Gym equipment names: what each machine trains

Gym equipment names get thrown around like everyone already knows the difference between a rack and a cage, or a Smith machine and a functional trainer. They don’t have to be a mystery. Each name maps to a specific frame shape and movement pattern, and once you know the pattern, you can read any product page and know what you’re getting before you check a price.

This guide sorts equipment into five groups you’ll see on every maker’s site: racks and cages, Smith machines, cable towers/functional trainers, benches, and attachments. Facts, specs, and prices below come from maker pages checked on 2026-09-23, as explained on /how-we-research/. Prices change, so treat them as reference points, not quotes.

What are the main types of gym racks?

A rack (also called a cage) is the vertical steel frame that holds a barbell for squats, bench presses, and overhead presses. The two names you’ll see most are power rack (four posts) and half rack (two posts).

The Osprey Commercial Power Cage from Fringe Sport is a standard four-post design, sold in 30-inch and 41-inch depths, starting at $949.00 for the 30-inch version and $999.00 with built-in barbell storage. Four posts mean the lifter stands fully inside the frame, which gives more mounting points for safety bars front and back.

RXD’s RX3 Half Rack 2600 drops to two posts, priced at $1,075.00 for the 84-inch height and $1,095.00 for 92 inches. Two posts take up less depth in a room because the front stays open, but you lose the front safety-pin positions a full cage offers. RXD’s full RX3 Power Rack 6800 (four posts) runs $1,700.00 at 84 inches and $1,730.00 at 92 inches — about $625 more than the half rack at the same height, a difference you’re paying for the extra two posts and connecting hardware.

Rack steel gauge and hole spacing compared

Rack	Maker	Steel size / gauge	Hole spacing	Height options
Osprey Commercial Power Cage 3x3	Fringe Sport	Not listed	Not listed	Depths: 30 in, 41 in
RX3 Power Rack 6800	RXD	3 in x 3 in, 11-gauge (RX3 series)	Not listed for this model	84 in, 92 in
RX3 Half Rack 2600	RXD	3 in x 3 in, 11-gauge (RX3 series)	Not listed for this model	84 in, 92 in
RX3 Tornado Compact Smith Machine	RXD	3 in x 3 in, 11-gauge	1-in holes, 2-in spacing	86 in, 94 in
RitFit P9 Modular Power Cage	RitFit	2 in x 2 in, 14-gauge (50x50x1.8mm uprights)	1.02 in (26 mm)	Not listed
Profile PRO Sidewinder	PRx Performance	3 in x 3 in, 11-gauge	5/8 in, 2 in (1 in in bench area)	81 in, 89 in, 95 in

Lower gauge numbers mean thicker steel. The 11-gauge racks (RX3 series, Sidewinder) use thicker tube than the 14-gauge RitFit P9. Thicker steel generally means a higher frame weight capacity, though our product research doesn’t list a numeric capacity for every model here, so compare posted capacities directly on each maker’s page before buying.

What does a Smith machine actually do?

A Smith machine guides the barbell along fixed vertical rails so the bar only moves straight up and down. That’s different from a plain rack, where the bar moves freely in your hands and needs more balance and, often, a spotter.

RXD’s RX3 Tornado Compact Smith Machine Rack combines both functions in one frame — a guided Smith bar plus standard rack posts — built from 3-inch x 3-inch 11-gauge steel with 1-inch holes on 2-inch spacing. It’s priced at $3,987.00 for the 86-inch version and $4,007.00 for 94 inches, well above the plain half-rack and power-rack prices above, reflecting the added rail hardware.

RitFit’s P9 package goes further and pairs a “3D Smith Machine” with a dual cable crossover system, integrated weight stack, and full rack functionality in one compact footprint. Pricing runs from $2,199.99 (no plates) up to $3,299.99 with a 370-lb plate set included, across Black or Red frame colors. If you want guided-bar training and cable work in a single unit rather than two separate machines, this kind of combo package is the name to search for: “Smith machine with cable crossover” or “3D Smith rack.”

What is a functional trainer or cable tower?

A functional trainer (also called a cable tower or cable crossover machine) uses one or two adjustable pulleys pulling against a weight stack, letting you do cable flies, face pulls, rows, and pulldowns from the same station. The two names are used interchangeably in maker copy.

PRx Performance’s Profile PRO Sidewinder rates its pulley system to 250 lbs per side and is built on 3-inch x 3-inch 11-gauge steel, the same gauge as the RX3 Smith machine above. It comes in three rack heights — 81, 89, and 95 inches — with matching cable travel of 56, 64, and 70 inches, and two grip styles (Straight or Multi-Grip) across six powder-coat colors. Pricing at the 89-inch height runs $2,149.99 for Straight grip and $2,199.99 for Multi-Grip.

RXD sells a cheaper route into cable training: the Functional Trainer / Weight Stack / Cable Tower 2000, a single-column stack priced at $588.50. It’s not a standalone frame — it needs a 3-inch x 3-inch Builder rig upright, a 4-post Builder Power Rack (4-foot depth), or a 6-post Builder Power Rack to mount to. If you already own a compatible rack, this is a lower-cost way to add cable work than buying a full dual-stack functional trainer.

Cable and Smith machine specs at a glance

Machine	Maker	Pulley/stack capacity	Steel	Price (checked 2026-09-23)
Profile PRO Sidewinder	PRx Performance	250 lbs per side	3 in x 3 in, 11-gauge	$2,149.99–$2,199.99
Functional Trainer 2000	RXD	Single-column stack	Mounts to existing rig upright	$588.50
RX3 Tornado Smith Machine	RXD	Not listed	3 in x 3 in, 11-gauge	$3,987.00–$4,007.00
RitFit P9 (Smith + cable)	RitFit	Integrated steel weight stack (capacity not listed)	2 in x 2 in, 14-gauge	$2,199.99–$3,299.99

What kinds of benches are there?

