In-depth review
Inspire FTX Review (2027): The Compact Trainer That Skips Nothing Important
Full research review of the Inspire FTX: compact frame geometry, 165 lb stacks, included accessories, and who should choose it over wider trainers.
Inspire Fitness FTX Functional Trainer
A compact dual stack trainer with 165 lb stacks and an unusually complete accessory kit in the box.
- Two 165 lb stacks
- Weight stack
- 1:2
- Pulley ratio
- 54 x 40 x 82 in (W x D x H, manufacturer listing)
- Footprint
Our verdict
The FTX makes one trade and makes it openly: it narrows the frame to fit real rooms, which trims the widest fly arcs for broad lifters, and in return it keeps everything else a dual stack trainer should have. Stacks are a full 165 lb per side, pulleys are smooth, and the box includes the attachments other brands drip feed. If your constraint is the room rather than the training, this is the most complete answer in the guide. If your constraint is heavy rows, look at deeper stacks instead.
What we like
- Narrower frame than most dual stack rivals while keeping independent stacks
- Accessory package includes handles, tricep rope, and bars most brands sell separately
- 1:2 ratio and long travel suit controlled hypertrophy work across the whole body
What to watch out for
- Effective handle weight tops out near 82 lb per side at the full stack
- Compact width narrows the fly arc for broad shouldered lifters
Who it is for
Space limited home gym owners who want selectorized dual stack training and a complete kit on day one.
Why the narrow frame works
At about 54 in wide, the FTX fits walls that reject the 65 in class. The pulleys sit closer, which changes fly geometry at the stretch position. Most lifters adapt by stepping forward and crossing the cables slightly, a standard compact trainer technique owners describe learning in the first week.
Stacks and feel
The 165 lb stacks at 1:2 mirror the class standard for handle weight, with travel long enough for standing work. Glide quality is the feedback headline: owners coming from plate loaded machines describe the difference as the reason for the purchase.
The accessory kit as a real saving
Handles, rope, and bar attachments in the box remove a second order that commonly adds a noticeable sum to rival trainers. For a first cable machine, that completeness also removes guesswork about what to buy.
Limits to plan around
There is no deep factory stack upgrade narrative here, so the 82 lb per handle ceiling is the ceiling. Assembly documentation draws the main criticism. Both points argue for buying the FTX as a finished answer for moderate loads, not a growth platform for heavy rowing.
Key specifications
- Weight stack
- Two 165 lb stacks
- Pulley ratio
- 1:2
- Footprint
- 54 x 40 x 82 in (W x D x H, manufacturer listing)
- Cable travel
- Extended travel from the 1:2 system, suited to standing work
- Included
- Dual handles, tricep rope, chin bar and curl bar attachments listed
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Feels like a scaled down club machine rather than a home compromise
- Included attachments remove the usual second order
- Footprint fits rooms where wider trainers simply do not
Common complaints
- Stack upgrade options are limited compared with Body-Solid
- Instruction quality during assembly draws repeat criticism
- Premium over plate loaded rivals buys smoothness, not raw load
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Inspire Fitness FTX product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Also consider
Body-SolidBody-Solid GFT100 Functional Trainer
Dual 160 lb stacks, a 1:2 ratio, and swivel pulleys on a frame built for daily home use.
- Weight stack: Two 160 lb stacks, upgradeable to 210 lb per side
- Pulley ratio: 1:2 (handle weight is half the selected stack)
Sources: Body-Solid GFT100 product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the GFT100 if you have the width and want the stack upgrade path and the wider training geometry. Read our Body-Solid GFT100 Functional Trainer review
Valor Fitness BD-62 Wall Mount Cable Station
A plate loaded cable column that bolts to the wall and gives a small room a real pulley station.
- Load system: Plate loaded carriage, Olympic sleeve
- Capacity: 200 lb maximum load as listed by the manufacturer
Sources: Valor Fitness BD-62 product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the BD-62 if even the FTX will not fit; a wall column beats no cable station at all.
Research-based assessment: manufacturer specifications and documentation, cross-checked against retailer listings and recurring themes in published owner feedback. We do not claim hands-on testing we have not performed.
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
Can two people train on the FTX at once?
Yes, within reason: independent stacks mean one person per side for single pulley work. The compact width makes simultaneous use cozier than on wide trainers, but paired accessory circuits work fine.
Does the FTX include a pull up bar?
The frame includes a chin and pull up station as part of the listed package. Confirm the current listing contents, as bundles can vary by retailer season.
Is 165 lb per stack enough for leg work?
For cable kickbacks, pull throughs, and adductor work, comfortably. Cable machines are not squat replacements; legs use them for accessories, and the FTX covers that role fully.