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GGR founder Coop Mitchell has been saying it again and again, and it’s finally happening: “Machines are coming back, baby!” He’s not wrong—there’s been a definite rise of interest in machines over free weights in the home gym community, leading many to pick arm or leg machines as their next home gym essentials.
Of the several home gym machines that are being released on the market today, Coop recently had the chance to try out the Valkyrie Lateral Raise and Pec Fly Combo Unit, built by Bolt Fitness Supply. This cable machine has a selectorized weight stack that allows you to perform lat raises and pec flyes (and a few other movements with a bit of creativity), creating a different and more constant resistance than what you’d get from the best dumbbells.
That said, it’s not quite an all-in-one machine, so is it still a good piece of home gym equipment for you? In this Bolt Fitness Valkyrie review, we’ll take a deeper look at where the machine shines, and where improvements could be made. As Coop says in his video review about the value, “It’s a bit complicated. Let’s get into it.”
Dozens of Gym Machines Tested
We’ve had our hands on plenty of machines at Garage Gym Reviews—functional trainers, leg extension and leg curl combos, lat pulldown machines, and Smith machines. Every piece of fitness equipment that comes across our team of certified personal trainers, lifting coaches, and competitive athletes gets tested thoroughly through several workouts, helping you save time on your next purchase.
With the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie, our very own Coop Mitchell tested out the two-in-one combo unit. He took it through its intended use, as well as getting creative and trying some other exercises on it. During his workout, he rated its performance and these other features:
- Construction and durability
- Footprint
- Ergonomics and comfort
- Overall value
Bolt Fitness Valkyrie
Bolt Fitness Supply Valkyrie
Product Highlights
- Upper body combo unit
- Performs lateral raises and pec flyes
- 340 degrees of rotational adjustments
- Uses 7- to 14-gauge steel and aluminum pulleys
- Knurled handles and diamond-printed footplate
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Allows for multiple exercises
- Constant and consistent resistance
- 200-lb weight stack
- Aluminum pulleys
Cons
- Pricy, although less expensive than competitors
- Questionable customer service according to some customers
- Construction and quality is hit and miss
Bottom Line
The Bolt Fitness Valkyrie is a multi-flight two-in-one combination machine allowing for lateral raises and pec flyes. It has a rather large footprint due to its diamond-printed footplate, but this also adds to it being a sturdy and durable machine. While it uses steel and aluminum pulleys, other aspects of its construction are lackluster, like the knurling on the handles or the powder coating. Overall, it feels very good while in use.
A Quick Look at the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie
Bolt Fitness Supply is a small family-owned business headquartered in Houston, Texas. According to their website, they’ve been around as a business for over eight years. They make all things fitness equipment—squat racks, benches, bumper plates, cable attachments, Olympic barbells, and cardio machines, just to name a few.
They have some unique pieces of equipment as well, such as the Bolt Fitness Warlord Half-Rack Functional Trainer Combo, which combines some of the best aspects of a power rack and functional trainer.
RELATED: Rogue HR-2 Half Rack Review
When Coop went on a home gym tour of Jujimufu’s gym space, he got to try out the Pannata Monolith Standing Multi-Flight, which allows for upper body movements like lateral raises and pec flyes. The Bolt Fitness Valkyrie is a near copy of the Pannata machine, with two handles that can be rotated through the two movements.
The Valkyrie provides 340 degrees of rotational adjustment and up to 200 pounds of continuous resistance with the weight stack. “The majority of resistance when you’re bodybuilding with dumbbells happens at the top of the movement in a lateral raise,” Coop adds. “This machine allows you to feel the resistance from the start.”
Before You Buy
- Sorry to any folks living in Alaska or Hawaii; Bolt Fitness only ships equipment to the contiguous United States as of now. Shipping is included in the cost.
- The wording on the website is a bit contradictory when discussing the materials. At one part it says the steel used is between 7- and 14-gauge, while elsewhere they list it as 11-gauge steel.
