[00:02] is a lot of different machines in the gym, so it's super easy to get to show you the best machines, so you know exactly what you should go for and what is better to stay away from. Rating gym machines is actually not as easy as
[00:16] you would imagine, because when some company decides to make a machine, it's usually a machine that is already proven to work. So, you don't really walk into the gym and see a machine that just straight up sucks. There are some
[00:28] exceptions, but that's the gist of it. You know, I could dig and find some absolutely diabolical machines, but because they are so terrible, they are practically not in any gyms, so it doesn't really help anyone. A lot of the
[00:41] time, the type of machine isn't the main thing that matters. One of the most manufactured the machine, you know, the brand, because it can be the best type of machine in the world, but if it was manufactured in China for five bucks,
[00:55] it's just going to feel terrible, no matter what. And a lot of the time, the goodness of the machine comes down to the individual, you know, like that your body proportions actually fit the machine and it doesn't feel awkward in
[01:07] any way. I have a friend who is almost 7 ft and I'm pretty sure he would put every single machine into the F tier. But unless you are going to some super high-end gym, you won't even recognize the brands. Most of the time, it's just
[01:21] some no-name machine you have never seen before. I, for example, when I don't work out in my home gym, go to a pretty small gym where the time has stopped tell you what kind of brand those machines in there are. They almost don't
[01:36] even have any paint on them anymore. You know, I could tell you to use all the best, but if you are working out in a gym that doesn't even have windows, it's probably not going to be very useful. So, it's really difficult to make a
[01:49] machine tier list that can actually provide you with some value, but I think I finally figured out how to do this, because to be absolutely honest, I wanted to do this tier list years ago, but I was like, based on what am I going
[02:02] to rank this? It's impossible. But then it hit me. A lot of people always wonder if it's better to do the machine version or the quote-unquote regular version of the exercise. And that's exactly what this tier list will be heavily based on.
[02:14] For that, we have four different tiers. The first one is the perfect tier. All the machines in this tier are the creme de la creme. These machines are the absolute best exercises you can do and are superior to their dumbbell or
[02:28] barbell counterparts. With that being said, you do have to keep in mind what I said before, because that is very relevant to the terrible tier. The main thing that can make a machine terrible is the way it was made and your own
[02:40] leverages. And that's the one and only thing that will be in the terrible tier, because quite literally any machine can suffer this fate if it was manufactured by Dr. Doofenshmirtz or if your body simply doesn't really fit the machine.
[02:53] different set of machines in the terrible tier. So, keep that in the back of your head. Then, if you move up one tier above the terrible tier, we find ourselves in the mediocre tier. Machines in this tier are really easy to
[03:06] describe. They do what they were designed to do fairly well, but there are better ways of achieving the same thing or the juice might just not be worth the squeeze. That's why they are kind of mediocre. And lastly, the good
[03:19] choice tier. The machines in this tier are basically on an equal level to their regular dumbbell or barbell counterparts. Now, to get a better understanding of what I mean by all of this, let's add one machine to each one
[03:31] of our three remaining tiers. Starting with the best example of the perfect tier, and that is the leg extension machine, which can isolate the quads like no other exercise. It is simply so unique. When you compare it to its
[03:43] dumbbell counterpart, it's the biggest difference you will ever see. And if I'm being honest, the guy who invented the leg extension machine should get a Nobel Prize. It is simply that good. Some people always complain about their knees
[03:55] hurting on this exercise, but that usually only happens if you set up the machine wrong or if you ego lift. Or obviously, if the machine doesn't fit your build even after adjusting it. Or when it's just a cheap knockoff machine
[04:08] from China. There are obviously other ways of isolating the quads, but only the leg extension machine can do it without taxing any other part of your lower body. It's just pure quad isolation, and that's why it goes into
[04:20] the perfect tier. Now for the representative of the good choice tier, so you understand it a bit better. Here we can start with something like the {slash} Smith machine. This is definitely a good type of machine, but
[04:33] it really isn't much different from regular pressing with a barbell. Sure, you have the added stability, so you can really push the weight with all your strength, but that alone really isn't some kind of game changer that you would
[04:45] have to depend on to build your chest. So it can for sure be a good choice, but out on it or something like that. It's just a standard press that can be done in many variations. Now let's take a look at how a machine in the mediocre
[04:59] tier looks like. I feel like the perfect example here is the assisted pull-up machine. It sure does exactly what you would expect, but I really feel like there are better ways to go around learning pull-ups. For example, doing
[05:12] negative pull-ups is much better than this machine, at least in my opinion. pull-up machine works for you and it doesn't feel awkward in any way, then go ahead. Don't get discouraged by me saying that. After all, it's about doing
[05:25] what works for you. But generally, when compared to any other vertical pulling exercises and variations, the assisted pull-up machine just isn't really that great. So that was one exercise from each tier. Now you should completely
