Finding gym equipment that suits you is vital in ensuring you're not wasting time and money. Gyms often offer a variety of resistance training options for you to choose from, such as free weights and power rod machines. While the selection is nice, it can leave you wondering which one you'd be better off using. Despite their differences, though, both free weights and power rods have the same purpose -- building muscle through resistance -- and both can benefit you in many ways.
Power Rods Are Free Weights
Free weights can be defined as any weight you can move in multiple directions, such as dumbbells or even weights attached to a cable or bar that can be moved freely. Power rods are slender resistance poles attached to flexible cables, which technically classifies them into the free weight category as well. This allows them to give the same resistance throughout your entire range of motion during a rep.
Weight Flexibility
Both free weights and power rods offer you the ability to choose and change your resistance levels. While power rods offer many resistance levels, they don't go over 400 lbs. They also can't offer as many weight combinations, because their resistance levels per rod are set. Other free weights have more flexibility when it comes to choosing the exact amount of weight you want, especially if it's over the 400-lb. limit of the rods.
Safety
If you exercise alone often, power rods are a safer alternative, especially if you're doing bench presses with free weights on a bar. You might run out of steam, and with no safeguard in place, free weights can crush you or trap you against the bench. With power rods, because they're attached to a pulley system, you can let go of the handles without all the weight crashing down on top of you.
Space
Space required varies depending on what type of weights you have. With power rods, you'll need enough space for a bench and to allow the rods to curve outward during reps. With regular free weights, you have more flexibility. You can get a few small, single-hand weights that take up little space or a bench, larger weights and bars for presses, depending on how much room you have.
Cost
The amount of money you're able to spend at once can also affects your decision. Regular free-weight equipment can be bought piece by piece to build up your home gym. Power rods can be purchased separately, but without the entire system, you can't do much with them. Having to buy the entire system all at once can put a dent in your budget.
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