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A Life Fitness functional trainer is the centerpiece of many commercial gyms and health clubs, and there’s no reason why that can’t be the case for your home gym as well. Not only are these machines great for functional training purposes, but they can also replace multiple pieces of gym equipment due to their versatility.
There are two main Life Fitness functional trainers available for home gym owners: The Life Fitness G7 Home Gym and the Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley. There are some other home gym options available on the brand’s website, but for today we’re going to focus on these two cable machines.
We’ll let you know what we like about each one, and who we see as the target audience for both.
Giving Your Fitness Equipment Shopping a New Life
We’ve done a dizzying amount of strength training equipment reviews. From testing the best Olympic barbells and adjustable dumbbells, to taking just about every exercise bike on the market for a spin, you could spend the better part of a day just reading every review on here.
But nobody has time for that, which is why we condense many of our reviews to give you a quick snapshot of everything you need to know before heading to checkout.
Life Fitness Functional Trainer Spec Comparisons
| Life Fitness G7 Home Gym | Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley | |
| Price | $3,669 | $8,289 |
| Footprint | 48.5” L x 69.5” W x 83” H | 44” L x 62” W x 94” H |
| Weight | 980 lbs | 1,300 lbs |
| Weight stacks | Dual 160-pound weight stacks | Dual 390-pound weight stacks |
| Effective resistance | 80 lbs per stack | 97.5 lbs per stack |
| Pulley ratio | 2:1 | 4:1 |
| Accessories | Straight bar, foot strap, thigh strap, stability ball, soft-strap handles | Two short strap handles, two long strap handles, LE/LC strap, sports bar, tricep rope, four-way ankle strap, belt, long bar |
| Warranty | Lifetime on frame, welds, pulleys and parts; three years on upholstery, pads, and cables | Lifetime on frame, welds, pulleys and parts; three years on upholstery, pads, and cables |
Life Fitness G7 Home Gym
Fly Like a G7
Life Fitness G7 Home Gym
Product Highlights
- Dual adjustable pulley
- 2:1 weight ratio
- 160 pounds on each stacks
- 20 different height positions
- Multi grip padded pull-up bar
- Comes with handles, foot strap, thigh strap, straight bar, and stability ball
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good warranty
- Enables a full-body workout on one machine
- Comes with several attachments and a collapsible bench
- Does not need to be bolted to the ground
- Pulley system is smooth
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for someone looking to hit some heavy lifts
- Replacement parts are expensive
- Large footprint
Bottom Line
The Life Fitness G7 Home Gym is a quality functional trainer that allows for a great variety of exercises. But, it comes with a hefty price tag and large footprint that may not work for many home gym spaces.
Pros:
- Comes with multiple attachments
- Lifetime frame warranty
- Made with commercial-grade materials
Cons:
- Total cost is around $4,500 after shipping (though financing plans are available)
- You need a floor space of at least 10’ L x 8’ W (still relatively compact for a functional trainer)
- Effective resistance tops out at 80 pounds
The Life Fitness G7 Functional Trainer is a great pick for those who want a commercial-grade piece of equipment in their own home gym. Right off the bat, we have to warn you that this costs around $4,500 after shipping and handling, and if you want white glove installation service, you’re going to have to pay even more.
But, here are a few of the reasons why we think it’s worth it. For one, you’re getting a premium functional trainer made with top-of-the-line materials such as an 11-gauge steel frame, buttery-smooth pulleys, and durable cables. The frame and pulleys are backed by a lifetime warranty, and the cables are covered for three years (which is the industry standard).
There’s also an option to add an adjustable bench to your order, which can increase the amount of moves you can do with the G7. If you want another commercial-grade bench, we recommend checking out the Hammer Strength Adjustable Bench.
You’ll get a dual 160-pound weight stack that has a 2:1 ratio, meaning the effective resistance only goes up to 80 pounds (unfortunately, Life Fitness’ 50-pound weight stack upgrade is not compatible with the G7). That’s not a lot of weight, but it’s enough for the type of moves you’ll do with a functional trainer.
This type of functional trainer isn’t the best if you’re someone who likes to utilize moves like lat pulldowns during your training sessions, but you do get a split-grip pull-up bar to help you use your bodyweight on back day.
Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley
Signature Series
Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley
Product Highlights
- Dual adjustable pulley system with weight stacks with 390 pounds
- 4:1 ratio so maximum user resistance is 97.5 pounds per stack
- Cable motion technology enables high-speed movements, sports-specific training, and user-defined paths of motion
- Allows for a full-body workout, targeted muscle work, functional training, or stability work
- Measures 45 inches long, 62 inches wide, and 94 inches high
- Comes with a pair of short strap handles, a pair of long strap handles, LE/LC strap, sports bar, tricep rope, four-way ankle strap, belt, and long bar
- 22 different height adjustments with almost 12 feet of cable travel
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lower resistance ranges are good for beginners
- Storage hangers included for organization
- Equipped with three different pull-up bar grips
- Versatile
- Allows for an endless amount of workouts
- Comes with several attachments
- Good warranty
Cons
- Maximum effective user resistance per stack is only 97.5 pounds
- Large
- Expensive
Bottom Line
With a price tag over $8,000, the Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley functional trainer is a big investment for a home gym. It does offer incredible variety though, enabling nearly endless exercise options from the comfort of your home.
Pros:
- Multiple chin-up handles
- Best option for maximum cable motion
- Available in two color options
Cons:
- Total cost can near $10,000 (or $231 per month with Affirm)
- Complicated assembly (white glove installation costs extra)
- Utilizes 4:1 pulley ratio, meaning pulling 100 pounds only gives you 25 pounds of resistance
The Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley Functional Trainer would be our choice for people who run a personal training studio out of their home gym.
You get six chin-up handles, multiple accessories, cable travel distance of nearly 12 feet, and a lifetime warranty on all parts but the cables (which are covered for three years). There’s dual 390-pound weight stacks that come with a 4:1 pulley ratio (and optional shrouds if you want extra protection), which can be a good or a bad thing depending on what type of training you’re looking to do.
The increased ratio means you’re getting less tension on the stacks, so pulling 390 pounds really only feels like 97.5, which is only slightly more than you get with the G7. On the other hand, you’re getting a longer cable travel, which can be good to replicate suspension training.
After shipping and handling, the price of this functional trainer could be near the $10,000 mark, and that’s before adding on any additional machines (Life Fitness says people often buy this and a linear leg press in the same order). But, people are apparently buying it frequently as the company warns there may be a 22-week wait time on this product.
Which Life Fitness Functional Trainer Should You Buy?
Firstly, we should say that while we love functional trainers, there are some people who should put them at the bottom of their priority list. That would include people who have sport-specific training goals (such as powerlifters or CrossFitters), very heavy lifters, and those in compact spaces.
If you don’t fall into any of those categories and are still interested in a Life Fitness Functional Trainer, here’s who we think should go with the G7 and who would probably be interested in the Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley.
Who Should Buy the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym:
- Those looking for a relatively compact functional trainer
- Anyone looking for a versatile functional trainer
- Home gym athletes who don’t plan on lifting heavy weights
Who Should Buy the Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley:
- Those who run a personal training studio
- People who are looking for the best-of-the-best
- Anyone who wants a functional trainer with longer cable travel
Financing, Warranty, Returns
Both the Life Fitness G7 and the Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley have financing plans available through Affirm. You can check to see if you pre-qualify at checkout.
Both machines have a limited lifetime warranty on the frame, welds, and pulleys, and have a three-year warranty for the cables (the industry standard).
Life Fitness gives you 30 days from the date of delivery to return all strength training and cardio equipment, minus a 20 percent restocking fee. Every item must be in its original box.
Customer Reviews
The Life Fitness G7 Home Gym has a 4.8 average rating with 42 total reviews, 36 of which are 5-star ratings.
The lone one-star review seems to come from someone who didn’t even purchase the product.
The Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley has no customer reviews as of this writing.
Final Verdict of Our Life Fitness Functional Trainer Reviews
Life Fitness functional trainers may not be the most versatile machines on the market (they don’t come with a Smith machine, like the Force USA G20 All-in-One Trainer), but there’s a reason why you spot them and their other brands (like Hammer Strength and Cybex) all over the world—because they’re built to last.
These would be the functional trainers we’d recommend to anyone who’s looking for a heavy-duty piece of equipment that works for most trainees. After all, if they can last while being used by hundreds of people per day, there’s no doubt they’ll be a mainstay in your home gym for many years to come.
Life Fitness Functional Trainer FAQs
Is a functional trainer worth it?
Functional trainers are a versatile piece of equipment that are used by general trainees, along with bodybuilders who want to strengthen their muscles and work on vital isolation exercises. Most also come with accessories that help expand the number of movements you can do with it, and it often replaces multiple pieces of equipment.
What is the best functional trainer?
We narrowed down our top 10 picks for the best functional trainers, and found that the REP Fitness FT-5000 is the best choice for most home gym owners. However, if you’re looking for a commercial-grade functional trainer, we’d recommend the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym or the Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley.
How much is a functional trainer?
Functional trainers vary in cost depending on their size, versatility, and durability. The REP FT-5000, for example, sells for around $2,500 whereas the regular price of the Life Fitness Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley is closer to $8,300 (before shipping and handling).
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