Total Gym 1500

The Total Gym series of fitness equipment are a unique piece of exercise machines. Using your own body weight for resistance the Total Gym 1500 allows you to use from 6 to 50% of your weight depending on how much incline you use.

The handle/pulley system is simple to use and moves smoothly. Mounted on swivels, the handles move freely enough to enable you to change positions quickly to perform different exercises. The supplied stationary handles switch position quickly from the head to the foot of the machine for pull ups, push ups and crunches. An extra cable is supplied for leg pulls/curls etc., but doesn't hook up quickly which throws you off your rhythm. One drawback to the body resistance method of the Total Gym is it maxes out at 50% of your body weight.

A mark against the Total Gym 1500 is it's size. Yes, you can fold it up and put it in a closet, but it has no wheels and is a tad heavy to be man or woman handling around the house. Also at it's full working extension, it measures almost 7 1/2 feet long, making it prime toe-stubbing fodder. So unless you have a place to set it up permanently, I predict consumers will quickly tire of moving it about. But then again, it's no Bowflex, what with it's menagerie of spikes flailing around. I can't help thinking that if Hercules confronted a Bowflex, he would mistake it for a Hydra and attempt to kill it. Another, slightly bothersome, complaint is the length of the seat. It's a tad too short for tall persons. If you want to perform the full extension arm pulls, you have to sit low on the bench, barely enough room to rest your heals. Not painful or anything, I just wished for maybe another 6 inches so my feet aren't quite so up my butt.

The Verdict :

Subtracting a gavel for size, otherwise the Total Gym 1500 does perform pretty much as advertised. The price isn't outrageous, under $250 (unlike the Bowflex again) and it provides a quick, convenient workout without the cumbersomeness of free-weight machines. A recent safety recall on certain Total Gyms increases their value, replacing the plastic handles and pulleys with steel ones found on the more expensive Total Gym models.

* Includes over 60 exercises

* Steel construction

* Chrome side rails

* Weight limit 275-lbs

* Clear cables

* One-year warranty

* Sleek chrome body for a more professional workout experience

* Chrome handles

* Box stitched seat for workout comfort

* Height adjustment assembly now has 3 - pin mechanism instead of 1

* Completely portable

* Fully assembled - no set up required

* Optimum incline - you control amount of resistance

* Dimensions: L 88-in; W 16 1/8-in; H 44-in

* Weighs 58-lbs

* Includes video

* Dip bars