Inspire Fitness FTX Functional Trainer Review

Great product and customer service
I highly recommend the FTX Functional Trainer. For a home gym, it is extremely well constructed out of higher-end materials. It feels very solid when in use (gym quality) and, so far at least, there are no annoying squeaks or rattles. Delivery (from CA to SC) took about 1 week and assembly was much easier than I anticipated…but you definitely need two people since some of the pieces are quite heavy and bulky. To the extent possible, try to get it dropped off as close as possible to the room where it will be installed.The unit is shipped in 7 boxes….6 50-pound boxes containing the weights for the two stacks and one box containing the actual trainer frame and components. All together it weighs close to 600 pounds. Most of the boxes were fairly well shredded by the time they made it to my house but, while there was some minor cosmetic damage to the FTX frame, it was surprisingly well-packed and protected. They include some touch-up paint (along with some teflon lubricant) with the package which comes in very handy.One issue that arose was the fact that the price of the FTX dropped almost $300 between the time I placed the order and actual delivery. Given that this is a very hard item to repack and return, I was worried I would be stuck with the higher price. However, I sent an email to Inspire Fitness customer support and received a reply back within 24-hours indicating that a refund would be issued for the price difference since they have a 14-day price drop policy. Lastly, keep in mind that the weight stacks in the FTX unit are not upgradeable…so if you feel you might need to add more weight to the stacks down the road then you must go with their FT1 or FT2 models. Overall, a great product at a fair price along with responsive customer service and I would not hesitate to purchase from them again.

Very Good Cable Machine
It’s nerve racking buying a large piece of exercise equipment online. I took the chance and I’m so glad I did. I love this cable machine. It’s the perfect size for a home gym and does everything that I want and need. The quality exceeds my expectations and it runs very smoothly. I’m very happy with my purchase.

Replacement for gym membership
For several years I have been looking for home fitness equipment that would provide the same (or near) quality workout from the gym/weight room environment. Each time I have been disappointed with the options available, until now. This is the first home gym that I have found that performs like equipment I have been using for the past 20 years in various gyms or fitness centers, and paying a monthly membership for.Although this unit has several impressive qualities, the cable functionality impressed me the most. The cable system is smooth and responsive. The laggy, rubber-band feel of other home systems is completely eliminated with the FT2, and it feels like working with cables at a fitness center. Making adjustments to the height and position of the handles, and adding or decreasing weight is quick and easy, making for seamless transitions from one exercise to the next. With the different options for handle placement, each muscle group can be worked using a variety of exercises, similar to what is available at commercial gyms, without the migration from station to station.The barbell, with Smith function, is also extremely smooth. Again, it feels similar to Smith machines I have worked on in previous gym settings, but adds the convenience of using a weight stack, instead of barbell plates. The Smith feature is great especially in the home setting because reps can still go to failure, if wanted, without the worry about getting stuck without a spotter. One of my biggest concerns with transitioning to a home system was lack of progression, but with the FT2, I have been able to go as heavy as I have wanted without sacrificing safety.It seemed like assembly was going to be a challenge when it arrived in all of the boxes it ships in. I was surprised at how easy it turned out to be though. It took a few hours, but the instructions are very well organized, parts and hardware are clearly labeled, and customer service is available if questions come up. One of the cables got pulled too tight during assembly and broke (my fault), but customer service was very accommodating and shipped a new one overnight, no questions asked.I have been extremely happy with this home gym, and even though it is somewhat more expensive than other alternatives, I have found it to be more than worth it.