The author learned weightlifting during their college years while participating in track and developed a passion for heavy lifts, such as deadlifts, squats, and cleans. They have continued lifting for the past decade. However, the experience changed after losing access to their college’s elite weight room. Currently, they primarily work out at home using adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells but have reached a point where heavier equipment is necessary, specifically a barbell and plates.
In response to this need, they reviewed the Speediance Gym Monster 2, a magnetic-resistance cable machine resembling a typical weight-lifting rack but suitable for home use. After incorporating it into their workout routine for a month, they found it enjoyable to use—more so than previous magnetic-resistance machines—and it has facilitated improvements in major lifts like deadlifts, squats, and bench presses.
The Gym Monster 2 is equipped with a magnetic-resistance cable system featuring a rack, a screen, a foldable platform with a removable padded surface, and numerous accessories. The standard package includes a bench, adjustable barbell, barbell hooks, a barbell pad, a tricep rope, cable handles, an extender belt, ankle straps, and a Bluetooth ring and clip. This version, being the second iteration, is more compact and lighter than its predecessor, with an additional higher level for the cables on the rack pillars.
Setting up the Gym Monster 2 was straightforward, requiring no assembly. It has a small footprint, measuring 14.6 inches by 27.2 inches by 72.8 inches when folded and extending to 48.0 inches when unfolded. Although it offers a total resistance of 220 pounds, which may not suffice for the heaviest lifts, the smart features and user-friendly system make it an appealing home workout machine.
In terms of price, the Gym Monster 2 is slightly less expensive than the Tonal 2, and it does not require a membership subscription to access most workouts.
Overall, the Gym Monster 2 is appreciated for its similarity to traditional weight-lifting racks, offering two tall pillars for cable attachment, which is an improvement over similar machines like the Vitruvian Trainer+ that only feature cables attached to the platform, making certain lifts and positioning challenging.
