Gym Gear

Total Gym XLS vs. FIT: Comparing The Best Equipment From Total Gym

Find out how the Total Gym FIT compares to the XLS and which is best for your home gym workout.

Comparing the Total Gym FIT to the XLS
Travis

By: Travis

Hi, I am Travis. My main focus in life is to understand training better and help others get better results too. I used to be about the least fit kid in school and would always be last to get picked for a team. It wasn't for a lack of trying, but all my efforts just lead to injuries

For years, I had completely given up on ever getting in shape. Then I began to use my brain before using my muscles. I read every popular book on exercise, and began to structure my training.

With the right training methods, and the right machines, I was able to rebuild my body from the ground up.

According to science, I would never be able to walk pain-free again. And I would never be able to do 20 pull-ups with the injuries to my rotator cuff. But they were al wrong.

This site is where you can find all my tips and recommendations.

Are you wondering how the Total Gym XLS compares to the Total Gym Fit? Well, that's exactly what we're going to investigate here.

Both products are made by Total Gym and are aimed at people who want to get a full-body workout in their homes' comfort. And both have evolved from the revolutionary Total Gym concept.

You have to pay a little more than for the original home gym, but you get a lot better product and incredible value for your money.

Total Gym has also improved on their workout material. Where you used to get a set of DVD's, you now get a nifty smartphone app and a load of videos that can be streamed on any phone or laptop.

What is the Total Gym?

Total Gym is a way for people to get a great workout right in their home or apartment. One of the biggest advantages of a Total Gym is that it doesn't use any additional weight. Your own body weight provides all the resistance.

And that means the machine is very light and easy to store out of the way. You also run less risk of injuries. And, you can easily adjust the difficulty by changing the level of incline on the machine.

Total Gym is among the market leaders for complete body workouts in a single machine. Over the years, countless fitness enthusiasts have used exactly this concept for strength training, weight loss, and overall health improvements.

The two most favorite products in the Total Gym lineup are the FIT and XLS. And if you are looking to buy one, you are probably trying to decide between these two models.

So let's dive right in and take a look at these two amazing home gyms.

Total Gym XLS Review

The XLS model from Total Gym

The XLS Total Gym is designed to give you a very efficient and complete body workout. It aims to give you a great alternative to getting an expensive gym membership or a professional trainer.

Now, you don't get the same kind of motivation that a professional trainer can give you. We are not trying to tell you that this is a complete replacement. But, if you are willing to put in the work and follow the excellent Total Gym workouts, you will be able to get fit and lose weight very efficiently.

The Total Gym XLS supports weights of up to 400 lbs. It's a very durable machine, indeed. It also comes fully assembled. You can be up and running with your workouts and minutes after receiving the package.

Total Gym Fit Review

The Fit signature series from Total Gym

You get more granular levels of resistance, and it is made of premium materials. The design is also refined for a more modern and sleek look. All in all, you get the benefits of a premium product from the leader in home gym products.

The Total Gym FIT can support a bodyweight of up to 450 lbs and provide several extra accessories to discuss our comparison further. Now you probably already suspect that this all comes at a slightly higher price.

Another interesting fact about the Total Gym FT is that it can function as a Pilates machine and even comes with the necessary ankle cuffs and robes.

Total Gym Xls Vs. Total Gym Fit

Now you have some idea of what both these home gym workout machines bring to the table, and it's time to take a look at how they compare.

In the following section, we will dive into the cost, tools, functionality, resistance levels, and weight capacities of the Total Gym Fit vs. XLS.

We will also consider some of the most practical aspects of using either a gym machine at home. So, it will cover the storing requirements, customer service, and warranty of each.

After that, we will give you a breakdown of why you want to choose either of these excellent workout systems.

Functionality

The Total Gym fit and XLS are both designed to give you an effective workout in a minimal amount of time and have fun while you are doing it. They are slightly different, though.

While the XLS lets you do 80 different exercises, the FIT trumps that with 85+ different exercises. And, if you put a lot of emphasis on comfort during your workouts, you will also enjoy the newly designed and ergonomic glide board that's fitted on the Total Gym FIT.

The XLS also doesn't have the new auto-lock height adjustment that comes with the Total Gym FIT. This is a newly introduced feature that aims to speed up the transition between different exercise modes.

Included Workout tools

Both the total gym if I T and the XLS come with several included workout tools. But, you can clearly see that the FIT is a premium model because it has more and higher-quality accessories.

The original XLS provides three workout add-ons; you get a ribbed squat stand, a wing attachment, and a leg pull attachment.

The premium Total Gym FIT comes with 4 workout add-ons. The AbCrunch is a best selling add-on product from Total Gym that will cost you over $100 when purchased separately.

The next add-on is the same leg pull attachment that comes with the XLS. You also get an upgraded squat stand, most stable and smooth than the XLS version. And, instead of a one-piece wing attachment, you get a 2-piece wing attachment that is slightly more durable.