- Even though it’s cheaper than the Pannata Multi-Flight, the Valkyrie is still an investment. Make sure to check out their financing options.
- Construction on the Valkyrie is a bit hit or miss, according to Coop. While it uses aluminum pulleys and has a fairly solid build, other aspects like the diamond-printed footplate and knurling seem uneven and hastily made.
Bolt Fitness Valkyrie Video Review
Is the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie Worth It?
Like Coop said, the value of the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie is a bit complicated. It depends a lot on your wants and needs in your garage gym space. This probably shouldn’t be the first piece of equipment you purchase for your home gym; this is a later purchase for sure. Make sure you have a rig or rack, a barbell, and a pair of adjustable dumbbells before venturing into home gym machines.
Another thing to determine is if this is your first machine purchase or not. “A lot of that will depend on if you prefer upper-body or lower-body machines,” Coop adds. “I myself am a leg guy, so I’d probably want a leg press hack squat combo unit before I got something like the Valkyrie.
At over $2,500, the Valkyrie costs quite a bit, but is more affordable than similar machines, such as the Pannata Multi-Flight or Atlantis Lateral Raise. Still, be aware that the build on this machine is inconsistent at times, with just an OK powder coat and uneven knurling on the handles. The pulleys are aluminum, though, which makes for a smooth movement.
Lastly, this is a machine that mimics movements you can do with dumbbells, so most people may just not be interested in taking up this much space for a couple of exercises. “This machine is designed for people who want the specific feel that you can get from commercial gym machines,” Coop says. Overall, he rates the value a 3.75 out of 5.
Great for:
- People wanting a machine feel for their upper-body workouts
- Those looking for constant resistance in lateral raises and pec flyes
- Anyone leaning toward machines in their home gym
Not recommended for:
- Anyone with limited floor space
- New home gym owners who lack the essentials in equipment
- People who prefer to use dumbbells for bodybuilding
Bolt Fitness Valkyrie Specs
| Price | $2,545 |
| Footprint | 62” L x 31” W x 77” H |
| Weight capacity | 200-lb selectorized weight stack |
| Material | 7- to 14-gauge steel |
| Footplate size | 24” L x 31” W |
| Adjustment positions | 15 positions across 340 degrees of rotational adjustment |
| Warranty (for home use) | Lifetime (body/frame), 10 years (moving parts, bearings, bushings, pulleys), 5 years (finish, cables, upholstery) |
Using the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie
The Bolt Fitness Valkyrie is designed with two exercises in mind: lateral raises and pec flyes. However, GGR founder and fitness equipment expert Coop Mitchell found some creative ways to use the machine while testing out the product. He was able to perform single arm pullovers and a single-arm front raise with the machine. “Even though it appears to lack versatility, it has a bit if you’re creative,” Coop says.
In use, it feels very smooth, thanks to aluminum pulleys and a smooth cable travel. Additionally, the 340-degree adjustment positioning allows you to set up the arms with a narrow starting position by crossing the handles over. You can achieve a full range of motion that creates the same level of resistance throughout the entire movement—a feeling you can’t get from just dumbbells.
Coop rates the workout performance a perfect 5 out of 5. “The movements in practice are pretty good,” he says. Not everything is perfect about the machine, though. Let’s break it down.
Footprint and Portability
When you add a machine to your space, it’s going to take up a bit of room, so you want its versatility to outweigh the loss of floor space. The Valkyrie doesn’t quite hit the mark. It doesn’t have tons of versatility but takes up a good amount of space, with a length of 62 inches and a width of 31 inches (and the rotating lever arms will need space for movement, too).
The Bolt Fitness Valkyrie earns a 3 out of 5 for its footprint, with the biggest issue coming from the raised platform. Coop says a lot of it is unnecessary and takes up a lot of room. “I’m considering cutting off part or all of the footplate when I move this into my home gym,” he explains. The heft of the footplate does help it stay balanced and secure, but it still feels excessive.
