Best Commercial Gym Equipment: Expert-Tested Gear for Any Type of Gym (2025)

A functional trainer is one of the best upgrades for gym owners, especially if you only have barbells and dumbbells. Since most commercial gyms will have a power rack, or should, the REP Fitness Ares 2.0 is one of the best ways to upgrade your setup without taking up too much space. 

We know there are plenty of great functional trainers that don’t require a power rack. However, even commercial gyms often run out of space, and for those building smaller gyms or strength and conditioning facilities, the Ares 2.0 allows you to upgrade an existing power rack, so you don’t lose any floor space. We give this a 4 out of 5 for the footprint and portability. 

Functional trainers allow you to use a pair of cable handles that can be set to nearly any height. While athletes who compete in barbell sports may not use cables very often, plenty of fitness enthusiasts love the versatility provided by cable exercises. 

GGR founder Cooper “Coop” Mitchell is a big fan of the Ares 2.0, giving it 4.5 out of 5 for its durability and construction. 

“The plastic lining on the trolley and pins helps prevent scratching on the uprights,” Coop says. “On the original, the posts began to wear down. You won’t see that with the 2.0.”

The pulleys are very smooth, earning 5 out of 5 for their smoothness and stability. The dual 260-pound weight stacks can be upgraded to 310 pounds, making them ideal for stronger athletes who want to perform heavy cable rows, lat pulldowns, and other exercises. 

If you don’t have a compatible power rack, you may need to buy a standalone functional trainer instead, as the Ares 2.0 is designed to fit inside the popular REP PR-4000 or PR-5000 racks. However, if you already have a compatible power rack and want a functional trainer that’s commercial-grade and built to last, this is the best option on the market. 

For more, check out our full REP Ares 2.0 review. 

Regardless of your gym design, whether it’s a basement gym or high-end commercial gym, a good squat rack is a must-have. While there are plenty of good options on the market, it’s hard to beat the Rogue R-3 power rack, which continues to be one of the best-selling options. 

It’s durable, has built-in safety bars, 11-gauge steel uprights, and is made in the USA. It features a classic, durable design and is found in countless weight rooms, CrossFit facilities, functional training centers, and commercial gyms alike.

For versatility, this rack earns a 4.5 out of 5, thanks in part to the Westside hole spacing, which offers far more height settings than most racks.

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“The Rogue R-3 Power Rack truly shines when it comes to benching,” says GGR founder Coop Mitchell. “The Westside hole spacing allows you to make micro adjustments in height, which, although a small design element, is actually a pretty big deal when you’re benching by yourself and don’t want to die under the weight of the bar.”

We also give this 4.75 out of 5 for construction and durability. It’s meant to hold more than 1,000 pounds, far more than 99% of humans will ever need, and the 11-gauge steel feels extremely durable. As Coop said, “This is pretty much the epitome of what Rogue stands for. Strong, dependable, functional, and just absolutely, positively mean looking.”

At $795, you’re also getting exceptional quality for the cost, not to mention a lifetime warranty, so this earns 5 out of 5 stars for the value. 

If you prefer 3” x 3” uprights or want a larger frame, there are more expensive options that may be worth considering. However, in our opinion, this is the best squat rack for the money, especially for commercial gym owners who will be purchasing multiple racks and want to maximize space efficiency. 

To learn more, read our full Rogue R-3 Power Rack Review.

REP has become one of the most popular brands in the gym equipment space, thanks to their high-quality products that are extremely durable, versatile, and functional. This equipment line includes a variety of weight benches, and the REP FB-5000 is our pick for the best commercial bench. 

It’s durable, comfortable, and has a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds, earning it 5 out of 5 stars for construction and durability. For the price, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a more durable bench. 

The FB-5000 is a competition bench, which means it meets IPF powerlifting competition standards with a 16.9” bench height. You don’t need to be a powerlifter to use this bench, but this means that it’s designed for the strongest bench pressers in the world. 

Coop also pointed out a design feature he loves, saying, “If you take a look at the front, you’ll see that it has a single post-design, which is great for foot placement.”

This competition-style design makes this bench very comfortable to use, and you don’t need to worry about getting your feet caught on the legs of the bench. For ergonomics, this earns 5 out of 5 stars. 

