Great piece of exercise equipment

I recently acquired a Total Trainer DLX-2 and am very pleased with it. I have lifted free weights since middle school and had only once seen a system like this (a Total Gym in Sears) which I briefly experimented with. I quickly realized that I could get a good workout from such a system.



In my routine I typically hit my quads hamstrings calves biceps triceps shoulders forearms chest middle/lower/upper back and abs. There are multiple exercises to choose from for working each muscle group. Changing levels is easy to do. Moving the pulleys from one spot to another is easy as is attaching the pulley with the ankle strap on it. In fact there is nothing even remotely complicated about it.



Setup is a snap. It's odd at first but after a couple of times opening and folding it back up are simple. I was skeptical that when folded it would take up so little space but it does. My wife is completely happy with how it disappears when I'm through with it.



In summary I love my Total Trainer!!!More detail ...

Pretty cool can still stand improvement.

First let me say that I am using this trainer and getting good results. I am reasonably satisfied considering that I saved a lot of cash compared to the TV celebrity infomercial gym. It is a functional piece of fitness equipment but perhaps I am expecting too much compared to the dollars I paid because now I would like to share a few of my quibbles:



The snap hooks which are at the ends of the ropes are plastic. I would feel more secure if they were metal and I may fix this later myself.



The area where the rails hinge is bumpy to roll over. On some exercises it is of no importance on others you really notice it. That area needs to be manufactured with more care and precision and/or bigger diameter rollers to help smooth out the ride.



The fixture that holds the rails by means of two pins at adjustable heights on the upright bar is also made of plastic. This piece seems sturdy enough so far but it is certainly not commercial grade gym equipment with this much plastic. I also wish to note that something is tweaked in the way mine is made. This plastic fixture holds my rails at a slightly "off" angle (not level as it should be). This does not seem to impair the function of the machine for the use it was intended for but often my eye is drawn to this imperfection and it makes me a little sad to see that things get built to such lax standards.



There is a nice velcro foot restraint to allow you to use the board on an incline for sit ups. Good luck (as a beginner)getting onto the glide board for sit ups! You need the board in a position partway up the rails for inclined sit ups and there is no provision for locking the glide board on the rails in such a position.



While you are doing sit ups and such with your head pointing down slope you may want to remove the accessories that fit into the two holes at the bottom end. If you were to slip and "glide" backwards you could injure your head/neck if the accessories were left in place or if you position the unit close to a wall or object. If you remove the accessories there are still two metal pipes that stick out of the bottom cross bar to insert the accessories into. There should be plastic sleeves to cover them when not in use to avoid injury when you slip down and off the end of the machine as is more likely to happen the steeper the incline you use. There should be warnings included in the videos and instructions about this possibility too.



Personally I made my own safety device by drilling holes into a 2x4 to fit over the pipe stubs and rounding and sanding off the 2x4 until it looked like I could bump over it without problems. Then I gave it a coat of linseed oil.



The videos were VHS tapes not DVDs incase this matters for you. It would be easier to view the method for doing a specific exercise if a DVD with a good menu system were included.



Overall I think the trainer works as advertised but it can certainly stand some improvement in fit and quality.More detail ...

Awesome Fitness product!!!! Buy it you won't be sorry!

I bought this for my fiance and I to use. I have always had gym memberships in the past using mostly free weights but now due to my hectic schedule driving to a gym is not an option. I have owned a Total Gym in the past. The Total Gym is the one that Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley advertise on TV. Save yourself lots of money don't buy one of those. The quality of this machine over the Total Gym is unbelievable. You can't compare the two but I will anyway.



