I guess I kinda know where most of you are at, but I have to be honest. I like using machines. Yes, I still use free weights for most of my routine, but machines still provide a great supplement to training. I’m preparing to be flamed for saying this, but I like machines mainly because I used them at the BEGINNING of my training career when I used HIT. Hey, don’t knock me too hard. I MADE GAINS. Granted, I was a beginner and I could have made gains by cleaning and jerking my grandma 5x5, but that’s irrelevent. I know there have to be more like me out there! What are your favorite machine exercies? Any thoughts?
The nautilus pullover is a great machine. I love this exercise, but only one gym I’ve trained in has ever had this one. I’m not sure where Hammer Strength equipment falls into the continuum, but I really like their seated bench, seated incline, shrug and deadlift/lunge plate loaded set ups. Usually, I’ll keep some Hammer Strength equipment in my routine, but over 80-90% of all my training is usually free weight based.
They make machines for lifting weights??!!?
the ice machine - other than that keep machine to those sweet little HIT boys
I too started my lifting “career” with machines, now I use almost all free weights. Nonetheless I believe machines are a great option for many just “getting in shape.” Even for bodybuilders like myself, machines can be useful, as they tend to be excellent at isolating muscles. I now think of them as a tool, just another exercise “on the list” rather than the only option. I must admit I tend to stick to and generally prefer free weight, but machines have their place nonetheless.
I very rarely ever use any machines anymore. The only one I use with any regularity is the old Nautilus pullover machine Jason N. referenced…for bodybuilding purposes I also kind’ve like the Nautilus dual pec contractor/chest press as it allows you to prefatigue the pecs and than do presses past failure by helping with the legs…all in one machine. Last week I made a visit to a friend of mine who is opening a gym and she managed to get ahold of a Strive arm curl machine. I had never used strive before but some of you veterans may remember it being profiled in Muscle Media 2000 many years ago…in fact unless I’m mistaken EAS had a whole gym full of strive equipment. Well it’s plate loaded and has 3 different places to put the plates and allows you to change the muscular emphasis of a particular exercise by where you put the weight. I don’t know if there are any other companies who design machines using that concept as i very rarely train in fancy, up to date gyms. I did a few extended sets on the strive arm curl and got a really great arm workout in probably less than 3 minutes total.
I fart in the general direction of machines. You know how it is with high protein diets. You go over by the machines, let one rip so the scrawny guy doing the isolation curl machine with 25 lb. on it gets the blame, and off you go. It’s pure strategy, not a thing against machines. I use them sometimes, but I always keep an eye out in case someone else needs to do the blame shifting for a fart of their own.
I love the free weights for a solid training routine… but the machines definitely have their place as a supplemental. Using a combination of both (leaning more heavily on the free weights side) gives the body a more balanced physique… or at least thats my two cents worth…
Jason: you do know that Hammer Strength is by the same guy who created Nautilus Equipment? That is what I heard.
Just using this as a seque into my: there are some Hammer Strength (plate loading machines), that I like: The shoulder press, certain back and chest machines.
It all boils down to purpose and experience. A newbie who has absolutely no athletic experience whatsoever, isn't going to begin deadlifting right away. I believe you need to prime such a newbie for weight training. That's where the machines come into play. But besides that, they're good for when you need a change of pace.
Yeah, didnt you know Jeremy. You go to the gym, watch the machines lift the weights for you, then go home!. It`s great. I do this kind of workout 5 times a week. My only question is, im not making much gains…anyone know why… 
I’m a huge fan of th nautilus pull over machine. I’d have to say that my favorite machines are the hammer strength row machines. They provide better lat isolation than anything I’ve tried.
I think that people should use both, with a general preference for free weights. You can do an almost infinite number of different exercises with free weights, while being limited by machines. That being said, I agree with Jason Nocross about the pullover machine. It took me from newbie to 49 inch chest. I let my lats drop in size just because it was so out of line with everything else, and I am still trying to get my other parts to catch up.
I still remember seeing somebody’s back in the mirror, and wondered who had that big back, and almost shit a brick when I realized I was the only one in the weight room.
That being said I think that machines are best for HIT style workouts because there is less chance of repetitive injury from one set. Volume workouts seem to be better with free weights. Multiple sets with the variability in the lift should end up hitting more muscle tissue then machnes.
I say roll with the machines Bro! Only you know your body. I use a machine for almost every bodypart, admittedly after my free weight work, and no I am not a HIT follower. However, I wear a belt to dead, squat and cheat curl, so what the hell do I know? I love almost all Hammer Strength upper body equipment and I agree with Norcross, the Nautilus pullover is sweet, but I have not seen one in years.
I do like the Hammer Strength leg press (helps keep the form on deep reps better than a sled). Also, it’s difficult to do leg extensions on anything but a machine. Seated rows as well. But the mainstay of my routine os freeweights (as I don’t have any machines at home).
Kelly- We have two Strive Machines at the gym I train at (leg extension, leg curl)…and both of them have their purposes; I too like how you can load the plates to overload different portions of the lifts.
I get the best Lat workout on the Paramount Total Back plate loaded machine. This is one machine that I actually look forward to rotating into my training regimen. If I ever have my personal facility sometime down the road (which I hope to do), this machine will absolutely be there.
-JM
I agree with cardawg on the Hammer Strength Iso-Lat machine. I have gotten better gains from it than BO or dumbell rows. Other than that I stay away from machines.
Lucky for some of you pricks we make Renegade biotics, for that “CommercialGymitis” you are infecting people with. No wonder some of you stand by tread mills stroking you clients ego for 25 bucks. I thought this was the internet. I feel like you are the same people responsible for the Neilson rating for the BOOB tube. Almost everybody on this post is a trainer or claims to be a Renegade. Until now I thought the only thing anybody on this forum used machines for was to see how many they could throw a med ball over. Most of you know I train people also and I do it in my garage or park. Why? Because my gym was put together by myself and workout partners chipping in on things every now and then to add a lil something. If you were training in you garage and said ‘hey dudes, let’s all chip in and get a five thousand dollar hammer strength machine’ or a killer three thousand dollar treadmill.’ I think they would say lets do some push ups and walk around the block. WTF? “you can’t start everybody off with dead lifts”(winny fucking voice) The fuck I can’t…Ever hear of 4 pound Medballs? Touch em to the floor keeping your back straight. You fuck nuts need to be creative. The more balance that is needed to perform a lift the faster the progress. Now if you call progress putting muscle on joints that can’t handle it or never plan on performing, then pay your 19.99 per month and work out with the rest of the douce bags. NOW. Everyone who is about to flame, I want you to use that energy to look at your favorite machine and think of a better way to do it using body weight or free weights? Your welcome. D_END
Actually, as far as creators, if I’m not mistaken I believe it was Arthur Jones’ son who developed the Hammer Strength machines, rather than Jones himself who created Nautilus. Eventually, Jones sold most of the Nautilus rights to Ellington Darden (whom you may remember from his many books written about the use of Nautilus machines). Jones later went on to produce the Nautilus Nitro series of machines, and more recently has developed the Med-X machines, which are great. At least this is how I think it played out; I could be wrong.
Your life must be incredibly empty to put yourself on a pedestal because you don’t use machines.
Bravo to D-End. The rest of you…keep squatting, eventually when you can do enough you won’t want to be seen on a leg extension machine.