Athletic Connection Smith Machine- Best for less maintenance

It is a basic smith machine and is almost entirely customizable. You can easily adjust its settings as per your convenience. In addition to it, this Smith machine is entirely durable. It can bear a maximum weight of seven hundred lbs.

Product Highlights

It weighs around three hundred and ten pounds and is ranked among one of the top best selling Smith machines. It includes eight horns for hanging the weights, and thus saves extra space needed for keeping the weights. The bar length is 7 feet, and it is capable of lifting 700 lbs.

There are highly précised linear bearings to avoid friction and ensure smooth gliding of the bar. For safety measures, there are steel pegs and safety hooks that are placed at regular distance of seven inches to avoid accidental falling of the bar. This Smith machine assists in both lower and upper body workouts.

What I like

One of the most significant advantages of this Smith machine is that it comes with inbuilt storage for keeping weights. It has side steel horns on which you can hang weights, thus saving some extra space for keeping the weights separately. Since the bar of the Smith machine performs vertical movements, the gliding needs to be friction-free. This machine comes with linear bearings to ensure smooth gliding.

Talking about its durability, the frame of this Smith machine is built with heavy steel tubing, thus providing greater stability and long life. Also, it has a capacity of 700 lbs.

What I Don’t like

One of the most significant limitations is that it does not include weights. This means you have to spend some extra penny to purchase the weights separately. Another drawback is that this machine does not include any bench as well.

Best Smith Machine Buyer’s Guide

Smith machine is an equipment for weight training. The weightlifters mostly use it for weight training purposes. Undoubtedly, smith machines as workout equipment prove to be a boon to the bodybuilders and at the same time, a great trainer for your home gym. Owing to the size and several materials used in its making, this machine comes at a reasonable price. And because you ought to pay a handsome amount of money to purchase this product, you will not want that you get an inferior quality Smith machine. Therefore, here are a few points listed that you must keep in mind when you go in the market for purchasing a Smith machine:

• Stability
• Guided tracks
• Storage
• Weight limit
• Frame and materials
• Safety features

Now, let’s understand these points mentioned above in a bit detailed manner so that you can get the perfect Smith machine for you. Do not skip the details.

1. STABILITY:

You might have heard trainers at gyms asking you to be stable while doing sets. Same goes with the machines as well. The more stable is the machine, the more effective are the results. It implies that the Smith machine you are looking forward to buy should have a wider base to provide greater stability.

Long pair of guide rails and a broader base is what mainly decides the stability of the Smith machine. If in an unlikely case, the machine is unstable and while in the act of lifting heavy weights, you go on the wrong side, the machine may tip over and tend to fall thus, causing massive injuries to you as well as the floor on which it falls. Some advanced smith machines also have this facility of getting their base bolted on the floor to make it even more stable.

1. GUIDED TRACKS:

Guided track is a feature that most Smith machines for home gyms have in them. A guided track is a system of the precision bearing. It is a kind of combination of the total number of free weights and the stacks of guided weights. You will have to adjust the plates to ascend or descend the weight, and the bar used to lift the weight is mounted on a guided track.

Smith machines that have the vertical track offer smooth vertical movements. You need not worry about the balance with them. Guilded tracks also restrict the bar from moving backwards or forwards. Some Smith machines assist in lateral movements as well. They also have specific mechanisms that prevent them from falling on the floor.

1. STORAGE:

Those who might not want to purchase the Smith machine and rack separately for keeping the weights, try looking for a Smith machine that has onboard storage capacity. Buying such a giant weight lifting Smith machine for home is in itself a tedious and cumbersome task as it will occupy a large area. In addition to it, if we purchase a rack for keeping the weights, it will eat up extra space. Therefore, to avoid this whole mess, search for a Smith machine that has inbuilt storage space for weights.

1. WEIGHT LIMIT:

Some Smith machines have a higher capacity while some have lower ability. Buying one depends upon the preference of the bodybuilder. For example, a novice bodybuilder may purchase a Smith machine with a weight limit of two hundred or three hundred pounds.

On the other hand, an expert or a bulky bodybuilder may go for a smith machine with a weight limit of approximately one thousand pounds. It would be best if you remembered that a greater weight limit implies that the machine will be bulkier and heavier with more robust materials used and so, its price will also be more.

1. MATERIAL AND FRAME:

It is always advisable to check the build quality of the Smith machine before purchasing it. One way to check this out is to check the quality and the amount of metal used in building the frame. A frame with more metal will eventually succeed in bearing the pressure.

• SAFETY:

Suppose you are working out at home by yourself, then you will not be provided with trainers or spotters who will guide you and prevent any mishap from taking place. Therefore, you must purchase such a machine that has lockout points to ensure that the bar does not fall on the ground.

So, these were the few essential points that you must keep in mind to have the best Smith machine for you.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is squatting on a smith machine good or bad?

It all depends on how you perform the squats. It is an excellent machine for assisting in squats, but it cannot equalize the benefits of doing squats with a free barbell.

What type of exercises can be done on a smith machine?

You can do exercises that cover your upper body as well as lower body. Squats, leg press, lunges, deadlifts, curls, bent rows, calf rails and many more exercises can be done using a Smith machine.

Does Smith machine help to lose weight?

A Smith machine may or may not help you in losing your weight. Logically, you can lose weight not by exercising, but more by monitoring and improving your diet. Though working out on a smith machine may result in some weight loss because it is a strengthening exercise. And strengthening exercises do lead to some weight loss. But, ideally, focus more on your diet if you wish to lose your weight.

How is the overall performance of the Smith machine?

Though many trainers are against the use of a smith machine as it restricts specific movements that can only be done using a free barbell, a smith machine assists in safety areas. When you have to do heavy weight lifting, and you do not have any spotter, you can do weight lifting on a smith machine. Since Smith machines have lockout points to avoid the bar from falling, you need not worry about any mishap.

Conclusion:

Now that you are aware of the smith machine, how it works, how you can purchase it, what points you ought to remember while buying a Smith machine, then go for the best one that suits your needs. Do not fall prey to companies who sell inferior quality Smith machines.