Inspire Fitness Functional Trainer FT1

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UnitDimensionsPossible
exercises
Weight
stacks
Weight
plates
Accessories
Inspire Fitness FT1

Check Discounted Price
D:47"
W:54"
H:81.5"
40+2x
160 lbs

Metallic,
10 lbs
each
Multi-Function
Belt,
Curl Bar,
Straight Bar,
Ankle Cuff,
Swing Handle,
Tricep Rope,
2 Handgrips,
2x 5lb Addon

The Inspire Fitness FT1 is a functional trainer with a construction similar to the XMark XM-7626. It’s equipped with two weight stacks using metallic alloy plates. It offers superior micro-adjustability and the possibility to perform over 40 exercises. It’s actually one of the best fitness machines of this sort that you can find at the moment when it comes to price/quality ratio.

Technical Details and Specifications

  • Assembled dimensions: 47″D x 54″W x 81.5″H inches (119D x 137W x 207H cm)
  • Assembled weight: 541 lbs (245 kg)
  • Weight resistance system: Steel plate stacks
  • Max. weight resistance: 2x 160 lbs (72.5 kg) (2:1 ratio)
  • Possible exercises: 40+
  • Warranty:
    – In-home: Lifetime
    – Light-commercial: 10 years

Frame construction, parts & accessories

The Inspire Fitness FT1 functional trainer features a very compact construction, with a fairly small footprint for a home gym system. Its fully assembled frame has a footprint of 47″D x 54″W (119 x 137 cm). On top of that, it’s a V-shaped machine with a space-forward workout design. This means you can fit it in a corner without the need to leave any clearance at the rear, as all the activity performed on the machine is done at the front. In case you’re wondering, the machine’s frame does not fold as the HCI Fitness PTX trainer.

The trainer as it is does not include an exercise bench. But with the optional Inspire Fitness FID bench attached you will need at least 83″ (211 cm) of space at the front.

The FT1 trainer’s highest point is 81.5″ (207 cm), so technically it can fit in a room with a 7′ ceiling. But to be able to perform all the pull-up/chin-up exercises correctly, it’s recommended to place and use the machine in a room with a higher ceiling, to allow the correct range of motion for these exercises.

The machine’s weight stacks sum up a weight of 320 lbs, while the frame structure adds an extra weight up to 541 lbs (245 kg). Due to this weight, stability will never be an issue for this fitness machine. The base bars, however, do not have adjustable stabilizers but rest on rubberized pads to alleviate the impact on the floor. Also, in case you’re wondering, the base bars do not have holes in them for anchoring the machine to the floor.

The machine’s frame is made of 2″ x 4″, 11 gauge tubular steel, featuring a durable construction. The rear sustaining frame bars, as well as the base bars, are coated with an electrostatically applied powder finish, resistant to rust and scratching. However, the guide beams of the weight stacks, the adjustment bars of the front pulleys, as well as the pull-up bar feature a chrome coating.

The FT1 Inspire Fitness is equipped with several highly durable, nylon pulleys integrating steel ball bearings. The front pulleys can pivot 180° on their vertical axis adapting perfectly to each exercise. Their vertical bars offer 30 adjustment positions, and their adjustment, locking and unlocking into position, is done with ease, via their large levers. Also, the machine’s cables are 2,000 lbs rated and coated with a PVC sheet for a smooth gliding motion over the pulleys.

As opposed to other functional trainers, the FT1 integrates a revolving rack at the back, to which you can attach multiple accessories. It’s quite a cool and useful feature to have, as the accessories needed for each type of exercise will always be within close reach.

An important aspect with regards to this machine is its top bar, which offers the possibility to perform all kinds of pull-ups and chin-ups. This bar is rated for a user capacity of 330 lbs (150 kg). It has a knurled finish for extra adherence and is curved, in order to provide a natural positioning on the hands, to minimize stress on the wrists.

In terms of accessories, the FT1 includes quite a bunch of them. These are an Easy Curl Bar, a Straight Bar, one Ankle Cuff, one Swing Handle for golf or baseball swing exercises, two 5 lbs addons (one for each weight stack), one Tricep Rope, and two hand-grips. Along with these, there’s also a Multi-Function Wide Belt included, which can be used for assisted pull-ups. As optional accessories, Inspire Fitness offers a multi-function exercise bench and two 50 lbs weight addons.

Weight Resistance

The Inspire Fitness Functional Trainer FT1 is equipped with two weight stacks, 160 lbs (72.5 kg) each. They’re made of heavy-duty, metallic alloy plates, designed to last a lifetime. Each weight stack integrates 15 plates, 10 lbs (4.5 kg) each, while the top, stopper plate also weighs 10 lbs (4.5 kg).

As we’ve mentioned above, this functional trainer comes with 2x 5 lbs (2.26 kg) addons. These offer the possibility of adjusting the weight for each stack in increments of 5 lbs.

The weight adjustment for each stack is done with ease. Each plate has the overall weight specified on it and an adjustment hole. So, in order to select the desired weight, you simply have to insert the pin into the plate that indicates it.

The machine offers a weight ratio of 2:1 for each stack. This means the maximum weight resistance generated for each stack is 80 lbs (36.2 kg). However, the weight stacks can be upgraded. Inspire Fitness offers 50 lbs (22.6 kg) weight stack addons, so each one of the machine’s stacks can be upgraded to 210 lbs (95.2 kg).

