STRENGTH TRAINING REVOLUTION
Introducing the BODYCRAFT XFT, the most comprehensive Strength Training System ever created. Designed and engineered by BODYCRAFT, the XFT is the latest in strength training technology. The patented XFT fuses Barbell Training with a Functional Training Machine all within a compact 61″X 50″ floor space. The XFT was designed to allow you to safely perform virtually countless exercises all in natural and safe fashion. Whether you’re a performance athlete or just beginning your journey to a happier and healthier lifestyle, the XFT offers you what it takes to meet and exceed your goals.
Micki –
It was a very unpleasant experience when my gym has been closed for 2 months recently. I had to buy some basic, used equipment to train at home to feel good.
Since then, I cannot stop thinking about having a gym at home and be completely independent from whatever happens in the outside world.
The only problem is: the size of my apartment: I have place for only 1 Device.
It has to be perfect!
I analyzed all possible types of devices made by leading producers around the world – and realized that what i need is a smith machine combined with double pulley cable machine.
And there are many devices like that – but for some magic reasons all of them have stack for cables and plates for Smith machine. What a not-elegant solution…
I already designed my own machine (Body Craft HFT + basic smith machine combined together in such a position that i could connect the cables to a smith machine’s bar.
Now I discovered your break trough innovation – and i see how such concept looks like when designed by professionalists + combined with superb materials and attention to details.
I hope to try it soon in Switzerland 😉
G Adam –
Added this to my PT studio and its a phenomenal piece of equipment, so much versatility and my clients love it.
Tom S –
Always loved the BodyCraft brand as have been quite familiar with it after spending some time in the states and the office I worked at had a little staff gym with lots of bodycraft kit which I loved. This is almost like and superior version of their Jones machine but with so many more functions and no need for weight plates! It also takes up a modest amount of space considering it functionality!
Richard G –
Has taken most of the day to build but completely worth it as its really something special. So easy to make adjustments to the mechanisms and my wife and 2 teenage kids have been able to use it with no fuss too. We’ve had cheaper things in the past but this is a whole new level of quality. We’ll probably get the bench to go with it too now.
Alexei –
Having seen this on the BodyCraft US website some time ago I enquired with Powerhouse if they would be getting this item and was please to hear it was on order from the supplier, but 3 months away! Really didn’t want to wait so contacted BodyCraft in the US who quotted me a ridiculous sum of money for freight and that was before paying import tax! Decided to wait for Powerhouse to have stock and so glad I did. I’ve never seen anything like this before and I don’t think theres anyone else out there doing anything like this, it is quite simply the most innovative training system I’ve ever seen!
Javier –
I’ve been a gym rat for more than 25 years and have owned all kinds of home gym equipment, from free weights, and adjustable dumbbells to all different kinds of home gyms.
During the pandemic, I started looking for a home gym again and tried all kinds of different types. I live in a 5th floor walk up apartment with limited space and was prepared to compromise because of space.
When I tried the XFT though I knew i had to have it. For so many reason– this is the cream of the crop and a technological marvel. There is nothing out here like it! There is no need for any other equipment and it replaces the need to go the gym entirely. Also no compromise was necessary! This machine is phenomenal and even with more space I wouldn’t want anything else.
Not only does it does it have a compact footprint for what it can do, , but has all the benefits of a functional trainer with a complete Jones machine built right in. It has one 200 lb weight stack although is somehow feeds both sides of the functional trainer without any decrease in weight (i.e. it functions somehow as if you had two separate 200 lbs stacks on each side) Not only that but when you use the jones machine you can also duplicate the weight, so I could squat, deadlift and lunge up to 400 lbs! (with a 200 lb weight stack-go figure). Unless you are training for Mr. Olympia this is enough weight to get a heavy duty work out. It’s also a snap to change between exercises and weights. There i no needs to load/unload heavy plates and literally cuts my work out times in 1/2. The Jones machine with rotating bar also allows you to have a complete range of motion. It’s a bit expensive but for me worth every single penny! Give it a try–you’ll see what I mean. This thing is incredible.
John Miller –
Was looking at buying either the Inspire FT2 or French Fitness FSR80. Unbeknownst to me my brother was also in the market and just recently bought the Bodycraft XFT . He told me about it and I’m so glad he did as the XFT is by far the superior multi-functionall. I love the telescopic smith bar and fact the smith bar connects to the selectorized weights. Excellent design and well worth the money.
