I had the chance to put the RitFit M1 Home Gym to the test with a full-body workout lasting about an hour. Below, I’ve broken down my experience based on a series of review questions to give a complete and thorough overview of the machine’s performance and usability.
Key Takeaway
Overall, the RitFit M1 is a solid, exceptionally well-designed home gym machine that delivers great value for money and functionality. Well worth the purchase.
I workout and lift weights, alongside playing other sports such as volleyball, and one of the key features of the machine is its exceptional versatility. I can see this working for everyone from powerlifters and functional fitness athletes, right through to casual lifters, or middle aged and older individuals that want to stay in shape and get stronger.
If you have the space, the RitFit M1 can 100% serve as a complete gym in its own right.
✅ Highlights of the RitFit M1 Home Gym Machine
- Solid Construction: Sturdy frame with minimal movement during use.
- Rotating Bar Design: Locks into place under pressure for smooth, controlled rotations.
- Multiple Attachments Included: Supports a variety of exercises including dips and pull-ups.
- Good Ergonomics for Tall Users: Comfortable for tall users.
- Stable Performance: No wobbling or instability during a full workout session.
- Clear Assembly Instructions: Easy to follow, even if a bit labor-intensive.
- Cable Functionality: Smooth operation on one side, with a simple fix needed on the other.
- Workout Grip Comfort: Handles feel solid and work well with or without gloves.
- Pull-up and Dip Functionality: Bar positioning and height are well-suited for bodyweight movements.
- Great Value for a Home Gym: Compact yet versatile, suitable for a wide range of workouts.
⚠️ Considerations for the RitFit M1 Home Gym Machine
- Requires Two People for Assembly: Some components are heavy and need precise alignment.
- Pull-up Bar Best Used with Chalk: Chalk recommended for better grip; a more textured finish would help.
Overall Construction and Materials
The RitFit M1 is built with a solid structure, and overall, I was very impressed with the sturdiness.
One standout feature is the rotating bar – when pressure is applied, it locks in position and rotates smoothly, which enhances the functionality of the lateral movements.osition and rotates smoothly, which enhances the functionality of the lateral movements.
The machine also includes a variety of accessories. I used the attachments to set up a dip station between the two main bars. Despite a small amount of movement when under load (as expected with most home gym units), nothing felt unstable or dangerously loose. Especially its aluminum pulley, which delivers smooth performance and adds to the machine’s long-term durability.
The frame feels stable and well-constructed. After just one day of use, no mechanical issues have appeared yet, though I did notice a few areas that might benefit from minor manufacturing adjustments.
Assembly Process
Assembly was fairly straightforward, though definitely a two-person job. The parts are heavy, and aligning the weight plates and crossbars requires coordination and some strength. At one point, I had to step in and help the installers to align the guide rods with the plates, especially since our ceiling height was limited.
To get all the plates installed correctly, we had to lift and lock in several plates first before installing the remaining ones. A power tool and a wrench were essential to hold bolts in place and screw them in tightly – I’d recommend having both ready before you start.
The instructions were clear and easy to follow, which made the process more manageable. Still, I wouldn’t recommend attempting solo assembly unless you have extensive experience with gym equipment.
The machine offers you the option of bolting the frame to the floor for extra strength and stability. I chose to
Comfort and Ergonomics
At 6’4” (193 cm), I often struggle with home gym equipment being too small – but the RitFit M1 held up surprisingly well. I was able to fully stand and use the pull-up bar without hitting the top of the machine. When seated, I had enough leg room, and the dips felt natural and comfortable to perform.
The grips are comfortable whether using workout gloves or going bare-handed. For pull-ups, I did find the bar to be a bit slippery, so I added some chalk for extra grip. A more textured finish would make it even better for high-rep pull sessions.
RitFit M1: Exercises
To fully understand the versatility of the machine, its helpful to see the breadth of exercises that can be performed.
