Total Gym 1100

I''m a pretty unlikely reviewer for exercise equipment. I''m an outdoor enthusiast and enjoy a variety of spots with my family (biking, hiking, skiing, etc) but have zero interest in home exercise equipment, body building, etc.

But about 10 years ago accidentally stumbled upon a Total Gym (early model 1000 maybe?) at a damaged freight auction, of all places. I saw a pallet stacked about 5 feet high with all sorts of metal pieces, some mangled pretty bad. In the middle of the mangled mess I saw the Bowflex logo, got excited, and bought the pallet for $5.

When I got it to my garage, I was able to piece together 3 complete machines a Bowflex, a Total Gym, and a Gazelle. (The rest was bent or incomplete). So I had a blast testing these three machines (probably $2,000 of equipment I got for $5!). The Bowflex seemed like a great strength training/muscle building machine, but took up way too much room and I sold it pretty quickly. The Gazelle was a load of fun used it for about 4 years. Provided a nice gentle workout. And it was light, folded up nice, but the handles are curved so it wouldn''t fit under a bed or in the closet. I decided to sell it when I moved, but probably would have kept it if I had the space.

The machine that made the cut was the Total Gym. It seemed to do the job of both the Gazelle & the Bowflex it''s advertised for strength training, but actually I primarily use it for aerobic. My favorite aerobic exercise is the row machine function (which obviously also works the arms & chest), but there are a variety of other aerobic exercises as well.

This model is pretty light (maybe it''s 54 pounds like the box says, but it seems lighter to me), and will fold up and store in the closet or under most beds. If your bed is too short (like my previous bed) invest $10 in some Bed Risers/Lifts, and it will definitely fit. It stores away great, has such a broad variety of exercises, & is so easy to use, it wins hands-down in my book in terms of most convenient exercise machines.

My experience with the Total Gym doesn''t stop there. Over the years I''ve kept my eyes open for Total Gyms at church sales, garage sales, etc. I even discovered that my local Goodwill Thrift Store refuses to sell any exercise equipment, so they give them away free on the curb whenever one is donated. Whenever I saw a different model, I picked it up and gave it as a gift to family members, or sold it. I''ve tried just about every model the 1000, 1100, 1500, 2000, an off-brand called Fitness Quest, and even the top-of-the-line Total Gym XLS.

If you''re shopping for a Total Gym, here''s how they compare:

The off-brands I tested (Fitness Quest, Bayou, even a K-Mart branded machine), did not compare at all to the Total Gym. The parts were plastic (not metal) and tended to break. The back board was smaller and wasn''t comfortable. Maybe these off-brands have gotten better in recent years, but I can''t recommend any of them.

In terms of the Total Gym, all of them performed well. The differences between the 1100 and the more expensive models are: The back board is wider and more padded, they handle extra weight, and they come with extras/amenities for different exercises.

So I ended up giving away or selling the more expensive models (XLS, 2000, 1500) and kept this one! I would recommend the more expensive units if you are a body builder and want to add a greater variety of exercises (the leg builder & squat tools are nice on the XLS), if you are over 250 or 300 pounds (check the weight limit on the box), if you need a wider or more padded back board (i.e., if you are in physical therapy), or if you like all the fancy gadgets. For me, the 1100 has plenty to keep both my wife & myself busy.

One other thing most people who buy exercise equipment end up using it 3 times before it ends up a clothing rack or a dust collector in the garage. The primary reasons for this are (a) building a new routine, and (b) convenience and that''s why the portability of this unit helps. However, if you''re undecided about what type of machine to get, I suggest the less expensive 1100 ... and if you use it every day and eventually need more, sell it and get the larger unit. In my experience, the price point for a new or like-new 1100 (on Amazon, auction sites, local ads, etc) should be between $150-200 delivered. Hope this helps!

Yes, there are a few downsides to this system. It can take up a bit of floorspace, and it is a bit pricey. But... I had this system a few years ago and loved it. I had to sell it when I moved into a tiny apartment and needed all the space I could get. I recently repurchased the item again and don''t regret it at all. There are so many exercises you can perform with this unit, and after two and a half weeks I''m already seeing results. This is a great product for beginners or for those who want an inexpensive home gym.

Buy Total Gym 1100 Now

The Total Gym 1100 is a great value given its low price combined with the number of exercise you can perform. I rated it 4 starts, but 3.5 would be more accurate. Buying the more expensive models does not greatly increase what you can do; it just improves the quality and throws in a few accessories. You can get a pretty good upper body workout on this machine, but this in not the machine if you want to do a lot of work on your legs or abs. The construction and components are not high quality, but that should be expected when buying the base line model. Nothing has broken yet, but some of the padding is showing major signs of wear after only a few months. This is a great item to if you want a good (not great) workout at a very low price, just don''t expect it to do everything.

Pros:

Can perform most of the same exercise as more expensive models

Fairly easy to move and store away

Good upper body workout, especially shoulders

Great Value

Amazon Shipping was great

Cons:

Not for developing muscle mass, nor is it great for lower body or core

Quality of machine/components is not very good (this should be expected for the price)

Read Best Reviews of Total Gym 1100 Here

...not very convenient. It''s been advertised as being easy to fold up and store almost anywhere. Well, it''s not that easy. It''s quite heavy and awkward. It does provide a good workout, though. It''s very diverse so you can work on almost any area. If you''re looking for something like that, then I recommend the Total Gym, but don''t expect it to be as simple as shown on television.

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I''ve owned 3 Total Gyms since 1996 and the 1100 is the best, cost efficient model out there. It allows me to complete all the basic exercises without all the bells and whistles.

Anytime I''ve gone for a period of time without working out, this machine was the fastest way for me to tone my major muscle groups. Cardio and weight training in one. I have saved hundreds of dollars on gym memberships by having this at home. Love it!!

I have had to replace mine about every 4 years due to wear and tear. To me this is not unreasonable because I use the machine extensively. I paid $199 for this in 1996 and paid the same in 2008. Can''t beat that.