Inspire Fitness m2 Home Gym Review – Garage Gym Pro

Do you feel like going to the gym after a long day's work? How about getting up a few hours early so you can hit the gym before work?

If you're like most people, there's not enough time in the day to make it to the gym.

That's why people have started bringing the gym to them and building home and garage gyms. 

If you're building a home gym, or you already have one, but you're looking for a machine that can deliver a full-body and strengthening workout, the Inspire Fitness m2 Home Gym may be just what you're looking for. 

This Inspire Fitness m2 Home Gym review will tell you all you need to know about this fantastic machine. 

Our Rating

Workout Versatility

8.5

Value For Money

8.0

Ease Of Use

9.0

Ease Of Assembly

7.5

Materials & Durability

9.0


Overall Rating

8.4

Product Specifications

Dimensions 

49 x 65 x 78 inches 

Weight 

400 lbs 

Maximum Load Capacity 

210 lbs with additional weight stack   

Weight Stack 

160 lbs 

Resistance Ratio 

Mid & lower pulleys 1:2, Lat/Upper pulley 1:1, Leg Ext 1:1, Seated Leg Curl 3:4, Leg Press 2:1, Press Arm 1.2:2 

Warranty 

Yes, Lifetime residential 

We love this machine. We've already mentioned a lot of what's good about the Inspire Fitness m2, but there's still more!

Keep in mind that this machine is a little on the pricier side and is for low-medium and high-budget home gyms. But, as always, you get what you pay for. 

With the Inspire M2, you get five different workout stations. These are the high pulley station, mid pulley station, low pulley station, press station, and the leg developer. 

As far as accessories go, this multi-gym machine includes a multi-purpose D-handle, a standard 48″ aluminum lat bar, an Easy-Curl bar, and an ankle strap.

You also get an extension chain that can be attached to any of the accessories. In addition, there are several other add-ons you can purchase, and we'll talk about those in a second. 

When you receive your Inspire Fitness M2, it will come packed in several boxes.

inspire fitness m2 pulley system

Fortunately, assembly isn't complicated because the manual provides clear step-by-step assembly instructions and well-drawn schematics.[1]

You'll need a few Allen wrenches, but they're included, and you'll also need 13, 16, 17, and 19 mm fixed wrenches, an adjustable wrench, and a rubber mallet that are not. 

The machine is virtually maintenance-free, but the pulleys may require lubrication after a while. 

Lubricating each pulley and the guide rods of the weight plates may eliminate the need for extra lubrication for a while, though.

Aside from that, all you really need to do is periodically check for loose bolts and parts. 

When you're thinking of buying a new machine for your home gym, you have to be sure you can actually get a decent workout with it.

And with the Inspire Fitness m2, getting a proper workout is simple. 

Here are just a few exercises you can do with this machine: 

Upper Body Exercises/Workouts  

  • Vertical fixed bench press 
  • Vertical inward bench press 
  • Incline inward bench press 
  • Pectoral fly 
  • Triceps pushdown 
  • Triceps extension 
  • Triceps kickback 
  • Biceps curl 
  • Reverse curl

Abdominal/Back Exercises 

  • Lat pulldown 
  • Seated mid-row 
  • Good mornings 
  • Abdominal crunch 
  • Leg lifts 

Lower Body Exercise/Workouts  

  • Leg extension 
  • Leg curl 
  • Inner thigh 
  • Outer thigh 
  • Glute kick 

Add Ons & Accessories For Inspire Fitness M2

Inspire Fitness M2 Addons

Although the Inspire Fitness m2 home gym comes with enough to get a good workout, like the Revolving Lat Bar, EZ Curl Bar, Ankle Strap, Extension Chain, & 2 x D Handles, you can get even more accessories to get even more out of this machine. 

The available accessories are the Leg Press, Tricep Rope, 2 x 50 lbs Weight Stack Upgrade, Abdominal Bar, Multi-Ring D Handles, Double D Low Row Handle, and Sport Handle.

Although you don't need any of these, you can at the very least add the weight stack upgrade so you can lift even more. 

Outside of that, we would recommend the ab bar and the tricep rope to really put your workouts over the top. 

Inspire Accessory Kit for Functional Trainer...
  • 6 ATTACHMENT KIT: Designed to work with...
  • HEAVY DUTY MATERIALS: Made of...
  • UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY: Works with any...
  • A VERSATILE, COMPLETE KIT: Dual Hook Straight...

