I was a little hesitant to buy the FreeForm gym, but I'm glad I did. Except for arm curls, all of the exercises have good range of motion and consistent resistance change. The squats look a little strange in the online video, but they actually feel very smooth when the machine is correctly adjusted for your height. It is very solid and should prove to be very durable. The amount of resistance is good for the average guy, but some people will find the resistance too light for the squat exercise. It folds down fairly easily, but still doesn't fit under my bed...although in its defense my bed is a little lower than some, and the machine really does fold to a low profile. However, the sturdy build comes at the price of added weight. I could see some people finding it a little heavy to roll around.
There are a few things that could be improved:
For one, the machine could have rubber feet or pads where the frame of the machine touches the floor. This doesn't matter on carpet, but on hard-wood flooring the machine can leave scratches when moved around...and it can slide easily. I installed some adhesive felt pads at about six different points which has helped a lot.
Second, it could use more resistance to allow for more strength development. The 200# of resistance is plenty to get a good workout, but an extra 20 to 40 pounds of resistance would allow for more growth. If you can bench press more than 220# a few times, this probably won't challenge you. Otherwise, it should be a good fit for most people in the market for a home gym in this price range.
Third, the company could do a better job of packing it to minimize small paint chips during shipping. Mine had a few paint chips which are really just cosmetic and minor and don't effect the function at all, but still it is disappointing to get a new piece of equipment with paint chips already.
So, my favorite exercises on this machine are the chest flies, low rows, and squats. With a little playing, you will probably find a few good exercises not listed on the poster that comes with this. I would recommend this machine to anyone getting started with strength training and for most people getting back to a regular fitness routine. If you are an avid weight lifter or body builder, this may not have enough resistance for you.
(11 customers reviews)Customers Rating=4.5 / 5.0
More Detail For
FreeForm Hideaway Home Gym- Compact home gym designed to build lean, fat-burning muscle
- Patented quick-change resistance bands make it easy to change weight
- Supports dozens of upper body, lower body, and abdominal exercises
- Folds almost flat for easy storage under a bed or in a closet
- Resistance range of 10 to 200 pounds; 5-year limited warranty
