The fitness market offers a wide range of products available in varying features and prices. However, it is possible to find an affordable workout machine with useful features to help you achieve your goals. If you intend to engage in strength training, resistance appliances can help with that.
Among the many brands to consider purchasing, there are Total Gym and Weider. They both offer resistance to challenge your body and take your workouts to the next level. Nevertheless, products from the two companies differ in a few ways.
Here are the differences between the two brands:
The difference between Total Gym and Weider home gym is the user weight capacity, levels of resistance, affordability and the Total Gym provides you with a wide range of models while Weider only offers two.
Total Gym vs Weider Comparison
| Total Gym | Weider | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Exercises | From 60 – over 200 | Over 50 |
| Levels of Resistance | From 12 – 22 | 7 – Plus 4 adjustable power bands for up to 50-Pounds of additional resistance |
| Maximum User Weight | From 275 lbs – 650 lbs | 250 lbs |
| Folds for Storage | Easy fold away | Easy fold away |
| All Models | Total Gym 1100 Total Gym 1400 Total Gym 1600 Total Gym 1900 Total Gym Apex G1 Total Gym Apex G3 Total Gym Apex G5 Total Gym Supreme Total Gym XLS Total Gym Fit Total Gym GTS | Weider Total Body Works 5000 Gym Weider Ultimate Body Works |
| Affordability | Expsensive depending on model | Cheaper |
Weider is cheaper than Total Gym; thus, if you are on a budget, it would be the right purchase for you. Note that Amazon is the only authorized seller of the model. Among the four Total Gym models, the cheapest is the Total Gym Supreme, and it costs more than Weider.
Weider has a user weight capacity of 250lbs while Total Gym’s Supreme offers a maximum weight capacity of 275lbs, which is in close range to Weider’s 250lbs. Weider Ultimate Body Works utilizes your body weight to provide resistance. It features four adjustable power bands and a pulley cable system, which provide extra resistance. If you need to enhance the intensity of your workout, increase the inclination of the glide board.
Regarding the number of exercises, Weider allows you to do more than 50 different exercises. However, the Total Gym products we have mentioned are usable for over 80 exercises. That is not all. While Weider offers 7 levels of resistance, Total Gym provides up to 22 with the lowest among the four models being 6. While Total comes fully assembled, Weider requires some assembling.
That being said, we are going to look deeper into the two brands separately, including their pros and cons, to help you determine which one you should buy.
Total Gym is always running different discounts and promotions, so check out their official website for the latest deals.
About Total Gym
With Total Gym, you can select one resistance product among these top-selling models; Total Gym XLS, Total Gym Fit, Total Gym Supreme, and Total Gym GTS. All of them come when fully assembled, so you can start working out immediately. XLS offers six levels of resistance, and it can carry a person as heavy as 400lbs. You can use it for over 80 exercises.
The Fit model provides 12 resistance levels, a weight limit of 450lbs, and allows over 85 exercises. If you settle for Supreme, you get to utilize 12 levels of resistance and a 275lbs weight capacity. It is the cheapest of the four Total Gym machines.
GTS offers superior performance than the other three Total Gym versions. You can enjoy 22 different levels of resistance, a weight capacity of 650lbs, and 200 exercises. Such aspects challenge you to achieve more by taking part in tougher exercises.
The four Total Gym strength training products consist of a squat stand, a padded glide board plus head support, a pulley and cable mechanism, and flexible nylon strap handles. Adjust the inclination to change the resistance. Some of the workouts to perform on these include squats, pull-ups, shoulder presses, pilates, front pullovers, and shoulder extensions. The company has endorsements from the Polar Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Easy to use
- Does not need assembling
- Comfortable
- Smooth glide
- Folds to save storage space
- Operates quietly
Cons
- Costly, other products are more affordable and perform just as great.
Who is the Total Gym for?
Total Gym is for both beginners and pros in strength training. The company offers varying products to suit different user skill-sets. For example, the GTS model provides 22 levels of resistance, which are great for experts, while XLS provides 6 options that suit novices.
About Weider
Weider offers more than workout machines. The company also provides nutritional products such as protein, burners and bars, and those that foster endurance, recovery, muscle gain, vegan, pre-workout, and hydration. Weider is a family name, and Joe Weider is the founder of Weider Nutrition International. He is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s trainer and the publisher of the Muscle and Fitness Magazine.
One of the resistance machines that Weider offers is the Ultimate Body Works. Weider Total Body 5000 works in a similar manner to the Ultimate only that it provides extra attachments for free weights. However, in the review, we are going to compare Total Gym and Weider Ultimate.
Weider Ultimate Body Works
The Weider Ultimate Body Works is perfect for both upper and lower body workouts. It strengthens muscles and enhances flexibility. Adjust the incline bench to your desired position with the help of pulleys on both sides allowing you to increase or decrease the weight resistance suitable to your body weight. This home gym features a compact SpaceSaver design making it the perfect full-body workout equipment for home use.
