The Comparison

Over 100 exercises at home.

Chest Press. Squats. Sit ups & more. The strength exercises that shape & tone bodies — every one performed on Total Gym.

See ExercisesHow Total Gym Works

Upper Body

Three of our favorite upper body moves — press & pull, curl, and push your way to gym-built upper body strength, all on one machine.

Total Gym Chest Press demonstration demonstration

Chest Press

Chest

Press the handles up & together from a shoulder-width grip, driving through the chest as the glideboard moves up the rails.

More chest exercises
Total Gym Bicep Curl demonstration demonstration

Bicep Curl

Arms

Anchor on the cable system while seated or kneeling on the glideboard. Keep elbows pinned & curl with control.

More arm exercises
Total Gym Shoulder Press demonstration demonstration

Shoulder Press

Shoulders

Press upward while you stabilize yourself on the moving glideboard. Core stays engaged, shoulders do the work.

More shoulder exercises

Lower Body

Three of our favorite lower body moves — squats, lunges, & hamstring work that build real, joint-friendly leg strength.

Total Gym Squat demonstration demonstration

Squat

Legs

Plant your feet on the squat platform & drive through the heels. Knees track over the toes, glideboard supports the descent.

More leg exercises
Total Gym Forward Lunge demonstration demonstration

Forward Lunge

Quads

Press out into the lunge on the glideboard, then draw the leg back with control. The incline sets your resistance, training one leg at a time for low-impact quad & glute strength.

More quadricep exercises

Core

Three of our favorite core moves — full range-of-motion ab work on the glideboard, with no neck or lower-back strain.

Total Gym Sit Ups demonstration demonstration

Sit Ups

Abs

Recline on the glideboard and curl up against the incline, letting your body weight set the resistance. Full range-of-motion ab work supported by either the cables, incline, &/or padded glideboard.

More ab exercises
Total Gym Plank demonstration demonstration

Plank

Abs

Hold a straight-arm plank on the glideboard, bracing your core while the incline shifts how much bodyweight you support. Full-body tension with adjustable difficulty — scale it easier or harder just by changing the angle.

More ab exercises
Total Gym Crunches demonstration demonstration

Crunches

Abs

Curl your shoulders toward your knees on the glideboard, letting the incline control each rep. Core engagement with full lower-back support — none of the neck strain of floor crunches.

More ab exercises

The Difference

Total Gym vs. the rest.

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

Home strength training compared
Total GymFree WeightsCable Machine
Resistance Source Body weight + inclineExternal plates / dumbbellsWeight stack
Joint Impact Low — supported movementHigher — depends on formLow to moderate
Footprint Folds for easy storageRack + plates requiredPermanent installation
Exercises Possible 100+Hundreds — with full kit40–60
Beginner Friendly Very — guided support built inSteep learning curve — may require spotterModerate
Used in Rehab Yes — widelyOccasionally — highly supervisedSometimes — with supervision
Core Activation Built-in core engagementLimited to a few specified exercisesModerate
Back Support Fully supported on glideboardWith use of benchWith use of bench

The Experience

Why it feels different.

Total Gym combines strength, balance, stability & mobility in one fluid, full-body workout. Your own bodyweight provides the resistance as the rolling glideboard & cable pulley system work together to create smooth, controlled movement you have to feel for yourself.

Smooth, supported & versatile.

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.

  • Smooth resistance through every movement
  • Low-impact & joint-friendly
  • Glideboard support for greater stability & control
  • Quick, seamless exercise transitions
  • Strength, HIIT, Pilates, mobility & more
  • No weights to load, no spotter required

Beginner-friendly. Built to progress.

Start at a low incline & increase the challenge as you get stronger. The glideboard supports controlled movement while adjustable incline resistance makes Total Gym approachable for beginners & challenging for advanced users.

  • Start with a low percentage of your bodyweight
  • Progress resistance at your own pace
  • One machine for a wide range of fitness levels
  • Built to evolve with you for years
  • Total Gym commercial models are also used in physical therapy & rehabilitation settings

Ready to start

Bring the gym home.

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Compare All GymsHow Total Gym Works