Upper Body Exercises
Chest
- Flat, incline, and decline bench presses (Smith machine or free bar)
- Cable chest flys (high and low pulley)
- Cable chest presses
- Incline push-ups
- Chest dips
Back
- Lat pulldowns
- Seated cable rows
- Standing cable rows
- Straight-arm pulldowns
- Pull-ups and chin-ups (multi-grip bar)
- Bent-over rows (Smith machine or free bar)
- Landmine rows
I really enjoyed the different grips on the machine. This allowed me to easily switch between chin ups and pull ups in wide, close, mixed and neutral grip formations.
Shoulders
- Seated or standing shoulder presses (Smith machine or free bar)
- Cable lateral raises
- Cable rear delt flys
- Upright rows
- Landmine shoulder presses
Arms
- Cable bicep curls (single or double arm)
- Triceps pushdowns (rope or bar)
- Overhead triceps extensions (cable)
- Triceps dips
This is another area of training where the M1 excels. With the various cable attachments, you can vary the grips and techniques you need to maximize arm hypertrophy and strength gains.
Trapezius
- Barbell shrugs (Smith machine or free bar)
- Rear shrugs
Lower Body Exercises
Quads & Hamstrings
- Back squats (Smith machine or free bar)
- Front squats
- Bulgarian split squats
- Lunges (walking or stationary)
- Romanian deadlifts (Smith machine or free bar)
- Stiff-leg deadlifts
- Lying vertical leg press (using Smith machine)
Glutes
- Hip thrusts (Smith machine or free bar)
- Sumo squats
- Cable kickbacks
Calves
- Standing calf raises (Smith machine)
- Seated calf raises (with bench and barbell)
Core & Functional Training
Core
- Kneeling cable crunches
- Hanging knee raises
- Hanging windshield wipers
- Standing cable woodchoppers
- Hanging knees to elbows
Functional & Full-Body
- Landmine rotations (core and obliques)
- Landmine presses
- Cable face pulls
- Cable pull-throughs (glutes and hamstrings)
- Resistance band exercises (using band pegs)
The Main Benefits of the Machine for Bodybuilders
The RitFit M1 offers several powerful benefits for bodybuilders aiming to maximize muscle growth, variety, and training efficiency. Here’s how it stands out:
Full-Body Isolation & Compound Workouts
- Target every muscle group with both isolation and compound movements.
- Train chest, back, legs, arms, shoulders, and core without switching machines.
- Ideal for bodybuilding splits (e.g., push/pull/legs, bro splits, or full-body routines).
Smith Machine for Controlled Lifting
- Provides a guided barbell path, which helps bodybuilders safely lift heavier without a spotter.
- Great for hypertrophy training — push closer to failure with reduced injury risk.
- Allows for progressive overload with precision.
Dual Pulley System for Constant Tension
- Cables create continuous tension, ideal for hypertrophy and muscle activation.
- Supports a huge variety of isolation exercises (curls, flys, tricep pushdowns, etc.).
- Adjustable height allows versatile angles to hit muscles differently.
Landmine & Free Bar Attachments
- Add functional strength movements like landmine presses, rows, and twists.
- Perfect for training stabilizers and adding variety to standard barbell lifts.
Progression Across All Experience Levels
- Suitable for beginners to advanced lifters.
- Can be used with progressive overload, drop sets, supersets, rest-pause, and more.
- Facilitates both mass-building phases (bulking) and cutting phases with high-volume training.
Safe Solo Training
- Safety stoppers on the Smith machine and integrated safety arms allow you to train to failure safely.
- Great for solo lifters pushing max loads without needing a spotter.
Compact All-in-One Solution
- Replaces the need for multiple machines (lat pulldown, cable crossover, squat rack, etc.).
- Space-saving for home gyms without compromising training variety.
- Keeps all accessories in one place, making transitions between exercises smoother.
Mind-Muscle Connection & Technique Work
- Machines allow for better control during movements.
- Helps bodybuilders refine technique and improve mind-muscle connection—crucial for hypertrophy.
