Which Weight Machine Is Best?
Is the “Nautilus” any more effective than a traditional weight training machine? Get-Fit Guy weighs in.
Ben Greenfield
by Ben Greenfield
If you happen to be a member of a gym or health club, you may have seen workout machines called “Nautilus” in the weight training area.
Unlike a traditional weight training machine, a Nautilus actually changes the resistance as you push or pull—meaning that the harder you work, the harder the machine “works” back at you.
But are these fancy machines any better than a regular weight training machine? A recent study actually looked into this. In the study, they recruited 33 young men and assigned them to the following three groups:
- Regular weight training machines
- “Nautilus”-style machines
- No training at all
It turns out that training with the fancy Nautilus machines produces greater resistance to fatigue
and a higher testosterone response compared to regular machines. And both of those are good things for anyone wanting better fitness! But there wasn’t much of a change in the way the muscles actually looked.
So ultimately, unless you’re an extreme athlete trying to maximize every tiny bang for your buck in the weight room (in which case you may not want to use machines at all), don’t worry about using the fancy machines to get a better body.
If you’re completely new to weight machines, you should definitely check out the episode How to Use Weight Machines.
For more questions about weight machines, just visit Facebook GetFitGuy.
Gym machine from Shutterstock
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.