The pandemic made people realize that you do not need to drive down in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day to stay in shape. Sales for home gym equipment skyrocketed as people started converting their spare bedrooms and home offices into makeshift gyms.

After learning about small workout room ideas, I threw out some redundant furniture myself and set up my weights in the living room so I could stay healthy during these unprecedented times.

While many people are happy with their new at-home workout routines, some are still on the hunt for the perfect home gym setup.

If you bench more than you squat, and thus considering a weight bench as part of your equipment, two popular models are the Weider Pro 6900 and the 2980. While each of these full body workout machines offer a great value for money, there are some key differences that you should consider before making your purchase.

I have owned the Pro 6900 for over a year. But it was not before I spent weeks comparing it with the 2980. The comparison gave me some valuable insights, and I hope it will do the same for you.

Quick Overview of Each Weider Home Gym

Let me quickly give you an overview of what each home gym offers so that you can get a better idea of the key differences. I will go into more detail about the individual features later on in the article.

Weider Pro 6900

The Weider Pro 6900 is one of Weider's bestselling multi station home gym systems with 6-different stations that target different muscle groups. It has a 125-pound weight stack and comes with a leg developer, lat bar, chest press, butterfly press, preacher curl and low pulley. You can use it for pretty much anything from leg and chest workout to cable crunches.

In other words, it has everything you need for a complete workout, and then some. The machine is made from 14-gauge powder-coated steel tubing, which makes it extremely durable. It can accommodate users of all sizes, up to 300 pounds.

Specs:

• Type: Home Gym
• Stations: 6 different ones
• Frame: Steel tubing
• Dimensions: 79.5" H x 40" W x 64" D
• Weight station: 125 lbs.
• Max resistance: 330 lbs.

What I Like About This Home Gym

From a reasonably compact footprint, the Weider Pro 6900 offers an impressive number of workout stations and a weight stack that is on par with some commercial-grade equipment. It's one of the best apartment home gym types that kicks things up a notch above most beginner home gyms, but still fits neatly into tight areas for those setting up a basement gym with low ceiling.

It is also one of the most affordable home gyms on the market, which makes it a great value for the money.

Firstly, I am not missing out on any major exercises. The weight stack goes up to 125 pounds, which is more than enough for most people. If you are the type that loves doing full body workout every other day, then this is the machine for you.

The machine also has a leg developer, which is a great addition if you want to work on your quads and hamstrings. Other notable features include the lat bar, chest press, butterfly press, and preacher curl.

Heck if I can get anything better at that price point and that compact size.

Weider Pro 2980

The Weider Pro 2980 is a budget-priced bodybuilding home gym that offers 4-different stations for a full-body workout. It has a weight stack of 80 pounds and comes with a leg developer, lat bar, chest press, and preacher curl station.

It is made from the same 14-gauge powder-coated steel tubing and can accommodate users of all sizes, up to 275 pounds.

At 76" H x 37" W x 65" L, there's hardly any difference in footprint compared to the Pro 6900.

Specs: 

• Type: Home Gym
• Stations: 4 different ones
• Frame: Steel tubing
• Dimensions: 76" H x 37" W x 65" L
• Weight station: 80 lbs.
• Max resistance: 275 lbs.

How Does it Differ from the 6900

While both of these look like mirror replicas of one another, there are a few key differences in the two that you'll want to be aware of.

The Max Resistance

The first, and most obvious difference is the weight limit. The Weider Pro 6900 offers a max resistance of 300 pounds while the 2980 is limited to 214 pounds.

The max resistance is important because it determines how much weight you can use on the machine.

If you are a beginner, the 214-pound weight limit on the 2980 will probably be more than enough. But if you are more advanced in your training, or if you plan on adding more weight over time, the 6900 will be a better choice.

The Number of Stations

The next difference is the number of stations. The Weider Pro 6900 has 6-different stations while the 2980 has 4.

The additional stations on the 6900 include a butterfly press and low pulley.

The butterfly press is a great way to work your chest muscles, and the low pulley can be used for a variety of exercises, such as rows, biceps curls, and triceps extensions for working your biceps and triceps.

For me, the choice was pretty clear. The Weider Pro 6900 is the better machine, thanks to its higher weight limit and additional stations.

The Weight Stack

The Weider Pro 6900 has a weight stack of 125 pounds while the 2980 has an 80-pound stack.

Now, the weight stack is not the only factor that determines how much weight you can use on the machine.