Matthew Jacobs –
My wife and I own a business that has been heavily affected by COVID19 (as other have) and with us concentrating on staying open, going to the gym is not really an option. We’ve had other “machines” in the past and have sold them as they were more like toys rather than a real machine. We bit the bullet and spent the money thinking that we would be forced to use it because of the shear price tag. So far, I’ve used the machine almost daily and I love it. We are just over a month in and really enjoy using the machine. My wife loves the flexibility and I love how adaptable it is. I use the work out sheets as well as other exercises that I used to do with free weights. This thing is a beast. It’s sturdy, easy to assemble, and just a pure joy to use.
Gina –
As a fitness specialist I need to get what I need out of a in home workout, I am loving this ALL IN ONE functional machine! I love my smith machine squats and this machine has that feature and it is built well and sturdy too! You will not be disappointed in your new home workouts!
d_rydall –
The XFT kicks some serious butt. Coming from a diehard Olympic lifts with free weights and bars the XFT does not disappoint. All the gyms are closed so we had to workout at home. The only critic of the machine is that the height adjustment rail needs to be numbered as if you are working out and doing some repetitive exercises it would be great to be able to see where you last had the bar set at. We did solve the problem with a Sharpy and wrote on the 64 numbers. It would be nice if numbers were etched on like the pulley rails. 5 out of 5 regardless but the manufacturer could probably make this change moving forward with future production.
BODYCRAFT –
Thank you for this great review! The laser etched numbers on the Cable Columns are meant to double as both a reference for Pulley adjustments, as well as the Lifting Bar adjustments. The ends of the Lifting Bar are directly next to the numbers on the cable columns, so those numbers can be used as reference when adjusting the Lifting Bar. Congrats on your clever enhancement!
Kay B. –
Bought this as the gym has been closed the majority of the year. While it did take two of us almost an entire day to set up we are extremely happy with the results. There’s a lot of versatility and it seems as though your imagination is the only limit. As well, for being such a multi use machine, it really does have a reasonably sized foot print and we still have lots of space around it.
Everything is good quality and moves smoothly. We did need to tweak it a bit to get the pin to slide in and out easily, which was a step that was not well represented in the instructions.
Happy with the variety of attachments it came with. The unit does have unique engineering to it, so expect to take some time learning how to use it and get used to it.
Very excited to get gym quality work outs at home!
Josue Mendez –
For years i had been looking to complete my Home Gym and when i saw this machine i thought this was exactly what I was looking for.
Its extremely light desig and rhe versatility was what conviced me.
I have using the machine for a month now and i am extremely happy with my purchase.
Yes it did take me a few days to assemble but it was worth every penny i spent.
The only recommendation is to make the wiring instructions a bit more legible.
Kelly –
Was kind of a impulse buy and my wife and I are extremely happy with this XFT machine. I’ve owned all kinds of home gym equipment that has fallen short. This machine is legit gym environment worthy. I saw it on the dealers show room and it caught my eye pretty quickly with how it is engineered and the materials used not to mention the amount of exercises that it is capable of. It is quality all the way, smooth and quiet with quick transitions between exercises. The way the bar floats horizontally gives the feel of free weights with the safety of a machine, and it carries the weight pushing up or pulling down. Assembly and directions were good, it took around 6 hours, getting the parts out of all the boxes took a little while. If you are on the fence about what machine to buy, this one you can not go wrong with.
Craig –
I’ve been lifting for 30 years. When the gyms all closed I needed something. I got the XFT 3 months ago and it is amazing! I can do every exercise in such a small space. It operates so smoothly it is a pleasure to use. It is wonderful how fast I can switch from one exercise to another.
My other consideration was for my wife and daughter to use the machine and their safety. There are no weights or bars to drop. I work out alone and this is the safest machine I’ve ever used.
I’ve done a fair amount of power lifting and my debate had been between the XFT or a bar/rack and a pulley system. This machine has great motion but obviously won’t quite feel like the snap of a bar because there is some resistance through the cables. After 3 months, I prefer this as it’s a little easier on my joints and I get a constant up and down resistance during the motion.
They did a great engineering job on this machine and I would recommend it for anyone. If you are a stronger person get the extra 50 lbs as it saves time for most of the exercises.
Mike –
First glance you wonder whether the bar is a gimmick or “fad” that will come and go like other fitness trends over the years. There’s only one other stack-loaded Smith bar out there, the TF2 from Inspire. There are a ton of cable machines out there and they’re so versatile that they are probably worthy of an investment like a home gym. But I worried that the bar unit would be flimsy or not that useful.