First let's talk price. The Total Gym's price is about $1800.00 the last time I checked. The Total Trainer has a cost of around $500.00. Now let's talk quality. I am a big guy (usually hover around 260 pounds at 6 feet tall) so not only was my weight a concern but also my height and whether I could get a full range of motion with the exercises. On the Total Gym my movements on the machine were tricky due to its lighter construction and its propensity to wobble when I was on it. Additionally I could not get a full range of motion on several of the movements on the Total Gym. However on the Total Trainer I have experienced no wobbles at all. This machine is rock solid. On the Total Trainer I am able to perform all of the exercises comfortably. The third thing to compare is the accessories that come with this machine. The Total Trainer includes many more which would cost additional money for the Total Gym. Finally exercising on this machine is fun. In fact the first day that I had it I enjoyed it so much I did 2 complete workouts. I paid for that in aspercreme and Tylenol (don't do that). For a person like me that enjoys power-lifting but can't get to the gym anymore this machine is perfect. I can't believe the level of workout that this machine gives me. I highly recommend it. My only complaint is that the machine does not have enough resistance for me on the bench press movements or the squat movements. The machine also does not allow deadlift style movements to be performed. However I am stronger than the typical person and if you are like me then you know that this machine will never totally replace a power rack and an Olympic bench (free weights) but still an excellent buy!!!! I really love this machine and can get a full body workout on it. Thanks!!!

More detail ...

The BEST!

I'm really glad to be writing this review as I fully believe the Total Trainer is the best home exercise machine on the market bar none!



I've worked out on plenty of machine and free weight systems but the glide rail is without question the very best way to get the exercise you need with the minimum of hassle or danger.



With machines and free weights you're working to move plates or dumbbells against gravity. Most people agree that free weights produce the best results but just as many people will warn of their dangers. The problem is one of control or rather the lack of it in a vulnerable position. More than one person has been injured by a sudden muscle failure during a squat thrust or a bench press. That's why spotters are essential if you're going to use these kinds of weights.



What about the rest of us who don't want the bother and fuss with all that? Are we left to mess with machines with cables and plates?



I saw the first Chuck Norris infomercial many years ago and thought it was the worst gimmick. C'mon Chuck. How cool is that? Its too simple. Too basic. Too boring.



Well fast forward to the present and I recently saw another Chuck and Cindy infomercial and y'know what? The point they made is very valid. They're still hawking this thing because they're still using it. Yep. The glide board trainer is something you can stay with for a long time.



So I made the decision to get one. I researched and reviewed and Googled the heck out of these things to find out the real scoop. (Like you're doing now right?) Which unit is the one to get? Well any glide board trainer is the one to get. You just need to determine which model.



I really like the Bayou Fitness Power Pro Total Trainer (say that three times quickly.) Why? Its everything the high dollar Total Gym unit has with even more accessories. This unit is ROCK SOLID and is actually a light industrial version of the basic model. (Which means it can last for years in a gym with full usage.) That's great for the longevity issue but how does it work.



Well I'll tell you. This review is more of a plug for the glide board trainers than necessarily this particular model. Get ANY unit rather than none at all because they flat out work!



I'm a big guy (6'2" 375lb) and I needed a unit large enough and strong enough to handle my size. This Power Pro unit suits that nicely as it accommodates users up to 6'7" 500lb. That's an enormous difference between the basic glide board units which typically handle a up to a 285lb 6' user. The monorail system is not going anywhere and there are no flexes or instabilities as are sometimes reported on the lesser models.



The attachments are nice (bicep bar bicep isolator ab crunch strap etc) and they are really excellent and super well made. But they're really not so necessary. The basic handles attached to the pulleys are all anyone really needs. Switching the pulleys to the glide board itself is a great feature of this unit and makes for not only excellent variations but also a ton more resistance.



The concept of these trainers is so simple you really need to stop and think about it. Manual simple resistance exercises (push ups pull ups situps squats etc.) have been around for centuries for good reason. They work and you can do them anywhere. But what happens if you can't do a full chin up push up etc. What do you do then?



Herein is the excellence of the glide board. You are just modifying the total amount of weight you're pulling or pushing. Can you do a full chin up right now? How about 10? Most people can't do even one; and the heavier you are the more impossible it becomes. Go home and cry? Not with this unit! Just set the angle of the glide board to a certain position and only a percentage of your weight comes into play. The exercise is the same. The same chin up push up etc. but with a limited about of your weight to move. The concept is SUPER and it really works.



