inspire fitness ft1 functional trainer

Inspire Fitness's FT1 is a smaller version of their inspirational FT2 functional trainer. With a significantly smaller price tag, the FT1 might be a ameliorate purchase if you're willing to give up on a few avant-garde features. Either way, with dual weight stacks, fully adjustable pulleys, and an incredible warranty, the FT1 has what it takes to stand alone as 1 of the best dwelling functional trainers around.

But yous actually shouldn't take my discussion for it.

That would exist too easy. You need to do your own muddy work to make certain what I'm suggesting holds water.

This review volition walk you through everything the Ft1 has going for it so yous can make your own educated conclusion. I'll start with a quick discussion on some of the key specs you should consider when comparing functional trainers.

Choosing A Functional Trainer

Just in case you're non sure what nosotros're talking near here, I better first with a definition of functional trainer. These machines are really merely cable machines (or weight stack abode gyms) with one or more pulleys.

Having an adjustable pulley gives you a lot of practice variety. These machines have adopted the proper noun "functional trainer" because they've been used a lot in the rehab and sports medicine settings for activity and sport specific training.

The adaptable pulleys requite you pretty much unlimited range of motion to play with, giving you the opportunity to train pretty much whatever motion yous can think of.

You tin can see how this would come in handy for an athlete training to improve their baseball or golf swing, or a bullpen working on pitching technique.

Anyway, the proper noun stuck. And I personally recall information technology sounds pretty sophisticated.

"Yeah, I was just working out on my functional trainer, you know, no big deal".

Functional trainers come in different shapes and sizes. Here are some of the fundamental specs y'all should consider when looking for one to add to your home gym:

Weight Stacks

Most home functional trainers use weight stacks for resistance, only some do still use weight plates. Trainers that utilize plates are usually a little more affordable, but consider you have to buy the plates (and store them) separately.

Functional trainers can come up with one or 2 (dual) weight stacks. You'll accept more practice diverseness with the dual systems because you can do moves that you can't on a single stack, like cable crossover, bench printing, and shoulder printing.

The amount of resistance that comes with these weight stacks varies besides. Some may come with equally little equally 150 lb, others might come standard with 210 lb.

Proceed in mind, that with a pulley system, the actual resistance you experience is different than the selected resistance. These pulleys have a i:two resistance ratio, significant the resistance you feel is half the selected resistance (due to the mechanical reward created by using a pulley).

Example: selecting 100 lb on the stack volition provide 50 lb of resistance

All functional trainers are like this. But if yous think you'll need more weight, get with a trainer that comes with more resistance. FYI- you tin can purchase boosted weight packs for most trainers- they usually come up in l lb increments.

Attachments

The attachments that are included with a trainer vary profoundly too. Some trainers come with a boat load of attachments, others may only come with a single set of handles.

More than expensive machines commonly include more attachments.

If you don't call back you'll need many extras, you tin safe some cash and get with a more than bare os machine.

Mutual attachments include:

  • Triceps rope
  • Short bar
  • Long bar
  • Sports bar
  • Pull up bar
  • Ankle strap
  • Curl bar

I recommend comparison the included attachments when comparing trainers. If they seem similar in nigh areas (including price), choose which automobile comes with your preferred handles.

Benches usually accept to be purchased separately. Some trainers are compatible with preacher curl attachments and leg developers too.

Warranty

Warranty should always be considered when deciding on a slice of fitness equipment. Longer is e'er amend of class. After all, who prefers a shorter warranty?

Warranties on functional trainers are unremarkably divided into frame and moving parts.

A proficient warranty on frame is annihilation 10 years and longer. Lifetime is preferred.

Anything over 2 years is pretty decent on moving parts, but once again, lifetime parts warranties are out in that location and they are preferred.

A automobile'southward warranty is ordinarily directly related to its asking price. More expensive models tend to come with amend warranties. You can salve some money if you're willing to give in the warranty department- just know that it'southward a take chances that could end upwardly costing you more in the long run.

The Inspire Fitness FT1 Functional Trainer

Inspire Fitness has been around for about 15 years or so. They produce both residential and commercial fettle equipment. They have a reputation for producing high-end machines and offer generous warranties.

The FT1 is one of four trainers currently being offered by Inspire Fitness. It falls in the mid-range category in both features and price.

Pros

  • Heavy-duty, steel frame
  • Dual, 165 lb weight stacks
  • Dual, fully adjustable pulleys
  • Vast do diverseness
  • Pull upward bar
  • 9 included attachments
  • Easy assembly
  • Lifetime warranty on everything

Cons

  • Would exist nice if weight stacks were 200 lb

Construction/Features

The FT1'south frame is designed with heavy-duty, steel round/rectangular components for a solid foundation. The matte black and chrome color scheme gives the auto a sleek appearance, simply it's also powder coated to help forestall adventitious scratches and dents during use.

