The Comparison

Every Gym Exercise. At Home.

Bench press. Lat pulldown. Seated row. Squat. The strength exercises that built commercial gyms — every one of them has a direct Total Gym equivalent.

how it works

One move works your whole body

Every rep is one fluid glide — your stabilizers never switch off.

 

You set the resistance

Gentle Intense
Lvl 4
BW 10%
Lbs 19
Best for Rehab & mobility

*Based on 16 levels of resistance (cable pulley attached), U.S. average adult weight (190 lbs.) and rounded to the nearest whole %/lb.

Upper Body

Six Demonstrations
Total Gym Bicep Curl demonstration

Bicep Curl

Arms

Anchor on the cable system while seated or kneeling on the glideboard. Keep elbows pinned and curl with control — same isolation, none of the spinal load of a barbell.

More arms exercises
Total Gym Lat Pulldown demonstration

Lat Pulldown

Back

The classic pulldown, redirected through overhead pulleys. Drive through the elbows to engage your lats — your bodyweight provides the resistance, no stack required.

More back exercises
Total Gym Shoulder Press demonstration

Shoulder Press

Shoulders

Press upward while the glideboard stabilizes your spine. Core stays engaged, shoulders do the work — a safer pressing pattern for anyone wary of overhead loading.

More shoulders exercises
Total Gym Tricep Extension demonstration

Tricep Extension

Arms

Cables isolate the triceps with low-impact resistance. Elbows tucked, full extension at the top — clean isolation work without the elbow strain of skull crushers.

More arms exercises
Total Gym Chest Fly demonstration

Chest Fly

Chest

Lie back on the glideboard and arc the cables out and across. A slight bend at the elbow, a deliberate squeeze at the top — pec engagement without dumbbells dropping toward your face.

More chest exercises
Total Gym Seated Row demonstration

Seated Row

Back

Pull through the elbows, draw the shoulder blades together, keep the chest lifted. The mid-back gets the work that desk life keeps trying to take from it.

More back exercises

Lower Body

Three Demonstrations
Total Gym Squat demonstration

Squat

Legs

Plant your feet on the squat platform and drive through the heels. Knees track over the toes, glideboard supports the descent — squat depth without the spinal compression.

More legs exercises
Total Gym Leg Curl demonstration

Leg Curl

Hamstrings

Hamstrings carry the load through a slow, controlled glide. The kind of isolation work that's hard to replicate at home without a dedicated leg curl machine.

More hamstrings exercises
Total Gym Hamstring Curl demonstration

Hamstring Curl

Hamstrings

Cable resistance plus glideboard travel equals smooth, low-impact hamstring work. Ideal for anyone rehabbing knees or building posterior-chain strength carefully.

More hamstrings exercises
The Difference

Total Gym vs. The Rest of Your Gym.

A side-by-side look at how bodyweight resistance on a glideboard compares to free weights and a traditional cable machine — across the dimensions that actually matter at home.

Home strength training compared
Total GymFree WeightsCable Machine
Resistance SourceExternal plates / dumbbellsWeight stack
Joint ImpactHigher — depends on formLow to moderate
Footprint (Folded)Rack + plates requiredPermanent installation
Exercises PossibleHundreds, with full kit40–60
Beginner FriendlySteep learning curveModerate
Used in RehabRarelySometimes
Stabilization DemandHigh — you provide itLow to moderate
The Experience

Why it feels different from lifting weights.

A Total Gym workout doesn’t replicate the gym — it improves on a few of its weaker points. The difference shows up most in the joints, the learning curve, and the consistency of resistance through each rep.

Smooth, continuous resistance

Free weights have sticking points — angles where the load drops off and the muscle gets a break. Glideboard resistance stays smooth and consistent through the entire range of motion.

  • Less stress on joints, tendons, and ligaments
  • Low-impact movement throughout every rep
  • More time under tension, which drives results
  • No dropped weights, no spotter required

Beginner-friendly. Built for every level.

Total Gym is one of the most approachable strength tools you can buy. Start at the lowest incline, learn the movement patterns with the glideboard supporting your form, and progress one notch at a time as you get stronger.

  • Start at 4–8% body weight and build up
  • Widely used in physical therapy and rehab
  • Scales from rehabilitation to advanced training
  • Same machine grows with you for years
Ready to start

Bring the gym home.

30-day risk-free trial · Free shipping · Starts at $1

Shopping Cart
Select the fields to be shown. Others will be hidden. Drag and drop to rearrange the order.
  • Image
  • Number of Exercises
  • Levels of Resistance
  • Glideboard
  • Storage
  • Assembly
  • Maximum Weight Capacity
  • Accessories Included
  • Dimensions Unfolded (WxLxH)
  • Dimensions Folded (WxLxH)
  • Weight
  • Warranty
  • Shipping
  • Trial Offer
  • Payment Plan
  • Price
  • Add to cart
Compare
Compare ×
Let's Compare! Continue shopping
Scroll to Top