Another aspect of this system I'm really liking is the range of motion you can get on almost every exercise along with great control and safety. Example: I have bad knees. My right is worse than my left and my left is reconstructed. I simply can't do a regular squat because there is a vulnerability about half way into the squat. I have to hold onto some if I do one bare. But with the Total Trainer not only is the amount of weight greatly reduced I'm in an inclined position which affords great control and comfort. Better yet I can grab the pulley handles and completely regulate the descent with my arms. I can literally "spot" myself with this system.



I've done many chest butterflies on a stack weight system and believe me they are BORING. The range of motion usually punks out towards the rear of the motion as the plates reach their end of travel. But with the glide board system your arms are fully engaged as far back as you can go but you're in control because you can put your feet down on the floor quickly and end the exercise if you need to. You'll never rupture a tendon with this system. The range and control are superior to anything I've ever used before.



How do you do lat pull downs at the gym? Use a stack machine right? Grab the big wide bar sit on some stool and yank the thing down til it goes behind your head right? Where does the exercise end at the top? When the stack reaches the bottom right? If you want fully engaged motion you have to dip down quite a bit (at least I do) and then its not very comfortable.



Well with the Total Trainer you set the glide board angle insert the pullup bar at the top of the unit move the board up and lie down on it and then grab the bar and pull yourself up. You're actually doing a modified pull up (which is what the lat machine is supposed to be duplicating BTW.) When you let yourself down you go all the way down until you're hanging there with a full stretch. That's fantastic! No other machine I've ever used gives this much range. You'll really feel the full stretch with this system.



I can do the best butterflies I've ever done with the Total Trainer. The range is total and the completion of the exercise is not compromised by the limits of the unit (as you'll often find with butterfly machines.) Also its very easy to stop at the top of the exercise and rest a bit (which is always very satisfying.) I like a 10-12 rep set like anyone but these days depending on the resistance level a 4 rep set is kicking. Two of those with a minute rest between is excellent training believe me. Because of this its easy to work up to more reps and more sets before increasing the resistance.



The leg curl exercise is outstanding. I normally hate leg curls because the hamstring is a very difficult to isolate muscle. Also most leg curl machines have this really annoying leg pad that rides up your calf through the range of the exercise. But just clip yourself into the foot pedals set a fairly low resistance lie fully down and curl those legs. The motion is very smooth and linear with no grabs or grasps at the end. The movement is very complete and you just know you've done an excellent exercise.



Put the pull up bar at the bottom on the unit and lie down upside down for shoulder push ups. You'll love the motion resistance and total feeling.



Want to do more abdominal work? (Who doesn't?) Enjoy full situps? (Most don't.) Well here's a tip you won't find in the manual. Instead of doing situps with your feet in the foot pedals and the board at an incline simply turn around and put your feet on the floor and use the incline to moderate your situp resistance. You'll love it! And you'll do a lot more of them than lying down flat on your back. Start with the glide board in a very steep angle for the least resistance in this position. As your stomach muscles get stronger move the angle down until you don't need the modification any longer and can turn back around and use the foot pedals with the board inclined upwards.



The ab crunch strap is the best I've seen. Marvelous for isolating the abs.



A few quibbles:



You must have the manual to work with this unit. I had an awful time trying switch the pulleys and fold the unit up without the manual. (I bought my unit second hand.) Bayou Fitness seems to be fine company but for some reason they don't think its important to have this unit's manual online in a PDF. They offer the dual rail manual online but the monorail has enough differences to warrant its own manual online. Several well responded but unnecessary emails were sent to Bayou Fitness about this.



