Welcome to our Gym Machines Review site where you will be able to find the best information on all types of gym machines and also reviews to help you decide which gym equipment to buy. In addition we have plenty of tips and advice on health fitness in general.

There are lots of different types of gym equipemnt on the market now and we will help you to decide which product is going to be best for your requirements. We cover cross trainers, exercise bikes, home gyms, various leg machines, rowing machines and treadmills.

First of all lets see what equipment you should be using for specific areas of your body or for your particular situation. If there is a muscle group you want to target then type it into the search box below and you will see the various types of equipment that work on that area.

Best Gym Machines For:

EquipmentMain Body Area Worked
Exercise Bikelegs, thighs, glutes, triceps, hamstrings, cardiovascular
Cross Trainerall over body workout - low impact training. Glutes, arms, legs, calves, hamstrings, back, chest, thighs, cardiovascualr
Rowing Machinearms, legs, shoulders, abs, back, glutes, cardiovascular
Dumbbells & Barbells (use for lifting and squating)arms, legs
Leg Extensionlegs, thighs, hamstrings
Leg Curlthighs, legs, glutes, calves, hamstrings, abs
Bench Presschest, arms
Treadmillsarms, legs, abs, calves, glutes, hamstrings, cardiovascular
Leg Presslegs, glutes, calves, hamstrings
Home Gymtargets all areas depending on what exercise you choose - strength training

best gym machines

Gym Machines Reviewed

Table of Contents
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1. Cross Trainers
2. Treadmills
3. Exercise Bikes
4. Home Gyms
5. Calf Machines
6. Thigh Toners
7. Leg Press Machines
8. Leg Extensions/Curls
9. Rowing Machines

Cross Trainer – Elliptical Trainers

This exercise equipment will workout your upper and lower body at the same time – they use a motion similar to that of skiing. There is very little impact to the body so they are good for using after injuries.

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Treadmills

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Running machines tend to be big and bulky but most can be folded up and stored away. Again these provide both strengthening (for your legs) and cardiovascular workouts. If you swing your arms then you also work them out too so you get total body workout! One thing to note is that as with exercise involving running it does put strain on your knee joints. Most treadmills are cushioned by having springs to absorb the shock and this lessens the impact making them more comfortable than running outdoors. The horizon t101 treadmill is a good example of one.

Exercise Bikes

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You get get full size and mini cycles now. The mini cycles being great for use in the office! The additional thing that exercise bikes provide is that they give a great cardiovascular workout as well as toning the thighs, glutes and legs. There is also some upper body strengthening to be gained too.

Home Gyms

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Basically these are the all in one gym machines. They are usually the most expensive and take up quite a lot of space although some can be folded away.

Gym Machines for Legs

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There are quite a few different types of leg machines. Here we go through the various leg machines and what they can be used for before reviewing a number of different types.

Calf Machines

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This machine develops your calf muscles. The seated calf raise machine is quite easy to use and has a platform for your feet to rest on and handle bars for support. You can also do standing calf raises without any equipment. Keep your upper body still or hold on to a chair for support and slowly raise your heel as high as you can and then gentlylower again. This is good if you have had an ankle injury.

Thigh Toners

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Leg Press Machines

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These gym machines come as diagonal or seated/cable. On the diagonal (you lie down at approx. 45 degrees) leg press the weight plates are attached to the leg press sled and this is mounted on the rails. You sit below this and push the weights upwards with your feet. The weight stack provides enough resistance to increase your strengthening work out. With the seated leg press you sit upright and push forward with your feet onto a plate that is attached to a stack of weights by a long steel cable. This then moves the weight stack up. They both work your lower back, gluteus maximus and quads. If you use the equipment with only a little weight on the plates then it can be used for therapy – for example if you are recovering from an injury.

Leg Extension Machines/Leg Curl Machines

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These training machines are great for increasing strength and muscle tone to the lower and upper leg (quads and hamstrings). Also good for strengthening the muscles on the knee. Depending on your own preference you can get machines for seated leg curls or leg curls whilst lying down! I personally find that lying leg curls put more strain on my back but that might just be me! Leg curls exercise are best for developing hamstrings and are used by curling your legs back towards you.

Rowing Machines

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These are good for cardiovascular exercise as well as strength training which is why they are popular. However they are big and therefore usually found in a gym rather than at home. However many of the hydraulic resistance rowing machines can be folded up and put away.