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When you’re on the hunt for the best home gym equipment, we know you trust us here at Garage Gym Reviews to examine and analyze fitness equipment from every angle. This Bolt Warlord functional trainer rack review is no different. Our team used it as a squat rack, put the cables through a variety of exercises (and loads), and did a boatload of pull-ups.
Stay tuned for more details on this compact functional trainer and squat rack combination machine.
We’ve Tested More Than Two Dozen Functional Trainers
Our experts have had their hands on some of the best functional trainers ranging from ultra-budget to top-of-the-line machines. Our experts are not just fitness fanatics, we’re gym owners, CrossFit Level-1 Trainers, certified personal trainers, and Olympic-level athletes. We know what specs make a high-quality piece of equipment and understand how to put each piece of equipment we review to the test.
For this Bolt Warlord Functional trainer rack review, Coop Mitchell, OG product tester and founder of Garage Gym Reviews, took the lead on testing and scoring this all-in-one machine. Coop used our in-depth fitness equipment testing methodology to assess the durability, versatility, stability, accessories, and the overall value.
Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer
Bolt Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combo
Product Highlights
- 2-in-1 home gym machine
- Half rack and functional trainer
- 2:1 cable pulley ratio
- Dual 250-pound weight stacks
- Multi-grip pull-up bar
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Universal uprights
- Universal hole size and spacing
- Super smooth pulley and cables
- Free shipping
Cons
- Not designed or engineered in-house
- Steep price point
- Center knurling on pull-up bar
Bottom Line
The Bolt Fitness Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combo offers a solid 2-in-1 home training machine. However, the price does not reflect any stand out features or anything that will blow you away.
A Quick Look at the Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer
In Coop’s expert opinion—he’s been testing and reviewing equipment on YouTube for nearly a decade—Bolt Fitness falls in his third-tier personal hierarchy of quality. He says Rogue and REP Fitness are the top, Titan Fitness and Bells of Steel fall below that, and Bolt Fitness delivers quality equal to or under that.
This is not a knock to Bolt Fitness or brands like Titan. Coop thinks it’s important to know what to expect and not set your expectations as high as you can with a purchase from Rogue Fitness.
RELATED: Titan Squat Rack Reviews
Before You Buy
- The Warlord rack is part of the brand’s Storm Series, which includes a variety of strength attachments, full racks, Smith machines, and squat stands.
- The Warlord specs are not listed clearly on the website and there were a few things our team had to confirm with a representative from Bolt Fitness.
- Coop’s video review reveals a dirty secret: The Warlord Half Rack is a white-label product with custom logos.
- Bolt Fitness currently does not ship to Alaska or Hawaii, only to the contiguous United States.
Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Video Review
Is the Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Worth It?
The Bolt Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combination Machine is neither cheap nor is it outrageous. It’s priced at $4,000, which includes shipping (this is significant based on the bulky size).
However, based on the overall quality, mechanical parts, and powder coat finish the price is a little steeper than Coop would have expected. Keep in mind Coop also prefers well-thought-out and unique engineering and design. And this machine is not that.
In fact, during the assembly process Coop noticed one of the bottom pieces had “NC Fitness” laser cut into the shroud. After a quick Google search, Coop found it’s just another fitness brand selling very similar products with different accessories.
What does this mean for you? It means when you buy this functional trainer combination rack from Bolt Fitness, it’s a white-labled product manufactured by a large corporation that sells the identical (or nearly the same) product to other fitness brands with the idea that it can be customized with logos and labels later on.
“It’s worth knowing that this is not an exclusive piece to Bolt Fitness,” says Coop. “When you’re spending $4,000 little details like that matter.” For this reason, the price and value earn 3 out of 5 stars, our middle-of-the-road rating.