[05:38] understand what is going on in this tier list. So let's turn up the heat and rate more machines. Starting with the hamstring curl machine. Because we already have the leg extensions in the perfect tier, it really isn't difficult
[05:50] to guess where the hamstring curl will go. As pretty much the same things I said about the leg extension machine apply to the hamstring curls. It's simply a brilliant machine that can get replaced by something like the Nordic
[06:02] hamstring curl, but the machine is simply unmatched in what it can do. So, the perfect tier it is. Now, let's take a look at some of the ab machines. You always see me recommend two machines in particular. That is the machine crunch
[06:15] machines is definitely better than the other one. The machine crunch really heavily depends on how well the machine was manufactured and if it fits your build. Because if any of those criteria are not met, you will for sure not have
[06:29] a good time. And that's the reason why it can only go up to the good choice tier. Because sometimes it can be awesome and sometimes it can be absolutely terrible. But, that doesn't apply to the cable crunch. Because the
[06:41] pulley machine really isn't forcing you into some predetermined position. If the exercise feels weird, it's 100% your fault. You can't blame it on some Chinese dude this time. This is why the cable crunch deserves the perfect tier.
[06:54] Because once you learn how to execute the exercise properly, you will unlock a whole new world of ab gains. Because I'm not afraid to say it, the cable crunch is for sure the best ab exercise that exists. The learning curve is just a
[07:06] little steeper. But, once you master it, you will have no regrets. Now, let's talk about the pec deck. I personally am not that big of a fan, but that really is just my own bias. And the pec deck can be a great alternative to the
[07:19] dumbbell fly. And the pec deck is also probably way easier to execute properly you can't make any big mistakes on the pec deck, but you know, the machine just So, really the biggest mistake you can make on the pec deck is just doing it
[07:35] with your chest collapsed. That's how you will get exactly zero gains. You just need to make sure that you have your chest up at all times. And if you manage to do that, the pec deck can be a good chest isolation variation to
[07:47] explore if you feel like what you are currently doing is not working for you. But what will definitely work for you is the lat pulldown. I got to say this straight up, this machine is absolutely goated. And yeah, of course, the machine
[07:59] isn't called the lat pulldown. It's just a different setup of the pulley machine. But you got to let me organize this somehow. So you will definitely be seeing more pulley machine action later. And spoiler alert, most exercises that
[08:11] utilize the pulley machine are absolutely incredible. But back to the lat pulldown. The lat pulldown is very comparable to the pullup, which is like the holy grail of all exercises. Plus it has the benefit that even if you can't
[08:23] do a single pullup, you can still do the lat pulldown. And that's not even taking into account how many different grip variations you can use. So it is effective, very approachable, and has plenty of different variations you can
[08:35] milk for years to come. So the lat pulldown absolutely has to go into the perfect tier. A very similar story applies to any machine or cable rows. You get constant tension and you can really stretch out your back a lot,
[08:48] which is exactly what makes it grow. Plus if the variation of the exercise is chest supported, that's even better. I would still recommend doing your good old barbell row or any exercise like that which can play the role of the main
[09:01] exercise. But even then, these cable or machine back isolation exercises can be an incredible addition to your routine as a supplementary exercise where you get to really destroy your back. So it simply has to go into the perfect tier.
[09:14] Now for something that is not so great, and that is the adductor/abductor machine, which allows you to build your inner thighs. Don't get me wrong, this machine is really good at what it does. But the thing is, most people have a lot
[09:28] of different stuff they should focus on before they ever get to targeting their inner thighs. So most of the time, this is just a distraction from the more important things. There are for sure some sports-specific use cases like in
[09:41] hockey where that muscle is actually useful, at least I think so. But, you know, this is not my field of expertise. This is a bodybuilding tier list. So, I'm going to put it in the mediocre tier just because the vast majority of people
[09:54] have a lot of different things to focus on before they ever get to this. Now, let's take a look at some machines that can be a great replacement for the good old squats. Machines like the hack squat, leg press, Smith machine,
[10:06] pendulum squat, or the belt squat. There really is no point in rating these machines separately as they are very similar to each other. The main thing to utilized both as a supplementary
[10:18] exercise for your quads or just as a straight-up replacement for the squat do. Some of the machines could even be better for growing your legs than the regular squat, but I feel like that is highly individual. I, for example, think
[10:32] the pendulum squat is super awesome, but my friend would say that it sucks and ever. So, I'm going to put all these machine squat variations into the good choice tier because that's what they are, a good choice. And maybe after this
[10:45] video you pick up one of those exercises and it will become the goated leg exercise for you personally. That is the best thing that can happen. Now, let's go back to the upper body and talk about the preacher curl machine. This machine
[10:57] strict because you can't really use your body to swing the weight. Plus, if your elbows keep drifting forward while you do the regular curls, this can also be a good option where you can be certain that your elbows will stay in one place.
