. Coop says the cables feel as smooth as a commercial functional trainer no matter what type of movement he does. “There are a few movements that you have to be creative to do,” he adds, specifically mentioning bench presses and leg extensions. You can see him demonstrate those moves in our Voltra I video review.

Plus, the machine comes with three lifting modes: weight training, resistance band, and dampering. With the weight training, you can change the weight on the eccentric and concentric parts of the movement. “There is a chain mode that gets heaviest at the top of the lockout of the rep similar to how using chains on a barbell would be,” Coop adds.

Coop says the resistance mode feels like an actual resistance band, and that the dampering mode is great for people who want to work on their explosiveness. “Think of a parachute on your body,” he explains. “The harder and amount of force you put against it, the heavier the resistance will be.”

Since it attaches to your squat rack post, or a separately sold travel mat, it can also open your home gym to other equipment that you might not have had room for.

For more, read our in-depth Beyond Power Voltra review.

Best Smart Functional Trainer: Tonal

Good for: Anyone who likes or is curious about AI resistance training  

Smart Trainer

Tonal Smart Home Gym

GGR Score: 4.6

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Product Highlights

• AI gets to know you and makes weight adjustments for you
• Up to 200 pounds in digital resistance
• All-in-one gym that takes up minimal space
• Access to on-demand and live classes
• 30-day trial period

Pros & Cons

Pros

• AI gets to know you and makes weight adjustments for you
• Lift up to 200 pounds in digital resistance (much different from free weights)
• All-in-one gym that takes up minimal space
• AI assesses your form and gives real-time cuing
• Access to on-demand and live classes
• 30-day trial period

Cons

• High initial price tag
• Accessories cost extra and are pretty crucial to your workouts
• 12-month initial subscription required (and an additional cost)
• 200 pounds in resistance might not be enough for heavy lifters

Bottom Line

A complete smart home gym that offers versatility in a compact piece of equipment, but at a high price.

Functional trainers are often marketed as being a personal trainer you can keep in your home gym because of their versatility and ease of use. The Tonal smart home gym takes that concept and kicks it up a notch by adapting to your strength levels as you do certain exercises. 

For example, if you’re doing a lat pulldown, the machine’s artificial intelligence (AI) can determine how much force you’re applying and adjust the resistance to that exact level. This way you’re always lifting Goldilocks weight—not too light, not too heavy, but just the right amount of tension to build muscle without injuring yourself. 

The Tonal machine is a perfect fit for those who are curious about AI strength training equipment, anyone who lives in apartments or small spaces (you need 7 feet of space around the machine), or those who just want a machine capable of providing a full-body workout. 

One group of people it’s not for, however, are those on a budget. The machine itself costs $3,500 (psst, don’t tell anyone but we have a Tonal coupon), which includes the cost of professional installation. But that’s still expensive, and on top of that, you need to pay a $49 monthly membership fee to access all the classes. 

If you have the money for it, we think it’s well worth the investment. But if you’re on a budget, we have other options for you. 

Check out our full Tonal review to get our complete in-depth look at the future of fitness. 

Best Functional Trainer for Attachments: Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer

Good for: Anyone wanting some unique front-end attachments on their functional trainer

Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer

Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer

GGR Score: 4.44

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Product Highlights

• Aluminum pulleys
• Can be converted into a half rack
• Multi-grip pull-up bar
• 2:1 resistance ratio (100 pounds is actually 50 pounds of resistance)
• 21 height adjustments

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Made with durable parts
• Smooth pulleys
• Can be converted into a half rack
• Dual 200-pound weight stacks
• Compact footprint

Cons

• Expensive
• Pull-up bar is plastic

Bottom Line

The Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer surprised our product testers with smooth cable pulleys, a stable foundation, and quality attachments.

Functional trainers aren’t known to have a versatile range of attachments, although now and then a machine happens to innovate and shine. Our pick for the best functional trainer for attachments is the Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer. 

Already a solid functional trainer with smooth cable travel—especially at its price point—the Gronk Functional Trainer has a few optional attachments definitely worth a look. The most unique attachment is a half rack kit, which has attachable J-cups and spotter arms that convert the functional trainer to a squat rack.

