Functional fitness training is the perfect way to strengthen muscles, allowing all ages and abilities to take a more proactive approach to their health and wellness. Functional fitness exercises have their roots in the world of rehabilitation, and contrary to many other fitness programs which focus on one muscle group at a time, they instead work to strengthen and tone multiple joints and muscles all at once, mimicking the body’s natural movements and improving conditioning and function in everyday life. Functional trainers are designed to help you accomplish these coordinated exercises and can help with a number of key areas including helping to improve balance, prevent injury and increase agility and coordination. For older users, they also have a dramatic safety benefit, aiding in the prevention of falls.

Here are a few areas to examine closely before investing in your own functional trainer.

Things to Consider

Whether looking for functional, accessible gym equipment or hoping to incorporate simple workouts into your own home gym, functional trainers make a fantastic addition to any set-up. This great piece of workout kit is particularly beneficial as a result of its small footprint, combining multiple different exercises into one centralized system. Before taking the plunge and ordering your own, remember to consider:

Your Layout & Space

Functional trainers are incredibly useful pieces of fitness equipment, but they can also take up a lot of room. To make sure you invest in the right kit, carefully assess the dimensions and height of your own home or gym space and visualise which functional trainer is best suited to your individual needs as well as this vital practical consideration. If adding to a gym space, then keep in mind the activities which could be taking place around the functional trainer, and whether you’ll need to rethink or rework your layout in order to make it work.

Product Durability

When investing in a new piece of gym kit, you want to make sure it’ll last as long as possible. Working out how to draw the most years from a new product involves not only carefully assessing the spec, but also considering the use it is likely to have after purchasing. If buying for a gym, there is a possibility the functional trainer will be used more regularly and intensively than if buying for individual home use, for instance. Carefully examine the expected lifespan of each product you choose. This is particularly important in the case of equipment such as a functional trainer, where replacements could prove costly if they need to be carried out ahead of schedule. Weigh the initial cost against potential costs associated with buying a subpar product – it could end up being far more expensive in the long run.

Top Picks

Selecting a functional trainer is made easy thanks to the range of varied and effective products we have here at Flex Fitness. Our top products in this category are:

F30 PRO Multi-Functional Trainer

The F30 helps you address all your workout needs in one place, providing a one-stop machine which helps with a range of exercises including squats, deadlifts, bench presses, lunges, chin-ups, cable crunches and exercises to tone the whole body.

This functional trailer will serve the fitness needs of most people, regardless of ability – and exercises can be scaled-up in intensity in accordance with growing strength and agility. Like all functional trainers, it allows the user to strengthen their main muscle groups whilst simultaneously removing the need for multiple pieces of gym equipment for each of the different workouts it’s suited to – great for smaller gyms wanting to offer added value, and for home workouts where space is at a premium.

The F30 Functional Trainer features a Smith Machine, Functional Trainer and a Power Rack all in the same piece of kit – allowing for training with both Olympic and Standard plates. In addition, it is also easily cleaned and individual weight plates can be stored away with ease as well as providing storage space for 2 Olympic and 2 Standard sized barbells.

Key Features:

• Dip handles
• Lat Bar
• Straight Bar
• 2 x Handle Straps
• Tricep Rope
• Seated Row Bar
• Ankle Strap
• Bonus core trainer for difficult exercises

Use For:

• Squats, deadlifts and a range of over 75 different exercises all-in-one.

Use With:

• Armortech 377 Bench
• Armortech 100kg Bar and Rubber Plates Package
• Armortech Flooring
   

F40 PRO Multi-Functional Trainer 

This F40 Functional Trainer by Armortech allows users to undertake all the exercises you would expect from a functional trainer, including squats, wood chop, rows, lunges, chin-ups and shoulder presses. Similarly, to the F30 model, the F40 provides a Smith Machine and Power Rack, with an additional cable system enabling a wide variety of training opportunities from one machine.

The product is also one of the most space-efficient in our range, great for keeping your exercise space compact.

The F40 Functional Trainer is great for building strength and power, bodybuilding and muscular endurance, as well as working on compound or isolation fitness goals.

Key Features:

• Space-saving design
• Twin 150lb plastic weight stack

Use For:

• Over 75 exercises for everyday fitness

Use With:

• Armortech 377 Bench
• Armortech 100kg Bar and Rubber Plates Package
• Armortech Flooring
   

F50 ELITE Functional Trainer

As with other great functional trainers, the F50 ELITE enables a wide range of exercise options such as bench presses, lunges, bridge curls and deadlifts. It is great for building up endurance and well-suited to achieving long-term fitness goals with one handy piece of kit which allows for over 75 different exercise routines, all in one.

Key Features:

• Twin 150lb plastic weight stacks
• Upgradeable stacks (up to 100kg each side)
• Commercial 3mm thick uprights
• Rubber coated attachments

Use For:

• Building strength and agility
• Everyday fitness

Use With:

• Weight Plates
• Olympic Bar
• Bench
   

F70 Ultimate Multi-Functional Trainer

The F70 Ultimate Multi-Functional Trainer by Armortech offers the same great benefits as other functional trainers, enabling strength-building exercises which will help improve muscle tone and conditioning, whether a complete workout novice or more advanced. In addition, the product provides smooth movements thanks to a unique linear bearing system and a racking pin on either side of the system, ensuring a superior safety-conscious design which allows for a full range of natural movement to be achieved. This functional trainer also includes a lifetime Warranty for added peace of mind.

Key Features:

• Highly-durable
• Adjustable safety catches
• Lifetime warranty

Use For:

• Over 75 strength and agility-building exercises
• Everyday fitness

Use With:

• Weight Plates
• Olympic Bar
• Bench
• Accessories
   

Armortech F100 Infinity Functional Trainer

This great workout machine will enable all your workout needs in one place – with exercises made possible including everything you’d expect from a functional trainer, such as squats, cable step ups, shoulder presses and much more. The F100 is the perfect machine for those who want to ensure they have everything they need without requiring costly upgrades in the future – the machine is adaptive enough to accommodate new weights after you’ve reached each fitness goal.

Key Features:

• Smith Machine
• Cable Cross Machine
• Squat Rack
• Two 100kg cast-iron weight stacks
• 14 heavy duty car and cable attachments
• Aircraft grade cables rated to 2000lbs
• Bar and plate storage included
• Perfect scalable fitness solution

Use For:

• Scalable all-in-one fitness
• Over 75 exercises possible with this trainer

Use With:

• Weight Plates
• Olympic Bar
   

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right functional trainer for you takes careful consideration of your needs, the space you have and your own unique fitness goals.

If you’re looking for a functional trainer which won’t need upgrading, then the Armortech F100 Infinity Functional Trainer is the ideal choice, offering multiple exercises as well as a high level of customisation as you progress with your own health journey. However, for a more budget-friendly choice, the mid-price F70 Elite Functional Trainer still offers a high level of endurance, adaptability and space-saving as well as enabling 75+ exercises all in one place. For beginners on a strict budget, we recommend the F30 Pro Multi-Functional Trainer, which works all the main muscle groups without breaking the bank.

Whether buying as gym equipment or as a way to get fit and healthy in the comfort of your own home, there are lots of great, scalable options available to ensure you select the perfect piece of kit for you.