I picked up the Fringe Dragonfly recently, and these are my first impressions after using it for a bit. Overall, it’s a solid piece with a lot of potential. It does a lot of things well, especially for the price, but there are some noticeable issues worth mentioning. Cons: • Weld quality is structurally fine, but the welds could look cleaner for better aesthetics. • Powder coat finish isn’t perfectly even across the unit. • Weight-arm bearings are threaded through. When switching arms to the correct side, one side comes off normally while the other just spins, which gets frustrating. • Starting-position lock pin can drag across the bottom of the arm depending on the angle. • Wing placement is welded too far back — moving them forward an inch or so would improve ergonomics and range of motion. • Some pin holes are very tight or slightly misaligned, making pins hard to insert or remove. • Chest flys feel uncomfortable until the extension handles arrive. • Handles don’t rotate — rotating handles would be a nice upgrade for joint comfort and more exercise options. Pros: • Lateral raises feel excellent — smooth, consistent resistance with a great movement path. • Adjustable strength curve is a huge plus and adds a ton of versatility. • Rear delt flys are solid — not perfect, but definitely good. • Price point is very fair for what you get. • It’s Voltra-ready, which is a nice bonus if you run that setup (I’ll be trying it soon). It definitely feels like a V1 product, and it shows. With some small refinements, a V2 could be fantastic. I’m still happy with the purchase overall and look forward to getting more use out of it, especially once the extension handles show up.

This Titan Preacher Curl Bench is exactly what you’d expect from Titan at this price point. The vinyl is the standard non-grip material you see from most manufacturers these days. The seat has a little wobble, but it’s not horrible. Because the bench is pretty light, it can shift around if you don’t stay fully planted during your sets. Overall, I’m happy with it for the price. It gets the job done without any major complaints.

Can they make this GHD any more overbuilt? The Abram GHD 2.0 might be one of the heaviest-built pieces of equipment I own. Everything on it feels top-notch — solid construction, quality materials, and it simply does exactly what a GHD is supposed to do. My only real complaint is the adjustability. Because of how heavy the unit is and where the knobs are placed, making adjustments isn’t the easiest. I watched a review of the ATX GHD and it looked noticeably smoother and simpler to adjust. I did add a 3x3 rail on the front legs to give it a bit more functionality, which has worked out well for extra exercises. Overall, if you want a bombproof, no-frills GHD that’s built like a tank, this is a great choice. It’s not the most adjustable, but the rock-solid build more than makes up for it in my book.

I absolutely love having two Voltra units in my gym. The flexibility they offer is unmatched. I really enjoy coming up with new ways to mount them around my setup. With a little DIY creativity, CAD files, and services like Send Cut Send or Fabworks, the mounting options feel almost unlimited. The company keeps updating the app with new features, upgrades, and bug fixes, which is great to see. This is easily one of the best pieces of equipment I own. That said, a few small things could make it even better. The motion isn’t quite as smooth as the Ares 2.0 pulley system. I’d also prefer a simple double-tap to turn the unit on instead of having to hold the button. Better instructions or helpful pop-up explanations for the app icons would be useful too. Finally, having US-based support and warehousing would be a nice improvement. Overall, the Voltra’s versatility and constant improvements make it a standout in my home gym. Highly recommended if you like creative, space-saving training solutions.

I picked up this Titan Leg Extension and Hamstring Curl machine brand new for $200 on Marketplace — a solid deal. I designed a custom bracket so I could mount it to my Beyond Power Voltra, and I’m using a Buffalo Bully sleeve loader with it. The best way to describe the machine is “mostly function over form.” Like most plate-loaded leg machines without cams, it has the typical power curve issues — the resistance doesn’t feel perfectly even through the full range of motion. That said, the vinyl on the pads is surprisingly nice and comfortable. The biggest downside is the rear seat angle. It’s fixed and feels pretty terrible for both leg extensions and curls. It really should be adjustable. Still, the machine gets the job done, especially when paired with my Voltra. Being able to adjust the resistance profile electronically helps overcome most of the power curve problems. Overall, for $200 and with a little custom work to integrate it into my setup, I’m happy with the purchase. It’s not perfect, but it’s a functional addition that lets me hit quads and hamstrings effectively without taking up a ton of extra space.

I installed the Rep Fitness Ares 2.0 into my custom-built 6-post rack. The rack has specs pretty similar to Rep’s PR-5000, and the Ares fit perfectly even though it’s not a stock setup. Setup took some time due to my unique configuration, but it went pretty smoothly overall. Rep did a great job with the engineering — they focused on smart design rather than just over-building everything. The pulley system is extremely smooth and quiet, which makes training a lot more enjoyable. I do get occasional minor pulley twist on certain movements, but it’s rare and hasn’t been an issue for me. Because of space constraints, I went with the 80” version. At 5’10”, I find it works great with no problems on range of motion. A couple of things I’d like to see improved: the low row footrest extension could be a little longer for better leverage, and it would be nice if the center low pulleys were adjustable in height. Some people complain about the trolleys not having guide rollers, but I think the lighter weight and smooth operation are a fair trade-off. Overall, I’m really happy with the Ares 2.0. It adds a ton of versatility to my rack without taking up extra floor space. I did have one small issue early on — the tiny Allen screw holding the plastic tip on the pop pin for the trolley worked its way loose, causing the pin to malfunction. Rep Fitness sent me a replacement trolley right away with no hassle. Their customer service was excellent. If you’re thinking about adding a functional trainer, lat pulldown, and low row to your power rack, this is a strong option.