It Deserves a Spot in Your Home Gym
Let’s face it, when it comes to home workout machines, size does matter … but so does performance. This Torque trainer wins on both fronts. Here’s my no-frills review.
As a lifelong fitness enthusiast who’s hopped from stepper machines to hiking trails to nostalgic 1990s hip-hop dance video workouts (so embarrassing), I know what I want in a home gym setup: something that works everything, takes up minimal space, and doesn’t require a degree in mechanical engineering to use.
Over the years, I’ve found that most home gym equipment is either so bulky it takes over the room, or so flimsy it barely qualifies as exercise, eventually becoming a vehicle to hang-dry my laundry. So, when researching machines, I was looking for things like size, usability, and performance.
A Little Background on Me
Let’s rewind to my very first experience with a home gym. Adidas swishy pants, hair up in a scrungy, TLC “No Scrubs” playing in the background (hey, it was the 90s), and a big, bulky Bowflex that looked like it could double as a Mars rover. It was an eyesore, but I loved it. It was easy to use, never left me feeling overstrained, and gave me a full-body tone workout without being sore in the morning. The downside? It took up half the room and had all the subtle charm of a refrigerator wearing resistance rods.
Fast forward to today. I’m still just as passionate about fitness, but health-wise, things are changing for me. I’m entering perimenopause, and my percentage of muscle mass vs. fat reserves at this stage is starting to shift. Suddenly, my weekend warrior cardio workouts and daily hikes were doing nothing for my waistline and my toned body was getting soft. I had stalled out.
According to my body composition scale, though I was exercising every day, the only thing I was losing was muscle mass. My body was in stress mode, and I was now storing my fat and burning my tone. My dietitian didn’t mince words with me: it was time to start lifting again – at least 2-3 times a week. Strength training was the only thing that would reset my metabolism, but how could I do that from home?
As far as workout machines, I’ve already got a Bowflex Max Trainer (love that thing), so I naturally thought of upgrading with another Bowflex full-body machine, the upgraded model I used back in the 90s. But ugh – they’re still so bulky. And I simply do not have the square footage to sacrifice a whole room. So I hit the internet, looking for something compact and powerful that would do the job.
The Torque F9 Fold-Away Functional Trainer blew me away with its specs. It was sleek, effective, and (best part!) it folds up to about the size of a bookshelf (a unicorn in the home gym world).
Torque F9 Immediately Got My Attention (For All The Right Reasons)
If you’ve ever wrestled a treadmill back into the corner after a sweaty session, you’ll understand the appeal of a machine that folds away. This thing was made for people like me, fitness lovers who want to lift without giving up their guest room or living space. It’s sleek, commercial-quality, and folds up tighter than my old college jeans. But it’s not just about space-saving. This machine brings the heat with legit features:
:: Dual adjustable cable columns for hundreds of exercise combinations
:: Smooth cable pull that’s easy on joints (and the ego)
:: Accessory starter pack: squat harness, leg boot, straight bar, short straps, universal strap, and snap hooks (I love that Torque doesn’t nickel and dime us here, everything is included!)
:: Three weight stack options: 150 lb, 200 lb, or 225 lb per side (customizable for your goals)
Need help choosing a stack?
:: 150 lb stacks are perfect for beginners or users focused on toning
:: 200 lb stacks offer a solid challenge for intermediate lifters
:: 225 lb stacks are ideal for serious strength work or shared family use
When closed, the F9 takes up only 28 inches in depth (about the size of a medium bookshelf or a compact IKEA wardrobe). When open, it expands to 61 inches wide, 42 inches deep, and 84 inches tall. It’s about the width of a loveseat and the depth of a coffee table. Easy to tuck into a corner or against a wall without swallowing the room.
Basically, anyone looking to lift or tone up, and has limited square footage will love this machine:
:: Apartment dwellers craving full-body workouts
:: Households who don’t want to commit an entire room to a fitness space
:: Multi-taskers and “do-it-alls” who want to stay fit between morning and bedtime routines
:: Anyone who needs a consistent, full-body strength routine (hi, perimenopause!)
One Machine. Works Every Muscle.
You’re not stuck with one cable and two sad handles here. This machine gives you options. Here’s a little cheat sheet of exercises for each body area, so you can see how this compact machine works you from shoulders to calves. I’ve also included the matching accessory needed for each, because the parts can be a little confusing (and intimidating) at first, especially to newbies – but I got you:
BODY AREA EXCERCISE ACCESSORY
Chest——————–Cable Chest Fly———————Short Strap Handles
Back———————Standing Cable Row—————Straight Bar
Shoulders————–Face Pulls—————————–Universal Strap
Arms———————Bicep Curls—————————Straight Bar
Legs———————Cable Squats————————-Squat Harness
Glutes——————-Glute Kickback———————–Leg Boot Harness
Core———————Standing Cable Crunch————Universal Strap
Top 5 Reasons the Torque F9 Is A Superstar Home Gym
:: Space-saving genius – Folds down to just 28″ deep, giving you your room back
:: Ultra-smooth cable pull – Low-impact, prevents injury, and enhances form
:: Built to last – Commercial-grade quality without the gym membership
:: Complete accessory kit included – You’re ready to work out on day one
:: Flexible weight stacks – Choose the level that matches your goals and strength journey
Bonus: It’s multi-functional, giving you the same workout as resistance bands, rowing, cycling, weight stations, and more, so you can get a total body workout without collecting 17 random machines.
Overall Usability
Some reviewers have noted that the setup isn’t plug-and-play. It can be a bit tricky solo, especially if you’re not a fan of DIY assembly. That said, once it’s up? The machine is incredibly intuitive. The cables adjust easily, the motion is silky smooth, and swapping out accessories takes seconds.
If you can assemble IKEA furniture without losing your mind, you’ve got this. If you’re like me, maybe hire some help or consider bribing a friend with pizza.
Pros:
:: Compact, foldable design
:: Comes with all key accessories
:: Smooth cable action
:: Heavy-duty, commercial-quality build
:: Fits multiple fitness levels with three stack sizes
Cons:
:: Setup is time-consuming
:: Price is mid-to-high range for home trainers
:: No built-in screen or guided workout app (which some competitors offer, for a price)
Final Score: 4.7/5 Stars
If you don’t want to sacrifice space, versatility, or quality in your home workouts, the Torque F9 Fold-Away Trainer is a standout. It’s sleek, solid, and surprisingly compact, giving you the power of a full gym in the footprint of a bookshelf. As someone who’s done everything from kayaking to step machine marathons, I can tell you: this machine has a lot to offer. And there’s something to be said about no gym fees, being able to work out any time of day you want, and having a home gym in your home that you won’t be tripping over every day. A solid machine and a good investment for overall health!