At only $239, this bench is an absolute steal, earning 4.75 out of 5 for value, and unless you need an adjustable bench, this will likely be the last bench you ever need to buy.  

“I have now had the Rep FB-5000 Flat Bench for over three years,” Coops says. “I’ve used it in my garage gym time and time again, and have had probably close to 100 other people use it in my personal training studio. Despite it being used by so many and so often, it still feels and performs as it did on day one.”

The only thing it’s missing is an incline setting, but if you don’t need that, this is the best flat bench on the market. 

Read our REP FB-5000 Review for more details. 

For most strength athletes and fitness enthusiasts, a barbell is going to be one of the most-used pieces of equipment in your gym. When it comes to barbells, we recommend getting the best barbell you can afford. If you’re looking for commercial-quality equipment, nothing beats the Eleiko IWF bar. 

Made of Swedish steel, this bar is designed for Olympic weightlifting but is versatile enough to be used for nearly any type of training. Eleiko has a reputation for making extremely high-quality equipment, and while this bar is expensive, we think it’s worth every dollar, and give it 4 out of 5 for value. 

I asked Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1, an Olympian who competed in weightlifting in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, to share his thoughts on the IWF bar. He gave it a 5 out of 5 for durability, saying, “They’re expensive, but they last forever. The IWF bar, even with the high price point, is worth the cost and has quite a reputation behind it.”

Another one of our experts with extensive experience using this barbell is Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, Head of Content and owner of a weightlifting gym. 

“I love this knurling; it has the best grip I’ve ever used,” says Kate. “It holds chalk very well, and it gives you a great grip without cutting your hands every session. Eleiko is simply in a class of its own.”

It’s worth noting that, since this is a weightlifting bar, it’s best suited for traditional weightlifting exercises, such as snatches or power cleans, as well as general fitness. The only thing it’s not good for is pure powerlifting, as powerlifters often use a stiffer, thicker bar, especially for deadlifts.

For everyone else, this barbell will do an excellent job, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars for its versatility. 

To read more, be sure to check out our full Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Bar Review. 

RELATED: Barbell Anatomy 101

In recent years, we’ve seen more and more rowers hitting the market, but nothing beats the original Concept2 RowErg. If you’ve ever used a rower, whether it was in a commercial gym, CrossFit box, or strength and conditioning center, it was probably a Concept2 rower. 

With a 500-pound weight capacity and aluminum frame, this rower easily earns 5 out of 5 for durability, as it’s meant to withstand regular, heavy use from a variety of users. 

“The build quality on this rower is tough…nothing about it feels cheap,” says Coop Mithcell. “The Concept 2 is a commercial-grade rower, which means it was built with the intention that it would withstand the punishment of constant use at the gym or the CrossFit box with minimal maintenance required.”

Despite its sturdy frame, it’s also very portable, and can be stored vertically, folded, or even hung from a wall, so it’s extremely easy to move out of the way when you’re not using it. We give this a 5-out-of-5-star rating for its footprint and portability. 

The only real drawback is the price, and at nearly $1,000, it’s not inexpensive. However, it’s the best rower we’ve ever used, and we still give it 4.5 out of 5 stars for value. 

Coop said, “Yes, the RowErg is an expensive piece of cardio equipment at nearly $1,000 shipped, but with the combination of an outstanding workout, extreme durability, and very high resale value if you decide to sell it, this is as safe of a recommendation for us to make as we’ve ever seen.”

If you’re looking to buy a commercial-grade rower, look no further than the Concept2 Row Erg. There are other options to choose from, but this has been battle-tested for years in CrossFit boxes, and still our top choice when it comes to rowers. 

To learn more, read our full Concept2 RowErg Review.

A treadmill is a staple piece of equipment in most health clubs and gyms, and one where the price you pay significantly impacts the quality and durability of your machine. For those looking for a commercial treadmill, the Sole Fitness TT8 is one of the best choices on the market. 

Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC, gave this 4 out of 5 stars for durability, saying, “This is a heavy-duty, commercial grade treadmill, and one of the first I’ve seen that you could use in either a commercial or home gym setting.”