GGR founder and fitness equipment guru Coop Mitchell tried out the Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer, and while he prefers a power rack with a cable pulley system as the ideal combo, he says, “This can be a great compact option for someone that doesn’t have the floor space for a dedicated power rack.” Depending on your gym setup, it could also be a boon to have a second place to rack a barbell during your training session.

Additionally, the functional trainer has optional low row and lat pulldown seat attachments, which add even more versatility to an already versatile machine. One warning that Coop gives is that the lat pulldown setup probably won’t have enough height to get a full range of motion for most athletes.

Still, at $2,399 with free shipping, this functional trainer has great value, providing higher end components and aluminum pulleys at a competitive price. You can see more in our Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer review.

Best Portable Functional Trainer: X3 Bar

Good for: People who are constantly on-the-go

Best Portable

X3 Bar

GGR Score: 4.14

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Product Highlights

• Up to 300 lbs of force
• Upgrade to up to 600 lbs
• Free workout program included
• No assembly necessary

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Can create up to 300 pounds of force (up to 600 if you get the Elite Band, sold separately)
• Free 12-week workout program with high-quality workout and nutrition advice
• Bar has great knurling
• No assembly necessary
• Bands are dipped in layered latex, making them thick and durable

Cons

• Platform’s embedded rollers don’t allow bands to roll during lift, but that's nitpicky
• Quite pricey at around $550 (financing available)
• Only 1-year warranty for the bands
• Some complaints of the bands wearing down after only a few weeks

Bottom Line

A compact piece of strength training equipment that combines the best parts of resistance bands and barbells into one.

If you’re someone who’s on-the-go a lot, or lives in an apartment, you may think that a functional trainer is out of the question for you. Not so, and the X3 Bar is proof of that. This machine weighs less than 20 pounds and packs up to 600 pounds of resistance.

There are three components to the set up: the bands, the bar, and the foot plate. The last one is used as an anchoring point for movements like deadlifts and biceps curls. Why combine the bands and the bar? For one, resistance bands offer something called variable resistance — they weigh about 20 pounds at the start of the lift and get heavier as they move away from you. The bar makes it easier for you to create more force than with bands alone, thereby increasing your workout intensity.

RELATED: Best Portable Home Gym

The bar itself is like a mini Olympic barbell, with good knurling and bearings for smooth movements every time. “It’s actually thicker than a power bar,” says Cooper Mitchell, founder of Garage Gym Reviews and a home gym equipment expert. “It’s got some girth to it, which I don’t mind on deadlifts. There’s no bending this thing, it’s extremely stiff.”

You can also get access to the X3 app, which will track your progress not just in terms of reps and sets but also measure how much force you’re creating with each lift. Coop and Brittany Combs, GGR’s social media manager and a busy mother, say they enjoyed the workouts and have both used it while on the go.

Read our X3 bar review for our full thoughts.

Best Functional Trainer on Amazon: XMark Functional Trainer

Good for: Anyone who prefers to do all their shopping on Amazon 

Prime Option

XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine

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Product Highlights

• Dual 200-lb weight stacks
• 19 adjustment positions
• 2:1 pulley ratio
• Split-grip pull-up bar
• High-quality construction

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2:1 pulley ratio
• Split-grip pull-up bar
• Made with high-quality materials
• 19 adjustment positions

Cons

• Complicated assembly process
• Not budget-friendly

Bottom Line

The XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine is a great choice for people who want to buy their home gym equipment on Amazon, or need a machine with a lot of accessories.

The XMark Functional Trainer would be higher on our list, were it not for its $2,900 price tag. But if you have the budget for it, or you’re just someone who refuses to shop anywhere besides Amazon, it’s a great option. 

The adjustable cable pulley system starts at 12 inches and goes up to 78 inches in height, allowing people of multiple height levels to use it. 

“The polypropylene and fiberglass blend make for fairly smooth travel,” says Caine Wilkes, an Olympic weightlifter who competed for Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “Not as smooth as most aluminum pulleys, but still a nice feel.”

The accessory bundle includes a triceps rope, triceps pressdown bar, a multi-grip revolving curl bar, and two single-grip handles, in addition to the two short handles that come with it. Not many functional trainers offer that many attachments without having you pay extra. If that’s not enough versatility for you, it also comes with a split grip pull-up bar and 19 adjustment points.  

