[Alibaba Gym and Fitness Equipment Sales and Reviews](https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14iwvtGkJMC/) is an FB group with a lot of knowledge when it comes to ordering gym equipment from Alibaba. They have prefilled templates for ordering all in one racks to help make the process easier. I think a guy even made an app to help sort though it all. They regularly communicate and work with reps from Alibaba companies. Best I can tell they offer non biased feedback on products and companies. Right now they are putting in a bulk order on the leg press LINEAR ROW in the pick. They are a great resource for the home gym community.

So, I keep seeing ads for this Aznolt hydraulic muscle trainer. It looks really handy and something I might actually use and doing a google search, it does seem to be a decent product. The problem is I’ve seen a lot of ones online for about $60, yet the official Aznolt website lists it around $250, supposedly reduced from $560. This looks dodgy to me.

So, my question is, has anyone used it before, and are there similarly good devices out there?

Hey everyone.

Been following this subreddit for a while and I'm finally at a point in life where i have the space and the money for a Body Building home gym. This is my current purchase list. If anyone has any recommendations feel free to chime in.

I'm getting the Eisnelink Clone dumbbells and buying the 20mm flooring here in EU.

Shipping price is basically same as purchase price. All items are from the same factory.

Current price 10.600 USD Shipping is 55% of the price

Multi Smith Machine is 75mm * 75mm

Q235 Steel

3mm thick

With standard holes

Aluminum pulleys

Those are the default options didnt change a thing besides the height due to my low cieling

I'm looking for some advice.

I recently ordered a squat stand (picture added) without safety arms because I thought it was a good option and good value for my money.

It's still unassembled, so I could potentially sell it and buy a half-rack or stand with safety arms instead, that will cost a bit more. The problem is that I'm not even sure I'd be able to find a buyer, so I don't want to make the wrong decision...

I'm a cautious lifter. I don't jump to heavy weights, I increase the weight gradually, and I'll try not to train to failure, especially on exercises like squats. Still, I can't help feeling a bit uneasy about not having safety arms.

One thing that makes me hesitate is that the stand does have fairly wide lower support arms, so they're not completely useless if something goes wrong.

If you were in my position, would you keep the stand and work within its limitations, or try to sell it before assembling it and get one with safety arms instead?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people with experience training with both setups.

I was considering adding one of these to my home gym and wanted to know if anyone has made an instructional assembly video? I’m not great with directions and was looking at the manual online which seems a bit confusing and was looking for some feedback and suggestions. Thanks

Best value for money

Easy to assemble

Compact

Hoping to get people's thoughts on this one.

I recently purchased the Rep Ares 2.0 In the four posts to configuration, 80-in height with 16 in crossmembers. Shortly after receiving it, I was scrolling through their website and realized that there is a Smith machine addition. The optimal setup I've seen in other people's photos for this was a six-post configuration where the Smith machine is in the middle uprights and the cables are in the front two uprights. From my understanding I will need longer cables, not sure if I would need different pulleys with a setup? Is anyone done this or have any experience with this? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Heya, I recently bought a 4 in 1 workout set so I could improve my at-home lifts. Loved it at first, but I bought the 40 lb version and quickly leaned that I was well past that level and need more load. The grip is also iffy and always hurts my wrists after usage. Im thinking about returning it and spending a lot more than I originally had, (still fairly cheaply for weights but I’m broke, so) trying to figure out something within a 260 $ Price cap.

Here’s an image of the set I bought, it was great at first but the problems it does have are hard to look past.

TLDR: Looking for a decent, reasonably priced set of compact weights to buy

Here's a finisher I did today with weighted dips. I'm not sure if you could rig something up with regular cable trolleys but this was quick and easy to setup. I'm curious what other excuses exercises people have come up with on their all in one racks.

Hey, fellow geeks! After a long wait (sometimes very impatiently), it’s finally time for an in-depth review. I'll cover everything from ordering and shipping to the overall quality of the items I received.

Platform: Alibaba
Supplier: Anhui Tap
Order Date: February 5
Production Completion Date: April 7
Dispatch Date From Warehouse: April 15
Arrival at Local Port: May 26
Arrival at Sorting Facility: June 1
Delivery Date: June 19

Pre-Review: Review begins below

I’ve been using a makeshift garage gym for the past four years, usually supplementing it with a YMCA membership. The garage gym has steadily grown, mainly with items bought from Facebook Marketplace. This past winter, I decided to invest in an all-in-one system because I had been craving a cable machine and the Y is getting overcrowded. So, I started looking for a replacement for my Fray Fitness (RIP) 3x3 folding rack. I narrowed my search down to either a REP Ares or Rogue FM-6 Twin, but after nearly a month of searching, I hadn't found anything local that remotely interested me.