Besides workout tools, both these machines also come with DVDs with easy to follow workout routines. The XLS comes with five DVD's and the FFT comes with six to cover the additional exercise options.

Resistance levels Of The Total Gym

The Total Gym FIT and a Total Gym XLS offer incline adjustments between 6% and 54%. This incline translates to the resistance levels you experience you roll your body weight over the glide board. The difference between the two home gyms is the number of adjustment levels you can choose from.

The Total Gym XLS has 6 resistance levels, and the Total Gym FIT has 12 levels.

So you can achieve the same minimum and maximum level of resistance on both machines. But that's not all there is to it. Most of the time, you will be making adjustments between the minimum and maximum to match your current fitness levels. And it's here that the Total Gym FIT has an advantage.

The optimum way to progress in your workouts is to increase the resistance during your exercises slowly. Having more levels allows you to make smaller steps. Generally, smaller steps in resistance levels will make it easier to progress because you always work out exactly the right intensity.

When the resistance is too high, you will not complete enough reps and achieve the necessary training volume. And without the necessary training volume, you won't be able to make consistent muscle growth and strength gains.

User Weight Limits Of The Total Gyms

A Total Gym XLS has a maximum weight limit of 400 lbs. The premium materials and highly-evolved construction of the Total Gym FIT lead to a maximum user weight capacity of 450 LBZ. While this might not seem like a big difference, and you will likely never need those extra 50 lbs, it shows the FIT's higher durability and stability.

Total Gym Height Limits

Both Total Gym models can accommodate the same maximum height of users. As long as you are less than 6'5", you should be OK.

If you are close to that length or are afraid that the Total Gym doesn't fit your body size, it's good to know that they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. During that time, you can get a good feel for the machine. If it doesn't work for you, you can get your money back. The company clearly shows that they have the utmost confidence in their product.

Total Gym Warranty

Depending on where you buy your Total Gym, you can get different levels of warranty. If you purchase it directly through their website, both XLS and Total Gym FIT come with a lifetime warranty on the frame.

The difference between the FIT and XLS is found in the warranty on the parts. While you get six months of warranty on parts with the Total Gym XLS, the Total Gym FIT offers a whopping two years of warranty.

Total Gym Customer Service

Since the same manufacturer makes both home gym machines, they offer the same customer service. Total Gym has proven to provide great customer service, with many reviewers raving about it.

We do recommend to verify your product with the manufacturer after you purchase it. This will help reduce any issues with warranty or customer service.

Price comparison

The XLS Total Gym is slightly cheaper than the Total Gym FIT. This price difference is easily offset by the increased number of add-ons, expanded workout program, and the FIT's premium materials.

So we feel that the Total Gym FIT actually offers a better value for money than the XLS. It's also interesting to know that you can get a 30-day trial for just $1 if you directly buy your machine from the Total Gym website. So you don't even need to front the full purchase price to try it out.

Pros And Cons Of Both Models

Pros the Total Gym XLS:

  • 80 different exercise options
  • Lower price than the FIT model
  • Comes fully assembled
  • Maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds
  • Slightly older and more established model.

Cons of the Total Gym XLS:

  • Reduced weight capacity compared to the FIT model
  • Comes with fewer add-ons then the FIT
  • Fewer levels of resistance and bigger jumps between them

Pros of the Total Gym FIT:

  • Can support a maximum user weight limit of 450 lbs
  • Provides find resistance adjustment with 12 levels
  • Comes with the AbCrunch add-on, which costs $100 when sold separately
  • More than 85 different exercise options
  • Additional Pilates exercise options
  • High-end materials and a modern design
  • Delivered fully assembled

cons of the Total Gym FIT:

  • Higher price then the XLS model
  • Doesn't include a Pilates DVD or required tow bar

Bottom Line of Total Gym XLS vs. Total Gym FIT

Both of these amazing home gym solutions provide a complete body workout from the comfort of your home. They each have proven themselves over many years and are supported by many amazing experts in the fitness world.

Either one of 'em will give you all things you need to get in shape and stay that way. However, we believe that:

You might want to get the Total Gym XLS if:

  • You don't want to spend the extra money for the FIT model
  • You are OK with only six levels of resistance
  • You weigh less than 400 pounds
  • You want the cheapest Total Gym that you can buy right now
  • You found an amazing deal or second-hand

You might want to get the Total Gym FIT if:

  • You want to have a fine grain of incline adjustments so you can gradually increase the intensity of your workout
  • You value a modern design and premium look
  • You prefer to get everything you need and just one package
  • You want to use this machine for many years and really appreciate the additional 2-year warranty on parts
  • You are OK with spending a little more if you are getting a superior piece of gym equipment.

Well, there you have it: we hope this in-depth research of the Total Gym fit versus XLS was helpful. Happy training!