Great for:
- Small garage and home gyms
- Universal attachments
- Pull-ups and other pulling exercises
- People who like squatting outside the rack
Not recommended for:
- Folks who prefer plate-loaded machines
- Anyone looking for a Smith Machine combo rack
- People who prefer equipment made in the USA
Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Specs
| Price | $3,995 |
| Footprint | 54” L x 49” W x 96” H (without storage pins) 54” L x 75” W x 96” H (with storage pins mounted on sides) |
| Weight stack | Dual 250-lb stacks |
| Weight capacity | 1,000 lbs |
| Pulley ratio | 2:1 |
| Effective resistance | 125 lbs per stack |
| Cable travel length | Approximately 90 inches |
| Number of height options | 39 |
| Accessories | J-hooks, spotter arms, stabilizer legs, plate storage pegs |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame, 10 years on mechanical parts, 5 years on finish |
What to Expect With the Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer
The Bolt Warlord Half Rack and Functional Trainer combination machine is exactly how it sounds. You’ll get a half rack with spotter arms for performing all of the best barbell exercises including squatting, rack pulls, bench press, and overhead press. Plus, you’ll have a functional trainer with dual 250-pound selectorized weight stacks.
This all-in-one design is an ideal piece of home gym equipment that takes up far less space than owning two stand-alone pieces. Let’s dive into Coop’s experience.
Footprint
The footprint of the Bolt Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer was not listed on the website. However, our team got on the live chat function on the bottom left-hand side of the screen and chatted with Abraham from Bolt Fitness.
He was able to quickly provide the footprint measurements with and without the storage pins. He also noted the storage pins can be placed on the back side of the rack, too. Without pins, you can expect the half rack to sit about 4.5 feet deep, just over 4 feet wide, and 8 feet tall.
If you place the pins on the side of the rack, it makes the rack 6.25 feet wide. This machine will definitely take up some room in your garage gym, but because it’s a half rack, it’s about half the depth of a traditional power rack. It earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating in this category.
RELATED: REP FT-5000 Functional Trainer Review
Durability and Construction
The Bolt Warlord earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for durability and construction. When our experts assess functional trainers, we’re looking for heavy-duty steel uprights, minimal plastic parts, and aluminum pulleys.
The Bolt Warlord features nearly everything we want from a durable half rack and functional trainer combo machine. The 3-inch by 3-inch uprights are constructed from 11-gauge steel, making an extremely strong base, similar to what we saw on the rack we tested for our REP Fitness PR-4000 Power Rack review.
The half rack also features centered 1-inch holes on the front-facing side of the rack with offset placement on the sides of the rack. The holes and placement are universal and will make it so that the uprights are adaptable with other attachments from competitor companies. For Coop, this is a win.
There are also laser cut numbers (not stickers) on the front side so you’ll always know where to place your J-hooks. It’s all finished off with a black powder coat. “While the finish is pretty good, it’s important to know you’re not going to see the same quality welds or powder coats from Bolt Fitness as you will see from Rogue or REP Fitness,” says Coop.
Coop noticed an interesting feature on the crossmembers: Every single one has holes, it’s not limited to just the uprights. While it’s not necessary, it adds more functionality and room to get creative with looping bands and playing with accommodating resistance. “Companies don’t usually do that because it saves them money not to laser-cut the whole thing,” says Coop.
Additionally, the trolley system has four rollers to slide on the uprights every time you change the trolley height. You’ll find an oversized pop-pin and a handle flanking either side trolley—neither made from plastic, which Coop was pleased to see.
RELATED: Gronk Fitness Functional Trainer Review
Pulleys and Overall Stability
We not only had to reach out to customer support to get the footprint of the Warlord machine, we had to ask about the cable travel length because it’s not listed on the website. But, Abraham came through and personally went to check and measure himself (go Abraham!).
The Bolt Fitness representative reported the travel length on the aluminum cables is about 90 inches, which is suitable for cable machine workouts for strength and bodybuilding.
We not only approve of the length, Coop appreciates that the aluminum cable pulleys travel on aluminum parts, making for a super smooth pulling experience. Our experts prefer aluminum cables over nylon for both the feel and durability.
