Inspire m3 Home Gym Review – Is It Worth The High Cost?

Home gyms can be expensive, so you need to make sure you get the right one. 

The Inspire Fitness M3 is a premium home gym with a lot of functionality and after using it for 2+ years, I can say it has several pros but also a few cons.  

In this M3 review I'll cover all those features and what its like to use in a home gym setting. Read on to find out if this all-in-one model is right for you.

Our Ratings

Workout Versatility

9.0

Value For Money

8.0

Ease Of Use

9.0

Ease Of Assembly

7.5

Materials & Durability

9.0


Overall Rating

8.5

Product Specifications

Dimensions 

72"L x 40"W x 82"H 

Weight 

523 lbs (with included weight stack) 

Maximum Load Capacity 

330 lbs

Weight Stack 

215 lbs 

Resistance Ratio 

High, Mid & Lower Pulleys 1:2, Leg Ext 1:1, Leg Curl 3:4, Optional Leg Press 2:1, Press Arm 1.2:2 

Warranty 

Limited Lifetime (for residential use) 

I've been using the Inspire Fitness M3 home gym for over a year now and I've got to know all the good and bad aspects of the entire gym. 

Here are my first hand thoughts that will hopefully help you decide whether this home gym system is worth it.

Our Experience Using This Home Gym

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym is straightforward and comfortable to use. 

The various handles and pulley systems are easy to navigate between and it all moves smoothly. The weight stack moves well and feels a lot closer to lifting free weights (much more than the Bowflex power rod system). 

What I really liked about the M3 was how sturdy it was. Compared to a lot of other home gyms it is a lot more solid and even when I loaded heavy weight I didn't feel any wobbling or moving, and it felt very safe. 

I also really liked how quickly I could move between exercises. There are quite a few handles, but it doesn't take as much configuration as some other models - so I could keep my workouts short and intense. 

The separated press arms are great too. I was able to isolate one side of my body really easily, and it's a great feature for anyone recovering from injury.

Overall, the M3 gives a good workout experience and it's well suited for every day use.

Size & Dimensions In The Home

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym is about the same size as most premium home gyms, and you will need to check it will fit. 

It isn't as large as the Inspire Fitness M5 or Force USA G9, but it is still 84 inches tall so make sure you measure the space before you buy because a lot of low ceiling garage or basement gyms will struggle to accommodate it. 

One thing you will notice is that the M3 is heavy. It's not the heaviest around, but it's over 500 pounds, including the commercial weight stack, so you won't be shifting it easily. 

It's a good idea to consider the size of your garage gym and scope out exactly where it will go before you assemble it, because moving it afterwards could be a big job. 

Construction & Quality 

Inspire Fitness are a good, reputable brand and the M3 home gym is well made, and durable. 

There's a heavy-duty frame which is solid and keeps the whole machine stable. There's also a tripod floor stand to balance the weight too. It comfortably supports up to 330 lbs of weight, and even larger users will be able to workout safely. 

All the moving parts seem to work well and the cushioning on the backrest, orthopedic seat pads, and head pad all seem to be able to deal with a lot of heavy wear and tear. 

Inspire Fitness multi gyms use oil impregnated brass bushings in the mechanisms. This gives it a really smooth flowing pull and helps to protect the home gym for longer without having to do any maintenance or lubrication yourself. 

The M3 home gym is the quality I would expect at this price point, but it's worth recognising that it's a well made piece of equipment that should last a long time. 

Workout stations & Versatility

Inspire Fitness M3 Home Gym upperbody exercise

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym allows you to do over 100 different exercises which target your whole body.

The high and low pulley systems let you configure it in a range of ways and it's particularly useful for arm exercises. 

There are separate press arms too, which allows you to train one side at a time. This is great for addressing any strength imbalances or those rehabilitating after an injury. 

There's a crunch station for core work, and a leg extension station to target your lower body. 

There are extras which are useful, like the optional leg press station and lat bar attachment which is beneficial for training your back. [1]

In terms of versatility and functionality, the M3 multi gym does very well. There are some premium home gym models which offer more choice, but the M3 has everything that most people will need. 

Weight Range

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym comes with a 210 lb weight stack as standard. 

This weight stack is plenty for beginners and intermediate users, but won't be enough for advanced lifters. There's also no option to upgrade the weight stack.

Assembly & Maintenance 

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym is fairly challenging to put together.

Many home gyms are challenging to put together, especially if you don't have any experience, but the M3 is big and heavy. Everything you need is included, but you'll need help from a friend to move everything into the right position. 