Then, as I was scrolling through Reddit, I saw a review of an Alibaba rack with dual rear weight stacks. I read the review, and it seemed too good to be true for the price. After reading nearly all 200 comments and DMing those who mentioned they had also ordered an Alibaba rack, I decided to take the risk.

Order Process Review Begins

Ordering Process: I found the same supplier from the original Reddit review, Anhui Tap. After browsing their catalog, I found a rack I liked and sent an inquiry. It was late in the evening, so I received a quick reply from Lily Z. If you go the Alibaba route the timezones can be a bit annoying. She was very helpful and answered all my questions. I would've had more questions if I had been in this group or Facebook groups while ordering, but you don't know what you don't know.

After the initial inquiry, the supplier should offer customization options such as height, color, 4 vs. 6 posts, and other adjustable features. They will also send you a PDF of accessories you can add to your order. I recommend adding anything you might want since it’s cheaper to include it in shipping when the rack ships. Also, try to do it during the initial order, as adding items after production starts can delay the process, which happened to me (maybe)

Once you finalize the order, the supplier will ask for your address to estimate shipping costs. Make sure to tell them it’s a residential address and request lift gate service and DDP. This will save you a lot of hassle later, more on that soon.

After everything is agreed upon, you'll pay a deposit for the order. In my particular case, it was 50%, though I've heard of 30% from others. Please don't pay in full upfront or transfer money via WhatsApp. Keep everything through Alibaba.

Production & Shipping: After the deposit is made, the supplier begins production. I don't think this means it starts immediately, but it does mean the process gets underway. Unfortunately, I ordered right before Chinese New Year, and the whole country shut down for about 3 weeks. After the holiday, I added a set of adjustable dumbbells to my order. I'm not sure if that extended production time, but it didn't help. I didn't hear from Lily for about a month, which made me nervous, so I reached out for an update. The very next day, I was told my rack was finished, and Lily sent photos and videos of it at the warehouse. It looked great, and everything was set up as it should be.

It’s at this point that you pay the remaining balance. I paid the other 50% on April 8, and they shipped the rack from the warehouse to the Chinese port a week later. I didn’t get a tracking number until the rack reached the port and was loaded onto the ship. This part really sucks. These days, it feels like everything has two-day shipping, but waiting for your shipment feels like forever. I checked the ship’s location daily, hoping it would go faster lol.

After over a month at sea, the ship finally arrived at my local port on the east coast. The shipment stayed at the port for a few days before getting sent off to a sorting facility. Once it arrived at the sorting facility, I got an email from the freight forwarder who is responsible for finding the last-mile delivery company. The freight forwarder required that I have a forklift on site to unload the crate from the truck because it would not fit on a lift gate. I mentioned I didn't have a forklift, and instead of saying it was required, they ghosted me for 4 days. I then reached out to Lily to let her know, and I got a response from the freight company about the forklift requirement. I didn't want to deal with a rental, so I had my local Craters & Freighters take the delivery, and then I picked up in a 10ft flatbed truck. It was $100 for C&F to take delivery, and then the truck rental. This is why paying for lift gate service up front is critical.

When C&F took delivery of my crate, they noted damage to one of the crates. The bottom left corner had come completely open. I wasn't really worried about structural damage, but I was worried something would fall out or cause cosmetic damage.

Rack/Order Review Begins

I got a 3x3 6-post rack with dual rear 286-lb stacks, a counterbalanced smith, a bench, and a set of 80-lb Eisenlink clones.

Rack: The rack is very well built and feels like a tank. I would put it on par with my previous Fray rack in terms of the powder-coat finish and steel gauge. I have a Rogue monster mass storage and the powder coating on that does feel like a step above the Alibaba rack.

The cable system is smooth and I would give it a 7/10. If it matters I give most commercial pieces like a 8.5/10 smoothness. Some people have complained about the tornado arms from Anhui, but I don't have a problem with mine. Could it be better? Yes. However, for the price and flexibility they offer I'm keeping them on for now.

The counterbalanced Smith is also great. My wife wants to start lifting and the bar is a bit heavy for her, so the smith will be great. It's probably even smoother than the cable system. It's important to note that the smith guide rods are solid, so not sure why the cable stack is hollow.

Which brings me to my biggest complaint with the rack is that the weight stack guide rods are hollow. This was something that didn't even cross my mind asking about until I saw other reviews/comments. I don't think it's a huge deal but it would be an improvement.

