Sleek, sturdy, compact, and highly versatile, the Total Gym XLS brings a whole new meaning to working out at home. If you are on the lookout for a new home gym machine, this Total Gym XLS review lets you know if the XLS is the right option for you. 

Whether it's an upgrade from your old machine or your first time buying one, you want to make sure that you buy a compact home gym that ticks all the right boxes for you.

While this is not impossible, I'd be lying if I said it isn't hard, and sometimes, frustratingly stressful. You may find a machine that's great for other exercises, but doesn't quite work for cardio, or arm stretches.

At other times, the machine is just too big. Or even too small. Some even offer a limited range of exercise options.

Not to worry though. This Total Gym XLS review examines the size, features, accessories, pros and cons of the XLS so you know if it's the right one for you or not.

Before we go into the Total Gym XLS review proper, let me tell you a bit about the Total Gym brand of home gyms and why they are so popular.

Let's go!

In a hurry? see our quick review below (Based on 15 hours of  research)

What is Total Gym?

Whether you are new to the fitness world, or you are a professional, there's a good chance that you've heard of Total Gym, or used one of their home gyms.

Besides the XLS, Total Gyms 1600, 1100, Platinum Plus, and X Force are some of their other products. 

For many fitness experts, Total Gym machines automatically resonates with versatility, quality, and cost-efficiency.

The Total Gym machines afford you the luxury of practicing up to eighty exercises. Users can practice strength building, core toning, stretching, arm exercises, cardio, and more with just one piece of equipment.

What is even more impressive about Total home gyms is that they can be used by just about anyone.

Yup! You read that right, you don't have to have the skills or stamina of Chuck Norris or Christie Brinkley to use a Total home gym. The Total Gym can be used by children, adults, beginners, intermediate users, and professional athletes.

You may have heard of people who got hurt while working out, and I have to admit that that is quite scary and can dissuade you from working out.

However, you don't have to worry if you are using a Total home gym.

The Total Gym machine allows you to exercise using your body weight. This drastically improves the safety and efficiency of your workout routine. You can confidently work out without any fear of hurting your muscles in the process.

Even better, the Total home gym allows users to set their difficulty level to their preference.

You can easily increase or decrease the level of difficulty every time you work out. This helps build stamina and exercise every muscle in the body.

Why Total Gym?

This is probably the first question that popped into your mind. With countless brands of home gyms on the market, what set Total Gym products apart from the rest, and why should you buy one of them? 

Help you save money

No one wants to waste money. When people invest their money in a product or service, they expect to get the value of their money from that product or service in return.

This is exactly what you get when you purchase any Total Gym machine. Total Gym offers you your money's worth, and the value of every cent you spend in acquiring it.

They offer a spectrum of exercise options

One of the unique selling points of Total home gyms is that they offer a wide range of exercise options. When it comes to diversity, there aren't many home gyms that come close to Total home gyms.

These machines are designed to take your workout routine up several notches. If home gyms were paintings, I'd say Total gym machines are the Mona Lisa. It's no wonder that the Total Gym home gyms are one of the bestselling gyms on the market.

They are highly functional

When it comes to getting a home gym, one of the key things you should look out for is functionality. And this is why, for me, when it comes to functionality, Total home gyms are one of the best out there.

With a Total gym machine, you can practice a variety of exercises without having to buy any unnecessary add-on. This single piece of equipment allows you to practice anything from cardio, core, strength building to pilates.

Overview of Total Gym XLS

One thing that stood out about Total Gym XLS when I analyzed hundreds of customers' reviews online is its sturdy structure. The XLS is also versatile and efficient.

Unlike most home gyms that fall below the weight capacity of 180 lb., the Total Gym XLS raises the bar - offering weight support for users who weigh up to 400 lbs.

The high weight capacity makes it possible for you and family members of varying weight to work out on a single gym, saving lots of money. Its versatility and ease of use also makes it easy for users of different ages and levels to use.

The Total Gym XLS also combines multiple exercise machines to allow you to exercise different areas of your body without having to buy different sets of equipment for the same purpose.

Also known as the lean, mean exercise machine, as popularized by Chuck Norris, the Total Gym XLS is one home gym that helps build and strengthen the major muscle groups in the body. It targets every muscle in the body and helps you stay fit and ripped without having to go to the gym.

I understand why you may still be skeptical about buying any gym product including the Total Gym XLS. I mean, how many times have you seen that awesome ad on TV and bought the product, only to realize that it wasn't worth all the hype - many times, right? 

Well, the XLS is different. If gets the endorsement of Chuck Norris and millions of fitness experts and enthusiasts, then it must be good. 

This amazing home gym is cleverly designed to help you exercise your core muscles, lower body, upper body, and cardiovascular system.