Dimensions: 59″ L x 27.5″ W x 48″ H
Features:
- Telescoping Design
- Rolling Cushion Seat
- High Pulley
- Sit Up/High Handle
- SpaceSaver Design
- Leg Squat
- Free Motion Cables
- Incline Adjust
- SuperPack Additional Resistance
- 90-Day Parts & Labor Warranty
The parts that make up Weider are a pulley system, a squat stand, nylon strap handles, 4 power bands, a padded glide board, and an exercise guide.
Besides the Ultimate Body Works, Weider also manufacturers variable rod resistance devices, weight benches, Weider Power Tower, Weider 214lbs Stack Home Gym, and Weider X-factor door gym. If you need an alternative for the Weider Ultimate Body Works, try Weider Total Body Works 5000. However, both of them have similar features except the fact that the latter offers extra attachments for free weights.
However, both brands give you a chance for a full-body workout where you exercise different muscle groups, including your arms, legs, abs, and shoulders. They also fold down (when not in use) to fit in small spaces. Each company provides you with an exercise guide or chart to enable you to try out new workouts to enrich your routine.
Pros
- Cheaper than Total Gym
- Has strong straps
- Allows a reasonable number of exercises
- Provides extra resistance besides your body weight
- Has an easily adjustable incline
- Good Cable system
- Consists of durable steel material
Cons
- Not as smooth as the Total Gym
- Requires assembling
Who is the Weider suitable for?
Weider is suitable for users who want an affordable strength-training machine that offers high performance as well. The fact that it provides 7 levels of resistance makes it more of a beginner brand than an expert’s go-to product. However, the seven levels can still offer challenging workouts for a pro’s lazy workout days.
Weider Ultimate Body Works vs. Total Gym XLS
| Weider Ultimate Body Works | Total Gym XLS | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Exercises | 50+ | 80+ |
| Levels of Resistance | 7 – Plus 4 adjustable power bands for up to 50-Pounds of additional resistance | 6 |
| Maximum User Weight | 250 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Folds for Storage | Easy fold away | Easy fold away |
| Assembly | Requires some assembling | Arrives fully assembled |
| Dimensions Unfolded (WxLxH) | 59” x 27.5” x 48” | 19” x 90” x 43” |
| Warranty | 90-Day Parts & Labor Warranty | Lifetime Warranty on Frame, 6-Month Warranty on Parts |
| Attachments | N/A | LAT Bar Attachment Squat Stand 6-Piece Strength Package |
| Price | See Best Price | See Best Price |
Weider Ultimate Body Works vs. Total Gym 1400
| Weider Ultimate Body Works | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of Exercises | 50+ | 60+ |
| Levels of Resistance | 7 – Plus 4 adjustable power bands for up to 50-Pounds of additional resistance | 8 |
| Maximum User Weight | 250 lbs | 275 lbs |
| Folds for Storage | Easy fold away | Easy fold away |
| Assembly | Requires some assembling | Arrives fully assembled |
| Dimensions Unfolded (WxLxH) | 59” x 27.5” x 48” | 56″ x 18″ x 9″ |
| Warranty | 90-Day Parts & Labor Warranty | 1 year limited |
| Attachments | N/A | N/A |
| Price | See best price | See Best Price |
Weider Ultimate Body Works vs. Total Gym 1900
| Weider Ultimate Body Works | Total Gym 1900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Exercises | Over 50 | 60+ |
| Levels of Resistance | 7 – Plus 4 adjustable power bands for up to 50-Pounds of additional resistance | 12 |
| Maximum User Weight | 250 lbs | 350 lb |
| Folds for Storage | Easy fold away | Easy fold away |
| Assembly | Requires some assembling | Arrives fully assembled |
| Dimensions Unfolded (WxLxH) | 59” x 27.5” x 48” | 92.5” x 16” x 43.25” |
| Warranty | 90-Day Parts & Labor Warranty | 1 year limited |
| Attachments | N/A | leg and wing attachments |
| Price | See best price | See Best Price |
Weider or Total Gym: Final Thoughts
Strength training is a helpful exercise for bodybuilders and weight lifters. However, it is also great for ordinary people working out from their homes using Total Gym or Weider resistance machines.
Both brands are great and have a similar design. The difference comes in based on a few factors, such as the number of resistance levels, user weight capacity, and the number of exercises.
I would go for any of the two products, but for extra resistance levels, Total Gym offers much more options up to 22 levels. If you are on a budget, Weider is more affordable than Total Gym. Between the two brands, you now stand a better chance of buying the product that best suits your needs.
SEE ALSO: Total Gym Review
Total Gym is always running different discounts and promotions, so check out their official website for the latest deals.