“This is a very smooth functional trainer,” says Coop. It’s not just because of the aluminum cables, these have high-quality bushings in the head plate and weight stack and the guide rods.
“The mark of a smooth functional trainer is when a light head plate on the weight stack feels just as smooth as the rest of the stack, and the Bolt Warlord does it,” explains Coop.
When it comes to stability, you’ll need to either bolt the machine to the ground or use the stabilizer legs that come with the purchase. Coop warns not to skip the stability process because half racks are known for being tippy when lifting heavy weight. For this reason, the cables and overall stability earns 4 out of 5 stars.
RELATED: Squat Rack Safety
Accessories and Additional Features
When our experts score functional trainers for accessories, we’re looking for more than a basic pair of D-handles. The Bolt Warlord earns a 3-star rating because it offers more than D-handles but lacks a variety of attachments like ankle straps or a lat pulldown bar.
You can expect a multi-grip pull-up bar with pronated, supinated, and neutral grips. You’ll also receive a pair of UHMW plastic coated J-hooks, spotter arms, stabilizer feet, and eight plate pins for weight plate storage. Coop appreciates that the stabilizer feet and spotter arms are the same length, which is not only safe, but ideal for adding bands for accommodating resistance on barbell training.
Keep in mind this machine has universal measurements and hole spacing, making it an ideal way to customize your gym setup. The Warlord is part of the Bolt Fitness Storm series where you can find other strength attachments like a lat pulldown and low row, a Smith machine attachment, lever arms, leg press attachment, and a leg extension.
There is a large back plate on the half rack that is not only aesthetically pleasing, it also acts as a shrouding to protect the cables and weight stacks. In Coop’s video review he mentions that using magnetic hooks from Amazon on this shrouding can easily add more home gym storage for cable accessories and bands. The pulleys are also shrouded, which is more of a commercial look and not seen as much in the home gym space, but Coop likes the idea for home gyms for added protection.
RELATED: Best Resistance Bands
Versatility and Weight Stacks
The Warlord half rack and functional trainer can do many things in one footprint. You can essentially do more of your barbell training (with the exception of deadlifts), light and moderately heavy cable training, and pull-ups. It earns a 4-star rating in the versatility category.
RELATED: Deadlift Benefits
Coop docks a point because while dual 250-pound weight stacks will challenge most home gym owners and recreational lifters, it’s not ideal for seasoned strength trainers. The reality of the 2:1 cable ratio is that you feel only half of the listed weight. In other words, when you use the selectorized weight stack to choose 250 pounds for a cable row, you’re really only rowing 125 pounds of resistance.
The weight stacks aside, Coop was pleased with the multi-grip pull-up bar and the medium knurling for additional security for gripping. “The knurling is just enough,” says Coop. “But there is center knurling that doesn’t make sense—I hit my chin on the knurling on every rep. It’s minor but worth pointing out.”
RELATED: Best Pull-Up Bar
Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer vs REP Athena
REP Athena
REP Athena Plate Loaded Side-Mount Functional Trainer
Product Highlights
- Fits PR-4000 or PR-5000 V2 series power racks
- 2:1 pulley ratio
- Available for 80” and 93” power racks
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free shipping
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Available to purchase as left or right and paired.
- Functional trainer without large footprint
- Designed to be adjustable with one hand with large oversized pop-pin
- Integrated band pegs on base and headplate
- Upgrade kit will be available in the future
Cons
- Compatible with limited racks
- The Athena cannot clear weight horns with all diameter plates
- Comes with only 1 only D-handle attachment
Bottom Line
The Athena Plate-Loaded Side-Mount Functional Trainer could be a useful addition to your home gym: It can add a lot of versatility to a cable system without taking up much space, provided your current gym set-up is compatible with the Athena.