This trainer comes standard with dual 165 lb weight stacks. With the additional 5 lb add-on weights included with the attachments, that'due south a total of 170 lb per side (or 85 lb of functional resistance per stack).

Compared to other functional trainers, this is pretty standard. Some comparable machines come up standard with 200 lb stacks though, so it would be nice of Inspire Fitness bumped up the stack weight a picayune.

However, you can purchase an extra 50 lb per side if you like.

Each stack has its ain fully adjustable pulley. Each side has 30 dissimilar starting positions, giving you a ton of freedom and customization options for your workouts. Each pulley also swivels 180 deg freely, allowing you to perform your movements at any angle y'all prefer.

Each pulley is easily adapted and glides smoothly. Users seem to be very happy with the quality of construction on the FT1, many comparing it'south feel to that of a commercial grade car.

The biggest deviation betwixt this machine and the upgraded FT2 is the inclusion of a Smith bar. You'll notice there'south no such apparatus on this trainer. The Smith bar on the Ft2 is unique and pretty amazing, but the FT1 is able to cutting about $1500 off the request cost past eliminating information technology from this model.

Attachments

The FT1 comes standard with the post-obit attachments:

  • 2 rubber handles- these are the archetype handles used for performing a large diverseness of moves (cable crossover, bench press, single arm bicep curls, etc)
  • Triceps rope- commonly used for tricep extensions, tin also be used for a variety of bicep curls and upright rows
  • Straight bar- or long bar, this can be attached to both pulleys and be used as a barbell
  • EZ coil bar- this is the contoured bar used to make curls more comfortable, this also attaches to both pulleys
  • Ankle strap- this attachment allows you to perform a variety of hip strengthening exercises (hip abduction, extension, etc)
  • Multi-role belt- this tin can be fastened to both pulleys and act as a pull up aid device, making pull ups easier
  • Sport handle- a shorter, straight bar used to mimic sport specific movements (similar swinging a bat, or guild)
  • Pull up bar- an angled pull upwards bar sits in the front of the frame, giving the ability to perform pull  up and chin ups if you similar
  • Practise booklet- an included workout guide that attaches to the frame for quick and easy reference during your conditioning
  • 2 5lb add-on weights- an actress 5 lb of resistance for each weight stack, comes in handy for fine-tuning your resistance level

This is a generous offer of attachments. This gives you the ability to get your trainer up and running with everything you lot'll need right out of the box.

A demote isn't included, then if you lot want to do demote presses and shoulder presses, you'll have to provide your own. Inspire as well offers a leg developer as well as a preacher scroll attachment.

Associates

Looking at a motorcar like this, you might wait the worst when it comes to associates. And a lot of times you'd be right. But surprisingly, users written report putting this gym together is really pretty easy.

This is because each belfry comes pre-assembled. You have to only adhere the towers with the pull upward bar and frame. Most users written report they were able to finish assembly in most two hrs.

It's recommended to have 2 people to get the chore done safely, only some users report being able to put it together solo.

You'll need an adjustable wrench and a few Allen wrenches, but it looks like some are included.

The instruction manual is pretty straightforward with big illustrations and written directions for each pace.

Once assembled, the FT1 has the following dimensions: 54″ (W) ten 46″ (50) x 83″ (H). This is WITHOUT a demote though, the length turns into 83″ with Inspire'south optional bench.

I want to point out that the FT1 is one of the more than narrow dual stack trainers out there with only a 54″ width. Many are a good x inches or and so wider. This is convenient if your workout space is tight. It's really designed to fit in corners to save space.

Oh, finally, the FT1 weights 725 lb fully assembled. Make sure you have a permanent location settled on before associates, considering it would be tough moving this thing later y'all put it together.

Warranty

So far, the FT1 has a lot going for it. Does the warranty match the quality? Yes, it does. Inspire Fitness offers the following warranty on the this trainer:

  • Residential: express lifetime frame and parts
  • Light commercial: express lifetime frame, ten-year parts

This is a not bad residential warranty. Inspire's reputation for awesome warranties stands true. Knowing this car comes with a lifetime guarantee may relieve any anxiety over purchasing a home gym of this magnitude.

Final Thoughts

The FT1 has a lot going for it. Information technology'southward congenital with a durable steel frame and 2 polish acting pulley systems. The dual weight stacks and fully adjustable pulleys give yous a ton of workout options, which is amplified past all the attachments that are included with purchase.

User reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Folks honey how high-end it feels and are pleasantly surprised past how piece of cake it is to get together.

The fact that this trainer comes with a lifetime residential warranty on everything is the icing on the cake.

To sum things upward- for the price, it's going to be difficult to find a nicer functional trainer. The Inspire Fitness FT1 Functional Trainer comes highly recommended.