FT2 PRO SMITH FUNCTIONAL TRAINER

The Inspire FT2 Pro is a great option for anyone who wants a compact, plateless home gym setup and is focused primarily on hypertrophy rather than powerlifting. What sets this machine apart is the selectorized Smith machine. Switching weights is very fast and convenient compared to loading plates, it’s smooth, easy to setup, and can be loaded up to 320lbs or 410lbs with the weight stack upgrade. Because the smith bar starts at the bottom of the movement, it won’t be ideal for powerlifters performing heavy squats or bench presses in the 1–3 rep range. However, in my experience, it feels great for sets of four or more reps. You will need a platform for RDLs, and I wish the bar had more aggressive knurling. The machine has 6 pulleys: 2 side, 2 high, and 2 low. The high pulleys work well for lat pulldowns, and I use the smith bar with a bar pad to anchor myself down. The 2 low pulleys can be adjusted to multiple heights and they work well for cable rows. The 2 side pulleys are great for all other cable exercises. I would recommend getting the upgraded weight stack. Performance: 5/5 Can effectively train every muscle group. Value: 5/5 It’s expensive but it’s the only selectorized smith functional trainer on the market other than its predecessor. The functionality, convenience, and space saving are invaluable to me. Build quality: 4/5 Uses higher gauge steel than other options at price point, and bar knurling could be better, but still extremely stable and everything feels smooth.

The FT2 Pro is the centerpiece of my garage gym. The dual adjustable pulleys allow a huge variety of exercises, and the integrated Smith machine adds even more versatility. The movement is extremely smooth and the build quality feels commercial grade. If you want a single machine that can replace several others in a home gym, this is a fantastic option.

I purchased this in 2018 as the first piece in my home gym. I got the upgraded weight stacks too, for a total of 200lbs 2:1 on each side. A lot has changed in the home gym environment with respect to functional trainers/cable machines in the past 8-9 years. This used to be a standout piece, but now it is overshadowed by almost everything else for the cost. It’s expensive, but well made and has a very smooth (nylon) pulley system. It still is the only non-free weight Smith machine on the market utilizing the cable stacks. Despite its large footprint, I still consider it compact because of this feature. It shouldn’t technically be called a Smith machine because it’s a pseudo-Smith. Yes it travels on a vertical rail (and that function is very smooth as well) but you have to start at the BOTTOM of every movement, or awkwardly “unrack/disengage” the Smith Safety trolleys at the top of your movement and then at the bottom twist to lock them in and then proceed with the exercises but finish at the bottom. I hope that makes sense. One feature that’s cool is the weight multiplier that you can engage which just converts the 2:1 ratio into a 1:1 ratio for 400lbs when you combine stacks. I use the Smith still for a few things that function well for it and it’s not awkward - like seated OHP, shrugs, upright rows, calf raises. I have really gotten amazing use out of the functional trainer side of things. I have zero attachment pieces from them because I have upgraded to truly “S-tier” attachments. To me, the attachments make the biggest difference because they are the contact point, the interactive component to any functional trainer. They can even elevate a marginal piece into a great unit. I still haven’t sought after a replacement because it has sort of earned a permanent spot in my gym. For the money - look elsewhere now. But back in 2018 this was “the shit”. Its cable system is smooth, durable and easy to adjust. It’s Smith - falls flat on performance

We were hoping the integrated smith machine on this would give us something we were missing in our gym. However this does not function like a regular smith machine and using it is not only awkward, but inefficient. The best thing about this unit is the multiple cable attachments and smoothness. However, due to its large footprint, expensive cost, and poor integration of the smith, it's hard to recommend. Better off going with a cheaper unit and just leveraging the FT aspect.