The Bolt Warlord half rack and functional trainer compares to one of Coop’s all-time favorite pieces of home gym equipment: the REP Athena functional trainer. Coop owns the REP Athena and uses it weekly in his personal garage gym.
He notes that the finish and feel of the REP Athena is superior to the Bolt Warlord, but he likes the fact the Warlord offers heavier weight stacks. Both machines offer smooth cable training, and when you read our in-depth REP Fitness Athena review, you’ll notice that the Athena is an attachment for a squat rack—and it’s completely customizable.
You can go all-out or keep it bare bones. On the Athena, the width and depth are customizable in addition to choosing whether it’s plate loaded or selectorized. It can make it confusing to essentially “build it yourself” so if you’re new to fitness (or just want less decision-making responsibilities), then we say go for the Bolt Warlord.
| Bolt Warlord | REP Athena | |
| Rack style | Half rack, spotter arms | Full and half rack options |
| Footprint | 54” L x 49” W x 96” H | Varies depending on selection |
| Weight stack | Dual 250 lbs | Dual 170-lb or 220-lb stacks |
| Pulley ratio | 2:1 | 2:1 |
| Effective resistance | 125 lbs | 85 lbs or 110 lbs |
| Cable travel length | About 90″ | 93” or 80” depending on selection |
Customer Experience
Bolt Fitness has three types of warranties: residential, light commercial, and commercial. For the purpose of this review, we’ll stick with the residential warranty. The frame on the Bolt Warlord has a lifetime warranty, moving parts (which includes things like bearings, bushings, and pulleys) have a 10-year policy, and the powder coat finish and cables have a 5-year policy.
The brand also has a standard 30-day return policy. Once you initiate the return, you must return the item within 7 days in the original packaging. The brand earns a 4-star rating for customer experience.
At checkout, you will notice shipping is included in the $3,995 price tag or you can choose to pick up in person at the showroom in Houston, Texas. It’s worth noting that this option does not bring the price down.
Customer Reviews
At the time of writing this review, the Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer has a lone 5-star customer review. There are no Google or Trustpilot reviews to scope out either. The one customer review featured on the website is a happy camper who only mentions that the 250-pound weight stacks with a 2:1 ratio can be limiting for heavy lifts and pulls. We don’t disagree, but it will ultimately vary from person to person.
Final Verdict of Our Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer Review
The Bolt Fitness Storm Series Warlord half rack functional trainer combo machine is a solid option for home gym owners limited on space. While Coop was a little shocked at the price tag, he was still impressed with the smooth pulleys, high-quality bushings and bearings, and the heavy-duty uprights with universal hole spacing.
Coop thinks the Warlord deserves your consideration if you:
- Want something basic but durable
- Don’t already own a squat rack or functional trainer
- Need something compact
- Will be challenged training with dual stacks offering 125 lbs of effective resistance
Full Rating
Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer
The Bolt Fitness Warlord Half Rack Functional Trainer Combo offers a solid 2-in-1 home training machine. However, the price does not reflect any stand out features or anything that will blow you away.
Product Brand: Bolt Fitness
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 3995.00
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.87
Bolt Warlord Functional Trainer: FAQs
Is a functional trainer worth it?
Functional trainers can be a great investment for home gym owners. If you are brand new to fitness and building a home gym, our experts suggest starting with a set of the best adjustable dumbbells. When you’re ready to train with barbells in a power rack, consider a high-quality squat rack and functional combination machine to save space and get a ton of bang for your buck.
What is a functional trainer?
A functional trainer is a cable machine and those two terms can be used interchangeably. Cables are attached to weight plates that provide resistance for a wide variety of exercises. A functional trainer can be used for upper body, lower body, and core exercises all on one machine.
Why are functional trainers so expensive?
Functional trainers often come with large price tags because of the moving parts including the cable trolleys, bearings, and bushings. Plus, unless you’re buying a plate-loaded functional trainer, you’re also paying for the selectorized weight stacks, which typically have a few hundred pounds of weight.
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