All4Fitness article //

Free Weights Vs Machines

If you're new to the scenery of a gym facility, you're probably overwhelmed by seeing a large variety of equipment. Once you've mastered the cardio room, you'll make your way to try some resistance exercises. You'll notice two main differences with the equipment in this room; free weights (dumbbells, barbells, kettle bells etc) and machines (cable weight stacks, smith machine, plate loadable equipment etc).

So what's the difference? Which is better?

For many people, dumbbells and barbells are used to provide a great workout. Free weights, together with a bench and a rack, offer a great variety of exercises. Some advantage of free weights are:

- Can be used at home or at a gym .

- You can increase strength through a full range of motion

- Sport specific movements can be trained with free weights

- You can strengthen large muscle groups at once, saving time and increasing heart rate