Possible Exercises

This fitness machine offers the possibility to execute more than 40 exercises for the main groups of muscles. Some of the most important ones are:

Arm exercises

  • Bicep curls
  • Lateral single-arm biceps curls
  • Lying biceps curls
  • Close grip pulldowns
  • Triceps extensions
  • Triceps press-downs
  • Kneeling triceps extensions
  • Lateral single-arm triceps extensions
  • Prone triceps extensions
  • Pull-ups / Chin-ups
  • Assisted Pull-ups / Chin-ups

Abdominal Exercises

  • Cable crunches
  • Cable twist crunches
  • Seated trunk rotations
  • Standing trunk rotations
  • Golf swings

Back Exercises

  • Back flies
  • Back presses
  • Prone back flies
  • Prone reverse flies
  • Lat pulldowns
  • Aerobic rowing
  • Crossover rowing
  • Kneeling rowing

Chest Exercises

  • Chest presses
  • Single arm chest presses
  • Wide grip chest presses
  • Close grip chest presses
  • Chest flies
  • Incline chest flies
  • Lateral chest flies
  • Single arm chest flies
  • Pullovers
  • Pullovers with crunches
  • Pullovers with twisting crunches

Leg Exercises

  • Stand-up leg curls
  • Calf raises
  • Squats
  • Single-leg squats
  • Kneeling single-leg squats
  • Wide squats
  • Twisting squats
  • Jumping squats
  • Front lunges
  • Hip extensions
  • Hip adductions
  • Hip abductions

Shoulder Exercises

  • Shoulder presses
  • Upright rows
  • Lateral deltoid raises
  • Front deltoid raises
  • Lying front deltoid raises
  • Front deltoid raises with leg curls
  • Shoulder extensions
  • Lateral arm pulls

Of course, some of these exercises require a bench. But for some of the seated exercises, you can simply use just about any chair available.

A very useful accessory included with this trainer is the multi-function belt. This gives you the possibility to perform assisted pull-ups and chin-ups. You can attach it to the lateral front pulleys set up in one of the lowest positions and step on it in order to balance some of your weight with the weight stacks of the machine. This can be very helpful for users with a low level of fitness, allowing them to perform more pull-ups and chin-ups.

Assembly and Maintenance

Although the assembly of this functional trainer isn’t extremely complicated, there are quite many parts to put together, so the process will take at least 3-4 hours. The manual provides excellent assembly instructions, though, so with a bit of intuition, anyone should be able to do it without professional help. Also, all the tools required for the assembly are included.

Maintenance doesn’t require much. Once the unit is assembled it is recommended to periodically grease the guide rods of the weight stacks to facilitate their smooth gliding. Also, if the pulleys develop squeaking noises, their lubrication may be required.

The Pros

  • Extremely sturdy and stable frame;
  • Relatively small footprint for a home gym system;
  • Compact, v-shape, space-forward design, does only require clearance at the front;
  • Smooth pulley and cable movement;
  • 30 adjustment positions for its mobile pulleys;
  • 180° pivoting adjustable pulleys allowing a natural, healthy range of motion for all exercises; 
  • Ergonomic, dual position pull-up bar with knurled grips for maximum adherence;
  • 160 lbs weight for each stack;
  • Weight addons included for 5 lbs adjustment increments;
  • Upgradable weight stacks by up to 50 lbs each;
  • Over 40 exercises available;
  • Numerous included accessories: Multi-Functional Belt, Easy Curl Bar, Straight Bar, Ankle Cuff, Swing Handle, Tricep Rope, 2- Single Handles;
  • Revolving rack for all the accessories;
  • Little maintenance required;
  • Quiet operation;
  • Fairly easy to setup;
  • Excellent warranty plan.

The Cons

  • Only 2:1 weight ratio.

Summary

The Inspire Fitness FT1 is a dual-stack functional trainer, offering 160 lbs (+5 lbs addon) for each stack, 30 adjustment positions for the front pulleys. The frame features a very small footprint for a home gym, with a v-shape, space-forward design. It comes with a wide array of accessories, including a curl bar, straight bar, two handles, ankle cuff, tricep rope, and several others. It offers the possibility to perform more than 40 exercises. In all, it’s one of the best functional trainers out there, and even though it costs more than $2,000, its quality and versatility definitely match the price.

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8 thoughts on “Inspire Fitness Functional Trainer FT1”

  1. John Fitzpatrick

    Hi, Can you deliver an Inspire FT1 multi gym to Ireland or to a European Amazon address.

    Regards

    John Fitzpatrick
    00353 87 9922499

    1. First of all, the Inspire FT1 is no longer available on Amazon US. And second of all, the closest Amazon to Ireland is Amazon UK, and it’s not available there either. Sorry.

  2. Hello, Are the plates really 10lbs each??
    I’m trying to understand something.. When I attach the wide black belt (that comes with the machine) to each side clip, at around knee level, then put the pins all the way down to the bottom on #15, in other words, the heaviest weight possible (320lbs), then I stand on the belt, I sink to the floor. I weigh 170lbs….how is it possible?

    Thanks

    1. Pulleys lighten the weight. As a general idea, the more pulleys in a machine, the easier should be to lift a certain weight.

    2. Answering Marcel

      The pulleys cut the weight in half.
      So if you set the machine to 100lbs, you’ll actually lift 50lbs.
      The con is you only really get half the advertised weight. The pro is the cable length will be twice as long.
      Hope this helps.

  3. Answering Marcel

    Marcel, the weight is 2:1 meaning if you set the machine to 100lbs you’ll only actually be lifting 50lbs. The pulleys on this machine cut the weight in half.

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