The Total Gym XLS home gym features an angled board with head support and several attachments. The wing attachment is designed to strengthen your arm and back muscles; while the leg pull gear helps you tone your hamstrings and quads. This home gym also comes with pulleys, a squat stand, and ankle straps.

An extra perk you'll get is Dan Isaacson’s Nutritional Program and Meal Plan for weight loss and healthy eating.

This nutritional program is highly effective when combined with a well-planned workout routine since it is developed by Isaacson, a health and fitness expert for Hollywood celebrities for over 25 years.

With the Total Gym XLS, you can ditch the heavyweights and still gain the same results. The Total Gym XLS is one of the most popular home gyms on the market and in the fitness community for good reasons. The Total Gym XLS features 80 exercise options and comes with multiple accessories, such as a wall chart, a nutritional program, 5 training DVDs, an exercise card deck, and more.

Total Gym XLS Review

Back to the main Total Gym XLS review!

In this section, you'll know more about the Total Gym XLS' accessories, size, functionality, pros & cons, and much more!

Let's jump right into it!

Size

The Total Gym XLS is one of the most compact home gyms on the market. This home gym can easily fit into a corner of your room when folded.

This is great news if you are not too enthusiastic about cluttering up your space.

Let's take a look at the size. 

Unfolded:

Length: 90"

Width: 19"

Height: 43"

Folded:

Length: 51"

Width: 19"

Height: 9"

User Weight: 400 lb

Height Limit: 6'2

Workout Space:

Length: 90"

Width: 20"

Weight: 92 lb

Accessories

You know how exciting it is when you get a buy one, get one deal? That's exactly how it feels when you buy a Total Gym XLS. 

With the multiple accessories that this home gym comes with, working out is more fun and efficient. The versatility of this machine makes it easy to practice a wide range of exercises without getting bored.

The Total Gym XLS features a variety of accessories that make working out easier and more fun. These accessories make reaching your fitness goals a piece of cake.

This home gym comes with more accessories than any other home gym I've seen. Here are the Total Gym accessories the XLS comes with:

• A ribbed squat stand
• 5 DVDs
• Ankles cuffs
• A wing attachment
• A wall chart
• Dan Isaacson’s Nutritional Program & Meal
• 3 training programs
• Leg pull attachment
• An exercise card deck
• A guide

In the next part of this Total Gym XLS review, let's take a brief look at some of these accessories and how they work.

Ribbed Squat Stand

The ribbed squat stand is attached to the bottom of the machine, allowing you to get into a low squatting position while working out.

It also helps you be at an incline on the frame with some of your weight - this is great for reducing the pressure on the lower body joints.

Wing Attachment

The wing attachment is one impressive accessory. It is one of the few parts of the Total Gym XLS that adds to its versatility, and it is undeniably one of the most innovative things I've ever seen.

With it, you can practice ab crunches, Pilates, or pull-ups, all depending on how you attach the wing attachment to the frame. Pretty ingenious, right?

Leg Pull Attachment

The Total Gym XLS also comes with a leg pull gear which makes it easier to add a range of leg exercises.

What's even more exciting is that the leg pull attachment allows you to use your body weight to build and strengthen leg muscles.

Wall Chart

Because you don't have to waste time assembling your Total Gym XLS, you can use the wall chart that comes with your machine as soon as you like.

The wall chart comes with a wide range of routines and over thirty exercises. This helps you improve your workout routine and boost your fitness levels.

Exercise Card Deck

If you are not too comfortable with using the wall chart, the exercise card deck is a great option. The Total Gym XLS features 80 different cards that depict various exercises you can add to your routine.

What I love about these cards is that they can easily fit into a cardholder that can be attached to the top of the frame. This means you can exercise hands-free and with no worries.

Nutritional Program

Let's be honest, if you are trying to lose weight or gain weight in certain areas, you need to complement your workout routine with a diet program for effective results.

Thankfully, the Total Gym XLS comes with a nutritional program that is designed to help you achieve your fitness goals easily. This is why I often recommend Total Gym to people who want to work out for weight-related reasons. 

The other accessories such as the squat stand, leg pulley, and others help add versatility to your routine. This home gym is great for high-energy workouts, subtle rehabilitative workouts, slow pilates-style exercise, and much more.

Warranty

While most of the time, your Total Gym XLS' warranty is determined by where you purchase it from, the official Total Gym website offers a 6-month warranty on the parts of the Total Gym XLS and a lifetime warranty on its frame.

But with excellent quality and durable machines like the Total Gym XLS, the chances that you'll need that warranty are pretty slim.

Functionality

Honestly, nothing can be better than having the luxury of trying out eighty exercises with one piece of equipment.

