Total Gym 1900 Home Gym Review

Exercise machines that use your bodyweight to create resistance have been all the rage since the very first Total Gym came out. Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley have, of course helped to elevate the status of this line of “inclined plane bodyweight training devices” – but being the original also gives the people at Total Gym decades more knowledge to help them put out a better product.

Specifications:

Footprint (in use): 16” W x 92.5” L x 43” H
Footprint (folded): 16” W x 50.5” L x 8” H
User Weight Limit: 350 pounds
Unit Weight: Approximately 84 pounds

Main Features of the Total Gym 1900:

Functional bodyweight resistance training.
Combination Pilates’ bar and foot rest.
Ability to perform up to 60 exercises.
You can get a total body workout in less than 30 minutes.
Padded pillow on glide board to support your head.
12 incline adjustments change the level of resistance.
Resistance ranges from 3 – 45% of your bodyweight (this is can be a positive or negative – keep reading).
Comes with detailed exercise chart.
DVD with walk-throughs included with purchase.
Fold-away design for easy storage.
1-year limited warranty.

Main Exercises You Can Perform:

Squats
Adductors
Abductors
Pullups
Chinups
Pullovers
Rows
Chest Press
Chest Flyes
Shoulder Press
Upright Rows
Lateral Raises
Chest Crossovers
Dips
Tricep Pushdowns
Overhead Triceps Extensions
Bicep Curls
Crunches
Leg Raises
Limitless Variety of Pilates’ Exercises

Pros of the Total Gym 1900 Home Gym:

High Weight Limit

This glide-board trainer doesn’t boast the 400-pound capacity offered by the Bayou Fitness Total Trainer or the 500-pound capacity of their high-end “Power Pro” model. However, at 350 pounds capacity, the Total Gym 1900 will accommodate most users.

Small Footprint

The 1900 is smaller than similar models from Bayou Fitness, yet significantly larger (longer, taller) than the light-duty Weider Total Body Works. Still, the folded footprint of the 1900 will fit into any closet or slide under any bed with ease.

Dip Bar Attachment

This unique attachment lets you do dips while supported on the glide board.

Padded Ergo Headrest

Yet another unique feature. I honestly can’t say how much more comfort it offers over competing manufactured units that don’t have one, but it’s a unique feature nonetheless.

Price

You can pick one of these things up on Amazon for less than $400 with free shipping.

Con of the Total Gym 1900:

Not Much Resistance

You’d think I’d be able to come up with more than one con for the Total Gym 1900, right? The thing is this can actually be a major drawback.

Let me detail the problems with the resistance offered on this trainer:

3 – 45% bodyweight range: Nearly every other glide-board trainer on the market offers up to 69% of your bodyweight for resistance, which still isn’t much if you’re young and spry, looking to build your strength levels up. On the other hand, this might be a plus for young children or elderly folks who just want a good workout and don’t want/can’t handle as much resistance in their workouts.

No provisions for adding extra weight or resistance bands: Many competitors to the 1900 like the Total Trainer 4000-XL from Bayou Fitness which retails for $61 more, have provisions for adding extra weight, as long as you don’t exceed the weight limit of the trainer.

Conclusion:

I would definitely recommend the Total Gym 1900. Provided you’re comfortable with the resistance restrictions it has. It’s built strong and the 1-year warranty is nothing to sneeze at compared to the paltry 3-month warranty you’ll get from the Weider Body Works. The dip bar attachment on the 1900 is a great bonus too, and should be taken into consideration before you make a decision.

If you’re looking to get stronger: Spend an extra $61 on the Total Trainer 4000-XL if you’re looking for more out-of-the-box resistance capability, and the ability to add free weights as you get stronger.

Check on Amazon for more info!