I’ve had memberships at four different gyms, and every one of them had cable machines. The home version is called a functional trainer. It has two weight stacks and two pulleys you can move up and down, and most have a pull-up bar on top.
Below are the three models that are still sold, followed by what to check before you order one.
Editor’s note: this roundup originally covered 8 functional trainer/cable machine models. REP Fitness FT-5000, Bodycraft HFT Functional Trainer, MiM USA Functional Trainer & Smith Machine Combo, and Force USA Monster G3 are all confirmed discontinued as of September 22, 2026 (two show “Currently unavailable” on Amazon with no restock date, two 404) — so this page has been narrowed to the 3 models genuinely in stock: the XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine, the Body-Solid Powerline PFT100 and the Inspire Fitness FTX (listed as “FTX 7” in the original review). The Inspire Fitness FT2 from the original review was removed in October 2026 because it can no longer be bought.
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What I Like About Cable Machines
Cables are great for isolating one muscle group at a time. I use them a lot for cable chest flies, and tricep pulldowns and single-arm curls work well on them too.
I really like them for chest flies. You can bring both handles in at the end of the rep, twist the grips inward, and work your lower and upper pecs at the same time.
Cables are also a safer way to do bench and shoulder exercises. You’re not trying to control two separate dumbbells or worry about an Olympic bar.
I’ve only used full functional trainers at professional gyms. Gym cables are always going to be smoother than the cables at home, because of the high-end pulley system and because the weights are stacked, so they move up and down really nicely.
In my home gym I have cable pulleys that use Olympic weights. A setup like that relies on the cable going over your power rack, with the Olympic plates held on at the end of the pulley, and those move around a lot. It’s just not the same. That smoothness is a big part of what you pay for with the machines below.
What Is A Functional Training Machine?
Cable machines first caught on with athletes coming back from injuries and the specialists who worked with them, as a tool for functional training: practicing everyday movements safely.
A cable crossover machine gives you a lot of exercise options in a small amount of space, which is why more people are putting them in home gyms.
This is the piece of fitness equipment that every gym owner has and everyone uses.
You can do tricep extensions with the rope, chest crossovers, tricep kickbacks, pull-ups, curls, glute kicks with the ankle strap and shoulder shrugs. Add an Olympic workout bench and you have most of what a gym offers.
For even more variety, some units combine the cable machine with a power rack or a Smith machine.
XMark Functional Trainer Cable Machine
- 200-pound dual-stack system
- Quick-adjust pulleys that come with 19 different settings (spaced at 3.5 inches)
- Interchangeable accessories
- Included accessories are:
- A pair of 17-inch long strap handles
- A short bar
- A 42-inch long bar
- A pair of 8-inch hand straps
- A 23-inch triceps rope
- A leg extension curl strap
- An ankle strap
- A workout poster (with 36 different exercise options)
- A heavy-duty 11-gauge 2×3 inches steel mainframe
- Commercial-grade pulley system and pull-up rig
- Cables extend 81 inches from the pulley
- Weight of 800 pounds (65 x 43.5 x 83 inches)
- Space between pulleys and weight stacks is 60 and 48 inches, respectively
- Powder-coated scratch-resistant equipment and rubber-coated weights
XMark has been making gym equipment for more than 20 years. This trainer has dual 200 lb stacks with a 2:1 pulley ratio, so the heaviest setting feels like about 100 lb on each handle. The pull-up bar on top handles pull-ups and chin-ups.
It’s sold as a basic machine or with upgrades, including a bench, and the price changes with the version you pick.
Body-Solid Powerline PFT100 Functional Trainer
The Powerline PFT100 is one of the less expensive full functional trainers. It has two 160 lb stacks that can be upgraded to 210 lb, and you don’t have to switch cables between exercises.
- A dual 160-pound weight-stack system that can be upgraded to 210 pounds.
- Pulleys that can be adjusted vertically and have a 180-degree motion range.
- A no-cable change design for seamless transitioning between exercises.
- 20 different starting positions, spaced 3.2 inches apart.
- Two adjustable nylon cable handles that facilitate a range of exercises.
- A knurled chinning bar included.
- Weight of 476 pounds (42.3 x 62.6 x 83 inches).
- 10-year warranty on the frame and 1 year on all other parts.
On Amazon it’s currently sold by a third-party seller, Gronk Fitness, not by Body-Solid, so check who you’re buying from and how the warranty is handled before you order.
Inspire Fitness FTX
The Inspire FTX takes up the least floor space of the three, about 40 by 54 inches, and it weighs 544 pounds. It has two 165 lb stacks and a matte black steel frame.
- 165-pound dual weight-stacks
- 30 pulley positions
- Accessories include:
- A pair of deluxe D-Handles
- A curl bar
- A chin/dip belt
- A triceps rope
- Facility to isolate each pulley to allow independent movements
- Limited Lifetime warranty on the frame as well as the parts
Each pulley works on its own, so you can train one side at a time. Inspire lists a limited lifetime warranty on the frame and parts.
What to Look for in a Functional Trainer
Pulleys
The pulleys matter most. They should move smoothly and adjust to a lot of different heights.
On the better machines the pulley positions are about 3 inches apart.
Make sure you can use both the lowest and highest positions. Longer cables also give you more range of motion for moves like lunges.
Smoothness is hard to judge online. If you can’t try one in a store, read the buyer reviews for comments about how the pulleys feel.
Weight Stacks
Weight stacks mean no plates to change or store, since the resistance is built into the machine. Combo units that include a power rack or Smith machine may use plates instead.
Get two weight stacks if your budget allows. You get twice the resistance, and two people can use it at once for some exercises.
Standard stacks come in 150, 165 and 200 lb. Most home trainers use a 2:1 pulley ratio, so 200 lb on the stack feels like about 100 lb on the handle. If you’re strong, pick the heaviest stack you can. Many brands also sell add-on weights for later.
Warranty
Check the frame and parts warranty before you compare prices. Cheaper machines usually come with shorter coverage, and cables and pulleys do wear out.
Attachments
Some of the common attachments that come with trainers are:
- Short and long bars
- D-Handles
- Sports bars
- Triceps ropes
- EZ curl bars
- Multi-purpose belts
- Ankle cuffs
- Pull-up bars
The attachments that come in the box vary by brand, and they can be the deciding factor between two similar machines. Benches, preacher curl pads and leg attachments are usually sold separately.
Size
These machines take up a lot of room, and you need space around them to move and for a bench. The three here weigh roughly 475 to 800 pounds, so plan how you’ll get it into the room before it arrives.
The Bottom Line
If you like the cable machines at your gym, a functional trainer brings that home. Before you pick one, measure your space and decide how much weight you need.
When it arrives, check it for shipping damage, take it slow on your first workouts, and don’t modify it unless you know what you’re doing.
Check the current price: XMark Functional Trainer, Body-Solid Powerline PFT100, or Inspire Fitness FTX on Amazon
