Brandon Cole

Brandon Cole

Member Since 2/26/2026

Achievement badge

349 points

Just another basement gym lifter who enjoys the home gym community and looking at everyone's setups and equipment! I am based out of northeastern Ohio and am fortunate enough to share my gym with my wife and friends!

Socials

Brandon Cole's Gym

Photo of Brandon Cole's GymPhoto of Brandon Cole's GymPhoto of Brandon Cole's GymPhoto of Brandon Cole's Gym
View Gym

Brandon Cole's Equipment Lists (0)

This user has not created any equipment lists yet.

Brandon Cole's Gym Lists (0)

This user has not created any gym lists yet.

Brandon Cole's Reviews (18)

(5)
7/25/2026
I got a few sets of 45s, 25s, and 5s from the sale sets used in the USS nationals at a great price! The had wear marks on them, of course, from use in competition, but were functionally 100% and still look great! I really appreciate the handles for ease of loading on my leg press, and the thin profile let's me use the short weight horn without much concern for running out of space in the future. I'd definitely recommend these plates, especially if buying over 500$ worth to qualify for free shipping (at the time I purchased). On a side note, on of my plates got lost by UPS, and weight it out immediately shipped me out a replacement with no hassle at all. They are a stand up company!
Performance
Value
Build Quality

(4.67)
7/25/2026
These plates are such a nice upgrade for those trying to get that commercial gym feel. These, and weight it out plates replaced my cheap, walmart bumper plates, which served me well for years, but were annoying to load/unload, especially the 45s. They feel premium in hand, and I find the hole placement and size to be convenient for moving around easily. I do think there are better value options, but this is definitely a top tier choice for urethane in the home gym, if that's what you really want. I feel they were worth my money and I would purchase again!
Performance
Value
Build Quality

(4.67)
6/23/2026
Great dedicated chest press machine, for the money! I've really enjoyed adding back a flat bench machine press and definitely missed this from the commercial gym! The arc from the lever arms feels good and it has a pretty good convergence at the top with a good stretch at the bottom. I knocked a star for performance, given that the supports for the lever arms don't adjust. This hasn't really limited me in getting a great stretch at the bottom, but I can't speak for everyone. If you have the space and budget, this is a welcome alternative to dumbell and barbell pressing! Hopefully someone will come out with a good incline equivelent in the future!
Performance
Value
Build Quality

(3.67)
6/23/2026
I have had and been using this machine regularly for a few months now and I have enjoyed it overall. Pros: This is a relatively affordable way to get a pin loaded preacher curl at just 1699.99 shipped (at the time I bought it anyways). The build quality feels solid and I am not worried about longevity for my the 2-3 people that train in my gym. The seat and preacher pad vinyl feels good quality, and very supportive/comfortable in use. Can double as a preacher pad for dumbell curls and even preacher bar curls if you have a rackable curl bar length! Cons: The ROM bottoms out before you reach full elbow extension. I would say maybe 5 - 10 degrees lacking? Not the end of the world, but I would have preferred to have the option to reach lockout, or just prior, when training with appropriate weight. The tricep extension function is not great. No integrated back support pad limits how stable you can make yourself when trying to rep heavy weight. Honestly, I tried it a few times and decided it feels worse than basically any other tricep variant I can train. Maybe it would work well as a final movement to burn out already cooked triceps with lighter weight? Overall, I do like the machine for bicep work and it gets integrated at least once a week. The ability to isolate and keep tension on your biceps throughout is hard to replicate without a machine like this. If I had to do it again, I think I may pass on this and get a regular preacher curl station with the ability to mount a Voltra. I suspect this would be the best of both worlds for free weight and a cable stack equivalent!
Performance
Value
Build Quality

(4.33)
6/23/2026
I've had this piece, and having been using it regularly for a few months now, amd I'm overall very impressed! Very smooth is use, the lever arm pivot points aren't gritty at all. The cam has a pop pin position all the way back, so ROM on the pec fly movement gives as good of a stretch as you can handle. I will not that the end range of motion on the rear delt fly portion is slightly limited due to the handles having a decent gap between them at the furthest setting. This has not stopped me from getting a great pump, but it is something to consider if absolute ROM in the stretch is a big deal for you. Overall build quailty is very good, but is does lack some of the nicer touches that a more expensive home gym machine that mirrors a commercial piece. I paid 1699.99 shipped to my door, and I think you would be hard pressed to find another pin loaded equivalent for that price! I would 100% buy it again!
Performance
Value
Build Quality

View All Reviews