The unit is a tank. 122lbs dead weight and it isn't going anywhere. It folds up for storage and moving and can be unfolded and in use within seconds. (Try doing that with a weight stack system.) Please don't let people fool you. You've got an entire gym's worth of equipment in this excellent system that's you'd otherwise spend many thousands of dollars trying to replicate on your own. Plus this system is much much much better in almost every respect. (You can get plenty ripped with just this unit believe me. Don't listen to "experts." Watch what you eat and exercise with this unit daily and you'll soon have much to show for it.)



That value of this system is phenomenal. New from the company is less than $600 which is a steal considering the construction and accessories. (I got mine second hand off Craigslist in like-new condition for just $200!) Still $1500 would not be excessive for this excellent unit and the Total Gym will sell you their equivalent (with less accessories) for just that much. The monorail is best for larger heavier people like me but Bayou sells a DXL II model for half that which is just as good if you ask me.



The important choice is not so much which unit to buy but THAT you buy; because without this excellent exercise machine in your home you're missing out on exercise that's essential controlled safe and really fun. You will enjoy using this machine for a long time. (Just ask Chuck.)More detail ...

Product Desciptin is False and Misleading

Despite the minimal product description there is maximum misinformation.



Product does NOT work on all Total Gym Models and DOES require accessories. Be sure to buy hundres of dollars of thier stuff to use this. More detail ...

Awesome . . . must have workout machine at home!

I absolutely love this thing!!! I work out several times a week on this machine and the Power Tower. I have also used the low-end version you see endorsed by Chuck Norris on TV. Even though you can get mild to moderate results from the low-end version I personally didn't think it was quality made or very stable. The Power Tower and the 26000 are a couple of the upper-end Total Gyms with the Power Tower being the most expensive model. Both are sturdy enough to be used for commercial use and they provide the same range of exercises but the 26000 is my personal preferance. This model's pull-up bar isn't bare metal like the one on the Power Tower so your hands don't slip when sweating. You can also easily position your hands differenlty when doing pull-ups in order to target biceps or lats. Plus there is no motor to malfunction which I've notice to be a problem with the Power Tower. I personally think the slight inconvenience of having to manually adjust the resistance is worth the added reliability of the product. This model is extremely sturdy and reliable so it will last forever. Plus with the different accessories you can workout every part of your body. It makes workouts so simple and fast. I also love the fact that you can constantly increase your level of workout either by increasing the elevation or by adding weights onto the attachable weight bar. I started out using this machine to rehab an injury and it's been great that it can still make me break a good sweat and challenge me well after recovery. I went from being extremely active to sedentary while injured so naturally some weight gain occurred and this has also worked like a charm to drop the pounds. I have my bicycle set up on a bike trainer at home and along with the Total Gym I'm able to do circuit training at any time in my own home alternating between reps on the Total Gym and cardio on my bike. You can always find little ways to make each exercise more challenging on this by increasing tension or by fine tuning your body positioning and movements. This is great for decreasing your waist line increasing muscle strength or just maintaining your current physique regardless of fitness level. More detail ...

Good Idea Bad Sewing

It works like it is suppose to but the quality of the stitching is poor. After using it only once I began to see the threading on the edge begin to fray and come apart. Just make sure you get a good stitched one and you will be fine.More detail ...

Excellent product

The total gym is a terrific supplement to weight and cardio training.

It is espesially good if you play sports such as baseball tennis racquetball etc.

This machine really strenghtens and stretches all muscles around the shoulders.

The TG1400 is better made and cheaper than the infomercial total gym although it is still

pretty pricey. In fact this is the model Chuck Norris endorses on his web site.

The price is why I do not give 5 stars. Use it for 10-20 minutes at the start of your day

then go run a mile or two afterward and you will feel the benefits.

It does take up a lot of space and is a pain to put it away.

I leave it set up at all times. More detail ...

certwelder56

I purchased this product for my wifes birthday. the ad shows someone moving it around effortlessly not so. It is very heavy and hard to store so we elected to leave it set up. It is a rugged piece of equipment so we are going to keep it. So before you buy this make sure you have room to keep it set up.More detail ...

Be careful--this could be too small

This seemed the answer to our problem. An effective compact work out machine.