Durability and Construction
As I’ve stated earlier, the construction is a little hit and miss, earning it a 3.5 out of 5. While some aspects of the machine shine, like a durable steel construction and aluminum pulleys, other parts aren’t made with the same quality. “It feels like they were trying to make it for either commercial or home gyms, but they never fully decided which one,” Coop says.
For one, the handles are knurled, but Coop says it’s a lackluster knurl. This isn’t because it’s too aggressive or passive, though. “It’s just uneven and inconsistent,” he explains. The powder coat is a little on the cheaper side, too.
Another problem is, again, the footplate. The diamond-printed footplate is a thin piece of sheet metal with a bubble space in between the metal and platform, causing some bowing when you step on it. It’s also riveted, which may not hold up as well as bolting the plate down.
However, the machine is stocky, and the 200-pound weight stack should help keep it grounded. Therefore, Coop rates the durability a 4 out of 5.
Ergonomics and Comfort
With the adjustability of the arms and the overall feel of the machine in use, the Valkyrie gets a 4 out of 5 for its ergonomics and comfort. The weakest aspect is probably the knurling, but it still has a great feel while you’re doing the movements.
Another of our expert product testers does note that the lever arms are at a fixed length, which may limit the range of movement for taller athletes with a larger wingspan. “I’m a bigger guy and felt like I had to bend my arms a lot through the movement to properly perform the movements,” he says, adding, “It’d be great to see them make the arm length adjustable.”
Bolt Fitness Valkyrie vs Titan Leg Press Hack Squat Machine
Titan Leg Press Hack Squat
Titan Fitness Leg Press Hack Squat Machine
Product Highlights
- 2-in-1 machine functions as a leg press and hack squat
- Constructed from durable steel
- Features large diamond-plated footplates, supportive padding for lower back and shoulders, undercarriage dual weight sleeves, commercial linear bearings, adjustable backpad, and adjustable footplate angle
- 1,000-lb weight limit
- Designed to provide a full lower body strength workout
- 3 lockout positions
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Sturdy
- Decent weight limit
- Non-slip feet
- Smooth
- Relatively compact
Cons
- Footplate for leg press may be small for some
- Reports of unclear instructions for assembly
Bottom Line
The Titan Fitness Leg Press Hack Squat Machine is a high-quality multifunctional machine designed for beginners and experienced athletes alike.
This might be a unique comparison, but we’re going to compare an upper-body machine with a lower-body machine—in this case, the Titan Leg Press Hack Squat Machine. While each machine addresses different muscle groups, they also have similar pros and cons for your home gym space.
While both have large footprints, the leg press and hack squat combo unit will take up a bit more space. It has a length of 84 inches, compared to the Valkyrie’s 62-inch length. Still, neither offers a ton of versatility, meaning these won’t add a lot of extra functionality for the amount of space they take up.
Both are pricey machines, but Titan’s leg machine is more than $500 less, probably due to the machine being plate-loaded instead of using weight stacks. However, with the pricier Valkyrie comes a more robust warranty for home use (the commercial warranty isn’t as long).
Ultimately, neither machine will be an early purchase for home gym owners; this is the type of machine you buy after getting the essentials. Also, you’ll need to decide if you’re more invested in an upper-body machine, or a lower-body machine. Which one would get more use in your home gym?
