Dumbbell Stack Home Gyms

Space-saving and versatile

If you’re thinking a dumbbell home gym is a set of free weights and a bench, you’re not completely wrong, but that’s not the whole story. The gym does have dumbbells and it does have a bench, but it also has a unique setup that combines both with a pulley system which allows you to use it a weight machine as well as a free weight station.



I’ve only ever seen one home gym that uses dumbbells as resistance, but I have to say I’m pretty impressed by it. I can’t think of a better way to get a versatile piece of equipment into the smallest amount of space. It allows you to use a pulley system to strength train, but since it uses dumbbells for resistance it eliminates the need for weight plates, bands or bows that would have only one purpose. This way you can pick up a set of the machine’s dumbbells for chest presses and then replace them in the weight cradle for a cable bench press.

• Pros - The Empower home gym, which uses dumbbells for resistance, folds up for easy storage. And because it doesn’t require a separate set of weights, it’s a definite space-saver. It also has storage space for three sets of dumbbells. Why have two types of resistance when you only need one?
• Cons - Unfortunately for more advanced lifters the Empower only comes with a total of 32 pounds of dumbbells. The weight cradle can hold up to 100 lbs though if you already own a set or want to buy more. This machine definitely isn’t for bodybuilders, and if you share use of your home gym with a man it’s likely he won’t find it challenging enough.