RELATED: Best Curl Bars

Lastly, it’s made with 11-gauge, 2-inch-by-3-inch steel, so it’s built like a tank. Caine was able to hang from the pull-up bar and said there was no give or wobbling (and he competes in the +109 KG weight class). He scored it a 4 out of 5 on durability.

The dual weight stacks go up to 200 pounds with a 2:1 pulley ratio (meaning 40 pounds is really 20 pounds of force). “Still plenty of weight for most cable movements, although you may be limited to the weight for a row or pulldown,” Caine notes.  

Price aside, the only other major red flag about this trainer is the assembly process. We spotted several reviews stating customers had to make frequent trips to the hardware store to replace low-quality bolts and screws, or that certain parts were missing in their order. 

Other Functional Trainers We Researched 

Body-Solid Functional Trainer: We saw this model, along with the Body-Solid Powerline, come up often during our research, but the resistance was too light, and the materials weren’t up to our standards. They may appear to be great budget-friendly picks, but looking at the construction, we expect it will cause more headaches than anything else.  

Inspire Fitness FT2: If you’re looking for a high-end functional trainer, the Inspire Fitness FT2 is a brand durable enough for commercial gyms. This particular model doubles as a Smith machine, which makes for an expensive machine at nearly $5,000. Check out our Inspire Fitness FT2 Functional Trainer review for our complete breakdown

What is a Functional Trainer? 

Functional training has become a fitness buzzword in recent years, to the point where some companies and Instagram influencers are slapping the term on just about everything. 

A functional trainer, as a noun, refers to any type of machine that helps train your body for everyday movements. So that could be shoulder rotations (reaching around to grab something on your desk), proper squatting (sitting down on something), hinging our hips (bending down), and much more.

RELATED: What Is Functional Fitness? 

Functional trainers often provide full-body workouts, so we can train every muscle group to keep our bones and muscles healthy as we age. 

How We Picked and Tested the Best Functional Trainers 

We had quite a number of functional trainers to choose from, so here’s how we were able to narrow down our final list to just 10. 

Size 

Functional trainers are often quite big, but we wanted to find machines that could fit in most people’s home gyms. Obviously some people have more space than others, which is why we gave different options that work for garages and even apartments. 

Design 

A functional trainer should not only look nice (such as having a smooth powder coat and chip-resistant coating), but it should also be designed in a way that makes it…well, functional. That means not having parts that can get in the way of certain exercises, or that using it is difficult at any time. 

Resistance 

Although people’s resistance needs can vary greatly, we wanted to make sure each machine had a variety that could work for beginners as well as lifetime lifters. 

Attachments 

Attachments aren’t necessarily a vital part of a functional trainer, but they do increase their versatility by quite a lot. We tried to find models that either came with attachments or accessories, or had options at a budget-friendly price range. 

Versatility

A functional trainer is inherently versatile, but we tried to find ones that offered even more bang for your buck than the average machine out there. 

Pulley Ratio

As we mentioned before, some functional trainers can have pulley ratios as large as 4:1, which would mean that pulling 100 pounds only gives you 25 pounds of effective resistance. We kept our options at 1:1 or 2:1, but that means the cables may not travel as far as a 4:1 pulley ratio (you win some, you lose some). 

Benefits of Having a Functional Trainer 

If you’re still not sure whether you should purchase a functional trainer, here are some reasons why we think you should. 

Convenience 

For one, you have a complete full-body workout system at your disposal at any time. Full-body resistance training has been suggested to be an ideal method of training for maximal strength gains, according to a randomized trial from 2021¹. Plus, there’s no waiting in line behind the guy who’s been looking at his phone for 30 minutes while you’re trying to do some quick cable raises. 

RELATED: Full-Body Workout vs Split Workout

Versatility 

We’ve used this word a lot throughout this piece, but it can’t be understated just how many different movements can be done with a functional trainer. Besides the almighty Olympic barbell, dumbbells, and kettlebells, there are very few pieces of equipment that can work every part of the body the way a functional trainer can.  

Cable machines (much like free weight) can mimic functional daily activities² and may help you train specific movement patterns and ranges of motion better than other gym machines.

Save Money 

This might be hard to believe when you look at the price of some of these, but consider how much you spend on monthly membership fees, the cost of gas and the amount of time you spend getting to and from the gym, and other expenses that rack up during commuting. A functional trainer can pay for itself in as little as two years, especially if you finance it. 