For more information, check out our in-depth Titan Leg Press Hack Squat review.
| Bolt Fitness Valkyrie Multi-Flight | Titan Fitness Leg Press Hack Squat | |
| Price | $2,545 | $1,975 |
| Footprint | 62” L x 31” W x 77” H | 84” L x 40” W x 53” H |
| Weight capacity | 200-lb selectorized weight stack | 1,000 lbs (plate-loaded) |
| Material | 7- to 14-gauge steel | Steel |
| Footplate size | 24” L x 31” W | 15” L x 21” W (leg press footplate), 22” L x 26” W (hack squat footplate) |
| Adjustment positions | 15 positions across 340 degrees of rotational adjustment | 4 hack squat footplate positions |
| Warranty (for home use) | Lifetime (body/frame), 10 years (moving parts, bearings, bushings, pulleys), 5 years (finish, cables, upholstery) | 1 year |
Customer Experience
Bolt Fitness Supply has three different tiers of warranties: commercial use, light commercial use, and home gym use. The home gym use warranty has the lengthiest warranty of them all, but here’s what each looks like:
| Commercial use | Light commercial use | Home gym use | |
| Body and frame | 10 years | 10 years | Lifetime |
| Moving parts | 5 years | 8 years | 10 years |
| Bearings, bushings, pulleys | 3 years | 4 years | 10 years |
| Finish, cables, upholstery | 1 year | 1 year | 5 years |
Along with the warranty, Bolt Fitness offers 30 days to initiate a return, but once you initiate the return, you must return the item within 7 days. Bolt Fitness accepts returns on unused items in their original packaging. Bolt Fitness earns a 4 out of 5 for its warranty and return policy.
In his video review, Coop calls out the customer service, as there are quite a number of comments and posts from people who have had issues with the company, from refusing returns to providing poor customer service. Coop asked the company about it, and they said that’s not the norm, so this is hopefully something we’ll see less and less of in the future. For now, the company gets a 3 out of 5 for its customer service.
Ordering and Assembling the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie
The Bolt Fitness Valkyrie can be ordered directly from the Bolt Fitness Supply website. Financing is offered through Affirm, although you’ll need to check to see if you qualify. The Valkyrie is shipped fully assembled, which is nice, but it comes via freight, so be prepared for that drop-off. It may be a hassle to get it where you want it in your garage gym once it’s delivered.
Customer Reviews
At this time, there are no customer reviews for the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie. As reviews come in, we’ll update this section, so make sure to check back.
Final Verdict of Our Bolt Fitness Valkyrie Review
While it’s not ideal for compact spaces, the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie is a great option for those looking for the feel of a commercial gym while in the comfort of their own home. Because of its lack of versatility, though, I’d recommend having open space for barbell work first—deadlifts, squats, bench presses, or even Olympic lifts.
However, if you have the space for a machine combo unit, there are a few variations of exercises you can perform with the Valkyrie, making it an excellent tool for home gym users wanting to invest in more machines.
Bolt Fitness Valkyrie Rating
Bolt Fitness Valkyrie
This combo unit allows you to do machine flyes and lateral raises, but is it the right fit for your home gym? Find out in this Bolt Fitness Valkyrie review. Slug: bolt-fitness-valkyrie-review
Product Brand: Bolt Fitness
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 2545
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.78
Bolt Fitness Valkyrie: FAQs
Is the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie worth it?
The Bolt Fitness Valkyrie is a unique piece of equipment, giving constant resistance for a couple upper-body exercises—mainly lateral raises and pec flyes. While the focused functionality may only appeal to certain fitness enthusiasts who have the floor space available, it’s a well-built machine that has a great feel while in use. If you’re looking for a multi-flight, this is probably the most affordable option as well.
Is Inspire Fitness the best bang for your buck?
Inspire Fitness’s equipment, like the Inspire Fitness FT2 Functional Trainer, has solid construction, mostly because it’s often made for commercial use. However, with that commercial-level quality comes a premium cost, too. Other brands can often have better value, sacrificing a bit of quality or materials for a better price.
What are the key features of the Bolt Fitness Valkyrie?
The Bolt Fitness Valkyrie has adjustable rotating handles that allow for pec flyes and lateral raises, with consistent and constant resistance throughout the movement. Additionally, there is a pad to rest your head on while performing flyes. The machine has a diamond-printed footplate on a platform and knurled handles—although we weren’t huge fans of the knurling or footplate in our testing.
Further reading
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