Total Gym XLS Review - Fitness Logic

Welcome to the 21st century – a time when everyone can do full body workouts at home, burn calories, and stay in shape. Or anyone with a home gym that is as good as the Total Gym XLS.

Hearing it for the first time?

Well...

The best way to describe the Total Gym XLS is as one of the systems that makes working out from home a privilege. It is no wonder why this training deck is one of the most popular home gym solutions on the market with thousands of reviews.

Endorsed by big names such as Chuck Norris (who makes the weights sweat when working out) and Christie Brinkley, the Total Gym XLS is a unique system that targets different muscle groups and is perfect to use in any room.

Below, we are reviewing it in detail.

A “Lean And Mean Exercise Machine”

As Chuck Norris himself once said, the Total Gym XLS is a “lean and mean exercise machine.” This is a great description of the workout system, which is by the way designed to help people strengthen their muscles and sculpt them by targeting different groups using a single glide board and a few extra attachments.

Contrary to the beliefs of many, the Total Gym XLS does not include ridiculously heavy weights – instead, it proves that you can do exercises with your bodyweight (by lifting different percentages of it).

With a new pulley and cable system, the upgrades in the newest model of the Total Gym XLS also include an improved squat stand and a better glide board padding that gives you more comfort. Also, there are exercise plans and nutritional programs that will motivate you and bring you closer to your fitness goals.

One of the things that we can proudly accent is the brand new “6-8 Minute Workout” plan which is beyond awesome.

Main Features, Design, And Specifications Of The Total Gym XLS

The Total Gym XLS lets you do more than 80 types of exercises for different muscle groups.
The pulley and cable system has been upgraded in the newest version, giving you better movement and more exercises than before.
With a weight capacity of 400 lbs, this home gym is suitable for almost everyone.
A huge glide board is what supports your body, with additional head support and comfortable padding.
There are six levels of resistance training from which you can choose, based on your preferences.

Below is a table containing all the dimensions and weight specs of the Total Gym XLS. This can help you see whether you have the space to put this home gym solution in your living room and start doing some exercises.

As you can see, the Total Gym XLS features an angled board with many additions There is head support, too, and a wing attachment that helps you work on your back and arm muscles. The leg pull accessory can help you tone your quadriceps and hamstrings, but there are ankle straps, a squat station and pulleys for even more options.

There are exercises for all muscle groups and many additional tools that can keep you fit. For example, the squat stand is one of the best features to have in a home gym system like this – it is perfect for toning your legs, back and core.

You can literally engage in more than 80 types of exercises with this compact and simple home gym named Total Gym XLS. As a name that is among the leaders in the fitness industry since 1947, Total Gym XLS has become very popular thanks to its high quality fitness products and affordable training equipment.

One of the things we find impressive is the collaboration with Dan Isaacson to feature his Nutritional Program and Meal Plan for weight loss and healthy eating. In case you don’t know, Isaacson is the guy who developed Total Gym and is a famous celebrity trainer. He is proudly sharing his bits of knowledge to motivate everyone to achieve their fitness goals.

The Total Gym XLS Workouts

We are living in a world where fitness is essential for everyone. Nowadays, there are more people who are working out and taking care of their body than ever before. The trend is what gave birth to many home gym solutions that help you save time and money while toning your muscles at home.

In times when fitness is a lifestyle, having a home gym solution like the Total Gym XLS gives you a solid advantage. As we mentioned before, there are 80+ exercises for different muscle groups, helping you realize your fitness goals and motivating you to do better every time.

Below, we are listing some of the most important considerations people have before buying their Total Gym XLS system – and our expert opinion about them:

Construction and build quality: First of all is the construction. The Total Gym XLS has a solid build quality. With a sturdy frame construction and steel tubing, the manufacturer shows that they care about quality. There are chrome-plated upper rails and powder-coated lower rails, making this home gym very aesthetic.
Pulley System: One of the things you should know is that the Total Gym XLS is primarily a pulley system with a glide board It uses 1000 lb rated vinyl coated cables and works smoothly with the pulley system. The wing attachment is great for additional exercises, and is constructed of durable nylon coated with a soft synthetic rubber padding for a better grip.
Support And Comfort: As we listed in the table above, the weight capacity is 400 lbs – and this home gym does not have any stability issues. The padding is thicker and wider at the end of the glide board for your head, neck and lower back areas.
Ease Of Use: Overall, the Total Gym XLS is one of the easiest home gym machines to use. It is also easy to store and assemble, which are both very important factors for beginners and people who haven’t had a similar solution at home.
Customization: You can customize the machine to your needs and purchase additional attachments that can be added to the main frame by hitch pins and brackets. The fact that there is an option to buy even more attachments opens you up to a world full of possibilities and new workouts in your Total Gym XLS.
Storage: This home gym is very easy to store and move. It can be folded in no time and weights about 90 lbs itself, while the glide board weighs in at 22 lbs. Considering the build quality, this is not a weight that should cause problems to many (even though some reported it being “heavy”).

See all the Total Gym Models Here

The Concerns You Might Have When Using This Home Gym System

As you probably know, we are always trying to be 100% transparent with our fitness reviews. When it comes to the Total Gym XLS, it is easy to be a fan. Since Chuck Norris is a promoter of this home gym, it is hard to say anything against him.

However, there are obviously a couple of points and areas for improvement. We think that Total Gym XLS has a nice upgrade in the newer model but should work more on the following:

It Is Not That Easy To Transport: A bunch of people reported some issues with the transportation. Specifically, some of them pointed out that the transport wheel bearings and other parts of the machine are failing after some time. Still, the number of reviews like these is small and we expect that Total Gym XLS has improved these parts. However, we agree that the system is not the most compact one on the market.
It Has A Limited Warranty Period: With only 6 months of warranty on the parts of the system, it is evident that the manufacturer should do more to improve its brand image in front of its customers. The frame has a lifetime warranty, but parts are costly and they need to figure out a way to meet the needs of their customers.
It Is Relatively Expensive: The retail price of Total Gym XLS starts at $450 for the basic model and can reach up to $999 for the home gym system with all the sophisticated parts and additions. Compared to other models, this is just a lot and is one of the reasons why we never labeled it as an affordable home gym solution. Not every person has $800 to spend on a home gym system and we believe that this brand should either come up with a cheaper model or reduce the price in the future. The price of the full model with all of the additional accessories is even bigger.

Even with these disadvantages, you can take some time to think and see that as a durable and reliable system, you shouldn’t have any issues that need you to replace parts as part of the warranty. Also, transportation won’t be an issue if you are using the home gym at your home.

And when it comes to the price, you can also consider the fact that this is a long-term investment into your health and fitness and is one of the things that are worth it.

Final Thoughts

If you are obsessed with reviewing home gym solutions and body weight workout systems, you should know that the Total Gym XLS sits among the best. Simply put, it is a system that helps you work out all of the major muscle groups.

With a bench for full body workout and a squat stand that focuses on your lower body, this piece of gym equipment has it all. There are different resistance levels that you can customize when sitting on the glide board, a training deck for leg pull exercises and pretty much everything in terms of customization.

Ideal for beginners and intermediate users, the machine provides almost all the benefits of a regular gym so that you can do full body workouts from the comfort of your home. The assembly is easy as most of the parts are pre-assembled and you only need to connect them together.

All in all, the Total Gym XLS is not affordable but worth investing in. It is one of those products that you know are great – it’s only a matter of time until you decide to buy them and start achieving your fitness goals.