Version 1.4:
Again, this is not meant to be a free weights vs machines thread. This thread is simply about discussing all the choices of various free weights and machine choices on the market that people feel represent the best choice, regardless of cost. Certainly best bang for the buck is always relevant as well, but the thread is primarily focused on what is the best product available.
I am expecting delivery of 13 pieces in 2 weeks including: Nautilus Power Plus Pullover, 7 pieces from Atlantis, Legend/Westside Barbell Inverse Leg Curl, and a custom Reflex Fitness/Sorinex Donkey calf with custom adjustable foream pad. Also, Power-Lift adjustable plyo boxes, and a Power -Lift Pro Plate load shoulder press.
Leg presses:
TOP-TIER:
MedX Avenger Leg Press
Atlantis Fitness Pivot Press (with modified footplates)
Atlantis 40 degree Leg press (with modified wide foot plates)
Rogers Athletic Power Squat Pro
Rogers Athletic Pendulum Hip Press
Atlantis Power Squat (modified additional wide foot plate surface)
Nebula Vertical leg press
Atlantis Hack Squat machines
Randy Coyle Swing Squat
Runner-ups:
Pendulum Seated Squat Pro
Nebula 35 degree leg press
Nebula 45 degree Leg Press
UCS adjustable 35-45 degree leg press (difficult to find demo)
Elite FTS Mondo 45 degree Leg press
Cybex Plate loaded Leg Press
Strive Plate loaded leg press
Smith Machine:
Nebula smith machine declared 'overall' winner. Adjustable angle: straight to angled, full range top to bottom.
Leg Curl:
TOP-TIER:
Star Trac makes the best prone leg curl and bested kneeling leg curl on the market bar none:
Star Trac Prone Leg curl A+ (newest version gets demoted to A/A-).
Star Trac Kneeling Leg Curl A+
Atlantis C-107 Standing leg curl
Westside Legend: Inverse leg curl
Runner-ups:
Cybex plate loaded kneeling leg curl A
Leg Extension:
TOP-TIER:
Strive Fitness plate loaded A+
MedX selectorised Leg ext (Inquire about adding weight to weight stack)
Westside Legend: Hip Quad machine
Leg Abductor/Adductor:
TOP-TIER:
Strive Fitness combo abductor/adductor A+
Runner-ups:
Atlantis Abductor/Adductor A-
Cybex Eagle A-
Calf Machines:
TOP-TIER:
Sorinex seated calf A+
Nebula seated calf A
Atlantis standing calf A
Reflex/Sorinex Donkey calf with custom adjustable forearm pad A+
Free Motion Epic calf ext A
Shoulder:
TOP-TIER:
Atlantis E-449 Plate loaded Shoulder A/A+
Power-Lift Plate Loaded Shoulder
Strive selectorized lateral raise A+
Star Trac plate loaded shoulder press A
Rogers Athletic Pendulum: Shoulder/Incline/Chest A
Runner -ups:
Hammer Strength Plate loaded Iso lateral A
MedX Avenger Shoulder (overhead press) A-
Traps:
TOP-TIER:
Rogers Athletic Pendulum 5 way neck with shrugs.
Elite FTS Pro Rickshaw
Power Lift DEADLIFT / TRAP BAR
Sorinex Diamond Bar
Triceps:
TOP-TIER:
Cybex VR2/VR3 arm extension. Heavy stack option is absolute MUST have on VR3. Older VR2 is also top tier and has heavy stack included. A+
MedX selectorized tricep extension
Atlantis D-123 Pulldown with various tricep attachments. A+
Atlantis Dipping station A+
Hammer Strength Plate loaded seated dip
Nebula reverse dip bench
Bodymasters overhead tricep bench
Runner-ups:
Bodymasters selectorized behind the head triceps extension
Biceps:
TOP-TIER:
Strive plate loaded bicep A+
Sorinex Adjustable Preacher Curl Bench A+
Bodymasters preacher curl bench
Hammer Strength plate loaded bicep A
Nautilus Compound Bicep
Back:
TOP-TIER:
Rogers Athletic Pendulum Combo Lat Pulldown
Atlantis D-423 pulldown (a superior version of the Hammer pulldown)
Atlantis D-123 cable pulldown 310 lb stack standard
Atlantis NM-500 pulldown (250 lbs stack, but offers dual pulleys)
Avenger Pulldown
Hammer Strength Iso lateral MID ROW, with modified chest pad.
MedX Avenger Row
Rogers Athletic Pendulum Row
Atlantis D-132 cable High Row (310 lb weight stack is standard on this).
Nebula Leverage Low Row (old version, to be made again by Rae Crowthers)
Power-Lift Low Row
Legend LeverEdge High Row
Strive Plate loaded and selectorized Low back extension with seatbelt.
Legend/Westside Reverse hyperextension with curved pendulum
MedX selectorized Lumbar
Dual stirrup Hampton cable attachment or similar chain with Black Iron Strength stirrup handle upgrades.