The instruction manual is straightforward to follow and you should make sure you stick to it step by step. 

You should expect it to take 1-2 hours minimum, though for some beginners it may take longer. 

The good news is that once the M3 is set up it requires very little maintenance. Aside from regularly wiping down the equipment after each workout session, there’s not much else you need to do. 

Price Guide

The Inspire Fitness M3 is an expensive home gym. 

The M3 home gym costs around $4,000, which is a lot for a home gym. To put that in perspective, budget home gyms (such as the Marcy MWM-988) can cost under $750, and many home gym owners just can't afford to spend that much one of piece of equipment. 

However, the M3 is not a budget model. It's well made, offers a lot of versatility, and is good to use. That being said, at this price point I would have expected a bit more and the M3 isn't amazing value for money. 

If you are prepared to pay premium prices then you may be better off with something like the Force USA G6 which costs about the same, but offers more. 

Shipping & Warranty

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym can be purchased directly from Inspire Fitness, Amazon, large fitness stores, or even from shops like Walmart. 

Amazon tends to offer the best prices and that's where I ordered mine from. It took about 10 days to arrive, which is fairly standard, but shipping times will vary in each region. 

The M3 home gym comes with a limited lifetime warranty for home use which covers the parts and frame.

The equipment is well made so I haven't had to contact their support team, but there are quite a lot of users out there reporting poor customer service from Inspire Fitness.

Hopefully that won't happen to you and the warranty will offer extra protection. However, my advice would be to carefully check the product when it arrives for any issues and report them immediately.

Don't back down, and keep going through their customer service until they issue the replacement parts. 


Who Is The Inspire Fitness M3 Best Suited For?

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym is best for people with previous fitness experience that want to work out from home regularly. 

The features and versatility of the M3 home gym make it useful for anyone who wants to train their whole body and is looking for a better all-in-one model than the 'budget' ones on the market. 

The weight stack is good enough for most intermediate lifters, and the set up gives you a lot of the benefits of free weight strength training. 

However, for advanced lifters the M3 home gym is no replacement for a powerlifting gym setup, and for this price point you're better off investing in a power rack, some weight plates and more individual pieces of equipment for your setup. 

While the M3 home gym could be used by beginners, it's probably not offering great value for money and there are more affordable models out there which are better for beginners.

If you have a big budget and you have a bit of experience already, then the Inspire Fitness M3 home gym is a great upgrade from a Bowflex or other budget home gym.

Pros & Cons Of The Inspire Fitness M3  

What We Like 

  • Heavy-duty steel frame 
  • Over 100 possible exercises for a total-body workout 
  • Separate workout arms for isolation exercises
  • Very low maintenance
  • Good for larger users

What We Didn’t Like 

  • High cost - much higher than the average cost of a home gym 
  • No option to upgrade the weight stack
  • Challenging assembly

Unique Features Of The Inspire Fitness M3 Home Gym

Award-Winning Gym Features  

The Inspire Fitness M3 Home Gym is often referred to as the "rockstar of home gyms," and a big reason for this is the commercial-quality design

It's fit for a professional fitness setting but also compact enough to fit in your home. 

Thanks to the all-in-one design of this piece of equipment, there is a nearly unlimited number of Inspire M3 exercises (about 100) you can do.

Inspire Fitness M3

This is a total-body workout machine that comes with a fixed and cable motion press station, a seated station for leg extensions and curls, a unique abdominal station, and so much more.  

Heavy-Duty Build Quality  

Inspire Fitness M3 Home Gym front view

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym frame is built from heavy-duty 2″ x 4″ oval and 3″ round 11 gauge tubular steel.

It’s powder-coated for added resistance against everyday wear and tear that offers a durable, maintenance-free finish

It also features nylon pulleys, 2000-pound tensile strength cables, and precision ball bearings in its press arm pivot. 

The heavy weight has a lot of pros, but it also means that this is far from portable, so don’t plan on moving it around the home. 

To summarize, it is very well made with 11 gauge stell and 2000 lbs of tensile strength combing for a solid garage gym.

Safe & Smart Design  

The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym is perfect for any safety conscious home gym owners. 

It's compact enough to fit in most small sized home gym spaces, but heavy and stable so that it won't move while it's being used. 

The Inspire fitness M3 home gym also has an orthopedic-grade seat and backrest

These are ergonomically designed to promote good form for a variety of exercises, but also designed to match the natural shape and curvature of the back and spine for added comfort. 

Not only does this keep you feeling good, but it also keeps you safe by minimizing the risk of injury 

High-Quality Pulley Systems  

Inspire Fitness M3 Home Gym side view

The pulley systems on this home gym are made with aircraft-grade cables that have 2,000-pounds of tensile strength.  

