Charleston, South Carolina

I train people on this stuff for a living

I'm Nick. I'm a personal trainer and I run Lift Lab Charleston. Every machine I review gets used in real sessions, by me and by my clients, for weeks before I say anything about it publicly.

That last part is the whole thing. Most gear reviews are one person's opinion after a week. I get to watch a 6'3" powerlifter and a 62-year-old beginner use the same leg press in the same afternoon. They find completely different problems with it, and you only hear about those if someone's actually coaching both of them.

How I Test

The same process on every piece of equipment.

Weeks, not an unboxing

Equipment goes into my actual programming and stays there. Things that feel great on day one, like padding and locking mechanisms, are usually what start annoying you in week three.

Real clients, real bodies

Different heights, different strength levels, different injury histories. That's how you find out a hack squat is too heavy out of the bottom for a beginner, or that a footplate is an inch too short for most people.

In a garage, not a studio

I review home gym equipment from a home gym. Footprint, loading space, and whether you can walk around the thing matter as much as the specs, and they never show up on a spec sheet.

If it's got problems,
I'm going to say so

I'm an affiliate for most of the brands on this site, and I still write about the flex, the cheap handles, and the attachment that isn't worth using. A review that only lists good things isn't a review. If the honest version costs me a partnership, that's a fine trade.

Credentials

Because it's fair to ask.

Certifications

NASM CPT/PRECISION NUTRITION/STARTING STRENGTH

Training Clients Since

2013

Gym

LiftLab Charleston

Where To Next

Read the Reviews Partner Discounts Work With Me

ABOUT US

HOW THE PLAN WORKS?

LET'S START WORKOUT WITH US!

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