Total Gym XLS Trainer
- Top-of-the-line home fitness device for strengthening and sculpting all muscle groups
- Gravity-based resistance system creates smooth and fluid workout routine
- Upgraded pulley and cable system, squat stand, and glide board (with head support)
- Comes with Pilates kit, strap handles, leg pull accessory, and wing attachment
- Supports up to 400 pounds; includes several workouts and workout tools
Discover how easy it is to get fit and stay in shape with the Total Gym XLS home gym! Endorsed by Chuck Norris & Christie Brinkley, the Total Gym XLS comes complete with a total fitness system of workouts and workout tools to take all the guesswork out of getting into shape. With Total Gym’s top of the line model you’ll receive the highest quality home gym with unbeatable savings. The XLS features: 400 lb weight capacity for total strength and stability, an upgraded comfort system, pulley and ca
List Price: $ 1,948.00
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A machine with some excellent qualities,
This is not a complete review of the features and specifications of the Total Gym XLS. I have owned and used a Total Gym 1000 for 8 years, and finally purchased an XLS this year. This review includes my observations as a long-term Total Gym owner.
First: The Purchase Price
The ‘regular’ price is almost $2000. A smart consumer will watch the prices on Amazon and on Total Gym’s website, because the machine regularly sells for less. Much less. The offers change everyday (and are almost always accompanied by “Offer Ends Today”) but have been hovering around 50% of the regular price. Wait. Watch the totalgymdirect.com website. The prices sometimes drop to 60% off. Search for discount coupons on the internet. Many can be combined with the sale price, even when they say they cannot. I purchased mine for $774 with the ab attachment (after using a discount code). But later there was a 60% off sale, which combined with the $200 off discount code got the price down to under $600 with the ab attachment. I wish I had waited!
Next: The Qualities of the Machine.
Think what you will of Total Gym’s pricing and marketing practices. The machine is excellent (but definitely NOT worth $2000!). I loved my 1000 model, and the XLS is better.
The real strengths of the Total Gym lie in its use of real weight (your body weight) rather than bands or rods for resistance. The feel is excellent and the exercises are perhaps more fun because you’re moving (my primal brain loves the motion).
The adjustable resistance and configuration of the Total Gym make it possible for a person to undertake exercises they normally would not be able to do: pull ups and ‘handstand’ push ups with the included wing attachment for example. You can slowly improve and increase the weight over time (and add even more weight with the optional weight bar). I have seen great improvement as a result. The same is true of squats with the included squat board. You can slowly (or rapidly) build up your leg strength from a lower level. Hint: when you need even more resistance, start doing one leg squats with the weight bar on. Killer.
Optional Attachments:
I wouldn’t necessarily purchase the press up bars (you can use the wing attachment) or the dip bars (you can work your triceps in other exercises. Try the inverted military press with the wing attachment.).
The weight bar is a necessity when you get beyond the highest setting on the machine (44% of your body weight). Total gym should wise up and provide retainer clips with the bar though. I can’t believe they expect loose free weights to stay on the bar while you’re moving! If you buy the bar, go to a fitness supply store and ask for the spring locks for a 1 inch weight bar. They should cost $5 for two. You might also want to find some spacers to keep the weights from rubbing against the vinyl on the glideboard. Two short pieces of 1 inch inside diameter pvc pipe work well.
The Ab Crunch attachment is definitely worth buying. I’ve been using it for three weeks. I’m up to three sets of 35 and my abs are finally turning into a proper six pack. I wish I had this years ago. Good bye regular crunches.
Some Exercises the Total Gym Does Not Do Well
The Total Gym is not really a ‘total’ gym. You would be well advised to purchase a set of dumbbells to use along with the machine. You can use the TG as a bench when you’re using them.
Why do I recommend the dumbbells? The Total Gym bench press and chest fly exercises are too awkward to bother with. The cable/pulley position is not right for these exercises, and regardless of the manufacturer’s claim that this awkwardness requires you to use all kinds of extra stabilizer muscles, the fact is, you cannot properly isolate the muscles you’re trying to focus on.
The dumbells are also much better for bicep and tricep curls. And they’re cheap!
Be Aware of the Length of the Machine / Be Careful to Avoid Injury!
Many reviewers have commented on this issue. It’s well over 7 feet long unfolded. It will take up a great deal of space in a small room. You will also need a fair amount of space around the sides to allow for your arm movements with the cables during exercises. I leave mine setup, and it is basically THE item in my exercise room.
CAUTION: be careful if you’re going to fold it. It is really easy to get your fingers caught in the wrong places. Even when you think you’re safe, that glideboard suddenly moves! I’ve had a few painful pinches that could have been a lot worse if I hadn’t reacted quickly.
CAUTION: if you have long hair, put it in a ponytail at the least! Your long hair WILL get caught in the wheels if you don’t put it in an elastic. Guaranteed.
Overall Impression
I bought the XLS after using the TG1000 for years. I don’t regret the purchase at all, and…
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|XLS worth the extra money?,
I’ve used the Total Gym XLS for about nine months now. There’s no question about the concept and quality of the workouts. I primarily use it as an all-around body workout to start the day. The endless possibilities make it very versatile and keep workouts fresh.
I am 5′ 10″, 185 lbs, not near the advertised maximum recommended capacity of 400 lbs.
I am not pleased with the overall quality. When I spend the extra money for the top end model, I have high expectations. This model has failed to meet them, and I wonder if I would have been just a well served with one of the two lower end units. The wheels and bearing are just not top end quality. My unit started to become creaky and squeaky right about the six month point, but it wasn’t until it became distractingly noise and rough at about the eight month point that I became concerned.
The parts have a six month warranty. Even if I had taken action within this period, I would be facing the same issue again shortly (I assume). I ended up purchasing after-market wheel/bearing from Huck Products for $75 (inc S/H). The machine now feels like I had expected, better than original. Butter smooth.
The additional features of the XLS over the other models include (with my comments):
400 lb weight capacity for total strength and stability (if an average 185# user wore out the wheels….??)
Upgraded comfort system (True…good quality)
Upgraded pulley and cable system (No problems yet)
Flexible nylon strap handles (These are upgrades for lesser models; haven’t tried the other style for comparison)
Upgraded squat stand (Again, an upgrade for other models)
Padded glideboard with head support (Redundant…see second item)
Chrome package (whoopee)
Exercise capability – over 80 exercises (OK…not quite sure why the lower models show 40 and 60…must not have some of the attachments)
With the exception of the first feature (400#), I cannot complain. There is no doubt the XLS is clearly a much better machine than the models carried in Dicks or Sears.
The Total Gym 2000 and 3000 advertise max capacities of 250 and 300 lbs respectively. More research into the quality of those models’ wheels/bearings should be part of any comparisons. It might be worthwhile to buy either of these models and upgrade to Huck’s high quality wheels (they have other parts as well) when the time comes.
3 stars is a bit of a low-balled exaggeration. If I could, I would say 3.8 on my subjective Amazon scale. Just under my 4.0 threshold of mostly satisfied and glad I made the purchase. But rounding up to 4 stars minimizes my current dismay at shelling out $75 a few months after the warranty period.
I will post this review on the Total Gym Direct where I purchased it (for ~$[...], not the current ~$[...])…let’s see if it makes it past the editors.
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