[11:10] But, the fact that your elbows are entirely locked in one position can also be a negative because once again, if your body doesn't fit into the machine or if it's simply a crappy one, you will be in for a bad time. So, definitely
[11:22] give it a shot someday and assess the situation. If it ends up feeling good, then you know that it's a good choice. A minute ago we talked about the pec deck cable fly. I really feel like this is the best chest isolation machine out
[11:35] there. It just comes with a lot of skill to do it properly. That's why a lot of people just do the pec deck instead, where the margin of error is much smaller. But once you master the cable fly, you will definitely not regret any
[11:47] time you put into learning it. Thanks to the cables, you get to put your chest muscles under constant tension. Plus, the range of motion is as good as it can get. That's why without a doubt, the cable fly is the perfect chest isolation
[12:00] machine. While we are still on the topic of different pulley machine exercises, overhead extension definitely have to be mentioned. If you are working out in a gym, there is like a 99% chance you do
[12:12] at least one of these exercises. And that is for a very good reason. Because thanks to these two exercises, you can really build the most amazing triceps possible. Thanks to the cables, you once again get constant tension, which is
[12:24] very important. Plus, it's easy to do drop sets or some other special training end of the set, which would not really be possible or at least as simple as if you were doing some other triceps isolation exercise that does not involve
[12:38] well-deserved king of triceps isolation exercises, these two have to go into the perfect tier. What we of course can forget about is the machines that isolate the side and rear delts. The cable lateral raises and the cable rear
[12:52] delt fly are great. You should know by now how it is with cables. Constant tension and all that good stuff. And then the other option you got is the machine lateral raises and the reverse pec deck, which are both amazing. And I
[13:04] think that the cable and machine versions are superior to the classic dumbbell versions of these exercises, but not really by that big of a margin. If the machine and cable versions were 10 out of 10, then the classic dumbbell
[13:16] Really not that big of a difference in the grand scheme of things. And some people might even prefer the dumbbell versions anyway. After all, it really is all about what works the best for you. But for the purposes of this tier list,
[13:29] both the cable and machine variations of the lateral raise and the rear deltoid have to go into the perfect tier because it really can't get better than this. Now, let's take a look at my booty. I mean, at the glute-focused machine.
[13:42] Specifically, the hip thrust machine. I actually really like this one, but probably not why you think. Setting up the regular hip thrust is a pain in the ass, but on the hip thrust machine, that problem is a little smaller. Pretty much
[13:55] the only problem here is, as with any other machine, if your body doesn't super janky, then you are better off doing the regular version with the barbell. But if the machine feels at least as good as the barbell version, or
[14:08] to switch to the machine version. Because there is not a lot of good glute machines, the machine version of the good old hip thrust is definitely a good bet. That's why it goes into the good choice tier. And now it's time for the
[14:21] calves. Here, the situation is very interesting because you can train calves on plethora of different machines that are not even used for training calves otherwise. For example, you can hit your calves on the leg press or the Smith
[14:33] machine. Is that really a calf machine? I don't know, I guess. The most common calf machines are the seated and the standing calf raise. But really, any of the options I showed you are basically the same thing. So, simply going with
[14:46] the correct decision. As any of the machines are very comparable to just doing calf raises on stairs or any elevated surface while holding some weight in your hands or simply putting something into a backpack. That's why
[14:59] into the good choice tier. Because the machine and the free weight version are so similar that I simply can't put one above the other. And here you have it. That is the complete gym machine tier list. And if you would like to grab a
[15:12] training plan that gives you the ability to choose the exact exercises that you want to do and that you enjoy, I highly recommend clicking the first link below. next time. If you like this video, then you will
[15:24] If you like this video, then you will surely like this one, too.