best total gym accessories

If you're reading this, odds are you've pulled the trigger and purchased a Total Gym…nice. Merely whether your Total Gym is brand new or aged like a fine wine, residuum bodacious in that location are means to add on and expand what your gym tin can practise.

With Total Gym'due south extensive lineup of accessories and attachments, you tin can add even more than variety to these already super versatile machines.

And depending on what model you've got set up in your home, you might be able to significantly upgrade your system with the addition of a few key attachments.

In this guide, I'll get over the best accessories Total Gym has to offer.

I'll discuss why I think these particular accessories have earned their way onto this list likewise every bit provide info regarding which accessories are compatible with which Total Gym models.

Well, without further bye…

The v Best Total Gym Accessories/Attachments

I'd similar to outset out by proverb I'm a really big fan of Total Gym. I was first introduced to them when I was doing my clinical rotations in Physical Therapy schoolhouse.

Several of the outpatient clinics I went to were using them, primarily for knee and hip rehab, but also for shoulder stuff (rows).

When I graduated and started working, the outpatient clinic I worked for had one also and we certainly put information technology to good use.

We used it daily for rehabbing knees and hips- it was cracking for post-op patients because we could arrange the incline bending to provide a very low-touch way for our patients to perform squats.

I also liked to use it for certain shoulder dysfunctions because I could have my patients perform dynamic rows at different incline angles depending on their force.

Long-story-brusk: Total Gyms are awesome because you get a ton of exercise variety that'due south low impact and safe for pretty much everyone to use.

I know I said in the intro that I'g bold anyone who fabricated their way here already owns a Total Gym, but as I write this I realize I probably shouldn't make that assumption.

Maybe yous're doing some research before deciding on a Total Gym?

Well, if you don't own one yet and are yet researching, you might find my Total Gym Guide helpful- in that article I go over all the popular models and provide a pretty comprehensive comparison of all the different Total Gyms.

Anyway, let's get to the attachments.

(I was really inspired to write this article after a reader asked me some neat questions regarding a certain Total Gym attachment- thank you for the inspiration!)

#i The CycloTrainer

Total Gym CycloTrainer

At first glance, I take to be honest- I didn't recall that much of the CycloTrainer. I don't know, it just didn't seem that impressive to me- it looked more like an over-priced pedaler than anything else.

But after I looked into it a little more than, it won me over.

At that place'southward nothing peculiarly notable well-nigh the CycloTrainer every bit a stand up solitary do bike- no heavy flywheels or sophisticated resistance systems or any of that jazz.

Information technology'south really just a simple little electric pedaler- information technology comes with a pocket-sized console that shows your time, speed, altitude, and resistance level simply that's really well-nigh it.

The magic happens though when you attach it to your Total Gym.

First of all, it instantly gives y'all a way to perform steady, low grade cardio- you can keep the slide board resting on the bottom as y'all pedal away.

But, if y'all're looking for a spicier conditioning, you tin can weight conduct through the pedals equally y'all pedal, which will drastically up the intensity gene (you're pedaling while the slide board is lifted from the base).

Non only does this kinda equate to standing up on a cycle while you ride, but it'southward likewise gonna engage your core a lot more as you stabilize yourself on the slide lath.

The folks at Full Gym recommend implementing 30-sixty sec of pedaling like this into your normal routine to create your own intervals- and I think this would work actually well.

Calculation the CycloTrainer to your dwelling Total Gym could salvage y'all from having to buy a stand lonely exercise bike (if yous were thinking almost getting a bike anyway).

Compatible with every model except the GTS.

#2 AbCrunch & Dip Bars Combo

Total Gym AbCrunch

If you own a model that didn't come with the AbCrunch or a prepare of dip confined, this is a philharmonic pack you should seriously consider.

A lot of models these days are coming with one or both of these attachments included and for proficient reason- each of these adds a ton of value to your gym.

The AbCrunch attachment functions equally a base for your arms to concur onto while your lower body rests on the slide board. During use, you use your core to command yourself every bit the slide board slides along the base.

If y'all're familiar with the ab wheels, information technology's kinda similar that, but opposite- instead of your arms moving with the bicycle, it's your legs moving while your artillery are stationary.

You tin go a hell of a cadre workout doing this and the Full Gyms ability to adjust the incline setting of the board allows you to control how difficult you want the exercise to be.

The dip bars are a very elementary attachment- they're actually just a set up of handles that attach to the frame of the Full Gym, assuasive you to perform (you guessed information technology) dips.

Dips are one of those essential exercises nosotros tin can all do good from. When talking strength preparation moves, the dip is right up there with button ups and pull ups equally i of the all-time all around upper body strengthening exercises.

Dips target your triceps, just they also finer piece of work your pecs and deltoids.

And if you lot've had difficulty performing bodyweight dips in the by, don't worry- the Total Gym allows you to conform the exercise to your skill level.