No reason to worry– the bar on the XFT is extremely robust and allows a lot more weight than the pulley system. The pulleys have a 1:2 ratio so they’re only capable of 100 pounds which sounds like a lot but maybe not so much when it comes to rows and pulldowns. The bar has a 1:1 ratio with a full 200 lb stack and can do a 2:1 ratio which means it maxes out at 400lbs! Having a heavy bar opens up way more possibilities, including a real bench press, squat, and deadlift, at home. Yes you could simulate these on the cable system longbar but the weight limitations in the home market mean you weren’t able to lift “heavy” at home with a small cable machine–until now!
Back up a minute, plenty of guys seem to have racks in the garage but they are wide, up to 84″ for the bar alone and then leave extra space for plates and such. The average garage width is 9 feet, so you really have to mount a rack or Smith Machine the long way, which limits what other equipment you can have in the garage gym.
The XFT is only 50″ wide and really doesn’t need much space on the sides beyond that. It takes a lot of length real estate because of the bench and such but then your garage is longer than it is wide. You could even fit the unit in a bedroom. I didn’t understand when I was shopping how important the dimensions are, but this machine is great in size and packs great functionality.
Maybe I’ll go back to the gym and maybe I won’t, but for sure pretty much everything you could do at a gym, you can now do at home.
Speaking of the Inspire TF2, that machine has lat pulleys and low row pulleys so it’s more versatile than the XFT but it has a complicated latch system for hooking up the bar to the catch. I couldn’t see that it would be reliable long term. Even the sales guy had some difficulty hooking it up. I worried I would be tired out and then miss hooking up the bar somehow to rack it. Seems dangerous.
The XFT’s bar doesn’t have a rotational catch so it can rotate freely. It has a pin and rail system to latch the bar. It’s still a little kludgy but way more intuitive than the TF2 bar, IMHO.
I also love how the XFT bar and pulleys are always engaged. On the TF2 you have to manually move a latch from the pulleys to the bar if you want to go from one to the other. This means moving the pulleys close to the bar each time you change over.
Both machines do a 2x multiplier. The XFT bar will do up to 400 pounds.
There isn’t a way to stop the bar from rotating on the XFT. I think that would make it hard to stand on the bar as a pullup assist and also you probably would not want to use it as a leg press. It’d be nice to have a way to tighten the bar so it can’t rotate. I think the rotation is a nice feature that allows clean and press type movements and more comfort with bicep curls etc. I do have to say the pullup assist is way more comfortable on the XFT because you can adjust the depth of the bar, where as the TF2 bar doesn’t adjust and is not directly under the pullup bar. The TF2 pullup bar also sticks out quite a bit so your feet on a strap under the TF2 bar are about a foot in front of your torso–not ideal for a pullup assist.
More about the depth-adjustable bar. I think the idea is to set a depth you want and lock it in (as opposed to letting it freely move during a maneuver like a so-called Jones machine). This is nice because the machine is not all that deep, you can only go “inside” about halfway before a bar stops you on the floor. So you can set your bench and then move the bar to where you are comfortable, lock it down, and do your move outside the unit. The bar can protrude a good 30 inches or so out of the front of the machine.
The sum total of information on the device is a 1:21 long video on Youtube and several demos of the maneuvers you can do on the machine, and a few rah-rah written reviews on the Bodycraft site. That’s it. This review (if they publish it) will be the most information on the internet about the machine. TF2 has a bunch of vids by people connected with Inspire and also a few random people too. Tonal has a ton of material also between home gym reviewers, reddit users, magazine reviews, social media presence. Even Concept 2 has a great worldwide leaderboard based on their excellent computer and a robust chat forum online to help the newbies. Many other devices have an app to go along with the device. Bodycraft seems to not want to go that direction. Seems like a lot of money to spend these days with no supporting media material. Oh they do seem to respond to comments on their Youtube page but that’s about it. I got a phone call from a tech after calling into their 800 number but he told me to put a request in the “support” form online and someone would get back to me. Guess what? Nobody did. Question: how do you adjust the counterweight system so the bar remains at the same height unpinned (it falls now, slowly, if it’s not pinned). Answer: IDK.
I was able to walk into a retail store within 10 miles of my house to try the machine out, so that was good. Maybe in 2010 all you needed was retail distribution to physical stores to get sales but does retail work like that anymore?
