Life Fitness G2 Gym review

The Life Fitness G2 Gym is a compact home fitness system for performing 25 weights-based exercises for a full-body workout.

Life Fitness G2 Gym review
(Image: © Life Fitness)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The Life Fitness G2 is compact compared to other home gyms, and slots quite neatly into corners. We like the upgradeable resistance capacity, and how it enables users to perform 25 different exercises for a full body weights workout.

Pros

  • +

    Well made and durable

  • +

    Easy to use

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    Lifetime warranty

Cons

  • -

    No training videos

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The Life Fitness G2 Gym is rather compact compared to the majority of home-based full body workout stations, and therefore fits neatly into corners. This makes it one of the best home gyms for those of you with a smaller surface area for exercise equipment. While it is compact, the G2 Gym is still pleasantly robust and well-made, as we'd expect from Life Fitness.

The G2 Gym is a full body workout station, which means you can perform a wide range of body strength and weights-based exercises when using it. In our Life Fitness G2 Gym review, we look at the machine's design and top features to help you figure out whether it has what you need to achieve your level of fitness training at home.

Don't forget to add in some higher intensity cardio exercises to your workout routine. That could be walking or running, either outdoors in the fresh air or indoors on one of the best treadmills for working out whatever the weather. If you prefer cycling, take a look at the best exercise bikes for spin class workouts, or the best bike trainers for transforming your road or mountain bike into an indoor fitness bike.

Life Fitness G2 Gym review: Design

The Life Fitness G2 Gym measures 71(L) x 48(W) x 83(H)" and weighs 379lbs. Life Fitness notes within the G2’s list of specifications that the recommended space required for this home gym is 120(L) x 96(W)" without a leg press, or and 120(L) x 120(W)" inches with. The additional space enables you to get a full range of motion as you exercise.

The Total Gym FIT is the smallest home gym we have reviewed so far, while the multi-user Yukon Wolverine Multi-Station is the largest. The Life Fitness G2 Gym's resistance is provided by an upgradeable weight stack. 

That comes with 160lbs as standard, but this can be increased to 210lbs (costs extra). The maximum user weight supported by the G2 Gym is 300lbs. By comparison, the Total Gym XLS supports up to 400lbs.

The Life Fitness G2 Gym retails for $1,599 and is priced comparably with the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE. While the G2 gives you 25 exercise options, the Bowflex machine offers 70, so that's a big difference considering the prices aren't wildly different.

Life Fitness G2 Gym review

(Image credit: Life Fitness)

Life Fitness G2 Gym review: Features

If you purchase the G2 Gym’s optional leg press and foam roller tool, you’ll be able to perform more exercises. However, this home gym will give you a very effective full body workout without having to splash out on any extras.

The Life Fitness G2 Gym comes with high and mid-pulley stations, plus a leg extension and curl, an arm press and a chest press. You’ll also get a lat bar and a lat row bar, along with an exercise booklet to inspire your different workout routines. For a machine with a similar approach, read our review of the Bowflex PR3000

Life Fitness describes the G2’s type of motion as fixed, with defined paths of motion that work your muscles in a 'bio-mechanically correct' way. The specific muscle groups you’ll engage as you build strength are abs and obliques, biceps, chest, lower body, shoulders, back and triceps. 

To see how hard you are working out during each session, consider using one of the best fitness trackers to monitor your heart rate, calories burned and more. Some of them work with the best online fitness programs for learning specific weight training routines at home. 

Overall, this is well-featured home workout machine for full body toning and muscle building, but other similarly priced machines offer extra features and a greater range of exercises.

Should you buy the Life Fitness G2 Gym?

The Life Fitness G2 Gym is an easy to use home gym that would suit beginners, as well as those who have smaller spaces at home for setting up exercise equipment. It offers a good range of features and exercises, though we believe other machines offer more for a similar price. That said, this is one of the most compact full body workout machines you can find without sacrificing on build quality or stability. 

Life Fitness also provides a lifetime warranty on the G2 Gym’s frame, welds, pulleys and parts. Upholstery pads and cables are guaranteed for three years, which is generous for a piece of home exercise equipment that will get heavy use.

Jennifer Christensen

Jennifer Christensen has written for many newspapers and magazines and has broadcast experience in television and radio. She has earned journalism awards from the Utah Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists and enjoys being a writer for Top Ten Reviews. Jennifer has five amazing children and loves to hike, play the piano, kick a soccer ball and eat ice cream.