Cable Crossover

[JosephDubya]

Looking to purchase a nice but relatively inexpensive cable machine for my home gym.
Any suggestions?

[gym62richard]

What sort of budget do you have?, a dedicated cable crossover takes up a lot of room, a functional trainer may be a more space efficient option.

[Afo3]

Stupid question - with a good functional trainer that has a way to get the arms fairly wide apart, are there really that many exercises that you do need a full cross-over for? I'm very new to trying to figure out how to incorporate cables into my workouts so pardon my ignorance.

[ripper238]

Stupid question - with a good functional trainer that has a way to get the arms fairly wide apart, are there really that many exercises that you do need a full cross-over for? I'm very new to trying to figure out how to incorporate cables into my workouts so pardon my ignorance.

There is really no need for large cable crossovers anymore, and you can usually do so much more with a functional trainer. I would almost prefer a FT over any free-weights, cages and whatnot. But i am also not a body builder.

[gym62richard]

Stupid question - with a good functional trainer that has a way to get the arms fairly wide apart, are there really that many exercises that you do need a full cross-over for? I'm very new to trying to figure out how to incorporate cables into my workouts so pardon my ignorance.

The cable crossover with adjustable pulleys is a versatile piece, to perform a true crossover movement the pulleys need to be about 7ft apart, the functional trainer does a decent job of replicating a crossover chest fly, but the FT's great advantage is that it is so much more versatile and space efficient than a dedicated cable crossover.

[JosephDubya]

What sort of budget do you have?, a dedicated cable crossover takes up a lot of room, a functional trainer may be a more space efficient option.

Not too worried about space. I could technically get away with most exercises that I need from either/or.
I've looked into the functional trainers and I've used them, I just don't feel like I get a good enough stretch from them when doing anything chest related (with both arms, obviously I can if I do single arm)
And as far as budget, It really just depends. I mean I obviously don't want to break the bank.

[JosephDubya]

The cable crossover with adjustable pulleys is a versatile piece, to perform a true crossover movement the pulleys need to be about 7ft apart, the functional trainer does a decent job of replicating a crossover chest fly, but the FT's great advantage is that it is so much more versatile and space efficient than a dedicated cable crossover.

I agree. The stretch is WAYYYYY better

[Deep-Voiced-One]

Some people favor this one (according to the reviews), it only has a high and low pulley and it's definitely not a heavy-duty one, but budget wise bought new it's probably the cheapest cable crossover...

https://www.fitnessfactory.com/home/....kBW7gWRz.dpbs

...Otherwise new, but for more would be the light commercial Body-Solid version (the higher quality line above the Powerline)...

https://www.fitnessfactory.com/home/....BWWhvOyK.dpbs

[Greybird2]

I am moving in a few months and my gym will end up in the basement. I have a functional trainer, but I am going to get 2 of these and mount them to the wall around a corner. Wont take up much space and can also function as 2 cable stations for other things. I have been waiting for a review on here, but, have never seen one.

[Deep-Voiced-One]

Greybird, I forgot about those Valor cable columns...if I'm not mistaken those should be a 1:1 ratio, I wonder how far they the cables extend?

If the two are able to travel far enough and the quality of the columns are smooth enough it would make for a great 1:1 ratio functional trainer, or perhaps cable crossover.

[ripper238]

The tough part will be determining the max weight you need for an FT and finding a unit that can do it. For the average you don't need much, but most think otherwise. And since there have been a few good cheaper options ill link a few high end ones.

This is a really nice small unit, but the weight is light: https://www.hoistfitness.com/consume...tional-trainer

This is more of an old school FT with plenty of width: http://www.tuffstuffitness.com/produ...l-trainer.html

[gym62richard]

Greybird, I forgot about those Valor cable columns...if I'm not mistaken those should be a 1:1 ratio, I wonder how far they the cables extend?

If the two are able to travel far enough and the quality of the columns are smooth enough it would make for a great 1:1 ratio functional trainer, or perhaps cable crossover.

I suspect the Valor cable units have a 2.1 ratio, I think I remember reading that a vertically adjustable pulley, such as those found on most functional trainers and on the Valor cable columns will have a pulley ratio of 2.1 or 4.1 on some models.

I may be wrong, but I think it has something to do with the length of cable needed to vertically adjust the attachment pulley, certainly I don't recall ever seeing a unit with this pulley configuration that had a 1.1 pulley ratio.

[Deep-Voiced-One]

Rich, you're right, I had the column mixed up with a dual selectorized mid-row machine I've seen before (pulling ratio on that was 1:1), so the columns at 2:1 should extend fine.

I also read something about the number of pulley wheels the cable goes through determines the pulley ratio supposedly.

[gym62richard]

Rich, you're right, I had the column mixed up with a dual selectorized mid-row machine I've seen before (pulling ratio on that was 1:1), so the columns at 2:1 should extend fine.

I also read something about the number of pulley wheels the cable goes through determines the pulley ratio supposedly.

Yes so I understand, but please don't ask me to explain how pulley/cable configurations affect a particular pulley ratio, it's all too complicated for my simple mind, haha.