Inspire Fitness Ft2 Functional Trainer

Although it took a bit of time to put it together, it was a fun project. For me, it was therapeutic. High quality product!

I assembled this by myself, took about 8 hrs; Mostly bc of awkward positioning and bracing without an additional person to help.This cable system trainer is awesome and very functional. The additional bench with hamstring curl and leg extension capability makes it even better. Basically all you need for all in one home gym. I have squat racks and racks of dumbells plus way too much other gym equipment but use the inspire the most. It can reduce the workout time bc of no need to re rack weights on barbells and such. Plus cable system allows you to incrementally increase weight for progress where sometimes free weights can be limiting. Smiths machine component is great and easy to switch to.My only complaint is that the cable sleeves tear very easily. Within 1 or 2 weeks they started tearing. Up until that point it was very quiet machine. Now the cable rubs on the pulley system and makes it noisy and less free flowing when engaging the system. After a couple of months all cable sleeves were torn. I’ve owned this system for 1 yr now. I would had rated this product 5 stars if it wasn’t for this fact.

For several years I have been looking for home fitness equipment that would provide the same (or near) quality workout from the gym/weight room environment. Each time I have been disappointed with the options available, until now. This is the first home gym that I have found that performs like equipment I have been using for the past 20 years in various gyms or fitness centers, and paying a monthly membership for.Although this unit has several impressive qualities, the cable functionality impressed me the most. The cable system is smooth and responsive. The laggy, rubber-band feel of other home systems is completely eliminated with the FT2, and it feels like working with cables at a fitness center. Making adjustments to the height and position of the handles, and adding or decreasing weight is quick and easy, making for seamless transitions from one exercise to the next. With the different options for handle placement, each muscle group can be worked using a variety of exercises, similar to what is available at commercial gyms, without the migration from station to station.The barbell, with Smith function, is also extremely smooth. Again, it feels similar to Smith machines I have worked on in previous gym settings, but adds the convenience of using a weight stack, instead of barbell plates. The Smith feature is great especially in the home setting because reps can still go to failure, if wanted, without the worry about getting stuck without a spotter. One of my biggest concerns with transitioning to a home system was lack of progression, but with the FT2, I have been able to go as heavy as I have wanted without sacrificing safety.It seemed like assembly was going to be a challenge when it arrived in all of the boxes it ships in. I was surprised at how easy it turned out to be though. It took a few hours, but the instructions are very well organized, parts and hardware are clearly labeled, and customer service is available if questions come up. One of the cables got pulled too tight during assembly and broke (my fault), but customer service was very accommodating and shipped a new one overnight, no questions asked.I have been extremely happy with this home gym, and even though it is somewhat more expensive than other alternatives, I have found it to be more than worth it.

I purchased the FT2 around two months ago. My concern was to install this 800-lb unit on a second floor, I posted my questions on this page, and I want to thank the Amazon community for their feedback. You should get 11 boxes, but I only received 10 (the leg extension kit was missing). Amazon asked me not to open the other boxes and wait until they send me another set. I contacted Inspire and they sent me the missing box in a day or two, really great!I was impressed by the parts quality and the clear instructions. All parts arrived in perfect condition. Putting together the FT2 is a two-day project assuming you do not make mistakes in the process or parts are missing. In my case, one stack raiser was missing, but again Inspire sent me the piece which arrived in a couple of days. You may need an extra hand when installing the upper brackets.The unit was installed in a small room upstairs that sits over a load bearing beam. My unit is on a shag rug, over 3 panels of 3/4 inch plywood (in a U-shape) to distribute the weight across multiple joists. I will update this feedback if I see any structural damage over time, I hope not, it shouldn't.The equipment is commercial quality. The pulleys run smoothly, the bench is very solid and comfortable. The top two and the back four pulleys provide several options to work individual muscles. The leg extension works great.The Smith machine is a fantastic addition. However, because it starts from a negative position, I had to get used to it. It is now part of my basic routine for squats, calves, bench press, and incline press. With the weight multiplier, I do not think I will ever need to buy the extra weight stacks.It is amazing the number of exercises you can do in a very small footprint.Working out at home is priceless. No commute, no stinky bathrooms or loud music. The FT2 plus a couple of adjustable dumbbells and a good cardio machine, should be enough to be in decent shape without having to go to a gym ever again.