Not only is there a high-pulley station, but also a low-pulley system that’s designed with a seated rowing bar.

This allows for a wide range of upper body exercises, but most importantly it's extremely safe

Both arms on the pulleys also move independently, allowing you to train one side of your body at a time.

Multiple Pivot Points Throughout  

The M3’s seated bench press station is designed with several bench press pivot points that utilize 1.5” precision steel ball bearings. 

The other pivot points move on oil impregnated brass bushings, which help to ensure a smooth and fluid motion and require very little maintenance.  

Wide Variety of Add-Ons Available  

With your purchase of the Inspire Fitness M3 multi gym you get:

  • An aluminium revolving easy curl bar
  • Strap handles with revolving grips
  • An ankle strap for leg exercises
  • A seated leg curl station (which a lot of home gyms don't have)
  • Tricep rope

You can also buy additional home gym accessories including:

  • An optional leg press which can be used for both leg press and calf raises. 
  • Abdominal bar for increasing resistance while doing crunches. 
  • Optional aluminium lat bar for working out the back and lateral muscles.

These extras aren't essential, but make it easier to get a full body workout. You can view all options and purchase directly from Inspire Fitness website.[4] 

Available Tech and Workout Charts 

Thanks to the informative Inspire M3 Home Gym manual, it's easy to get a good idea of the different exercises and workouts that are available to you.[1]

You can also use the Inspire Fitness App. This does have an additional subscription cost attached to it, but gives you instant access to a range of workouts to target every muscle group.

There are also many online resources that can help you with your workouts, like this Inspire M3 workout chart[2]

Having access to these features is a real bonus for beginners and can help you get the most from the Inspire Fitness M3 multi gym. 


Comparing With Other Inspire Fitness Home Gym Models

The M3 is one of several home gym models available at Inspire Fitness. This brand is one of the leaders in the commercial fitness space.

While it’s an excellent choice for getting a total body workout at home, there may be another Inspire home gym that better meets your needs.  

Here’s a quick comparison of the top models from Inspire Fitness:  

Inspire M1 Vs M3

The M1 home gym is the most basic model in this series of Inspire Fitness home gyms, which also means it's the most affordable.

It still comes with a good amount of features and functions, like low pulley systems, a telescoping seat, and a 165-pound weight stack.

It’s not the ideal home gym for heavy lifters, but it’s still a solid option for beginner-level fitness enthusiasts who want to get in shape at home. 

Inspire Fitness M1 Home Gym
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Inspire M2 Vs M3

When you compare the Inspire M2 and M3, the M2 home gym lacks a few of the features that come with the M3 model.

The main difference is that the arms of the M2's chest press do not move independently from one another, and the Inspire Fitness M2 comes with just 165 pounds of weight plates instead of the M3's 215-pound weight stack. 

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Inspire M3 Vs M5

The M5 is the most advanced home gym equipment in this product line, which means it is also the priciest. 

It comes with a press arm pivot, seated leg curl and extension station, dual weight stacks, free movement handles, a row station, abdominal bar, and 4 pulleys.

The main difference between the M5 home gym and the M3 home gym is that the M5 allows for 2 users to work out simultaneously. 

Inspire Fitness M5 Multi-Gym - Dual User...
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  • 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...

Inspire M3 Vs Inspire Functional Trainers

The line of Functional Trainers - including the FT1, FT2, and FTX - are better suited to upper body workouts since they do not include a seated station. 

You can, however, purchase add-ons for a bench and leg extension kit, but this will cost you extra. 

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Comparisons With Other Home Gyms Brands 

Inspire M3 Vs Force USA G6

If you're in the market for a premium all in one home-gym then you definitely need to consider the Force USA G6

Unlike the M3, the Force USA G6 is a cross between a functional all in one trainer and a smith machine. It even comes with an olympic barbell with 12 lockout positions so you don't need a spotter. 

Both the M3 and G6 are high quality pieces of equipment, but the Force USA G6 is better for strength training. It's easier to use for challenging compound lifts which intermediate and advanced lifters need to incorporate into their routine. 

The Force USA G6 is less compact than the M3 so it won't fit in every home gym, but it's similarly priced and offers better value for money - especially for those with more fitness experience. 

Inspire M3 Vs Body Solid EXM3000LPS

Inspire Fitness is certainly not the only brand that manufactures all-in-one home gym systems.

Body-Solid is another reputable company, and the Body-Solid EXM3000LPS Multi-Station Selectorized Gym is as multifunctional as they come.  