The max resistance rating is also important. But in general, a bigger weight stack means that you can do more with the machine.

Weider Pro 6900 vs 2980: Which One to Choose?

Now that you know the key differences between the Weider Pro 6900 and 2980, it's time to choose the right one for your home gym setup. Here are some questions that I asked myself before determining which one to buy.

Which One Offers More Variety of Exercises?

The Weider Pro 6900 offers a total of 6-different stations while the 2980 has 4. If you are looking for more exercises to do with your home gym, the 6900 is the way to go.

Which Home Gym Is Better for Smaller Places?

There's not much difference in terms of footprint between these two home gyms. Both are about the same size. So, if you have limited space, either of these qualifies as among the best home gym equipment for small spaces and cramped gyms. 

How Do They Differ in Build Quality?

Both home gyms use 14-gauge powder-coated steel tubing. So, they are both very well built. I wouldn't worry too much about build quality when it comes to Weider's equipment. It's a reputed brand and there's no reason to believe that their products are not well made.

What is The Maximum User Weight on Each Home Gym?

The Weider Pro 6900 offers up to 300 lbs. of resistance while the 2980 is limited to 214 lbs. That's a big difference.

If you are a beginner or had stopped working out for months, the 214-pound weight limit on the 2980 will probably be more than enough. But if you are more advanced in your training, or if you plan on adding more weight over time, the 6900 will be a better choice.

Which One Implements More Safety Measures?

Both these models are built like tank with appropriate safety measures in place. Locks, levers, nuts, bolts, everything is tight and user-friendly.

Which One Is Easier to Set Up?

All of Weider's home gyms come with easy-to-follow assembly instructions, which also happens to be the case for such Marcy home gyms like the Marcy MWM 988 and MWM 990. So, you shouldn't have any trouble setting up either one of these machines. The instruction manual does not read like a Chinese 4th grader wrote it.

How Do Both Home Gyms Compare Price-Wise?

Once again, there's not much difference here. The Weider Pro 6900 is priced at around $336 while the 2980 is slightly cheaper at $279.

So, the price is not really a factor when choosing between these two home gyms.

How Is The Warranty on Each Home Gym?

Weider offers a 90-day warranty on parts and labor for all its products. This is pretty much the industry standard for home gyms.

What Do The Reviews Say on Each Product?

Both of these are well-reviewed products with the 6900 having slightly more reviews.

The 2980 has an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5.

The 6900 also has a 4.7-star rating but with almost double the number of reviews. Here's what the reviews for each one reads like.

Weider Pro 6900 Customer Reviews

With mostly positive reviews, the Weider Pro 6900 appears to be a good choice for a home gym.

"I have had this gym for about 2 years now and I absolutely love it. It was very easy to put together and is built like a tank."

"While I was skeptical about buying a home gym online without being able to try it first, I'm glad I took the plunge. This is an amazing machine for the price."

"The savior during the lockdowns. This gym has helped me stay in shape and not go stir crazy."

"I am very pleased with my purchase. The machine is well made and easy to use. I would have given it five stars if the paint near the low pulley hadn't started to peel"

Weider Pro 2980 Customer Reviews

The Weider Pro 2980 also has mostly positive reviews with a few people complaining about how quickly they outgrew the resistance limit.

"I bought this because I wanted to start working out at home and didn't want to spend a lot of money. It was very easy to put together and use. I am a beginner, so I can't comment on how long it will last or if more experienced people would find it too easy. "

"This is one of my best purchases in a long time. I am so happy with it. The 4 stations let me do a total workout. I highly recommend this to anyone."

"While I have no complaints about the product quality, I wish i'd spent the extra money for the 6900. I quickly outgrew this one and had to buy additional weights."

Weider Pro 6900 vs 2980: My Recommendation

As someone who's been fit my whole life, I would recommend the Weider Pro 6900. It's a great machine that won't break the bank, and it has enough resistance to keep even experienced users challenged. The 2980 is a great machine for beginners, but it won't last long if you're serious about working out.

Related Reading;

• Best Power Rack with Lat Pulldown
• Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym
• Best Home Gyms with a Leg Press Station – Top Bang for Buck Options
• Should I Squat and Bench on the Same Day or Should I Do Them on Separate Days?
• My Favorite Sissy Squat Machine
• How Much Does a Bench Press Bar Weigh?

Resources;

1. https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=144972601&page=1
2. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/weider-2980-x-home-gym-system-19weiu2980xxxxxxxgmu/19weiu2980xxxxxxxgmu