{"id":117020,"date":"2023-01-23T10:42:12","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barbend.com\/?p=117020"},"modified":"2025-05-03T19:49:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T23:49:52","slug":"best-smith-machines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbend.com\/best-smith-machines\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Smith Machines of 2026, Reviewed by CPTs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Long debated as a worthy competitor to the best squat racks<\/a> and power racks, Smith machines are sort of a \u201clove or hate\u201d piece of fitness equipment. While some may hold disdain for the tracked barbell pathway and multiple racking positions, this signature silhouette does hold value, especially for beginner or solo lifters looking to reach their fitness goals without access to a training partner and willing spotter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, that safe, progressive overload is key to helping you reach your goals in the gym. “Progressive overload involves steadily boosting the weight, reps, or training frequency to keep challenging your muscles,<\/em>\u201d explains Dr. Christopher Mohr, PhD, RD. \u201cBegin with small, manageable increases to reduce the risk of injury while promoting strength gains.<\/em>\u201d The best Smith machines for your home gym combine these added safety traits with helpful add-ons and accessories to ensure you get the most out of your daily strength training workouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any large piece of fitness gear, finding the best Smith machine for your personal space can take some doing. Do you want a foundational track solely for barbell training, or are you interested in functional trainers combining multiple modalities in one silhouette? To provide some assistance, we\u2019ve tested over 20 different rigs and racks and consulted with our in-house team of experts to truly understand what makes a Smith machine the best of the best. Each Smith machine we tested was subject to analysis and rating in the following categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n