The Smith machine is something we all know as gym junkies and it is really one of the most innovative machines that you could find in the gym.
The Smith machine is great for a wide variety of functions and will allow you to do many exercises in a controlled manner and to get some added support if you are training alone and no one is nearby to support you.
The Smith Machine can be used to do a wide variety of exercises and these exercises can really contribute to some of the major muscle groups in your body.
If you are not yet comfortable training with free weights, the Smith machine will definitely be your best friend and help you to get into the swing of things and start training even harder once you know the grips and have a better understanding of the correct form for an exercise.
We have decided to look a little deeper at the Smith Machine and find the Best Smith Machines that you can find on the market today.
These machines are designed for people of all training levels and we believe that you will find some great benefit by using one of them to enhance your exercise routine.
However, before we could simply dive into them, you should know a few things about choosing a Smith Machine and what are some of the benefits that you could potentially have when you are using one of them.
Buying Guide
While the Smith Machine might not be as highly rated among bodybuilders and more advanced trainers, it can still be used by you if you are one of them.
These benefits should show you exactly how beneficial a smith machine could be when used and when you decide to make the investment and buy one for your home.
Added support
The Smith Machine is regulated by cables and bearing and these will ensure that you do not lose control of the weight.
When training with free weights, it is often recommended that you have a partner to help you if you are trying to improve your weight or strength by loading extra plates on the bar.
The Smith Machine itself can be seen as your friend and it will definitely help you to regulate these movements and get some controlled reps that will greatly improve your results.
In terms of safety, the machine will also act as a friend and ensure you never lose control and drop the weights that could potentially injure you.
Allow you to go heavier
Training does have a major psychological element to it and the more weight you press, the stronger you feel. While the Smith machine does offer you some support, you will still be making that psychological switch of getting stronger.
This will help you push forward and train even harder because once we do see results, we simply just want more.
Allow you to train multiple muscle groups
The Smith machine is seen as a great investment due to the fact that you can train multiple muscle groups.
The fact that you can train multiple muscle groups is really important and will give you more value for your money in the long term. Shoulder, back, chest and Quads can all be trained to some level with this machine and all of the movements will be controlled.
Great durability
Like with all products, the better quality you buy, the more durable the product will be. With training equipment, this is really important as you will probably be spending a few dollars on the machine and you will probably want to get your money’s worth.
You should; however, keep in mind that the product must be serviced every now and again and many people do skimp on the maintenance part and this could potentially ruin the durability of the machine in the long term.
These 4 benefits will be great additions to your workout program and you will certainly be making more progress as a beginner than you would if you had no skills in the gym and you simply start picking up the free weights.
The Smith machine is a great way for you to instill even more confidence in your workout routine and get up to that professional level in not time.
Key features to Consider
The Smith machine might seem very simplistic, but this definitely is not the case and it does have a few intricacies that you should look for when deciding to make the investment.
These features can be skipped over if you are only looking for something more basic, but if you do invest in a top quality Smith machine, you will definitely be winning and getting more results in the long term, given you are committed to training and working out.
Here are the features that we used to judge and choose the top Smith machines:
Press bar
You will definitely be looking for a press bar with a smooth motion as having a shaky one could rally ruin your workouts. The quality and the motion quality is regulated by the press arm and the quality of the bushings.
We recommend inspecting this element and looking at these bushing to ensure that they are ultra-fine and you should be getting much better results.
Weight limit
Many Smith machines do have pre-fixed weights attached to them and you cannot add more or even take down those weights.
This could limit your workout and you will never become stronger and grow.
If you only plan on using it for burning fat and never getting stronger, these limited Smith machines could be a great cheaper alternative to meet your needs and save you a few bucks, but we should warn that you will be limited in terms of getting stronger.
Your endurance might go up though.
Safety
With any piece of training equipment, safety should play a major role and the more safety you have in your Smith machine, the more confident you will be working out.
A weight limit for the bar should be clearly noted and you should have some sort of protection for when the bar does fall. Many of the top Smith machines now have this down and they do focus on keeping you protected and allowing you to grow.
Durability
We briefly touched on this in the previous section, but it will be your responsibility to find out if the frame is durable.
In our reviews, we did put a lot of emphasis on the frame and overall structure of the machine to ensure that the products we have chosen are relatively durable.
The cheaper the material used in the frame, the weaker the frame will be and you will have fewer chances of getting good results and improving your workout performance.