This home gym setup includes 7 different stations for getting a full-body workout, including a multi-press station, leg press, pec station, lat pulldown, ab crunch, leg extension, and low pulley station.

It includes a 210-pound weight stack, and similar to the M3, it has multiple options for add-ons and accessories.  

Body-Solid (EXM3000LPS) Multi-Station 210lb...
  • INDUSTRY LEADER: For 30+ years, Body Solid...
  • 7 UNIQUE WORKOUT STATIONS: Multi-Press...
  • INCLUDED ATTACHMENTS: Fully adjustable...
  • EXERCISES: Use this home gym to complete a...

Inspire M3 Vs Marcy Smith Machine Cage

Another comparable model to the M3 is the Marcy Smith Machine Cage System. 

This piece of equipment is slightly more affordable than the M3, but it still offers a lot of potential for targeting all of the major muscle groups.  

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Exercises You Can Do With The Inspire Fitness M3

The M3 is designed to give a full bod work and actually does deliver.

With over 100 different workouts you won't be spoiled for choice, but here are some of the best exercises I worked into my routine:

Leg Exercises

  • Leg extensions (using the foam rollers) 
  • Seated leg curls 
  • Glute kickbacks
  • Leg press for strengthening hamstring muscles and quads (using the optional extension)

Back Exercises:

  • Lat pulldowns 
  • Alternating high rows 
  • Lat pulldowns (using the optional lat bar)

Ab Exercises:

  • Seated abdominal crunches
  • Kneeling ab crunches (using the seated crunch station)

Chest Exercises: 

  • Bench presses
  • Chest presses
  • Flys 
  • Inclined chest press (using the strap handles)

Shoulder Exercises:

  • Lateral deltoid raises
  • Front deltoid raises
  • Standing shoulder press 
  • Upright rows

Arm Exercises:

  • Tricep pushdowns
  • Tricep extensions
  • Tricep extensions
  • Standing bicep curls
  • Seated bicep curls

Common Questions About The M3 by Inspire Fitness

Who makes Inspire Fitness home gyms? 

The Inspire Fitness company is a subsidiary of Health in Motion, LLC, which is a specialty product manufacturer. Founded in 2003, Inspire Fitness was one of the original divisions of Health In Motion. Inspire Fitness is headquartered in Southern California with an international office in Xiamen, China. [5]  

How much do M3 Inspire plates weigh? 

The M3 Home Gym comes with a 215-pound weight stack, which is ideal for beginner and intermediate-level weight lifting. If you’re looking to lift more weight, consider the M5 model instead. This one comes with 2 sets of 215-pound weights, so 430 pounds in total.  

Where is Inspire Fitness equipment made? 

The company headquarters are located in Corona, California, which is where most of their products are manufactured. However, some of their products are made in their international location, which is in Xiamen, China.  

Where can I buy replacement parts for the Inspire Fitness M3 home gym? 

It’s best to reach out to the company directly if you’re in need of replacement parts. The Inspire Fitness M3 home gym is covered under a limited lifetime warranty, so depending on the parts needed and your reasons for needing them, you may be able to get a free replacement.  

Where can I buy Inspire Fitness M3 home gym equipment and add-ons? 

You can either purchase the Inspire M3 Multi Gym directly from the Inspire Fitness website or order it online from a retailer like Amazon. Inspire Fitness sells its products directly on Amazon, so you can rest easy knowing that you’re purchasing the M3 from the manufacturer rather than from a third-party retailer.  


Final Thoughts?

There you have it - the complete Inspire Fitness M3 Home Gym review.

Try not to let the high cost of this all-in-one home gym scare you; when you do the math, it could be cheaper to buy this home gym rather than having to purchase separate pieces of equipment individually.

This is an all-in-one home gym that is easy to use and offers good versatility. It is expensive though and if you have more space in your garage gym, then consider looking at the Body-Solid EXM3000LPS home gym instead.

Workout Versatility

9.0

Value For Money

8.0

Ease Of Use

9.0

Ease Of Assembly

7.5

Materials & Durability

9.0


Overall Rating

8.5

References:

1. https://www.livestrong.com/article/152070-what-are-the-benefits-of-back-exercises
2. https://www.manua.ls/inspire/m3/manual
3. https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/inspirefitweb/wp-content/2019/11/11093820/M3WallChart_Nov2013_demo.pdf?_ga=2.2313456.1945815535.1630623099-37203008.1630623099
4. https://inspirefitness.com/shop/#accessories
5. https://inspirefitness.com/about/

Last Updated on December 17, 2022