Marcy MWM-988 Multifunction Steel Home Gym
Editor’s Conclusion
Marcy is a brand that brings commercial-style gym equipment to home gyms without the commercial price point. The Marcy MWM-988 Multifunction Steel Home Gym is a really great choice for those that are looking for a machine that can do a little bit of just about anything.
If you are working with limited space in your home and a limited budget, this machine will provide the biggest bang for your buck. One of the things that I love most about this machine is that it provides users with a 150-pound weight stack that can be utilized via a pulley system for all exercises.
Unlike other multifunction gyms, the Marcy MWM 988 provides weights for you in an easy-to-adjust stack. Plus, this small yet mighty machine is able to hit almost every muscle group for a killer compound workout.
I would recommend this machine for weight trainers that need a machine that will help build muscle in their upper and lower body and provides versatile lifts to target those hard-to-hit muscle groups.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make the Marcy MWM 988 an excellent choice for your home gym.
If you are working with limited space in your home and a limited budget, this machine will provide the biggest bang for your buck. One of the things that I love most about this machine is that it provides users with a 150-pound weight stack that can be utilized via a pulley system for all exercises.
Unlike other multifunction gyms, the Marcy MWM 988 provides weights for you in an easy-to-adjust stack. Plus, this small yet mighty machine is able to hit almost every muscle group for a killer compound workout.
I would recommend this machine for weight trainers that need a machine that will help build muscle in their upper and lower body and provides versatile lifts to target those hard-to-hit muscle groups.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make the Marcy MWM 988 an excellent choice for your home gym.
Marcy MWM-988 Multifunction Steel Home Gym Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Easy to adjust weight stack
Max weight capacity of 300 pounds
Works upper and lower body
Includes a removable preacher curl pad
Very comfortable cushioned supports
Cons
Takes a long time to assemble
Weight stack doesn’t label the plates
Key Features
PERFORMANCE
There are few muscle groups that the Marcy MWM 988 doesn’t hit. It’s a great machine to work out arms, upper back, quads, triceps, and chest. By utilizing various workouts, you can hit all of those small stabilizing muscles in your body so that no muscle group is left behind.
This machine allows users to engage in chest presses, flys, pulldowns, bent-over rows, and leg extensions. While it does hit your lower body, the bread and butter of this machine is mostly the upper body. The lower pulley system can be used for a few compound lifts to target your lower body, such as bent-over rows.
One of the things that I love most about this machine is that it also includes a removable preacher pad. There is no better tool for isolated bicep curls than a preacher pad. Many benches that include a preacher pad require you to bring your own dumbbells to the table.
What makes this machine great is that you can adjust the weight on the stack and use the lower pulley bar to engage in some of the best-isolated bicep curls of your life!
MATERIALS
Marcy doesn’t skimp on the materials for their home workout equipment. This beefy frame is constructed from serious 14-gauge steel tubes that are able to stand up to years of continued use. The frame is also coated in a vinyl finish that is resistant to rusting and corroding and is also chip-resistant as well. This vinyl coating makes this machine perfect for humid conditions, so it will be perfect for your basement or your garage and it will not degrade over time.
It’s important to note that the weight stack also boasts a vinyl-coated finish, which some users love, and some users hate. The vinyl coating on the weight stack keeps your device looking new even after years of wear and tear. For some, the vinyl coating lacks that classic and satisfying clank of the stack at the end of a set. For me, it wasn’t a deal-breaker.
SIZE
This design measures to be 68 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 79 inches high. When compared to other multifunctional gyms out there on the market, this design is slightly smaller, which makes it ideal for a smaller home gym. If you are setting up in your basement, be sure that you check to make sure that you have enough ceiling height. This machine measures to be about 6’7’’ tall, which could be just a little too tall for very shallow basements.
This design also has a max weight capacity of 300 pounds, which is just a little higher than the norm when compared to other budget-friendly multifunctional gyms. Many of the other more affordable options out there on the market have a weight capacity of only 250 pounds, making the Marcy MWM 988 just a little tougher than most.
ADJUSTABILITY
By utilizing a central stack for all of the exercises, moving between the various lifts is incredibly quick and efficient. The weight stack utilizes a pin system that allows you to swap out your weight with the pull of a pin. The stack has a max weight limit of 150 pounds, which is ideal for most bodybuilding high-rep upper body lifts. The weight stack is divided into 13 different levels and users place their pin on their desired level.
