Gold’s Gym XRS 50 Home Gym

Unit	Dimensions	Possible exercises	Weight capacity	Weight range	Weight plates
Gold's Gym XRS 50 Check Discounted Price	L:64" W:38" H:78.7"	35+	300 lbs	17-280 lbs	Cement & vinyl, 12.5 lbs (ea)

The Gold’s Gym XRS 50 strength training machine is quite similar to the XR 55 model that we’ve already reviewed. However, it lacks the preacher pad attachment and includes a slightly lighter weight stack. It’s a machine made for home use but does offer the possibility to perform exercises for most muscles.

Key Features and Specifications

• Assembled dimensions: 64L x 38W x 78.7H inches (163L x 97W x 200H cm)
• Max. user capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
• Stack weight: 112 lbs (50.8 kg)
• Max. weight resistance: 280 lbs (127 kg)
• Possible exercises: 35+
• Warranty: Parts 90 days / Labor 90 days

Frame construction, parts, accessories

The Gold’s Gym XRS 50 features a heavy-duty steel frame combining polygonal and cylindrical tubes in its construction. All the steel parts are coated with a corrosion-resistant paint finish; the colors used are gray and light gray, with the “Gold’s Gym” logo painted in yellow on the covers of the weight stack.

The fully assembled machine is not extremely large compared with other home gyms, such as the Body-Solid G2B, for example. Its footprint is approx. 64″L x 38″W (163 x 97 cm), to which it is recommended to allow at least two feet of clearance all around. Also, its height is approx. 78.7″ (200 cm) which means it can fit in a room with a 7′ ceiling. These being said, the XRS 50 may not be the best choice for users over 6’0″ (183 cm), as the cable length may not provide a complete range of motion for all exercises.

The fully assembled unit is fairly heavy as well. It weighs close to 300 lbs (136 lbs), so it is not meant to be moved once it is assembled. All this weight can be a plus as it provides plenty of stability for the machine. It doesn’t need to be anchored to the floor, and does not have pre-drilled holes for it. However, it is recommended to place it on a rubberized mat, to prevent floor damage.

The Gold’s Gym XRS 50 integrates 13 heavy-duty pulleys (9 standard pulleys, 2 v-pulleys, and 2 thin pulleys). They’re all made of durable nylon material designed to withstand prolonged usage. They also integrate ball bearings to provide a smoother cable motion.

The machine is equipped with three main cables. Their exact weight capacity is not specified, but they should handle at least 2-3 times more weight than the machine’s stack and weight resistance.

The seat and backrest of the XRS 50 don’t offer any adjustability. They attach directly to their bars via four screws each. They integrate approx. 1.2″ (3 cm) of foam padding for optimal comfort and their upholstery is made of durable vinyl material. Also, the seat pad and its sustaining bar are rated for a user weight capacity of 300 lbs (136 kg).

In terms of accessories, this home gym system includes a lat bar, a D-handle, and an extension chain. As we’ve mentioned above, a preacher pad is not included with the XRS 50, and the machine does not offer the possibility to add one. Therefore, if you want a model with a preacher pad attachment, the XR 55 is the one you should opt for.

Workout stations

The Gold’s Gym XRS 50 home gym includes three main workout stations. These are:

High pulley station. This workout station offers the possibility to perform a wide array of high-pulley exercises, such as lat pull-downs, tricep press-downs, and even ab crunches. A standard lat pull-down bar with curved grips is included with the machine. The unit’s high pulley offers a maximum weight resistance of 130 lbs (~59 kg).

Press & fly station. The front press of the XRS 50 home gym offers double functionality. It can be used as a front press or as a pec fly station. It is equipped with thick foam pads for extra comfort during fly exercises, and multi-grips for seated chest press exercises. The maximum weight resistance for the press is 224 lbs (101.6 kg) while the max. resistance provided by the fly arm is 115 lbs (~52 kg).