Home gym equipment seems to exist in this strange space where it’s expensive, consumer choices are limited, there are only a few retail outlets, and there’s not a whole lot of information outside the store to make rational decisions. You’d think by this point in the pandemic there would be more of a push for home equipment but maybe supply chain problems have prevented that. I’m still not ready to go to a crowded gym and was forced to work out at home during the worst of 2020 so now I’m used to the idea of working out at home where in 2019 I would have never considered it. I would think there would be more used equipment from closed gyms out there and certainly there is some but not as much as you’d think and then it’s hard to arrange shipping and installation and such.
The XFT machine is probably the most compact cable cross machine and definitely the most compact Smith out there. The Force G6 is a “small” Smith machine at 72″ including the bar but the XFT is only 50″. I considered getting the true Smith Machine like the Force machine but I still worry that one day I’ll forget to set the safety and have a problem getting the bar off of me with no spotter. Also you need space on each side of the machine to load the plates and you have to change plates between exercises. Only the XFT and the TF2 get you stack loaded weights. Also you have to order the Force machines online or go to their only distribution center in Utah to see one in person but there are a bunch of informative videos online, so that means having to do the install myself or finding a provider to build the thing in my home. The machines are expensive also.
What about Tonal? That machine has great features like eccentric loading and “chains” mode but I wonder what the longevity and durability of the electric motor resistors will be with heavy loads. You get a one year warranty parts and labor and two years parts. People say Tonal doesn’t ship parts, if you have a problem they send you a whole new unit. Maybe that’ll be sustainable. Also bodybuilders like Schwarzenegger and others somehow were successful without the fancy resistance modes. I also hate the business model of requiring a monthly fee to use the advanced features of the machine, as expensive as the upfront costs are for that machine. It’s $49/m after a $3,500 purchase, true, but the fee probably only goes up from here and they are probably cooking up all kinds of add-on and upsell services to raise the prices soon as well.
There’s a device called Vitruvian but it’s pretty expensive, limited to two floor-mounted pulleys, hard to get (made in Australia?), expensive, and also untested, minimal info, and you can’t see it in person.
Mirror – if I need to stand in front of a mirror and have it tell me to lift a kettle bell, I really have hit rock bottom.
Tempo – I don’t get it. It’s a screen that tells you to lift weights and it’s a bunch of freeweights and a bench and it’s $2,500. And $39 a month. At least it’s small. And they have a cool website with photos and such from users.
For millions of people the Peloton model works and they love it. For me, I just envision another brick of a device after the company goes belly up or I decide to stop paying for service. The Tonal functionality is really limited if you don’t pay the monthly fee. The Tonal looks like it’ll do most of the things the XFT will do but it’ll only do 100 pounds per arm, which is the equivalent of the cable part of the XFT. Again the bar gets you to 200 pounds without the multiplier and 400 pounds with it, and the versatility and safety of the smith machine.
I also can’t see participating in a virtual training class, I don’t think I’d enjoy that. Perhaps if they offered one on one coaching but maybe you reach a point where you don’t need that anymore and then what are you paying for?
I also wanted a machine that I could do a pullup on, at least assisted, or mount rings on. I can’t see doing pullups on a Tonal. Also tonal asks for a 7×7 space which is more than the 63″ (93″ with bench) x 50″ required by the XFT. If you have a narrow space, the XFT is your best bet.
About the weight limits, I don’t anticipate testing them but there are moves like the low row where I might conceivably max out a cable trainer.
First workout notes:
The bar has some slack in it but it loads smoothly so it doesn’t strain you suddenly. People complain that the TF2 bar has “play” that’s hard to predict at the higher weights.
The lowest hole you can set the XFT bar is at 18″. I suppose you could drill a lower hole but then it might invalidate the warranty. On me this comes to almost the knee, so on a deadlift your range of motion is a little limited. Videos show the usual Smith Machine ROM to about mid-shin, figure about 12″ off the floor. Solution: build a small step out of wood, cheaper and more durable than the boxes on amazon. (one board at 2x10x10′ is enough to make a box 18.5″ wide x 10″ tall) Bit of a kludge but I guess it will do. Also there’s not much difference between a deadlift and a Romanian deadlift on a Smith machine.
