The 8 Best Lat Machines
Special Honors
ProMaxima CL-35 You can get both the frame and upholstery on this option in a variety of colors, allowing you to give your gym some pop and giving your eyes a breather from the gray-and-black color palette seen in most gyms. The fabric is anti-bacterial as well, but you'll still want to bring a towel. promaxima.com
Sammons Preston Matrix Varsity If you expect to have multiple users on your machine, this option is a good choice. The adjustments are all clearly marked and color-coded, so you can quickly find the right settings for you, and there's even a placard that lets you label the machine and how to use it properly. 4mdmedical.com
Hoist Fitness RS-1201 You can certainly get a full range of motion with this selection, as the arm raises well off the seat. The stretch really forces your abs to work, so you should see results in multiple places from a single exercise. Its stack is conveniently placed to the side of the seat, as well, making it easy to adjust without getting up. hoistfitness.com
Editor's Notes
October 08, 2020:
Some exciting new models have been added to our list, including the Element Fitness Xenon Selectorize Series that offers a simple, color-coded stack that makes it easy to select the ideal resistance for your current fitness goals. We've also added the Body-Solid Clubline, an upgrade to the previously included SLM-300G2. This new model places its stack in a sleek housing to add a degree of safety, and to offer a surface on which its printed exercise guide can be placed, which is ideal if you're installing it for public use.
For many homeowners, space comes at a premium, especially when putting together a home gym. If there's plenty of space to go around, the Fitness Reality 810XLT might be your best bet, and it might be the only thing you need to take care of your whole body. Otherwise, models like the TDS Deluxe or the Valor Fitness BD-62 are likely the way to go, with the latter model actually mounting to the wall to add stability while saving floor space. Just keep in mind that this will complicate installation and limit placement options, as well as be unsuitable for apartment dwellers who aren't permitted to drill into their walls.
July 19, 2019:
Before deciding on a lat machine, you should first decide on what your training goals will be. If you want to pack on a ton of muscle, you'll need to put up serious weight — and that means buying a formidable station.
Many of the smaller options, like the BuyHive Low, can't support the kind of weight stacks you'll need to add bulk. For that, you'll need a heftier model, like the Body-Solid SLM-300G. Of course, the downside to that is you'll have to sacrifice quite a bit of space (but less than you'd need for a full-on Smith machine or something like that).
The Valor Fitness BD-62 is the most compact option listed here, as it can attach to a wall instead of taking up an entire corner of the room. Despite its small stature, it's still capable of providing a full-body workout. Just be sure you know what you're doing when you mount it, as you don't want to pull down a slab of drywall on the last rep.