However as I did both workouts I found that the "compactness" was a major problem. I could complete some but not all of the exercises because I "hit" the hard stop on the machine (nowhere left for it to slide). I was very disappointed. I was nowhere near full extension. I spent time seeing if I could sit differently to give me more space but nothing worked. I am 200lbs 5"10" with a 34" sleeve so I am not a giant. I know form is important so I made sure I was following the instructors carefully. But nothing worked. I do not know how they claim people up to 6' 3" can use this. I had to send it back --- $55 out of pocket. More detail ...

Total Gym - great workout!

I have been using the Total Gym XL for around 5 weeks. If you are a serious bodybuilder this is probably not the home gym for you. But if you are looking to tone up and strenghten your whole body or if you are like me over 55 and trying not to lose any more muscle mass :) this is GREAT piece of equipment! After just a couple days of getting used to the gym it takes just seconds to change the resistance level add or remove the wing attachment or add or remove the cable pulley for the various exercises. The included DVDs flip chart and wall chart make it easy to tailor your workout to your personal goals. It is a well made piece of equipment and glides very smoothly. Improvements come quickly at first - I have already moved up a level of resistance in several exercises. Highly recommended. More detail ...

Good entry level equipment

OK I bought a used total gym 3000 for 100.00 a year ago. I have used it on a regular basis ever since. The unit has gotten a little noiser and is not nearly as easy to put away as they would have you believe. However it *does* work you out well. It is easy to use and effective. Maybe the body rail is better (it would be nice to have something wall mounted!) BUT - this is a review of the total gym 3000. I have lost weight gained muscle and never hurt myself. Does everything it says it will do. Certainly not a ripoff IF you use it. More detail ...

I love this more than my own mother.

I was a little leery of making this purchase. Normally products that seem too simple for too reasonable of a price just never end up satisfying in the way you hope (e.g. The Dodge Neon anything on Jack in the Box's value menu my two years at DeVry). But this? Oh. Oh my faith has been restored in cheap American products.



Because you see kids. This is a WELL ENGINEERED cheap American product. Yes a rarity. I was worried that it would be difficult to assemble. I was worried that it wouldn't really hang from my door frame. I was worried that it would break under my underwhelming 155lbs. I was worried the Utah Jazz wouldn't be able to gear up and start winning road games as the playoffs grew nigh.



I mostly worried for naught.



I assembled the Iron Gym Extreme in about 15 minutes. Probably could have done so a lot more quickly but I was distracted by Boston Legal on DVD and by gunning my power ratchet wrench at my cat to stop her from playing in the packing materials.



(Note: You do NOT need your own tools to assemble this product. It comes with a little tool. But you can speed up the process with your own tools. You should have your own tools anyway you know? Be a man.)



Once you assemble the Iron Gym Extreme you'll need to pick a doorway. It seemed to fit all my doorways perfectly but I have heard word of older houses having issues. You will need to insert a small metal wedge into the top of your doorjamb. This helps to secure the device and make sure it doesn't fall on anyone's head. It's not as scary as it sounds you just kinda shove the thing behind the wood. Then you kinda wiggle it and say "Will that hold it?" Then a few minutes later you say "Gol-darn it WILL hold it. Ain't that somethin'." Should any friends be standing nearby this would be an excellent time to exchange high-fives.



I then chin-upped. Well I tried. God as my witness I had no idea I was such a puss. I had like no upper-body strength. I'm pretty sure I heard my cat laughing at me somewhere down the hall behind me but the blood was thumping in my ears so I can't be sure. But the bar sure worked!



I didn't give up and kept at the bar. Now no several weeks later I'm nowhere close to entering any Ultimate Fighting Competitions or anything but I can do buttloads of reps now and my cat has stopped mocking me.



This product has been excellent. Buy with confidence.



The Utah Jazz however appear to be headed towards a first-round sweep at the hands of the L.A. Lakers.



Crap.More detail ...