The Total Gym XLS gives you access to all your workout routine using just one machine. As a highly functional machine, the Total Gym XLS comes with exercises that are designed to help you strengthen and tone every muscle group in the body.

Also, you don't need to hassle yourself with assembling the machine, because like other Total Gyms, the Total Gym XLS is pre-assembled. This gives you the flexibility to start working out as soon as you like.

Weight and Height Limits

A challenge many people experience when searching for the right gym is finding one that can work perfectly with their height and weight. 

 Unlike most home gyms out there, the Total Gym XLS can cater to the weight and height needs of a broader range of users. The equipment can be used by users who weigh up to 400 lb, way more than the what most home gyms offer.

The Total Gym XLS also works well for users with a height of up to 6"2. This means that taller users don't have to worry about their home gym being too small for them, and can simply work out with no worries.

Guarantee

Another reason the Total Gym XLS is a favorite in the fitness community is that users can try the Total Gym XLS risk-free for 30 days. If you feel the product isn't up to your expectation, you can return the product and get a refund.

Assembly

When compared to other home gyms, the Total Gym XLS requires less time and skills to assemble.

The XLS comes pre-assembled, which means that you don't have to fret over which attachment goes where, or how to fully assemble your home gym.

All you need to do is unpack, unfold and voila, start working out.

Quality

When buying home gyms, one thing you should always look out for is quality.

You don't want a home gym that will snap while you are working out, and you also need a machine that will give you your money's worth.

The Total Gym XLS is made from highly durable and premium quality materials, giving it an edge over other brands.

The XLS features powder-coated lower rails, chrome-plated upper rails, and a strong steel frame - all of which provide optimal stability during use.

Even better, the Total Gym XLS is crafted with a 16"x47 padded glideboard which offers comfort and head support for users. 

Resistance Level

The Total Gym XLS offers users one of the most flexible ranges of resistance levels.

With 6 to 26 degrees of six resistance levels and 6% to 54% of body weight, the XLS gives users the flexibility to customize their exercise difficulty according to their body's resistance capacity.

Pros and Cons

Of course, this Total Gym XLS review would be incomplete if I don't examine the pros and cons of the Total Gym XLS.

Is the XLS that good?

Is it worth buying?

The next section of my Total Gym XLS review will give you all the answers you need.

Pros of the Total Gym XLS

Wide User Range

Unlike most home gyms you might have used in the past, the Total Gym XLS is designed to cater to the fitness needs of users across a wide range of ages.

Thanks to its innovative technology, users as young as eight years old or as elderly as eighty can work out with this home gym.

It Offers Over Eighty Exercises

I know you've read this like a thousand times already, but this is one of the most unique things about this amazing home gym. From cardio, leg pulls, ab crunches to simple stretching exercises, the Total Gym XLS has got you covered. 

Depending on how creative you get with your workout routine, you can exhaust these 80+ exercises.

And if you think it's impossible for anyone to perform 80 exercises on the Total Gym XLS, wait for a shocker. 

Chuck Norris can do up to 1,080 exercises!

It Comes Fully Pre-assembled

Imagine finally getting your home gym, and then realize that you have to spend the next hours excruciatingly assembling the equipment?

Quite the buzzkill, isn't it? 

Well, the Total Gym XLS eliminates that stress since it comes fully assembled. All you have to do is unpack, unfold and add the required attachments, and you can start working out right away.

The XLS has a weight capacity of 400 pounds

Most home gyms on the market have a weight limit of around 180 lb., making it challenging for heavier people to find the right home gym.

The good news is that the XLS can easily be used by users who weigh up to 400 lb. without any worries.

Customizable Difficulty Levels

One of the common reasons why people get hurt while working out is that, oftentimes, the gym equipment used cannot handle the users' body weight, and as such, an accident could happen.

But not with the Total Gym XLS.

The XLS customizes exercise difficulty levels using the user's body weight. This means that you can work out according to your body's capacity.

Outstanding Upgrades

The Total Gym XLS is an impressive upgrade of older models.

It features some improved functions and innovative attachments such as an improved glide board padding, pulling system, pulley and cable system, and a better squat stand that you won't find in older models or other home gyms.

Adjustable Resistance Levels

One of the upsides of owning a Total Gym XLS is that you can work out with ease with its adjustable resistance feature. This feature allows you to set your resistance level on the machine according to your preference.

Comes with Multiple Accessories

This is, probably, my favorite thing about this home gym. With so many accessories, you can see why the Total Gym XLS is worth the hype and the money.

The XLS comes with a variety of attachments including DVDs and nutritional programs to aid weight loss and strength building.

Extra Comfort

Unlike older models, the Total Gym XLS comes with a patented glide board that is padded for extra comfort. This gives users a more comfortable workout experience using the home gym.

