Total Gym XLS Review

Total Gym is one of those recognizable names that has become synonymous with its celebrity endorsers, Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley.

Everyone has heard of it.

Its famous infomercials have introduced Total Gym into virtually every home in America for decades.

Total Gym’s creative cable/glideboard gives it a unique design that grants the user a full-body workout.

Using your body weight for resistance has never been easier.  A simple elevation of the glideboard increases the resistance and gives the user multiple ways to exercise.

Over the years Total Gym has developed home and commercial models.  The design has been imitated but the quality hasn’t quite been duplicated.  The durability of the frame and the entire system sets it apart from its competitors.

Benefits

Total Gym XLS is the most popular model among the Total Gym lineup. It’s one of those all in one gym equipment that requires little to no additional accessories with countless benefits.

• Compact – Total Gym XLS is very compact.  It folds to a small 19 x 51 x 9 and opens up to 19  x 90 x 43.  Slide it into a corner, place it against the wall, or if it fits, slide it under the bed for later use.
• Comes Assembled –Total Gym XLS comes completely assembled.  Take it out of the box, unfold it, attach the squat stand, Training Deck, and the handles and it’s ready to go.
• With or Without Weights – No need to add or remove weights.  All that is required is your body weight.  Resistance can be adjusted by elevating or lowering.  You can add weights with the weight bar and/or use resistance bands.
• Warranty – Total Gym comes with a 60 day money back guarantee, lifetime warranty on the frame, and 6 months on moving parts.
• Price – Depending on where you buy it, expect to pay anywhere between $700 to $800.  A comparable price for a home gym that provides this many exercises.
• Effective – It is a very effective strength training tool for most of the major muscle groups.
• Durable – The frame is solid and has a weight capacity of 400 lbs.

Drawbacks

• Optional Accessories – You can perform Pilates routines, shoulder presses, dips, and leg pulls but only with the optional accessories.  You can even increase the weight with an optional weight bar (weights not included) that attaches to the glideboard.

We wish the dip bar was included.  This is an important exercise for us in terms of strength training.

Conclusion

If it was capable of being elevated just a bit higher, it would be fantastic but if you want to pay $20 to $30 for a weight bar plus additional costs for the additional weights, that should cover any issues with the resistance or lack thereof.  Although its not a part of the equipment, you You also have the option

Some people along with some fitness sites/blogs will tell you that this is great for muscle development.

The fact is, it’s great for toning and strength training but that’s about it.  Don’t expect to turn into a bodybuilder with this machine.