Sports & Fitness · Functional Trainers
Do I need a built-in weight stack or is plate-loaded fine?
Reviewer consensus
Community consensus on r/GarageGym is split: plate-loaded units (like the JELENS-style crossovers) are far cheaper and let you use existing plates, but require loading and unloading. Selectorized weight-stack machines cost more but are faster to adjust. Reviewers note plate-loaded designs often run at a 2:1 ratio, effectively halving the resistance you feel.

