The Compact Budget Functional Trainer From Bells of Steel - A Review 

Appreciate the in depth look at our trainer adrian 😁😁

Personally used and sold this trainer - it's more solid than many machines that are more expensive.

I live north of Toronto and was able to try this out in their showroom - it is a great unit! I was going to buy it but there was a long backorder wait at the time so I ended up buying a used machine from another brand. Other cheap models I tried always seemed to have always have a down side - i.e. unstable, issues with the weight pin hitting the stack, bad weight ratios, resistance/friction in the pulley's that ruined light weight movements, etc (and some had more than 1 of these issues). For the price - the quality and function are fantastic.

I prefer the Inspire FTX, I think it is a little more compact and my opinion just looks better. You also cannot beat the price at Costco

Random Comment Idk what I would do on a functional trainer. I keep toying with the idea of getting rid of the reverse hyper but have yet to find anything more useful to me with similar foot print

What size Gym pin does it use, 5/16 or 3/8. Thanks

Any thoughts on the inspire SF3? Seems to be a great functional trainer with a smith machine. Costco usually has it at a discounted price. $2,000-$2,500

This may actually be perfect for my brother-in-law. He wants one for his garage and he’s not super into lifting so he’s looking for something a little bit cheaper and this looks like it would be a pretty good one. I’ll send him your affiliate link.

This one actually looks doable in my basement! Im going to have to double check my height measurements tho.

I’ve had mine for about a 7 months now and it is great. Does the job for a cheap price. The assembly videos are clutch too on all there stuff.

Great review! Really enjoy this tips like the “gym pin” to relatively easily address any limitations a product might have.

Did you ever review the plate loaded functional trainer that you alluded to @9:03?

Gym pin size for this?

Since my basement gym is short of floor space, I’m torn between getting a BOS pulley system for my Titan rack (if it is compatible) and getting a func trainer for the versatile pulley system. Thought on pulley system vs BOS func trainer? I’d also prefer the plate loaded version so that I can use the plates that I already own!

Gonzalez Shirley Thomas Maria Hall Scott

2:1 ratio... I thought that meant it comes out 2 inches for ever 1 inch of upward travel? Not sure if that converts to lifting 1/2 the weight? If it was 1:1, you wouldn't get very far with it, would you?

great video. do i need to bolt this down? Thanks!!

Given the height and kind of crowded footprint, are you able to hang rings for this or is it better to have a separate space for that?

The pull up bar reminds me of the black widow one I own. Having said that I have the same issue

Definitely adding a REP 6 post with the Aeres. Going to do it right the first time. Just waiting for REP to get some of their equipment back in stock. Thanks so much for the awesome review.

Is there a huge difference between single and dual stack for muscle growth while using both handles at the same time?

What do you think of the XMARK 7626?

Looks like a solid option! Also glad you didn’t succeed in crushing yourself when you attempted to flip it😅 great video!

I like my inspire SF3, the smith bar has a coupler on it that allows you to use a 1:1 ratio on the weight stacks

Honestly my dream setup for a functional trainer is similar to what you have which is where I got the idea. Have the ares separate from my power rack but I can see how a lot of people will like this

Your review is very entertaining. Thanks

Great review! Thanks for testing the stack connection. It looks like you’d need a longer d-handle or something like the modbar to make that work better. I’d also love to see much better use of the back of the unit for storage.

Curious what your take is on Force USA? Wondering if you’ve been able to try a one of their machines somewhere. Haven’t personally seen you mention them and am curious if you have thoughts about the G3 or even the G9, in comparison to the units you mentioned in this review. Congrats on the channel and what you’ve built!

I could research this myself, but want to do my part to help the algorithm...are there any functional trainers that also have a set up for barbell bench, squat, and deadlift? Is that the Hydra? I'm trying to stay in the same footprint as my residential power rack and use stack pulley in place of my plate loaded lat pull down that's in the power rack.

Adrian, BOS is a Canadian Company...WHY is your affiliate link only good in the US? There's only 6 million people in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and BOS has a store with curbside pickup.

It would be great to get something like this to be able to be weatherproof; Im here in Australia & prefer to do my gym stuff outside

5th comment

Price difference aside, which would you prefer-the Bells of Steel FT or the Rep 5000 2.0 (the new update to the 5000)? The Rep is 11 gauge steel and has 212 pounds on each stack, but as pointed out has the higher 12.5 pounds minimum weight.

inspire ftx is 1199 at cosco so it would be the cheapest

I miss the funny intros!!

That a great machine for the price. But I pick up the inspire FTC for 799$ at Costco. Hopefully I will get the space for a REP one day.