Supports Tall Users

If you are above the average height, you will agree with me that finding a home gym that doesn't leave your feet dangling around awkwardly while warning out can be quite the chore.

But, the Total Gym XLS makes working out easy and comfortable for users with a height of up to 6"2.

It comes with a Free 30-day trial

Who doesn't like the sound of a free 30-day trial? I know I do!

If you purchase a Total Gym XLS and you find the product unsatisfactory, you can return it within 30 days and you will receive a refund.

Impressive Customer Reviews

If there's one thing that the XLS has, it's lots and lots of excellent customer reviews. The number of positive reviews the home gym receives proves that it is truly worth buying.

Easy to Fold

Unlike other home gyms, the Total Gym XLS is quite easy to fold up and store.

This minimizes the amount of space that your home gym takes up, and can be a huge plus, especially if you are sharing your space with someone else.

Excellent Quality

The quality of most home gyms on the market is worrisome. While some machines are too unstable, others are too light or made with substandard parts.

However, the Total Gym XLS is built with highly durable materials and parts that are sure to last a long time.

Cons of the Total Gym XLS

The XLS is Super-Heavy

If you think moving your Total Gym XLS is a one-man chore, then think again. The Total Gym XLS is quite heavy and can be difficult to move. If you ever need to move your XLS home gym around, you will need extra hands.

Interesting Odor

Many users have complained that the surface of the Total Gym XLS gives off a strong odor that can be unsettling.

It's Not All That Compact

I know that one of the main selling points of the Total Gym XLS is its compact nature (since it is easily foldable).

However, this home gym is not exactly as compact as many users would like. When folded, the Total Gym XLS still takes up 19 x 50 inches, which is still a lot of space if you ask me.

Limited Warranty on Parts

Okay, okay, I know that the Total Gym XLS is one of the most durable home gyms out there, but a 6-month warranty on its parts?

That's just way too limited warranty time, considering how expensive parts are. This is one of the things that many users are not too happy about.

Difficulty Tracking Performance

Honestly, most of the home gyms also have this same problem.

Because you have to use your body weight as a measure of your performance, it can be difficult to accurately track your performance over time. 

Most of the time, what happens is that you are losing weight, which would automatically reduce your resistance.

A good way to sort this is to monitor your weight as well as the incline settings when journaling your exercise routine.

Issues with Some Parts

The Total Gym XLS might be difficult to transport as some people have complained about having issues with the transport wheel bearings or other small parts of the equipment.

Not Suitable for People over 6”2

Yeah, I know there aren't many people over 6"2. But If your height exceeds that, the XLS is a big NO for you.

Although it has a pretty good height capacity, it cannot cater to the fitness needs of taller folks. 

Not Designed for Extreme Strength Training or Bodybuilding

If you are looking for a quick way to build your body or practice extreme strength building, you'll have to get another equipment (or sets of equipment).

That's because the Total Gym XLS is not designed for such a purpose. Instead, this machine simply helps you tone and simply retain your body weight over time.

Get the Total Gym XLS if:

• Your weight is a bit on the high side. The Total Gym XLS can cater to the needs of users up to 400 lb.
• You are comfortable with trying out the different 80+ exercises.
• You can exercise with six levels of resistance.
• You want multiple accessories.
• You want to focus more on strength training.

Is Total Gym XLS Worth the Money?

Finding a home gym that gives you complete peace of mind can be hard. But with the Total Gym XLS, you have a product that has a consistent rating of over 4.6 to rely on.

Even for its price, you will hardly find a home gym that offers so much value like the Total Gym XLS.  

Suitable for users of various age groups, easy to assemble, fold, store and use, and with so many juicy perks, the XLS is one of the leaders of the pack when it comes to home gyms. 

Many users, from veteran soldiers with knee injuries, 73-year-old grandmas to present and former athletes and many others have written about how excited they are with their XLS. 

I'm not surprised. 

Final Thoughts

No doubt, there are many home gyms available on the market.

But many of them don't come close to the Total Gym XLS in terms of quality and versatility.

Not to mention that Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley both approve and recommend this home gym, so you can tell that the Total Gym XLS is a hotshot in the fitness community. This home gym comes with excellent features and multiple accessories which makes owning one, as a fitness enthusiast, necessary.

The Total Gym XLS offers over eighty exercise options and can be used by users from as young as eight, to as old as eighty. I love the fact that the Total Gym XLS can support heavier users, with a weight capacity of 400 lbs. This makes it one of the few home gyms with a high weight capacity.

Conclusion

 So, if you want to put your money on a home gym that'll last a long time, give you the flexibility and versatility to work out at your pace and preference, go for the Total Gym XLS.  Highly recommended.