Pros & Cons Of The Inspire Fitness m2   

The Inspire Fitness m2 is a durable, high-quality, light-commercial weight stack machine that continues to get excellent feedback from the home gym community, us included. Its durable construction and micro-adjustability really won us over.  

It's not a massive piece of equipment, so it should fit in most small apartment home gyms. And with more than 30 gym-quality exercises, we were always able to get in a hard workout. 

What We Like 

  • Durable construction 
  • Adjustable seat and backrest 
  • 5 workout stations 
  • Included lat bar 
  • Virtually maintenance free 

What We Didn’t Like 

  • No conventional fly press 
  • 160 lb weight stack 
  • On the expensive side 

Features Of The Inspire Fitness m2 Home Gym 

People have little time and motivation to get to the gym these days.

After a long day's work, taking care of children and tending to any other responsibilities, it can be nearly impossible to get the motivation to pack up your gym bag and drive to the gym. 

Fortunately, home gyms are becoming more and more accessible, and thousands of people are ditching the gym membership and building their own. 

If you're putting together a home gym, the Inspire Fitness m2 will be a great addition.

The m2 home gym is a highly functional and well-built multi-gym suitable for both home and light commercial use. 

It offers the ability to perform a wide range of strength training exercises, enabling you to tone and strengthen your abs, chest, shoulders, back, arms, and legs, all from home. 

Award-Winning All-In-One Home Gym  

The Inspire Fitness m2 is an award-winning all-in-one home gym, and it's no surprise as soon as you get it out of the box.

The first thing you'll notice is that it is exceptionally well constructed with a heavy-duty 2" x 4" oval and 3" round commercial 11 gauge tubular steel frame.  

We also love that the m2 features an adjustable seat and backrest.

Unlike many machines similar to the m2, the m2 comes with a small pad above the backrest attached directly to the main bar of the unit.

This pad provides support and protection for your head during certain exercises.  

It also comes with 18 heavy-duty pulleys made of fiberglass reinforced nylon that is highly resistant to wear and tear.

We love the included leg developer attachment, featuring a set of 4″ padded rollers for maximum comfort. 

Compact, Single Stack Forward Design  

inspire fitness m2 home gym back view

The Inspire Fitness m2 acts as an entire commercial gym rolled into one product. 

And, it's not so big that you have to carve out space for it in your home; it should fit in any corner of your home.  

When it is completely assembled, it is 72″ long and 48″ wide, and that 48" is from the included lat bar, which is a standard 48″ bar.

The machine itself has a narrower base of only approx. 42″.

The unit is 78″ high, meaning that it will fit well even in a room with a 7′ ceiling.  

The Inspire M2 comes with a single stack weight stack of 160 lbs spread across 15 weight plates at 10lbs each.

In addition, it features a standard middle selector with a pop-pin for weight adjustment. With this selectorized stack, there's no need to buy weight plates.

Safe & Ergonomic Design 

We absolutely love the ergonomic design made to mimic your natural path of motion for safety and comfort.

To add to that safety and comfort, the Inspire Fitness m2 home gyms come with orthopedic seat pads on the bench for maximum comfort. 

inspire fitness m2 ergonomic design

This Inspire Fitness machine also has an Electrostatic Powder Coat finish that offers a durable, maintenance-free finish.

It also has color-coordinated orthopedic seat pads for adjustable support for optimal body comfort. 

There are also four standard color choices in the orthopedic seat pads and mesh weight stack shroud so you can match them to your home's decor. 

Wide Variety of Add-Ons Available 

inspire fitness m2 side view

Even though the Inspire Fitness m2 comes with all you need to get a decent home workout, there are several available add-ons you can get to take your workouts to the next level.

Some of the most popular add-ons include the leg press, abdominal bar, and the 200lb weight stack. 

Multiple Pivot Points Throughout 

One of the more underrated aspects of the m2 is the multiple pivot points throughout the machine.

The bench press pivot points have 1½" Precision Steel Ball Bearings.

All other parts pivot on oil-impregnated brass bushings to ensure a smooth and fluid motion that doesn't require any maintenance.  

Competitive Warranty For Buyers  

Even though it doesn't seem like it would be all that necessary since this machine is so durable, the Inspire Fitness m2 Home Gym comes with a very competitive warranty.

In addition, insure Fitness offers a lifetime residential warranty.  

During the warranty period, at no additional charge, you can have your machine repaired or replaced if it becomes defective, malfunctions, or otherwise fails to conform with this Warranty under normal non-commercial, personal, family, or household use.[2]

The defective parts may be replaced with serviceable used parts that are equivalent to new parts in performance or new parts. 