I found it quite unusual that Marcy opted to divide the weight stack into levels instead of labeling the weight that you are lifting. Most lifters (myself included!) live and die by the amount of weight that they can lift. They also use these numbers to gauge how much to lift with free weight or on the bench.
By doing a little bit of math (since Marcy doesn’t provide this information to the users) each plate on the weight stack weighs in at just shy of 11 pounds. Therefore, each time you move the pin up or down you are adding or subtracting just shy of 12 pounds.
COMFORT
I was surprised by the level of detail that went into the cushioned support. Often, when shopping around for budget-friendly workout equipment, comfort features are slapped on as an afterthought.
The Marcy MWM-988, however, has plush and durable foam cushioning with a faux-leather finish that is much more durable than exposed EVA foam. The leg rests, seat, and preacher curl pad are composed of durable and comfortable features that boast double-stitching that can take a beating.
The pads on the cable fly bar are the only pads that I worry about. It is composed of exposed EVA foam that is super comfortable and helps to wick away sweat, but it won’t be quite as durable as the construction of the leg rests and preacher curl pad. However, you likely won’t use the cable fly pad as much as some of the other components on this machine. And if you are anything like me, your fallout limit on cable flies is pretty low!
I also wanted to briefly mention the construction of the pull-down bar. It boasts padded grips only at the very end that will help you keep your grip as your hands start to sweat. The rest of the bar is composed of exposed steel, but the thin bar works well to maintain your grip. I love that this bar has an angled grip that allows you to quickly switch up how you hold the bar to activate various muscle groups in your arms and upper back.
ASSEMBLY
The consensus on the assembly of this home gym is that it is incredibly time-consuming. It ships in quite a few pieces and parts, and it is up to you to ensure that they are assembled correctly. The good news is that Marcy includes a very easy-to-read instruction booklet that takes you through assembly in slow and easy-to-follow steps. It doesn’t include the necessary tools in this kit, so be sure that you are ready with your socket wrench on delivery day!
Overall, this design took most users anywhere between 2-6 hours to completely assemble, and most work with a partner to speed up the process. The assembly isn’t overly complicated or confusing, it just takes time and patience.
If you are lacking either one of those things, you can always hire the pros to assemble your machine for you. While it will tack on a little bit more to the overall price, you can feel confident that your machine is assembled correctly and will hold up well over years on continued use.
PRICE
What I loved most about this design is that it comes in at a super affordable price point. If you were to buy separate machines that tackle all of the muscle groups that this machine tackles, you could likely buy a brand new car. This design not only offers advanced features to target most muscle groups in your body, but it also includes the weight stack.
Many multifunctional gyms that include the weight stack often come in at price points that would make your bank account shutter. This design provides users with all of the advanced features of an all-in-one gym without the intimidating price point.
There are few muscle groups that the Marcy MWM 988 doesn’t hit. It’s a great machine to work out arms, upper back, quads, triceps, and chest. By utilizing various workouts, you can hit all of those small stabilizing muscles in your body so that no muscle group is left behind.
This machine allows users to engage in chest presses, flys, pulldowns, bent-over rows, and leg extensions. While it does hit your lower body, the bread and butter of this machine is mostly the upper body. The lower pulley system can be used for a few compound lifts to target your lower body, such as bent-over rows.
One of the things that I love most about this machine is that it also includes a removable preacher pad. There is no better tool for isolated bicep curls than a preacher pad. Many benches that include a preacher pad require you to bring your own dumbbells to the table.
What makes this machine great is that you can adjust the weight on the stack and use the lower pulley bar to engage in some of the best-isolated bicep curls of your life!
MATERIALS
Marcy doesn’t skimp on the materials for their home workout equipment. This beefy frame is constructed from serious 14-gauge steel tubes that are able to stand up to years of continued use. The frame is also coated in a vinyl finish that is resistant to rusting and corroding and is also chip-resistant as well. This vinyl coating makes this machine perfect for humid conditions, so it will be perfect for your basement or your garage and it will not degrade over time.
It’s important to note that the weight stack also boasts a vinyl-coated finish, which some users love, and some users hate. The vinyl coating on the weight stack keeps your device looking new even after years of wear and tear. For some, the vinyl coating lacks that classic and satisfying clank of the stack at the end of a set. For me, it wasn’t a deal-breaker.
SIZE
This design measures to be 68 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 79 inches high. When compared to other multifunctional gyms out there on the market, this design is slightly smaller, which makes it ideal for a smaller home gym. If you are setting up in your basement, be sure that you check to make sure that you have enough ceiling height. This machine measures to be about 6’7’’ tall, which could be just a little too tall for very shallow basements.
