The BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym is quite similar to the other models of BodyCraft – BodyCraft Xpress Pro, which is the best home gym 2021. This home gym is one of the best home gyms 2021. It is a bit smaller in contrast to the Xpress Pro and has a completely different base structure.
However, it comes with a similar weight stack and the same amount of workout stations.Nevertheless, this machine is a heavy-duty strength system and gives a light-commercial quality. Read through our BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym Review 2021 to know more about this home gym.
Best Suited to Whom?
The BodyCraft GXP Strength System is one of the best heavy-duty home gyms available in the market. It comes with 6 workout stations that make sure you get a full body workout. If you want a home gym and budget is not a problem for you, then this model from the brand BodyCraft is an ideal choice. It is perfect for home use and comes with an excellent warranty.
BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym Assembly, Design & Build Quality
Assembly
Just like the various strength training systems that are pulley-based, even the BodyCraft GXP Strength System is not very easy to assemble. Firstly, the machine will arrive totally disassembled and it comes in numerous boxes, some of which are quite heavy, so it is advised to have two or more people for assistance.
The assembly process requires a minimum of 2-3 hours. However, the package will include a manual that gives you clear assembly instructions and schematics. Once the assembly process is complete, the machine does not need a lot of maintenance. The guide rods might need a bit of lubrication on a timely basis.
This is applicable even to the pulleys. Also, you must periodically inspect the home gym and watch out for broken parts or loose bolts in order to replace or re-tighten them before accidents take place.
Design and Build Quality
The BodyCraft GXP Strength System has a heavy-duty steel frame that is constructed using a 3.25″ x 1.75″ steel tubing. Most of the machine’s steel parts are coated using a finish that is both rust-resistant as well as chip-resistant.
The standard color for this home gym is platinum gray, except for the weight stack guide rod and the lat bar that are chrome-plated. The machine when fully assembled along with the weight stack is very heavy. The shipping weight specified is about 580 lbs (263 kg), therefore, the net weight of this machine must be more than 520-530 lbs.
This weight offers exceptional stability. Therefore, you need not bother about anchoring the machine to the ground. Also, the base bars of the BodyCraft GXP does not come with anchor points.
As mentioned earlier, once fully assembled the machine is smaller than the BodyCraft Xpress Pro. It is about 65.25″ (166 cm) long and has a width of 56″ (142 cm). Of course, in case you choose the leg press option (it is not included with the machine), the width of the machine will be around 82.75″ (210 cm), because the press is to be attached on the side.
The height of this unit is about 81.75″ (208 cm) and it should fit easily into a room having a 7′ ceiling. The BodyCraft GXP has 30 pulleys of which 27 have a diameter of 114m, whereas the other 3 have a diameter of 90mm. They are made using fiberglass-reinforced nylon and sealed bearings have been integrated to give you a smooth motion.
The cables are made of steel that has a weight capacity of about 2,000 lbs (907 kg). All the cables are nylon coated as well as lubricated.
BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym Features
Resistance
Firstly, this home gym comes with a weight stack of 200 lbs (90.7 kg). This weight stack includes 20 weight plates that weigh 10 lbs. These weight plates are made of cast iron and are heavy-duty.
Therefore, they can handle a lot of abuse and in case the machine is also made use of in a light-commercial environment, these will last you a lifetime.
Seat
The seat comes with an adjustment system that is lever-based and has an integrated spring. Therefore, the height can be adjusted easily when you are seated. The backrest comes with a 7-position adjuster, that can be locked either forward or backward through a pop-pin, so as to get the perfect position for the exercise you wish to perform.
The seat, as well as the backrest, have a dual-density foam padding. Two layers of foam have been integrated – the top layer is soft whereas the bottom layer is dense. The upholstery of the seat is made using highly durable vinyl material. It is also double-stitched along with being sweatproof.
Foam Rollers
The machine comes with three sets of foam rollers. The ones that lie beneath the backrest act as knee-stoppers when you perform lat pulldown exercises. The two other sets of rollers are vital elements in the leg developer’s structure.
Footstep
The front part of the BodyCraft GXP Strength System has a footstep plate that comes with a non-slip surface. This acts as a support when performing stand-up rows or low pulley exercises or stand-up exercises.
Accessories
The BodyCraft GXP comes with many accessories, the first being a standard lat pulldown bar along with curved grips. It also includes a short bar that has an extension chain, an abs harness, 2 D-handles to be fixed to the sidearms that are adjustable, an ankle cuff, and a bottle holder along with a bottle.
Leg Press Attachment
If you decide to go in for the leg press attachment (it is not included with the machine), the leg press comes at a ratio of 1:2 by default. Therefore, this will ensure that you always gain an advantage from a maximum weight resistance of 400 lbs.
BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym Workout Programs
This Home Gym from BodyCraft has 6 workout stations as well as attachments. They are:
(I) High-pulley station – This workout station lets the user perform many lat pulldown exercises as well as other high-pulley exercises. As mentioned earlier, a curved lat bar along with rubberized grips has been included with this machine.
(II) Press station – The arm press gives you multiple grips. It comes with an adjuster that has 8 different positions. It also comes with a double-up feature that gives you the ability to use about 400 lbs of weight resistance for this station. But, this station does not permit the user to perform fly exercises.
(III) Mid-pulley station – If you have a look at all strength training systems, you will notice that not all of them come with a mid-pulley station, so this element is an added advantage in the GXP Strength System.