Hey Man, What stand alone FT is the best value in your opinion? I think this BOS unit might be it. REP's 2.0 upgrade was more of a "horizontal" grade instead of an "up" grade LOL. Then there is Titan, but Titan is Titan so I will pass on that one. Rogue isn't even in the running with their $6,500 price tag. People that buy that machine have so much money that it doesn't matter who has the best deal. I could say the same thing about Rogue's lat pulldown/Row machine, right at $4,000 to your door. Prices like that turns a home gym company into a Sorinex type company that sell to universities, pro teams, and commercial gyms. IMO, it's either the REP FT 5000 or this BOS unit and I'm not sure which I would buy if I was in the market. My friend however is in the market and U are the most honest reviewer out there, so with him trying to stay under $2,500 which FT stand alone should he buy? Thnkx, Man and Take Care, say Hey to Wynie

There’s a store by my daughter’s daycare called Glück Tea. Never shopped there, but it makes me think of gym equipment every time I drop her off. Hopefully that was random enough for the algorithm.

What’s your thoughts on TRX system?

I'm still lost at what trainer to buy.

I can fix my shoulder problem by getting into cross-fit? Awesome! Is there a functional trainer flipping entrance exam, or are all apprentices welcome?

Random comment for the RU-vid Algorithm

Congrats on your fitness modeling career!

BOS has been on absolute 🔥🔥🔥 this last year and a half to two years. They have been pumping out some awesome equipment. Not a functional trainer, but I just got their curl bar. It is top notch.

Great video!

Sick!!!

Chest looking JUICY in the thumbnail

One thing that really bothers me is the lack of mid tier price points in the home gym market. Some companies have tried, but there seems to be only two true options when it comes to full gym ecosystems; either money is no worry 3-5 thousand dollar per machine, or “I have no money” 200$ pieces of crap that aren’t compatible with anything and are subpar at best. I’m really waiting for a company that makes 1. A modular ecosystem so you can build out a gym with the specific equipment you want without worrying about compatability, and 2. A price point that isn’t so cheap that it’s borderline dangerous, but isn’t so expensive that I need to start pinching pennies to save up for it. When that company exists, they can have all my money.

You definitely missed a lot of small unit jokes 😂

🥈

anyone know product Gluck is using at 00:00:39 to hook both ends of the cable machine clips to?

Rep Ares photobombing the entire video

Random comment for the algorithm 🤗

Would love to see this in a future Massenomics gym tour.

Discount code didn’t work?

Thanks for a solid review! I was going to choose this over Titan's based on price but they just had a 20% off sale for Valentines Day so I snatched it for $2000 :)

This looks like a great option for my basement gym, and the price point is low enough I think I could talk my husband into it lol!

I'm glad you tried to pull it over on yourself. Having 3 kids this is always one of my worries with these.

nicw

Coupon code is dead, any new one?

[3:00] 160 lbs -> 80 lbs -> 36 kgs It just keeps getting smaller and smaller...

A better comparison than the Rep Ares would have been the Rep Athena.

wait ur 6 feet tall?

You said that the gym pin pro D handle doesn’t work well, but at the start of the video you seem to be doing neutral close grip pulldowns with it just fine. The gym pin pro doesn’t have to be the exact same width as the functional trainer, as long as it connects the pulleys will swivel into position. You will get the same resistance Whichever direction the pulleys swivel within 180° .Thats exactly the way it fits on my Functional trainer, and i have zero complaints when doing rows, and pulldowns .

Better than inspire?

Great Review The parts of the machine look nice and I really like this machine but I have two reservations about this product. The low gauge of steel used and the small weight stack. Most men want a sturdy, solid machine with that 200 lb. stack (at least 200 lbs.) but I get it, they felt they had to keep it under $2k. I'm still on the fence whether I'd get it. Just saw the new REP FT 5000 2.0 and as much as I love REP they sure messed up on that upgrade. The 2.0 is the 1.0, except with cheap looking alum. pulleys added and etched numbering on the uprights. Just when REP looks like they're gonna take the podium and stand beside Rogue, they make something like the FT 5000 2.0 upgrade where they droped the ball completely. REP's lack of slamming the door on the FT market when they had the chance put BOS back in the FT running. BOS could've taken a big jump on companies if they came out with the best FT but they give us this budget friendly one. Nobody wants to take over the FT market IMO because they think most home gym owners either cannot afford FT's or they don't have the space for them so the Ares is top dog and they think why bother to create something most are not gonna buy. Just my opinion Take Care, Man

first

What’s the bar you use at 0:39 mark that allows for all the accessory spacing? I could see that being SO handy for a bunch of different movements.

The angled grips are in a bad spot? How about you spin around and use the other side? Lol