Body-Solid Functional Trainer Machine (GFT100)
The GFT100 is a two-tower cable machine with two independent weight stacks and two pulleys that slide the full height of each tower. It runs a 1:2 cable ratio, which is the number most buyers miss: the load you feel at the handle is half the number stamped on the stack. Dual 160 lb. stacks give you about 80 lb. per handle. Dual 310 lb. stacks give you about 155 lb. per handle. The machine is 11-gauge 2 in. by 3 in. steel, stands 83 in. tall, weighs 633 lb., and holds a lifetime frame warranty in the home.
What does the 1:2 ratio actually mean for me?
It means you should size the stack by what you feel at the handle, not by the sticker. This is the single most common reason people are disappointed by a functional trainer.
Each pulley is reeved so the stack travels twice as far as the handle. That trade cuts the load in half and doubles the cable travel. The upside is real: you get long, smooth cable runs for wide flyes, full pulldowns and standing rows, and the resistance climbs in finer steps than the plate markings suggest. The catch is that 160 lb. of stack is 80 lb. of work.
So a strong lifter doing single arm rows or chest presses will run out of stack on the 160 lb. build quickly. If either of those is a main lift for you, buy up.
Which weight stack should I pick?
Match the top number in the "per handle" column to the heaviest cable exercise you actually do.
| Configuration |
Stack (each tower) |
Resistance per handle |
Both handles together |
Shipping weight |
Best fit |
| 160 lb. Weight Stack |
160 lb. |
80 lb. |
160 lb. |
633 lb. |
Home gyms, general conditioning, rehab and accessory work |
| 210 lb. Weight Stack |
210 lb. |
105 lb. |
210 lb. |
733 lb. |
Mixed households, studios, trainers with a range of clients |
| 310 lb. Weight Stack |
310 lb. |
155 lb. |
310 lb. |
933 lb. |
Strong lifters, busy gyms, anyone doing heavy single arm pressing or rowing |
The frame, footprint, pulleys and included attachments are identical across all three. Only the plates change. You cannot swap stacks later without ordering parts, so pick the size you will still want in three years.
How much room does it need?
The machine occupies 45 in. front to back by 64 in. wide and stands 83 in. tall. That is the frame only.
Plan on roughly 10 ft. by 8 ft. of clear floor in practice. The pulleys swivel and the cables reach well past the towers, so flyes, wood chops and lateral raises all take you outside the frame. For the ceiling, 7 ft. 6 in. clears the machine itself. If you want to use the built-in chinning bar without ducking, aim for 8 ft. or more.
What comes with it?
Everything you need to train on day one. Body-Solid includes two aluminum stirrup handles, a triceps rope, a chin and dip belt, and a double swivel bar, plus an accessory rack on the frame so the handles have a home instead of a pile on the floor.
The chinning bar is part of the frame, not an add-on. It sits across the top between the towers and handles pull-ups, chin-ups and hanging leg raises.
See it in use
Body-Solid's walkthrough shows the pulley height adjustment, the swivel range, and several of the exercise positions the still photos cannot capture.
Is the GFT100 built for commercial use?
It is rated light commercial, and that distinction matters when you read the warranty. In a home, Body-Solid covers the frame, welds, pulleys, bushings, bearings, hardware, plates, guide rods, cables, upholstery and grips for life. In a light commercial setting, the frame and welds stay lifetime, pulleys and hardware drop to 3 years, and cables and grips drop to 1 year.
Light commercial covers hotels, apartment fitness rooms, corporate gyms, fire and police facilities and personal training studios. A high traffic 24 hour club is heavier duty than this rating anticipates. The full terms are in the Warranty tab on this page.
How hard is it to put together?
This is a full day job. The manual runs six major steps with dozens of sub-steps, the towers are heavy and awkward, and cable routing on a dual pulley machine is fussy work that punishes rushing. Two people and 4 to 6 hours is a realistic plan. One person can do it, but it will take a lot longer and lifting the crossmember alone is not a good idea.
The cables are the part people get wrong. Route them exactly as drawn and check that each one seats in every pulley groove before you load the stack.
Common questions
Why does the 310 lb. stack only feel like 155 lb.?
Because of the 1:2 cable ratio. Every Body-Solid functional trainer works this way, and so do most competing machines. It is not a defect and it is not a shortfall in the stack. Compare the per handle column above when you shop against other brands, because some list the stack and some list the working load.
Can I upgrade the stack later?
Not as a simple add-on. The three builds are separate factory configurations with different part numbers. Order the one you want up front.
Do the pulleys stop at set heights?
They travel the height of the tower and lock at fixed positions along the upright, so both sides can be matched exactly for bilateral work.
Does it need to be bolted to the floor?
No. At 633 lb. and up it is stable on its own on a level floor. Set it on a solid, level surface a few feet clear of walls and furniture.
Can two people use it at once?
Yes. The stacks are independent, so two people can work opposite sides at different weights. It is one of the better reasons to choose a functional trainer over a single stack machine.
Are the weight stacks covered?
Not as shipped. The GFT100SH shroud set covers both stacks and bolts to the existing holes in the towers. Most commercial facilities add it. See the Recommended Options above.
How does it get delivered?
Freight, curbside, with liftgate service included. Someone needs to be there to sign and help unload. The crates are heavy, so plan how you will move them to the room before delivery day.
What is the maximum user weight?
Body-Solid does not publish one for the GFT100. Ask us and we will get the answer from our rep rather than guess at it here.
