You’re probably not training your core properly, but a knee raise machine could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Here we look at the best vertical knee raise machines for your home gym – so that you can progress faster and keep your back and hips healthy!
What You Need To Know About Knee Raise Machines
The vertical knee raise machine is a great way to improve core training in your home gym. It lets you expand into hanging knee raises and leg raises, which are much better than sit-ups or crunches.
You’re not as strong as you think, based on lying core exercises.
By making the exercise vertical, you’re directly training your core against gravity. You’ll get stronger faster, and build more muscle in the same amount of time. It humbles you immediately, but your core development will be much faster once you own a knee raise machine.
You also get better access to different core exercises – such as oblique crunches, knee circles, and windscreen wipers. Plus, with the added support on elbow pads (e.g.) the whole process is far more comfortable.
The Best Vertical Knee Raise Machines For Home
The best knee raise machine for home gym use is Body-Solid Vertical Knee Raise.
It offers the best balance of features, quality, and price. It provides excellent value for years or decades, due to the high-quality build and sturdy base.
You also get dip bars and pull-up handles along with this machine, building a huge range of new exercises into your training program.
Things To Look For
When buying a vertical knee raise machine for home gym use, the key factors are training options, stability, size, comfort of use, and price.
Any machine that balances these well is a great choice. It’s common to see them in use for decades – so make sure you buy right!
Access To Different Exercises
The most important factor for a knee raise machine or power tower is how many new exercises they give you access to. That’s why you’re buying it, so you need to prioritize getting a good training result from your new equipment.
Each added feature offers new ways to train:
- Dip bars (especially those with different grips)
- Pull-up handles
- Low bars (for push-ups, e.g.)
“Each new exercise offers better value for your money, so a more versatile rig is always better than one with a limited set of training options.”
The best knee raise rig for features is the TLGreen multifunction power tower. It has the best selection of pull-up bars, excellent dip options, and added low handles for push-ups. This makes it the most versatile choice for starting your bodyweight home gym.
Stability
Stability is key because tipping your knee raise rig over will cause you injuries. Stability comes from the design of the frame and the ‘footprint’ that a rig takes up.
A larger footprint means a more stable setup, but it also requires more space in your home gym. This is why you need to focus on angled legs – the best compromise between the two for saving space while offering maximum stability.
Rubberized ‘feet’ also improve stability, just make sure they won’t damage surfaces.
The best example of rock-solid stability is the Body-Solid Pro ClubLine – it’s more expensive than others on this list but offers a truly premium experience.
Size
Larger knee raise machines offer more stability but also take up more space. The addition of vertical features like a pull-up bar may make them too tall for your space, while a big footprint can make them too wide or deep.
This is a major trade-off – you need to maximize what you can with your space. Make sure to measure out the specifications of these items in your real space before buying!
Padding And Comfort
Proper padding is a great benefit for a vertical knee raise machine for home gym use. If you’re training with it daily – or nearly daily – you want to make sure it’s comfortable with padding that won’t just break the moment you use it.
Heavy-duty foam padding with strong upper finishes offers more durability, improving value over time. They also last longer, saving you money, if you can afford the small price rise that typically comes with higher quality upholstery.
Price
Price is always a factor for home gym equipment – but it’s usually better to spend more now to save yourself replacing an item in the future.
The main thing to focus on is the amount of value you get from a vertical knee raise machine, and how long you realistically expect it to last.
“For most people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime purchase that should only require irregular maintenance.”
Spending a little more now to improve comfort, versatility, and stability is usually worthwhile. However, it still has to fit your immediate budget; focus on benefit-per-dollar, first and foremost.
If you’re on a thin budget, the best low-cost knee raise machine is the Best Fitness vertical knee raise tower