Workout Stations
Nowadays, the top brands are going above and beyond to give you more than you are paying or and ensure you return to them.
Many of the best smith machines are equipped with additional workout stations to ensure that you have some multifunctional use.
We do also suggest that you look at these additions and also at the quality of them.
When talking about training equipment, you will see that we do put an immense focus on quality and durability to ensure that you get the best possible machine to improve your workout routine and give you more value for your money.
We consider these five features the most important that should look for when purchasing a Smith machine. The more emphasis you place on these features, the better results and more durability you will get from your machine.
We have also used these key features as our guide to help us choose the top Smith machines for your workout routines at home. If you are opening your own gym, these are also the main features that you should be looking at.
Smith Machine Reviews
1. Marcy Combo Smith Machine
The Marcy Combo Smith machine is one of the top multifunctional workout machines on our list and if not only features a good Smith machine, but also a decent combination of other training pieces that will allow you to get some added value for your money.
The machine is designed with super high quality and durable 14-gauge steel tubing, and the solid structure will not easily be moved or shaken when you are piling on the weight.
The machine also allows you to remove the entire bench and this will give you more space to complete some of your other strength exercises and also make life easier for you when you are targeting specific body parts.
Some of the smaller and more intricate items like the rope and the rowing handles have also been included and will save you a lot of money additionally.
The Smith machine itself has a 400lbs weight limit and this will be enough for every average individual looking to improve their strength or even get some tone in the muscles.
The steel aircraft quality cables have been rated at 2000lbs and this should definitely instill even more confidence when working out as you will never need to worry about overloading them or have them snap.
In terms of pricing, the machine is definitely well priced and will give you great value for your money as a budget buy.
You will also have a 2-year manufacturer warranty to keep you protected, but unless you are educated in assembling these technical things, you might need to have it expertly assembled and this could be quite expensive.
We highly recommend this machine for the multi-functionality and the overall durability.
Pros:
- Extremely durable
- 400lbs weight limit
- Provides multifunctional use
- Includes a decent 2-year manufacturer warranty
- Well priced
Cons:
- The assembly process is quite tricky
2. Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage with Linear Bearings
Highly rated among all as one of the best Smith machines the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage with Linear Bearings is another top product from the Marcy Company.
The machine is also extremely durable and it has also been constructed from quality steel and Diamond striker plates used in some of the more advanced gym clubs all over the world.
Once you use it, you will also find that you will not easily be able to move the machine, no matter your strength.
The machine also features a 600lbs weight limit and this does certainly make it ideal for some of the more advanced trainers and bodybuilders to use at their homes or to simply get a pump going.
The cables are also designed from quality aircraft grade materials and feature a rating of 2000lbs. This should once again instill confidence about the overall quality of the machine and give you a decent area to do your strength workouts.
This machine also includes oversized roller bars and all of the smaller items that you need to target some of the smaller muscle groups in your body.
These roller bars will make it possible for you to train the legs with more exercises and not only keep focusing on squats. We also like the linear bearing as they are ultra-fine and they allow for a very smooth motion.
You will also receive a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty on the parts and this should allow you see if the machine is up to standard.
Unfortunately, it does need expert assembly, but if you see what you get, the price is actually quite decent and we believe you will get great value for your money compared to some of the more expensive machines.
Pros:
- Extremely durable
- Offers, even more, multifunctional use
- Includes all smaller parts
- Gives you a very smooth workout motion
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- Needs expert assembly
- Weights not included
3. Body Solid Series 7 Smith Machine Package
The Body Solid Series 7 Smith Machine package is a very high-quality machine set to a 7-degree reversed pitch. This is a feature that is typically not found in a traditional smith machine.
The machine is also quite durable and is made from high-quality steel tubing to allow you to workout with confidence and without any fear of the machine breaking or getting damaged in any way.
Safety for users is provided by 20 cross-member lock-out points that are accessible with a simple 15-degree rotation of the bar, so you don’t even need a spotter!
The Smith machine has a weight capacity of 600lbs and this will certainly be enough for both professionals and amateurs to use.
Not many people, if any can lift that amount of weight with their chest in the world. We should stress that you cannot leave the weight on the bar overnight as it will get damaged over time.
All of the seating on this Smith machine is also fully adjustable and you should not have any troubles when it comes to performing multiple different exercises for both your legs and chest.
For those exercises that demand free weight movement, the 14-position gun rack with 17″ extra heavy-duty safeties is also set to a 7-degree reversed pitch providing convenient lift-off points and predictable racking.