What to Look for in a Functional Trainer 

Think you’re ready to purchase your first functional trainer? Here’s a quick buyer’s guide to make sure you’re taking all important factors into account. 

Size

Bust out the tape measure and find out if the functional trainer you have your eye on can fit in your home gym, and also check to see what the cable travel distance is (this is how far the cables can go to get maximum tension). 

Cables/Pulleys 

Cables and pulleys on functional trainers are made with different materials, with aluminum (the best choice, but also the most expensive) and fiberglass being the most common. Each manufacturers’ website should disclose what their cables and pulleys are made of, but if you can’t find it, you can always reach out to customer service and ask them. 

Durability 

You’ll also want to look at what the frame is made of. If it has a lot of plastic parts (some is fine), odds are it won’t be as durable as something that’s mostly made with 11-gauge steel (the lower the number, the stronger the steel). 

Attachments/Accessories 

Most functional trainers will come with a pair of short handles, and for some that may be all you get. Others come with included accessories such as a straight bar, long bar, short bar, ankle cuff, ankle straps, curl bar, triceps rope, D-handles, or a push-down bar. These attachments make the machine much more versatile than it already is, and if they’re not included with your trainer, are often sold on the manufacturers’ website. 

Resistance 

As with any piece of strength training equipment, you’ll want to make sure the resistance is light enough that you’re not constantly struggling with it, but also heavy enough that it’s not a constant cakewalk. The one thing that might complicate that is the pulley ratio. 

Pulley Ratio 

Most machines will have a 2:1 pulley ratio, which means that pulling 50 pounds gives you 25 pounds of effective resistance. As we’ve said, some machines on the market go as high as 4:1. It should be noted that even functional trainers that work with weight plates, or plate-loaded trainers, also have pulley ratios, so that 45-pound plate may not give you 45 pounds of resistance.  

Price

Listen, most functional trainers worth buying are going to be at least $2,000. The good news is most companies allow you to finance your order, and the monthly payments can sometimes equal or be less than a gym membership. 

Warranty 

With very few exceptions, most functional trainers will have a lifetime warranty for the frame. You’ll want to see what type of coverage you get for the other parts, including the pulleys, cables, and attachments. 

Best Functional Trainer FAQs

References

1. Bartolomei, S., Nigro, F., Malagoli Lanzoni, I., Masina, F., Di Michele, R., & Hoffman, J. R. (2021). A Comparison Between Total Body and Split Routine Resistance Training Programs in Trained Men. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 35(6), 1520–1526. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003573
2. Signorile, J. F., Rendos, N. K., Heredia Vargas, H. H., Alipio, T. C., Regis, R. C., Eltoukhy, M. M., Nargund, R. S., & Romero, M. A. (2017). Differences in Muscle Activation and Kinematics Between Cable-Based and Selectorized Weight Training. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 31(2), 313–322. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001493

Anthony O'Reilly, CPT, CNC

Anthony O'Reilly is a NASM-certified nutrition coach and personal trainer whose work has been featured in Muscle & Fitness and BarBend, and previously was an award-winning reporter and photographer for newspapers on Long Island and Queens, NY. After spending most of his life overweight, he dropped 80 pounds and took control of his health and fitness. Outside of work, he still enjoys Little Debbie cakes but offsets them with rigorous hikes and workouts. He's an avid Manchester United supporter, through thick and thin.

Further reading

Create the Best Shoulder Workouts With Dumbbells Using These Effective Exercises

by Christopher Covello

Trying to build strong shoulders using dumbbells? Check out one of our favorite shoulder workouts with dumbbells here! Read more

Arc Trainer Vs Stair Climber: Which Cardio Machine Reigns Supreme?

by Stephen Sheehan, CPT, CNC

Our Arc Trainer vs Stair Climber guide breaks down the similarities and differences between these two machines so you can maximize your cardio workouts. Read more

Fasted Cardio: Is It Effective, and Should You Try It?

by Kate Meier NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1

Here, we will dig into fasted cardio: Should you do it? What should you know? We consulted with certified personal trainer, certified nutrition coach, and GGR staff writer Anthony O’Reilly for his expert take on this topic. Read more

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Insane Home Gym and Traveling Iron Paradise

by Cooper Mitchell, GGR Founder

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson seems to do everything big, and his home gyms (yes, he has multiple) are no exception. Read more