The Powertec Workbench Multi-System is an all-in-one gym station designed for body strength and weight training. Like many of the best home gyms, the Workbench Multi-System has a range of built-in systems to target different muscle groups. That means you could focus on your legs one day, then your upper body the next, and so on.
While Powertec describes the Workbench Multi-System as 'compact', we would disagree. This is a heavy and bulky unit designed to support up to 500lbs of resistance, so it isn't a good choice for small home fitness spaces. You also have to purchase weights separately, which start from $525. That makes the Powertec Workbench Multi-System one of the most expensive home gyms we've reviewed.
Don't forget to add in more high intensity cardio exercises to your weekly workout routine. This could include cycling or spin class with either the best exercise bikes or the best bike trainers, or even some power walking or running on the best treadmills.
Powertec Workbench Multi-System: Design
The Powertec Workbench Multi-System system weighs 424lbs in total without any weights added to it, so this is a very heavy system and not suited to small spaces or upper floor apartments. The dimensions are 120.1(L) x 73.3(W) x 80.5(H)". The Wolverine, in comparison, weighs 610lbs including a 200lb weight stack.
The 25 exercises you can perform with the Powertec Workbench include wood chops, shoulder presses, triceps extensions, presses, and lat pulldowns. You can also do bench rows and presses. With optional workbench attachments you can add in curls, flys, leg lifts and leg presses. To see how hard you're working, and to track your progress when exercising, consider using one of the best fitness trackers.
The Powertec Workbench Multi-System is nearly $2,000, and the add-ons aren’t cheap either. If you bought them all, including a 255lb Olympic plates set and a weight rack, you could more than double the system’s price, so this is a serious investment.
The Workbench Multi-System compatible weights and other attachments cost as follows:
- Olympic Plate 255 LBS Set + $525
- Olympic Plate 345 LBS Heavy Set + $625
- Workbench Weight Rack + $205
- Leg Lift Attachment + $179
- Workbench Curl Machine Attachment + $229
- Workbench Pec / Fly Attachment + $229
- Workbench Leg Press Attachment +$299
- Dip Machine Attachment + $209
- Workbench Accessory Storage Rack + $149
Powertec Workbench Multi-System review: Features
There’s nothing small about the Powertec Workbench Multi-System. Among the many home gyms we've reviewed over the years, this one has both the largest base footprint and enables you to lift the most weight.
It’s the only system we reviewed without a pulley and cable system. Rather than having a weight stack, power rods or nitrogen-charged cylinders, resistance is provided by weight plates manually loaded onto the Isolateral Lever Arms for a more natural feel.
The weight limit is 500lbs on its press and squat lever arms, 400lbs on its lat lever, and 100lbs for crunches. Only an upgraded Bowflex Xtreme 2SE comes close to these resistance levels. The Bowflex uses power rods instead of weight plates, and its standard resistance is 210lbs, upgradeable to 310lbs or 410lbs.
The Powertec home gym is one of three multi-seat systems we reviewed and is capable of enabling three people to use it at once. As mentioned above, there are dedicated stations for chest, core and leg training. In comparison, the Yukon Wolverine enables four people at once to exercise.
Because it has a variety of stations, you can either focus on one area per workout, or rotate around the machine for a full body workout. The workbench features an adjustable seating area and back rest pads, so you can find the right fit for you.
Finally, the bench and ab station includes a front tube adaptor that's compatible with various Powertec Workbench Accessories. So you can keep adding to it over time.
Should you buy the Powertec Workbench Multi-System?
Powertec has designed the Workbench Multi-System for use in homes and in light commercial settings. Unlike many of the home gym brands we've covered, Powertec doesn’t specify a maximum user weight for this whole body system, but it easily will be toward the upper end of the scale.
The Powertec Workbench Multi-System is very expensive, especially when you factor in the cost of the weights which you need to buy in order to use the whole body system properly. This will immediately make it too expensive for some, but for those serious about weight lifting at home, it's a brilliant system to use and it comes with a lifetime warranty on its frame and a two-year warranty on parts.
Great alternatives to consider include the Total Gym FIT, the Bowflex PR3000, and the Total Gym XLS.