4-Day Muscle-Building Split (M1 Smith Machine)
To provide context for the exercises, here is a sample 4-day muscle-building (hypertrophy) split designed specifically for the RitFit M1 Multi-Functional Smith Machine.
It’s structured to target each major muscle group with progressive overload, volume, and variety — the key pillars of hypertrophy.
General Guidelines
- Reps: 8–12 (hypertrophy sweet spot)
- Sets: 3–4
- Rest: 60–90 seconds between sets
- Tempo: Controlled (e.g., 2-1-2)
- Progression: Add weight or reps weekly
Day 1 – Chest & Triceps
Smith Machine Incline Bench Press – 4×10
Cable Chest Flys (high to low) – 3×12
Smith Machine Flat Press (drop set on final set) – 4×10
Dips (assisted if needed) – 3xAMRAP
Triceps Pushdowns (rope) – 4×12
Overhead Cable Extensions (single-arm) – 3×12
Finisher:
Cable chest press burnout – 2×15 (light weight, slow tempo)
Day 2 – Back & Biceps
Lat Pulldowns (wide grip) – 4×10
Seated Cable Rows (neutral grip) – 4×12
Smith Machine Bent-Over Rows – 3×10
Landmine Rows (one arm) – 3×12/side
Cable Bicep Curls (EZ bar or rope) – 4×12
Concentration Cable Curls (single-arm) – 3×10
Finisher:
High cable curls (facing away) – 2×15
Day 3 – Legs & Glutes
Smith Machine Back Squats – 4×10
Bulgarian Split Squats (using Smith or dumbbells) – 3×12/leg
Cable Pull-Throughs – 3×15
Romanian Deadlifts (Smith) – 4×10
Standing Calf Raises (Smith) – 4×15
Cable Kickbacks (glutes) – 3×15/side
Finisher:
Lying leg press (Smith machine setup) – 2×20 slow reps
Day 4 – Shoulders & Core
Smith Machine Overhead Press (seated) – 4×10
Cable Lateral Raises – 4×12
Rear Delt Cable Flys – 3×15
Landmine Shoulder Press (single-arm) – 3×10
Cable Upright Rows – 3×12
Hanging Leg Raises (core) – 3×15
Cable Woodchoppers (low to high) – 3×12/side
Finisher:
Cable face pulls – 2×20
Optional Weekly Flow
- Day 1: Chest/Triceps
- Day 2: Back/Biceps
- Day 3: Rest or Active Recovery
- Day 4: Legs/Glutes
- Day 5: Shoulders/Core
- Day 6: Rest
- Day 7: Optional cardio or light mobility
Things to Look Out for
Because my garage space is limited, I had to install the weight storage holders on the side of the RitFit M1 machine. This means it needs to sit a bit further from the wall – something to consider for smaller home setups.
Additionally, the material of the weight plates is a little bit slippery. For anyone planning to use them for exercises requiring a firm grip (like weighted carries), you might find it challenging unless you’re wearing gloves.
One bolt seemed overly tight, which was causing a cable holder not to move properly on one side. The other side functioned perfectly, so I suspect it’s just a minor adjustment needed during setup.
Another thing to note: when adjusting the cable system, I found that the cable doesn’t retract smoothly when pulled down unless manually helped back into position. This is a small mechanical quirk that may need some manufacturer attention.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the RitFit M1 is a solid, well-designed home gym machine that delivers superb value for its size and functionality.
With proper assembly, it becomes a highly functional unit for a variety of exercises. The minor issues I encountered didn’t interfere with my workout in any way and were all easily addressed.
The weight stack is an optional extra, but was certainly useful during the test.
Whether you’re tight on space or looking for a comprehensive home gym setup, the M1 is a hugely reliable option. Bring a friend for assembly day then enjoy the incredible flexibility, durability and quality that this machine offers.
See the full RITFIT range at RITFIT Sports Site, Instagram and there’s a product explainer on YouTube
This article was created in partnership with RitFit. All opinions are based on my personal hands-on testing and experience.