Merely reduce that incline level and you lot can significantly reduce how much of your body weight y'all're lifting.

You can buy these accessories separately (which makes sense if you lot already have one of them), just y'all relieve about $l by bundling.

Compatible with every model except GTS.

#3 Total Gym Wing Zipper

The wing attachment comes in 2 varieties- single slice and 2 piece. The handles themselves are identical, the only unlike being the i slice comes equally a unmarried unit of measurement and the 2 piece comes as, well, ii dissever handles.

The model y'all have will dictate whether you lot need the 1 slice or ii piece.

The wing zipper is a nifty compliment to your existing Full Gym because it allows you to comfortably perform some cardinal upper body moves like pull ups and chin ups.

The above exercises are performed with the wing attachment connected at the tiptop of the frame, but you can also attach it to the bottom for leg curls.

The fly attachment is included standard with a lot of the newer Total Gyms, but if you take an older model y'all might not have this one yet.

And if you don't, getting information technology should be on your to-do-list considering this is one versatile handle.

The 1 piece fly zipper is compatible with the post-obit models: 2000, 2200, 2500, 3000, 3000XL, Electra, Twoscore, XLS.

The 2-slice fly attachment is compatible with the post-obit models: 1100, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700 Lodge, 1800 Lodge, 1900, 2000, 2200, 2500, 3000, 3000XL, XLS, FIT (all versions), Supreme, Platinum Plus, Premiere, Ultima, Elite, Fusion, and Apex models.

#4 Total Gym Weight Bar

Total Gym Weight Bar

One of the great things about Full Gym is that you can perform all of the exercises using only you body weight as the resistance- there is no need to stop and alter weights.

Of class the downside to this is that equally y'all get stronger, you lot may get to the point where you're looking for more resistance, even with the slide lath adjusted to the highest position.

Well, the solution to this trouble is Full Gym's weight bar zipper.

With the weight bar, you can add weight plates to each side of the slide board, adding boosted resistance to any exercise you're doing.

The weight bar simply slides through the bottom of the slide board, no assembly required.

Yous're supposed to add weight evenly to the bar- later on all, you don't want the weight to be lopsided, and the maximum weight you're suppose to add is 90 lb per side (total of 180 lb).

This is awesome, but keep in mind the additional weight yous're calculation to the bar counts toward the maximum weight the gym can safely concord.

What I'm saying is that yous have to add together this additional weight to your torso weight and however exist under the gym'due south weight capacity.

For example: the Apex G5 has a weight capacity of 375 lb; if I weigh 225 lb, the most I could add to the weight bar would be 150 lb, or 75 lb per side.

Luckily, about of the Total Gyms have very high weight capacities.

If you lot're looking for some more resistance from your Total Gym, the weight bar accessory is a must.

Uniform with the post-obit models: 2000, 2200, 2500, 3000, 3000XL, 40, XLS, Electra, FIT (all versions), Apex (all versions).

#5 Total Gym STEP

Total Gym STEP

The STEP zipper is one of several different squat stands Total Gym has to offer. I feel similar every time another model comes out, in that location's a slightly dissimilar squat stand included.

Gives folks options I guess.

That said, I oasis't seen any Full Gyms that come up standard with the Pace attachment however- I could be incorrect though.

Anyway, the Pace attaches down at the bottom of the base like all the other squat stands, but it does have a few key differences.

For one, it'southward larger than the standard and oval stands, and I'm of the opinion that bigger is ameliorate when information technology comes to this attachment (gives your feet more wiggle room during your workout).

The STEP also comes with 2 divide human foot plates, equally opposed to a single base of operations.

Third, and probably most importantly, the Step is designed to be more "springy" than the other squat stands. This base gives more, making information technology groovy for plyometric moves.

With this zipper, you can comfortably do jumping moves, like plyometric spring squats, jumping jacks, unmarried leg hopping… yous know, pretty much annihilation you tin can think of that involves jumping.

You can still exercise all the other traditional squatting exercises besides.

To be off-white, you tin do jumping moves with the other squat stands as well, but I recollect the springiness of the STEP will make them a petty more than comfortable for a lot of users.

So, if you're looking to go airborne, this accompaniment is a smart upgrade.

Compatible with all models except the Achiever, 1000, 1100, 1500 and GTS

Concluding Thoughts

Total Gym has been effectually for decades and there are tons of models to choose from- especially if store for older models from other retail sites.

Models vary profoundly when it comes to their weight capacities and the number of exercises you can perform on them, but they also vary on the different attachments they come up with.

If your current model, or the model you're looking to buy doesn't come with a particular attachment y'all're looking for, don't fret- you can purchase all attachments individually from Full Gym.

That said, not all of the attachments are specially worth investing in.

But the 5 accessories listed above certainly are.

Well, that about does information technology. I hope yous plant this commodity helpful and if you have any questions or comments you'd like to share, get out 'em beneath and I'll get correct back to ya.