This design also has a max weight capacity of 300 pounds, which is just a little higher than the norm when compared to other budget-friendly multifunctional gyms. Many of the other more affordable options out there on the market have a weight capacity of only 250 pounds, making the Marcy MWM 988 just a little tougher than most.
ADJUSTABILITY
By utilizing a central stack for all of the exercises, moving between the various lifts is incredibly quick and efficient. The weight stack utilizes a pin system that allows you to swap out your weight with the pull of a pin. The stack has a max weight limit of 150 pounds, which is ideal for most bodybuilding high-rep upper body lifts. The weight stack is divided into 13 different levels and users place their pin on their desired level.
I found it quite unusual that Marcy opted to divide the weight stack into levels instead of labeling the weight that you are lifting. Most lifters (myself included!) live and die by the amount of weight that they can lift. They also use these numbers to gauge how much to lift with free weight or on the bench.
By doing a little bit of math (since Marcy doesn’t provide this information to the users) each plate on the weight stack weighs in at just shy of 11 pounds. Therefore, each time you move the pin up or down you are adding or subtracting just shy of 12 pounds.
COMFORT
I was surprised by the level of detail that went into the cushioned support. Often, when shopping around for budget-friendly workout equipment, comfort features are slapped on as an afterthought.
The Marcy MWM-988, however, has plush and durable foam cushioning with a faux-leather finish that is much more durable than exposed EVA foam. The leg rests, seat, and preacher curl pad are composed of durable and comfortable features that boast double-stitching that can take a beating.
The pads on the cable fly bar are the only pads that I worry about. It is composed of exposed EVA foam that is super comfortable and helps to wick away sweat, but it won’t be quite as durable as the construction of the leg rests and preacher curl pad. However, you likely won’t use the cable fly pad as much as some of the other components on this machine. And if you are anything like me, your fallout limit on cable flies is pretty low!
I also wanted to briefly mention the construction of the pull-down bar. It boasts padded grips only at the very end that will help you keep your grip as your hands start to sweat. The rest of the bar is composed of exposed steel, but the thin bar works well to maintain your grip. I love that this bar has an angled grip that allows you to quickly switch up how you hold the bar to activate various muscle groups in your arms and upper back.
ASSEMBLY
The consensus on the assembly of this home gym is that it is incredibly time-consuming. It ships in quite a few pieces and parts, and it is up to you to ensure that they are assembled correctly. The good news is that Marcy includes a very easy-to-read instruction booklet that takes you through assembly in slow and easy-to-follow steps. It doesn’t include the necessary tools in this kit, so be sure that you are ready with your socket wrench on delivery day!
Overall, this design took most users anywhere between 2-6 hours to completely assemble, and most work with a partner to speed up the process. The assembly isn’t overly complicated or confusing, it just takes time and patience.
If you are lacking either one of those things, you can always hire the pros to assemble your machine for you. While it will tack on a little bit more to the overall price, you can feel confident that your machine is assembled correctly and will hold up well over years on continued use.
PRICE
What I loved most about this design is that it comes in at a super affordable price point. If you were to buy separate machines that tackle all of the muscle groups that this machine tackles, you could likely buy a brand new car. This design not only offers advanced features to target most muscle groups in your body, but it also includes the weight stack.
Many multifunctional gyms that include the weight stack often come in at price points that would make your bank account shutter. This design provides users with all of the advanced features of an all-in-one gym without the intimidating price point.
Verdict
Overall, I feel that the Marcy MWM 988 is one of the best and most budget-friendly home gym systems out there on the market. It is composed of strong and durable materials that hold up quite well over the years, and it provides plenty of lifting options that are made to target your entire body.
It focuses primarily on the upper body but includes a few lifts to target those larger muscle groups in your lower body as well. One of the few downsides to this design is that it takes a long time to assemble.
Also, the weight stack is not labeled by weight, which means you will need to bust out the calculator to determine just how much weight you are lifting. If you are looking for a versatile gym that is strong, sturdy, and affordable, this is one of the best values out there on the market.
It focuses primarily on the upper body but includes a few lifts to target those larger muscle groups in your lower body as well. One of the few downsides to this design is that it takes a long time to assemble.
Also, the weight stack is not labeled by weight, which means you will need to bust out the calculator to determine just how much weight you are lifting. If you are looking for a versatile gym that is strong, sturdy, and affordable, this is one of the best values out there on the market.
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