While many treadmills meant for home gyms tend to be smaller, lighter, and easy to transport, the TT8 is a heavy-duty treadmill that’s built to last. It’s bulky and heavy, with a powerful motor and high weight capacity, but this results in a heavy treadmill that’s difficult to move. For commercial gyms, this is no big deal, but worth pointing out, as it only earned 2 out of 5 stars for portability. 

However, in exchange for the large and heavy size, you’re getting a very powerful, durable treadmill that’s built to withstand heavy use. In addition to its durability, it earns 4 out of 5 for adjustability and ergonomics, as it has both incline and decline settings.. 

Lindsay also loves the adjustability, and said, “If you’re an avid runner and like to do a lot of high speeds, intervals, or hills, this is the treadmill you want to run on.”

With a price tag of nearly $3,000, this certainly isn’t cheap. However, if you’re looking for a durable, commercial-grade treadmill, we think this is one of the best choices on the market. 

To learn more, be sure to read our full Sole TT8 Review, or watch Lindsay’s video review below.

Sole TT8 Treadmill Review: Solid Build and Durability That Keep Up Mile After Mile

Whether you’re outfitting a commercial gym or simply looking to upgrade your home cardio setup, an elliptical is a great machine that offers a low-impact, versatile, full-body workout. When it comes to ellipticals, we think the NordicTrack AirGlide 14i is one of the best options available. 

Ellipticals may feel easier than running, but research shows¹ that ellipticals deliver the same cardiovascular benefits as running, making them a solid low-impact alternative for those with achy joints. 

To start, this elliptical has plenty of training settings, earning 5 out of 5 stars for versatility. In addition to 26 resistance levels, users can choose from both incline and decline settings. However, Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC, had one small callout, saying, “When the incline changes, the incline motor is so loud you can hear it over the music.”

Noise aside, this elliptical also has integrated iFIT classes, which is a great smart feature. There are thousands of virtual classes to choose from, and your resistance settings will automatically adjust to keep you working at the right intensity. 

“I took the ‘climbing pyramid’ class, which consists of climbing three mountains,” says Lindsay, who gave the workout experience 5 out of 5 stars. “The iFIT personal trainer was fantastic, and I was automatically excited about the class because the second song was from the ‘Barbie’ soundtrack, and there’s nothing like good music to make you try hard.”

This elliptical also earns 5 out of 5 for the ergonomics. In addition to a wide range of resistance settings, the stride length is adjustable, and there are multiple handlebar settings to choose from.

If you want to read more details, check out our full NordicTrack AirGlide 14i Review.

For those who don’t enjoy the treadmill or elliptical, a stationary bike is one of the best ways to get your cardio done, especially one with virtual classes, like the Peloton Bike+. For commercial gym owners who don’t have a dedicated spin studio in their gym, exercise bikes with virtual classes are the best alternative, and it’s hard to beat the legendary Peloton.

The bike itself is very durable and comfortable, with an adjustable seat, handlebars, and resistance that’s controlled by turning a knob. It’s easy to get comfortable on this bike, and we give it a 4.5 out of 5 for adjustability and ergonomics. Where Peloton really shines is in its streaming class service. 

Users can choose from thousands of pre-recorded or live sessions, filtering classes by length, difficulty level, instructor, music style, and more. If classes aren’t your thing, you can also enjoy virtual scenic rides all over the world, or simply start a ride with a blank screen that shows your stats. 

I’ve owned the original Peloton for several years, and I love being able to choose the classes I want to take. It’s great to be able to sort by music genre in particular, so I can pick different classes based on what mood I’m in.

With an active subscription, users can also use the large HD monitor to stream media from services like Netflix, YouTubeTV, Disney+, and much more. I regularly use this feature, especially since I can pair my Polar H10 heart rate sensor via Bluetooth, and see my heart rate displayed while I watch something. Overall, this bike earns 5 out of 5 stars for tech capabilities. 

Compared to the original Peloton, the Bike+ has been upgraded with a 23.8” HD rotating touchscreen. Since Peloton offers plenty of streaming classes that aren’t spin classes, like strength training and yoga, users can rotate the screen to follow along. 

This isn’t the cheapest bike, but it’s extremely versatile and durable, and a fantastic choice for any gym setting. We think the quality is well worth the price, and give it 4.5 out of 5 for value.

Read our full Peloton Bike Plus Review to learn more.