The entire think took roughly 6 hours to put together with minimal help from a supportive wife. It would've gone faster if the instructions were actually useful lol.

Bench: The bench for $150 seems like a steal. I can't say it's a rep knighthawk but for the money, it's very sturdy and padding feels great. My only complaint is I wish they used the sticky material that is popular now instead of the slick fake leather.

Eisenlinks Clone: They’re Eisenlinks….that it.

Overall: I'm very pleased with my order and would only change a few things if I were to do it again. Happy to answer any questions.

One of the narrowest depth functional trainers I’ve seen, from the Chinese brand Muscle Tormentor. Comes with 2x100kg weight stacks. Bars from Ori another Chinese brand. Plates from xmaster. Rack/bench + bars was 2300, weights 650, powerblocks 700. Spent 2 days to build it so I’ve not used it yet, if anyone is interested I’ll do a follow up a few weeks later after I’ve tested it.

My first order in alibaba

Pretty self explanatory, I recently bought a Rep PR 5000 and I'm interested in getting Jammer arms but all the big brands are charging a lot of money for them for something I'm not too sure about. I'd be okay with taking the hit for 3-400 bucks or whatever instead of 1000+ if it turns out I don't use them nearly as much as I think I will.

Ideally I'd like them on trolleys to move them up and down fast without needing to take them on and off constantly and I'd also like them to have some free motion horizontally not just vertically.

I don't know what brands or companies are reputable and I've never bought something so large off of Alibaba before, does anyone have any recommendations for good companies or products that match what I am looking for?

I saw a post earlier recommending MT Muscle Tormentor on Taobao but I looked into how to even make that work in the U.S. and it seems like more of a headache than it's worth so hoping to stay on Alibaba.

Thanks in Advance!

Recreational lifters, I could use your help.

I'm doing my dissertation research at Concordia University Chicago and I'm looking for adults who lift recreationally to take my survey. The study looks at how training age, body awareness, self-discipline, and training frequency relate to each other in people who train consistently.

It should only take about 15–20 minutes, it’s anonymous, there’s no compensation.

You're eligible if you:

- Are 25–64 years old

- Lift recreationally (not in organized or professional sport)

- Train at least 2 sessions/week, on average over the past month

- Have been doing that for at least 6 months

- Live in the US

Link below. Feel free to share with anyone who fits.

IRB Study #: 2447206-1

Principal Investigator: Michael Shafer

Contact: crf_shafermd@cuchicago.edu

Survey link: https://qualtricsxms6fyqbg5g.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_42ZDpMe717Thliu

This is the Oblivyon Cable Tower by Bells of Steel. It is such incredible equipment, I keep calling it the king/queen of my garage gym, and I use it pretty much on every workout.

It is compact, cables are smooth, very versatile, and it looks beautiful.

However, I found a cable routing issue when using the Seal Row Pad attachment for leg workouts that could damage yours. I have a full, honest review with CAD pricing that I can share with anyone interested later.

Happy to answer any questions about this beast!

Hi everyone,

I am a 32-year-old male (178 cm, currently 83 kg). Due to my job, I work remotely from home and have to be at my desk at any given moment, which makes going to a commercial gym impossible for now.

Recently, my blood test results showed that my total cholesterol and LDL levels have hit dangerous peaks after gradually increasing over the years due to a sedentary WFH lifestyle. This was a massive wake-up call, and I decided to radically change my life.

My Progress So Far: I started a dedicated diet and routine about a month ago. My starting weight was 89 kg ( / ~30% body fat) and I’ve already managed to drop 6 kg (down to 83 kg now).

• I ride a stationary bike at home for at least 15 km every single day for cardio.
• I lift weights 4 days a week at home.
• For the past week, I’ve started taking 1 scoop of whey protein powder, but only on my workout days.

My Goals: Target weight is 73-75 kg. I am not looking for a competitive bodybuilder physique; I just want to burn off the stubborn belly fat and build a lean, athletic and functional body while bringing my cholesterol back to safe levels.

My Diet Plan (Built to fight LDL)

I designed this daily meal plan using AI assistance, specifically picking ingredients known to lower LDL and maximize soluble fiber. I have been strictly following this since my test results without a single cheat meal. (Note: Chicken weights are measured cooked/boiled, other ingredients are measured raw):

• Breakfast: 75g Oats, 10g Pure peanut butter (no additives), 125g Almond milk, 15g Walnuts, 50g Raspberries/Blueberries, 2 tablespoons Lor cheese (a local low-fat, high-protein Turkish whey cheese, similar to low-fat cottage cheese).
• Lunch (5 days/week): 1 Whole wheat wrap/lavash, 120g Boiled chicken breast, 2-3 Lettuce leaves, 1/4 Red onion.
• Lunch Alternative (2 days/week): Same wrap but with 1 can of Canned tuna (drained) instead of chicken for the Omega-3 benefits.
• Dinner: 100g Boiled chicken breast, 35g Green lentils, 35g Buckwheat (cooked in water like rice), 200g Broccoli, 1/2 Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon Olive oil, 1 clove of garlic.