Watch my experience with the Iron Gym Workout Bar

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R39ZOKQPVWE4JB Watch assembly & workouts for the Iron Gym including pull ups push ups dips knee raises and body weight rows. The Iron Gym is a very good product. Just don't expect to do many dips from this machine.More detail ...

Excellent more than we had hoped for

We had seen so many different types of equipment that we didn't know which ones really provided an excellent workout without killing us in the process. My wife and I were very happy when we received this product with minimal setup (10 minutes) and we were following the DVD moments afterward. What a great workout! We also have a bowflex but this new equipment can do things the bowflex can't. We use them in unison and recommend the Total Gym to anyone willing to workout 15 minutes every other day.More detail ...

Worthwhile purchase

My wife has been wanting to buy a Total Gym for some time now and we're glad we waited because the Total Gym 1800 seems a bit better than the 1700 for a very similar price. We had a hard time finding enough info on the 1800 but decided to take a chance. Although we're not familiar with the 1700 there doesn't seem to be anything "missing" and the 1800 does include a few extras such as larger glide board and ab boards. It also has leg pulley kit one foot harness dip bars press up bars and the wing accessory many of which I think are included in the 1700 as well.



Pluses: Convenient and easy to exercise many different muscle groups compact and reasonably priced. Adults and older kids can use it comfortably. I don't find it difficult to make adjustments even raising and lowering but may be difficult for people who weigh only 100 lbs or less.



Minuses or things that may take some getting used to:



(1) Lot of adjusting required. Different exercises require different attachments some of which get in the way of each other so you don't (can't) have everything permanently attached. At least with the hitch pins it's easy. What's not so easy is adjusting the effort level because the only way to do this is by raising or lowering the glide table so it's inclined at a different angle (all exercises require raising your body on the glide table at a steeper angle this requires more effort). So where I've started is level 1 (easiest) for a few exercises then I adjust to level 3 for a couple of other exercises. While I do expect to get stronger at the level 1 exercises I kind of doubt that I'll ever be at the same setting for all exercises.



(2) Mechanical design leaves something to be desired. (a) I have yet to find a good place to keep the handles when not using them so they just kind of rattle around on the floor. (b) There's a safety hitch pin but either I'm not using it right or it doesn't fit well - there's a hole it seems it should go in but it either goes in cockeyed or it bangs up against the main spring loaded pin that holds one end of the glide table up. (c) There's a velcro pad on one of the rails the pulley fitting rubs against this and it's going to come off sooner or later. (d) There's a foam pad that goes under the unit. But when you raise or lower the glide table the distance between the feet changes and the foam pad shifts around. Minor nuisance keeping the unit on the foam pad I'm inclined (no pun intended!) to get a nice big plywood sheet and keep the Total Gym on that. (e) Depending on the attachments in use the plastic-sheathed cable may rub on the attachment.



(3) At first it was awkward getting started with each exercise but I'm getting the hang of it. Seems to help to grab both handles of the rope-pulley and then adjust your body position. And empty your pockets ;-)



(4) Be careful with loose hair. First time my wife tried her hair got caught in a pulley assembly.



Drawbacks notwithstanding a good deal for the money.More detail ...

I finally found the perfect workout machine.

I've been looking for quite a while for an "all-in-one" home gym to replace several pieces of gym equipment that I've been using regularly for several years: a Weider 8510 pulley-type machine a Roman crunch bench; a Body by Jake; and free weights.



I looked at the "Total Gym" machine (the one pushed by Christie Brinkley and Chuck Norris). I went to their website and requested their free video; a few days later I got a phone call from them telling me that if I bought it that very day I could save $100. "I want the video" I said. I never got the video. That sent up "red flags" in my head for the Total Gym people. I resent being hustled.



Then I found this item the Total Body Works 5000. I could not find a single negative review for it anywhere.



I bought it. I love it. Even though I've been working out for years I am impressed. It will help free up a lot of space in my basement!More detail ...

Good buy for beginners

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.More detail ...