Update: built the step, only took 1hr including the cuts. Need a miter saw and some 3” deck screws and an impact driver with T20 bit, and a drill with some bits. Get a 2x10x10ft, $32 at Home Depot. Six cuts: 12″ x 2, 13″ x 2, and 14″ x 2. You only need 7 lineal feet but I don’t think they sell a 2x10x8ft. The two 12″ and two 13″ pieces form the base of the box and the two 14″ pieces form the top side by side. I used 3″ deck screws to hold the thing together too lazy to use wood glue or fancy joins. I made pilot holes with a drill and I upgraded to an impact driver so pushing the screws was a piece of cake even got a little countersink. Used a Dremel to sand the rough edges off the top. I guess if you have a sander you could sand it down some to make it nice and even add paint. This makes a step that’s about 11″ tall, 14″ wide, and 19″ long. Perfect shape for my feet shoulder width apart. Could also use 90-degree connectors but turned out pretty straight without them.
Standing on the step I can rest the bar on my toes.
The step also makes a decent seat for a low row since it’s lower than a bench but higher than the floor. I think I’ll order a low row bar attachment since you don’t get one with the XFT.
I added numbers in sharpie on the bar lock rail. I also lubricated all the pulleys with silicone lubricant and this made the motion a little smoother. I did not remove the pulleys to do this and it seems to have helped anyway.
Inverted rows are basically a no-go because the bar is too twisty especially when held from below. I think it’s back to the rings for that. Maybe the long bar on the pulleys?
Bar dips are fine, I used a split finger grip to hold the bar to get better form with arms to the back instead of to the sides.
The bar is counterbalanced so it has a little momentum that smooths the changes in direction. This can also work against your maneuver, so that you are not working as hard when the bar changes direction. Again this makes things smoother and probably more comfortable but you can probably lose some work benefit if you aren’t careful.
Calf raises were easy with a 2×4 board on the ground as a base.
Pool noodle for squats? I was comfortable with a shirt on.
Is the bar a little thicker than a usual Olympic bar? I think the bar is 2″ and perhaps the usual bar is 1.5″. It’s only a few millimeters but it’s perhaps not as comfortable as the usual gym bar. So far it isn’t bothering me that much but you definitely want to demo the machine in person to make sure you’re ok with it, I think.
Barbell curls were comfortable with the rotating bar. Maybe next I’ll try unlocking the bar for full ROM.
Incline press with the long bar was very comfortable but hooking up the chain so the bar is close to my chest was a little tricky while on the bench. I’ve used the Smith bar for this and it’s a little easier because you can pull it out pretty far.
Leg curls with the ankle strap were great super comfortable though I was pulling against the little elastic band that moves the pulley laterally. I will see if there’s a way to disengage that pulley. Note later – there’s no real way to remove the elastic without taking out a screw or cutting the band. It would be nice to have an easy way to disengage the elastic strap.
One arm bench rows were more comfortable with a kettlebell because the pulley stops about 6″ above the ground. I guess the standing row with the pulley at chest height is basically the same movement but maybe you engage more back muscles with the barbell row?
Front squats were very comfortable and the bar was at almost waist height.
Back squats were a little tricky, started the bar about lumbar region and then rolled it up to the upper shoulders to start the movement, maybe not great for higher weights but I only set at 40lbs for high-rep sets. Problem is you have to squat really low under the bar to engage the bar out of the lock.
The pulley system is officially rated at 1:2 but at least on my machine more like 1:1.5, the “3” setting is more like 20 lbs at least according to my backpacking scale.
I would like to see sample workout programs with the machine. On a $4500 machine would it be too much to ask to include a few sample workout programs for whole body MWF or split programs M-F? Muscleandstrength.com offers free workouts to hope to sell you dietary supplements, perhaps Bodycraft could do the same to sell machines?
Low rows: I’ve been rowing for 5 months and I could only comfortably pull 40 pounds at high reps today so there’s a lot of room to add weight.
This is definitely the best overall exercise machine you can buy for any price in 2021 because you can do cable stuff or heavy lifting at home. The solid construction, small size, convenience of the weight stack, and versatility make the XFT a winner!
D –
My XFT was delivered yesterday. I am totally in love!! I am an ‘older’ person who used to work out with weights and have annual gym memberships for many years. Last several years I fell off my game. Decided in January to “fight this aging process” and lost 20 pounds in 6 months. Needed to trade in my old ‘home’ rickety bench and bar. I am on my life journey again to embrace my fitness. This XFT Trainer has every exercise I could dream about. Super excited about the assisted chin ups! The BodyCraft folks that delievered it and put it together were great as well! So excited to increase my strength. Thank you, BodyCraft!!