Mag Grip attachments:
http://www.maxagrip.com/products.html
Runner -ups:
Hammer Strength High Row
Hammer Strength Low Row
Hammer Strength Pulldown
Chest:
TOP-TIER:
Nebula plate loaded leverage Incline chest (3 grip choices) (will be available for production by Rae Crowthers shortly)
Nebula plate loaded leverage flat chest (2 grip choices) (will be available for production by Rae Crowthers shortly)
Atlantis P-439 Plate loaded flat/decline A+
Atlantis Plate loaded Vertical chest A/A+ (Old version, but available upon demand)
MedX Avenger Iso lateral vertical chest A/A+
Rogers Athletic Pendulum Shoulder/Chest/Incline A
Star Trac plate loaded vertical chest
Star Trac plate loaded decline chest
Star Trac plate loaded incline chest.
Atlantis P-156 Pec Fly/rear Delt
Nautilus Power Plus 10 degree chest
Atlantis P-443 Plate loaded incline chest
Runner-ups:
Hammer Strength Wide chest
Hammer Strength Decline Chest (Star Trac plate loaded decline supposedly superior)
Nebula IDA vertical chest
Hammer Strength HORIZONTAL iso lateral chest
Rogers Athletic Pendulum Vertical Chest (non-converging design will cause varying opinions on this machine, highly recommend demo before purchase).
Legend LeverEdge flat (horizontal) plate loaded chest
Legend LeverEdge Incline plate loaded chest.
Abs:
TOP-TIER:
Hammer Strength MTS selectorized Ab Crunch A+
Hammer Strength Plate loaded AB Crunch A+ (I demoed the plate loaded one in Vegas and it was just as good and also allows twisting of the seat for obliques. Also 4 weight horns for unlimited weight).
Strive fitness Rotary Torso: A+ (modified to have 225 lb weight stack, predominantly to help make setting 2 adequately challenging).
Strength Inc. Inverted Sit Up (revision of the Old Body Master Inverted Sit Up. Designed for the Hard Core Sit Up user).
Benches:
TOP-TIER:
Nebula Awesome utility bench
Elite FTS Collegiate 0-90 bench
Williams strength Signature Military dumbbell bench
Nebula reverse dip bench
Nebula dumbbell pullover bench
Atlantis B-180 curved pullover bench with wheels (should be excellent for flat dumbbell also
Nebula flat bench that is adjustable at both sides for incline, decline, and flat of various heights.
Sorinex Autospot benches
Atlantis Fitness Autospot benches
Power-Lift Lever action
Parillo curved Lumbar incline
Bodymasters overhead tricep bench
Glute Ham Developer:
UCS Glute Ham with custom wide footplate and wide footpads (36" width footplate)
Pullover Machines:
Nautilus Spider cam Pullover
Nautilus Power Plus Pullover
Runner-up:
MedX selectorized iso-lateral pullover
Hammer Strength plate loaded (with custom pad spacers as shown in thread)
Flooring:
INFINITY MAX Flooring
http://infinityperformance.com/pdf/I...x_Brochure.pdf
MISC:
Atlantis C-206 Adjustable step platform
Rogers Athletic Pit Shark
Rope machines
Elite FTS Swiss Bar
Black Iron Strength fat bars
Black Iron Strength attachments.
T-Grip Barbell bars and attachments
Mag Grip attachments:
http://www.maxagrip.com/products.html
Power-Lift VARIABLE ANGLE ROMAN CHAIR
Legend Fitness: Squat Machine and Calf Blaster #3129
Rogers Pendulum Gripper
Atlantis Multi Forearm vs David Multi Forearm
Atlantis power runner
Plyo Boxes:
UCS
http://www.ucsspirit.com/strength-sp...lite-Plyoboxes
Power-Lift Adjustable plyo Boxes
Runner up:
MDUSA soft plyo boxes.
Functional Trainers:
Cybex Bravo
Free Motion*
High interest pieces for hopeful soon demo:
DAVID equipment (David international)
http://www.david-international.com/cms/
Panatta Sports
Schnell Machines
Quantum Fitness Power Crunch machines and ABT (All body trainer).
Nebula IDA machines, not currently made.
Cardio Machines:
www.endlesspools.com
Michael Phelps SwimSpa: www.michaelphelpsswimspa.com
SwimEx: www.swimex.com
Precor AMT
Precor EFX ellipticals
Cybex Arc trainer 770 AT (moving arms) or A (non-moving arms)
Commercial Stairmaster machines. Step Mill 5
Jacob's Ladder
Versa climber
Rowing machines:
Concept 2 Rower: Water Rower (wood version): Water Rower (metal version)
Treadmills:
Woodway Desmo Elite
Woodway Curve
Commercial Precors (954, 956, 966).
Star Trac E-TRxe
Stationary Bikes:
Cybex 770 upright bike
Star Trac E-UBe
Schwinn Airdyne