The specific one I’m referring to is the “Cable Tower with Weight Stack” from Bells of Steel. It’s been an excellent addition, and I especially appreciate its small footprint, convenience, smoothness, and versatility.
I mention some important items to note before purchasing below, but there really isn’t much to complain about with this piece, especially for the price.
If I were to start building out my home gym again, I would consider adding it earlier in the process, just after adding the basics (rack, barbell, weights, bench, etc).
I’ve been incredibly impressed by it and find myself using it basically every day.
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It All Starts with the Footprint
First of all, it’s not too tall. The garage door hovers over about half of my garage, so only a smaller portion can utilize anything above 8 feet tall. I’ve actually knocked it off track twice by accidentally leaving items too tall (like the SkiErg) underneath. Having someone fix my garage door’s been a few expensive calls.
Nevertheless, at about 6.75 feet, this fits nicely underneath the garage doors.
Plus, it’s only about 25″ x 29″,” so it takes up only a small percentage of the floor space. While I really like my FT-3000 FT, I find myself utilizing a single side quite a bit more and would easily choose this over it for my home gym when considering space in mind for my home gym.
I do not utilize both sides at the same time enough with the functional trainer to make up for the space it takes up compared to this.
Convenient to use and place
The stack weight option may be more expensive than the plate-loaded option, but it has many benefits that are worth the cost if you can afford it:
- It is very convenient as it only takes a few seconds to adjust the weight. With the plate-loaded option, you have to constantly add or remove weight, which is time-consuming.
- Adjusting the height is effortless, and there are no issues with jamming or getting stuck, which I have noticed being an issue with some cheaper options.
- It is heavy enough that there is no need to bolt it to the floor (for the most part – more explanation below). With a 210 lb weight stack, it is stable and can be moved around easily as your gym setup changes over time.
- It is always ready to use, unlike a barbell that needs to be loaded up before use. It is available for use at any point during your workout or day.
It’s Smooth
With aluminum as opposed to plastic pulleys, movements feel good – both light and heavy weights.
The cable quality seems to be just fine & moves in many different motions without any friction.
There have been times when it squeaks, but it can easily remove the sound after tweaking up the setup.
There is so much you can do
With 33 adjustment points and either a 2:1 or 1:1 ratio option, there is so much you can do.
It is very versatile.
The pics below should give you a good idea.
Other Notes That You Need to Know
- I have no intentions of using this as a lat pulldown machine, and the 210 lb weight stack includes plenty of weight for myself and most other humans.
- I think there is a reason Bells of Steel doesn’t list a 1:1 ratio on its product page, even though it is possible when combining the middle pulleys:
- There is more friction when combined, and the cables do not rest perfectly on the pulleys. This causes some friction and will likely wear out the cables over time.
- When pulling heavy weight with the cables connected and it at the top setting for a movement like lat pulldown, the tower will raise up and has the potential to tip. While it sits solidly for everything else, this should be noted.
- Putting together cable machines can be intimidating. While this one isn’t necessarily easy, and the instructions are average, it is doable. It took me 90 minutes and some frustration.
- At $1,129.99, I don’t think there is a weight stack option like this at a better price.
Conclusion
According to a recent Sunday Survey, 54% of people prefer a traditional functional trainer over a single stack option. However, I believe that for most people who are concerned about space in their home gym, the single-stack option is a better choice in terms of value and space efficiency.
I came to this conclusion after personally experiencing both options in my own home gym. If given the choice again, I would opt for the single stack option and use the extra space for other equipment.
Overall, the Single Stack Cable Tower from Bells of Steel is a reliable and practical choice for those who prioritize space in their home gym.
If there is more information, please add your questions/thoughts below.