Comparison With Other Inspire Fitness Home Gyms

M2 Vs M3   

The Inspire Fitness m2 and m3 are pretty similar machines. They both offer various strength training exercises that tone and strengthen your abs, chest, shoulders, back, arms and legs.  

However, the Inspire Fitness m3 is the higher-end home gym over the m2.

With the m3, you get a heavier weight stack (210 lb compared to 160 lb), a commercial-quality ab crunch station pad, iso-lateral press, and lat stations.

You also get a patented dual back pad that is tilt adjustable.  

Related Article - Inspire Fitness m3 Complete Review

Inspire Fitness M3 Home Gym with Built in...
  • TOTAL BODY MACHINE: Try more than 100...
  • BUILT IN CRUNCH BENCH: Our total body cable...
  • SEPARATE PRESS ARMS: Work both arms at once,...
  • INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: Aluminum Revolving Easy...

M2 vs M4 

The m4 is an excellent machine and a notch above the m3. In addition, the m4 comes stuffed with health club quality exercises rarely seen in a Home Gym of this size.

With the Inspire Fitness m4, you can do activities like a stand-alone adjustable cable cross, vertical cable column, or a swing-out-of-the-way dumbbell bench.  

M2 vs M5  

If you live with someone else that needs to work out at home, the m5 is for you. The m5 is Inspire Fitnesses' top-of-the-line option, but it is a beauty.

With the m5, two people can work out simultaneously with the dual weight 215 lb. weight stacks. 

And with fixed and free motion, you can perform an unlimited number of exercises.

The m5 truly is a full-body machine, allowing you to perform more than 50 different types of exercises, compared to 30 with the m2. 

Read Also - Inspire Fitness m5 Tested & Reviewed

Inspire Fitness M5 Multi-Gym - Dual User...
  • TOTAL BODY MACHINE: Try more than 50...
  • TWO USERS AT ONCE: With dual 215 lb weight...
  • PREACHER CURL & LEG CURL STATIONS: Get a full...
  • INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: 2 x Double D Low Row...

Are Inspire Fitness Home Gyms Good? (Comparison To Similar Models)

When it comes to building your home gym, you really can't go wrong with Inspire Fitness.

We've reviewed countless brands, and we can assure you that Inspire Fitness is a brand worth checking out if you're looking for high-end equipment.

Their machines are designed so well that you will be inspired to work out after using them for the first time. 

There are some differences between their different machines, some subtle and some not so subtle, but they all live up to the hype.

They will differ in the amount of weight on the stacks to the size of the machine. 

But every machine they offer is generally very smooth to operate and will fit nicely into most homes.

Inspire Fitness also has excellent warranties for their products and a dedicated customer service department if something does go wrong. 

There are other great brands and machines out there that are worth checking out, like the Marcy Smith Machine Cage System or the Body-Solid EXM3000LPS, but you really can't go wrong with Inspire Fitness. 


Common Questions About The M2 By Inspire Fitness 

How do you lubricate the Inspire Fitness m2 home gym?  

Before lubricating, you should clean the cables with a rag or towel. Once they're clean, spray them with a silicone-based lubricant. Wipe off the excess with a rag and enjoy your next workout. 

How do you best install and assemble this Inspire Fitness home gym? 

The best way to install the Inspire Fitness m2 home gym, and any home gym for that matter, is to follow the instruction manual carefully. Improper assembly could lead to safety concerns and void warranties. 

Do Inspire Fitness m2 home gyms build muscle? 

You can tone and strengthen all your major muscle groups with the Inspire Fitness m2 home gym.

With the Inspire Fitness m2, you get the capabilities of a multi-weight stack gym in a compact single-stack forward design. 

Workout Versatility

8.5

Value For Money

8.0

Ease Of Use

9.0

Ease Of Assembly

7.5

Materials & Durability

9.0


Overall Rating

8.4

Summary - Should You Buy It?

If you're ditching your gym membership to build a home gym, the Inspire Fitness m2 is a great place to start.

The Inspire Fitness m2 Home Gym will deliver a full-body and strengthening workout from the comfort of your own home. 

I say go for it! 

References:

1. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/inspirefitweb/wp-content/2019/11/11102340/M2-Manual_012214.pdf?_ga=2.243499340.854778622.1632692002-119040408.1632692002
2. https://inspirefitness.com/support/#1570168410507-201e5656-9ae7

Last Updated on September 20, 2024