Benches come in three name patterns: flat, incline/decline, and adjustable — and sometimes all three combine on one bench. Knowing which angles a bench supports matters more than the name alone.

RXD’s FIDAB-101 is labeled a Flat/Incline Bench, meaning it moves between flat and incline positions but the maker copy doesn’t list a decline setting for this model. The FIDB-300, by contrast, is named Flat/Incline/Decline, so it adds the decline angle used for lower-chest pressing and sit-ups. The FIDAB-2 is simply labeled “Adjustable Bench” without specifying decline. RXD’s listed price for all three is $0.00 on our product research, which likely reflects a bundled or unlisted retail price rather than a free product, so check the maker page directly for current pricing.

RitFit’s 1300LB Adjustable Weight Bench (model BWB01, Pink colorway) is priced at $269.99. The “1300LB” in the product name is the maker’s stated weight rating, and it’s the only numeric bench capacity given in our product research for a standalone bench, so it’s a useful reference point if you’re comparing capacity claims across other adjustable benches.

What attachments bolt onto a rack?

Attachments are the accessories that turn a bare rack into a multi-station gym. RXD’s HRHL-400 Builder Half Rack with Lat Pulldown and Low Row Attachment bundle is the clearest example in our product research of how many named parts stack onto one frame:

• Two 93-inch Builder Power Rack uprights (black powder coat or clear coat)
• A High-Low Plate Loaded Cable Attachment, or the cable version with a 200-lb weight stack
• A Builder Gunner Attachment
• A Builder Dip Horn 3.0
• Two Builder Spotter Arms
• A Builder Landmine and a Builder Double Landmine
• Two Builder Rig Front Foot Extensions
• A Xebex Punching Bag
• A Universal Double Wall Ball Target

Each of those names does one job. A dip horn is a curved bar for triceps dips. A landmine holds one end of a barbell at an angle for rotational and press movements — the double landmine version holds two bars at once. Spotter arms sit at bench-press height as a safety catch when lifting without a partner. A lat pulldown/low row attachment turns a plain rack into a cable station without buying a separate functional trainer, either with plate-loaded resistance or a 200-lb pin-select stack, per RXD’s listing.

Quick reference: name to movement

Equipment name	What it trains	Example from our product research
Power rack / cage	Squat, bench, overhead press	Osprey Commercial Power Cage, $949.00–$999.00
Half rack	Squat, bench (open front)	RX3 Half Rack 2600, $1,075.00–$1,095.00
Smith machine	Guided-bar squat/press	RX3 Tornado, $3,987.00–$4,007.00
Functional trainer / cable tower	Cable rows, pulldowns, flies	Profile PRO Sidewinder, $2,149.99–$2,199.99
Adjustable bench	Flat/incline/decline pressing	RitFit BWB01, $269.99
Dip horn	Triceps dips	Included in HRHL-400 bundle
Landmine	Angled barbell press/rotation	Included in HRHL-400 bundle
Spotter arms	Solo lift safety catch	Included in HRHL-400 bundle; also on Osprey cage

How do I pick a rack style for a small garage?

Match the rack’s post count and depth to your floor space first, then check ceiling height against the tallest listed model. A two-post half rack, like the RX3 Half Rack 2600, needs less depth than a four-post cage because the front stays open.

If your garage ceiling is tight, compare the shortest height option each maker lists — RX3 racks start at 84 inches, while the Sidewinder functional trainer starts at 81 inches. For more layout math specific to tight spaces, see /half-garage-gym-ideas/ and /garage-gym-ideas/.

How much does a full setup cost by equipment type?

Rough starting prices in our product research: half racks start around $1,075.00 (RX3 Half Rack 2600, 84 inch), full power cages start around $949.00 (Osprey 3x3, 30 inch), and adjustable benches start around $269.99 (RitFit BWB01). A single-column cable attachment starts at $588.50 (RXD Functional Trainer 2000) versus $2,149.99 and up for a standalone dual-pulley functional trainer like the Sidewinder.

Adding a rack ($1,075) plus a bench ($269.99) plus a single-column cable attachment ($588.50) totals $1,933.49 (our calculation), before a barbell or plates. That’s a useful floor-price benchmark if you’re budgeting a first setup, and it lines up with the broader cost breakdowns in /garage-gym-conversion-cost/.

Should I buy a combo unit or separate machines?

Buy a combo unit, like the RitFit P9 (Smith machine plus cable crossover, from $2,199.99), when floor space is the limit and you want guided-bar and cable training in one footprint. Buy separate machines when each one needs to support a heavier capacity or a wider range of motion than a combo unit lists — the Sidewinder’s 250-lb-per-side pulley rating, for example, is higher than the RitFit P9 listing, which does not state a stack capacity number.

Combo units also simplify assembly to one delivery and one frame, but they lock you into whatever pulley ratios and hole spacing the maker built in. Separate machines cost more up front and take more wall or floor space, but each part can be replaced or upgraded independently. If you’re still deciding what belongs in a first build at all, /best-home-gym-equipment/ and /home-gym-equipment-bundle/ cover full starter lists, and /how-to-use-gym-equipment/ walks through safe setup once the gear is named and in place.

Bottom line

Every gym equipment name describes a frame shape and a movement, not a brand. Racks and half racks hold a free barbell; Smith machines guide it on rails; functional trainers and cable towers pull weight through pulleys; benches set your body angle; and attachments — dip horns, landmines, spotter arms, lat pulldowns — bolt onto a rack to add movements without buying a new machine. Match post count and steel gauge to your room, check pulley or stack capacity against your goals, and use the price and spec tables above as a starting checklist before you compare current listings on each maker’s site.