Due to the immense quality of the structure, this machine is extremely expensive and will also need you to dole out a few extra bucks if you plan on having it expertly assembled.
The Series 7 works great with any bench for intense chest and shoulder routines. Add the optional lat attachment for high and low cable exercises, lat pulldowns, triceps pressdowns, cable crossovers and much more!
The machine does take up a lot of space, but if you do have space in the garage, we would highly recommend this machine for the value and quality.
Pros:
- Very durable
- Includes 210lbs worth of plates
- 600lbs weight limit
- Great for training the larger muscle groups
- Includes free shipping
Cons:
- Extremely expensive
4. Commercial Home Gym – Smith Machine
While all Smith machines are meant for a versatile workout, this one stands above the rest! It offers a complete workout with its commercial grade build quality and twin pulley cables.
With these cables, you’ll have access to workouts for your arms, chest, back, and legs. There’s a power cage for bench press, squats, and 5-way grip pull up bar. It offers J-hooks for dips and leg exercises.
The 2 80kg weight stacks move in 5kg increments. We love the 2x safety spotter bar so you don’t need a real, human spotter during your workouts! The racks have a weight limit of 990 lbs and the bar has a 770 lb limit.
It’s important to note that this particular listing does not include the actual bench or plate weights. It does come with a leg press attachment.
Pros:
- Decent durability
- Good for beginners and intermediate trainers
- Reasonably priced
- No added costs for maintenance in the long run
Cons:
- This version does not include a bench
- Does require expert assembly
5. ALTAS Strength AL-3000F Multi Function Smith Machine
Here’s a truly all-in-one station that really is a complete training system. It combines both arm and leg stations for working on different muscles limiting the need to swap back and forth between gym equipment.
The machine itself is totally ALL-STEEL construction – specifically a powder-coated finish on a heavy-duty steel reinforced frame. The aircraft cable is a high-quality cable made for a tensile strength of 2000 lbs.
It’s guaranteed to withstand intense and extended use.
Exercises include cable cross, chest press, standing lat pull and seated lap pull, along with a horizontal and parallel bar for a low pull, hand lift, boxing, chin up, leg lift, incline/decline flat shoulder press, and workouts available for biceps and triceps.
With attachments like the short lat pull bar, long lat pull bar, adjustable butterfly handles, dip attachment handles and a tricep pull rope will give you lots of extra options for exercising a variety of muscle groups.
With the Olympic free-weight rack, you’ll be able to strength train at home and the machine includes 6 weight plate pegs that are built right into the frame.
Pros:
- Really functional
- Extremely durable
- Weight stack can be upgraded
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- A little overpriced
6. Body Solid Pro Club Line Counterbalanced Smith Machine
The Body Solid Pro Club Line Counterbalanced Smith machine is another extremely durable and high-quality product from the Body Solid Company.
This Smith machine has also been constructed from durable steel tubing to ensure that the machine does not move or get damaged in any way shape or form.
The machine features a weight limit of 1000lbs and this should really be more than enough to show you the durability of the product.
You will also receive 6 separate storage areas for your Olympic plates and the bar can be used for a wide variety of exercises to help you get into shape as a beginner or intermediate trainer.
Unfortunately, no bench has been included and this is somewhat of a setback as these benches can be quite expensive.
If you do have one at home, this machine will definitely be a great addition to your current workout equipment and allow you to add a few additional exercises to the mix.
We highly recommend this machine for the value and durability and even though it might seem to be quite expensive, you will definitely be getting great value for your money once you make this investment.
The machine is also quite large and it should be noted that it will take up quite a lot of space and you will need to compensate for this. One great benefit is the fact that shipping of this product is free.
Pros:
- Good durability
- Heavy maximum weight limit
- Includes multiple storage spaces
- Free shipping included
Cons:
- Expensive
- Tough to assemble
Final Thoughts & Conclusions
We would like to thank you for reading this article and we certainly do hope that you now have a better understanding of the Smith machine and how you could use it.
We consider these 6 machines to be the best Smith Machines on the market today and we believe that you will certainly get your money’s worth.
In terms of recommendation, we would like to recommend the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith Cage with Linear Bearings for the combination of value and affordability it provides. The Marcy Company is also very helpful with great customer service.
Please share your thoughts on our selection and let us know if you think we might have missed any of your favourites and let us know how it stacks up to our current selection.