Low pulley station. The machine’s low pulley offers the possibility to execute seated rows, bicep curls, or leg abductions. A short bar for low rows, and an ankle cuff are not included, though. However, the machine is equipped with a leg developer attachment which has 4″ foam rollers for extra comfort during leg extensions. The leg developer attachment produces the highest weight resistance of all the workout system. With all 9 plates loaded, it generates 280 lbs (127 kg) of weight resistance.

Weight Resistance

The XRS 50 is a weight stack home gym system. Its weight stack is composed of 9 weight plates, each one weighing approx. 12.5 lbs. The total weight of the stack is approx. 112 lbs (50.8 kg).

It is important to mention, though, that the weight plates are not made of cast iron. They are cement weight plates coated with a layer of durable vinyl material. This is one of the reasons this fitness machine is considerably cheaper than one with a cast iron stack, like the Body-Solid G1S, for example. But nonetheless, since the XRS 50 is intended for home use, even if the plates are not made of cast iron, they can still last a lifetime. That’s because a home-use machine takes a lot less abuse than one used non-stop in the premises of a gym club. Plus, due to the vinyl coating, the impact between the plates during exercising generates considerably less noise.

This Gold’s Gym strength training system doesn’t offer fixed weight ratios for its workout stations. Depending on the pulleys used and the selected load, the machine produces different resistance. The weight ratios for each station are shown in the table below:

Last but not least, the machine’s weight stack cannot be upgraded with extra weight plates. However, you can still add micro-adjustment elements for 2.5 lbs or 5 lbs adjustments. This may be necessary because sometimes the resistance gaps between one or two extra plates can be more than 20 lbs.

Possible Exercises

The XRS 50 strength training machine offers the possibility to perform more than 35, gym-quality exercises. Some of the most important of them are:

• Seated Biceps Curls
• Stand-up Biceps Curls
• Concentration Curls
• Triceps Press-downs
• Triceps Extensions
• Triceps Kickbacks
• Ab Pulldowns
• Low Pulley Trunk Rotations
• Deltoid Raises
• Seated Rows
• Upright Rows
• Vertical Grip Chest Presses
• Horizontal Grip Chest Presses
• High Cable Cross-Overs
• Lat Pulldowns
• High Pulley Ab Crunches
• Standing One-Leg Curls
• Leg Extensions
• Leg Abductions
• Leg Adductions
• Kickbacks
• Squats
• … and more.

Assembly and Maintenance

This home gym requires complete assembly and comes in two large and pretty heavy boxes. Therefore, its transport and assembly is a two-person task. The whole assembly process will take at least 4-5 hours, but it’s not too difficult and the included manual provides very clear step-by-step assembly instructions and schematics. The necessary tools for the assembly are not included, though. You will need two adjustable wrenches, a rubber mallet, one Phillips screwdriver, and one standard screwdriver.

Once the unit is assembled, maintenance doesn’t require much. In case the pulleys develop squeaking noises, some lubrication may be required. The guide rods of the weight stack should also be lubricated for a smoother travel of the weight stack.

The Pros

• Excellent construction, extremely sturdy frame;
• Thick and durable vinyl upholstery, with consistent padding for maximum comfort;
• Consistent foam padding on the chest bars and leg workout station;
• Relatively small footprint for a home gym system;
• Three main workout stations including high pulley, front & fly press, and low pulley with leg developer attachment;
• Over 35 exercises available;
• Up to 280 lbs of weight resistance;
• Quiet operation, a suitable machine for apartment use;
• Lat bar included; 
• Extension chain included;
• D-handle included;
• Little maintenance required;
• Fairly easy to assemble.

The Cons

• No preacher curl attachment possibility;
• The seat is non-adjustable;
• Short bar for low rows is not included;
• Ankle cuff is not included.

Summary

The Gold’s Gym XRS 50 is a weight stack gym system designed for home use. It includes a 112-lb, cement-vinyl weight stack, and three main workout stations. It offers the possibility to perform more than 35 gym-quality exercises. It’s a perfect choice for beginners and intermediate users, but since the weight stack is not upgradable, it may not suffice for advanced users. It’s also not recommended for users taller than 6’0″ as it’s not a very large fitness machine. In all, it’s an affordable home gym great for a full-body workout, offering excellent value for the price.