It lets you execute ab crunches along with different midsection exercises, like baseball swings and trunk rotations. The machine comes with an abs harness accessory.
(IV) Adjustable arm station: The GXP Strength System comes with a set of lateral arms that can be adjusted. The arms have 11 different adjustment positions whereas the pulleys can rotate about 180°.
They can be easily adjusted. Each arm has a tiny press-and-release handle that lets you unlock and relock it quickly in the desired position. They give you the possibility to execute a wide range of arm and chest exercises like shoulder presses, cable crossovers, cable flies, etc.
Make sure you check out some of the best home gym chest exercises to understand the different workouts that can be performed.
(V) Low-pulley station: This workout station comes with a short bar, ankle cuff, and an extension chain. It gives you the ability to execute cable curls, seated rows, stand up rows, and many more exercises.
(VI) Leg developer: This attachment has to be fixed to the low pulley. It lets you perform leg extensions and stand-up one-leg curls. You can have a look at some of the best home gym leg exercises and try them out.
Other possible exercises that can be performed on the BodyCraft GXP Strength System are listed below:
(i) Arm Exercises
- Triceps Pushdown
- Standing French Press
- French Press
- Triceps Extension
- Triceps Press
- Rope Pushdowns
- Cross Triceps Extension
- Standing Biceps Curl
- Standing Hammer Grip Curls
- Reverse Grip Tricep Pushdown
- Seated Biceps Curl
- Reverse Curl
- Tricep Kickback
- Seated Wrist Extension
- Biceps Curl
- Standing Wrist Extension
- Standing Wrist Curls
(ii) Abdominal Exercises
- Standing Trunk Rotation
- Standing Oblique Crunch
- Trunk Rotation
- Kneeling Low to High Trunk Rotation
- Kneeling “Wood Chop”
- Seated Abdominal Crunch
- Reverse Crunch
- Seated Oblique Abdominal Crunch
(iii) Back Exercises
- Standing Wide Angle Lat Row
- Seated Lat Rows
- Narrow Pulldowns with Hand Grips
- Standing Lat Row High Pulley
- Stiff Arm Pulldown
- Standing Lat Row Alternating Motion-Low Pulley
- Standing Lat Row Low Pulley
- Standing Single Arm Lat Row Low Pulley
- Seated Low Back Extension
- Standing Single Arm/ Single Leg Lat Row Low Pulley
- Shoulder Pullover
- Standing Low Back Extension
- Wide Pulldowns
- Reverse Grip Lat Pulldown
(iv) Chest Exercises
- Seated Press
- Resisted Punch
- Cable Fly
- Standing Chest Press
- Cable Crossover
- Standing Single Arm Chest Fly
- Standing Chest Fly
(v) Leg Exercises
- Leg Extension
- Standing Hip Flexion w/ Knee Flexion
- Prone Leg Curls
- Standing Hip Extension
- Standing Leg Kickback
- Ankle Inversion
- Ankle Eversion
- Hip Adduction
- Hip Abduction
- Standing Hip Internal Rotation
- Standing Hip Flexion
- Leg Press (optional)
- Standing Hip External Rotation
(vi) Shoulder Exercises
- Rear Deltoid Rows
- Seated Shoulder Press
- Standing Lateral Shoulder Raise
- Standing Shoulder Press
- Standing Shoulder Press w/ Alternating Motion
- Standing Front Shoulder Raise
- Front Shoulder Raise
- Shoulder Shrug
- Shoulder Extension
- Scapular Retraction
- Scapular Protraction
- Reverse Fly Cable Cross
- Scapular Depression
- Seated Lateral Shoulder Raise
- Standing Cable-cross Rear Deltoid Row
- Standing Rear Deltoid Row
- Standing Shoulder Extension
BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym Warranty
The manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty on the BodyCraft GXP Strength System. The warranty is applicable to the original owner and solely for in-home use. It does not cover any regular wear and tear of the machine.
BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym Pros & Cons
Pros
- The machine has a heavy-duty frame and professional design
- The seat and backrest are adjustable
- The upholstery is durable and has dual padding
- The unit has 6 workout stations
- The chest press has multiple grip possibilities
- The leg developer has 4″ thick rollers
- The lateral pulley arms have 11 adjustment positions and 180° rotating pulleys
- The press arms can be adjusted in 8 different ways
- The cables are made of steel and have nylon coating
- It has a weight stack of 200 lbs that are durable
- It offers more than 50 exercises
- The unit needs very less maintenance
- The manufacturer offers an excellent warranty
Cons
- No tools are included with the unit for assembling the machine
- Heavy on the pocket as available under $5000
Verdict
The BodyCraft GXP Strength System Home Gym is one of the best home gyms for the year 2021
. It is a heavy-duty gym that has 6 workout stations, inclusive of an arm press and sidearms that are adjustable. Also, the seat a well as the backrest of this unit can be adjusted easily and provide superior comfort.
The unit comes with a weight stack of 200 lbs that is constructed out of cast iron weight plates that are designed to last you a lifetime. It offers a weight ratio of 1:1 for a majority of its workout station, whereas the arms press comes with a double-up feature that offers a weight ratio of 1:2 along with a weight resistance of 400 lbs.
In short, the BodyCraft GXP Home Gym is an excellent strength training system and is a good pick for users of different fitness levels. If you are on the lookout for some of the best home gyms over $2000, then definitely consider this model from BodyCraft, you can even check BodyCraft Galena Pro Strength System which is under $2000.
