How to choose a Smith machine

A Smith machine runs the barbell on guide rods, so you can squat and press heavy on your own and rack the bar at any height. Our three Smith machines cover home, studio and commercial use.

Guided bar only, or Smith plus free weights?

The Best Fitness BFSM250B home Smith machine is a guided bar with 20 lockout points and a 136 kg capacity. The Powerline PSM200 Smith machine and half rack adds J-cups and spotter arms for free-weight barbell work on the same frame, with a 7° reverse-pitch bar and a 180 kg capacity.

Why counterbalanced?

The Body-Solid SCB1000B counterbalanced Smith machine offsets the bar's weight, so the starting resistance is about 2.7 kg. Beginners and rehab clients can start light, and strong lifters can load up to 454 kg. It is built for busy commercial floors and carries a lifetime frame warranty. It is part of the Body-Solid Pro ClubLine commercial range.

Compare our Smith machines

MachineTypeCapacitySize (L × W × H)Rated forFrame warranty
Best Fitness BFSM250BSmith machine136 kg127 × 168 × 201 cmHome3 years
Powerline PSM200Smith machine + half rack180 kg120 × 168 × 201 cmLight commercial10 years
Body-Solid SCB1000BCounterbalanced Smith machine454 kg127 × 218 × 213 cmHeavy commercialLifetime

Smith machine FAQs

Can I use a Smith machine without a spotter?

Yes. That is the main reason to own one: the bar hooks onto the frame at any of its lockout points with a twist of the wrists, so you can end a set safely on your own.

Is the bar still 20 kg on a Smith machine?

No. A Smith bar weighs less than a 20 kg Olympic barbell, and the guide rods do the balancing for you. The bar weighs about 6.8 kg on the Best Fitness BFSM250B and about 11.3 kg on the Powerline PSM200. The Body-Solid SCB1000B is counterbalanced, so its bar starts at about 2.7 kg. Add the bar weight to the plates you load when you log your lifts.

What plates do they take?

All three take Olympic (2″) weight plates, sold separately.

Can I add a lat pulldown?

Yes, on the BFSM250B and the PSM200, each with its own lat attachment.

Is delivery included?

Yes. Every Smith machine ships free Australia-wide by freight from our Adelaide warehouse. Freight is usually delivered unattended, so please make sure there is a safe, accessible spot to leave it.