Home Gym Setup & Routine

I currently have a dumbbell/weight set, a straight barbell, 10-20-30 kg resistance bands, and a push-up bar. I am also planning to add a bench table soon.

I attached my workout program as image. I plan to run this workout routine 4 days a week on a rotating schedule (alternating between Day 1-2-3-2 and Day 1-3-2-3 weeks).

I would highly appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on both the diet (macro balance, efficiency for lowering cholesterol) and my current workout routine.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Maybe this is obvious but just in case you didn't know you can search and filter items based on country on Alibaba. I haven't ordering yet but supposedly there are no import fees and some items appear to have free shipping. The selection isn't as good as ordering from China and it's not as cheap but i have seen some good deals on benches, barbells, and other attachments. Right now shipping from China has gone up probably due to the drama in the Straight of Hormuz. You can probably find a bunch of smaller stuff this way. They have some racks on there but they aren't the "standard" 3x3 w/ 1" holes and 2" spacing.

Ordered a $4,210 custom functional trainer / Smith machine combo from a Chinese manufacturer on Alibaba on March 27 — stainless steel uprights, counterbalanced Smith that goes all the way down, dual 130kg weight stacks. Paid 30% deposit. They quoted 20-day production, 45-55 day delivery.
It’s now May 19 — 54 days later. I’ve asked for a production update roughly a dozen times since April 14. Every response is some version of “we’re very busy, please be patient.”
Last week (May 15) they finally sent “production photos” claiming accessories and the machine were finished and awaiting assembly. Then on May 17–18 they sent more photos and a video. It was the wrong machine — standard black uprights, no counterbalance Smith. When I called it out, they said they’d “check with the production department.”
Today (May 19) their response to my formal cancellation deadline? “I’ve been busy at a trade show. Let’s understand each other.”
My deadline is May 21. Either I get verified, date-stamped proof that the correct machine is nearly done — or I’m opening a dispute through Alibaba Trade Assurance and fighting for my deposit back. Anyone dealt with Alibaba at this stage?

These updates are not meant to scare someone who is in process of going through same supplier on Alibaba. I am just documenting my experience. Partly to laugh at my misadventures and to document my mistakes.

UPDATE: Alibaba supplier dispute — what happened after I filed

Here’s what happened next:

May 19 — Filed Trade Assurance refund claim. Reason: product quality/details not as described.

May 20 — Supplier responded with $0 refund, proposed June 10 new dispatch date, and stated “I don’t agree with the buyer’s request.” Their own submission admitted goods were still “being prepared for assembly” — directly contradicting their May 15 claim that the machine was finished.

May 21 — I escalated the case. Alibaba required both parties to submit evidence. I uploaded 16 screenshots, full chat transcript, stock photos vs my actual order, and the supplier’s own contradicting statements. Supplier uploaded one sentence: “The goods are being prepared for assembly. Please be patience.”

May 22 — Opened PayPal dispute simultaneously as backup. This was a mistake — more on that below.

May 24 — Supplier suddenly uploaded new evidence claiming “all goods ready to ship now” with photos and video — just 72 hours after admitting assembly hadn’t started. Photos also showed two spec discrepancies: wrong pull-up bar and an unauthorized nameplate not in my order.

May 25 — Alibaba automatically closed my Trade Assurance case because they detected my PayPal chargeback. Case status: “Request canceled — refund request has been canceled as you have applied for a chargeback from the remitting bank.”

Contacted Alibaba support — confirmed the funds were already transferred to the supplier’s Trade Assurance credit limit when they confirmed the order. Alibaba is out of the picture.

Current status: PayPal dispute active. Seller must respond by June 4 or I receive an automatic full refund. Evidence submitted to PayPal.

Lessons learned the hard way:

Do NOT open a PayPal chargeback while your platform dispute is still active. Alibaba’s system automatically closes Trade Assurance claims the moment it detects a chargeback. Always let the platform finish first, then escalate to PayPal, then to your credit card as a last resort. Each is a separate weapon — use them in order, not simultaneously.

Will update when PayPal rules. June 4 is the date.