Ratings
How we rate equipment
Every rating breaks down into scores out of 5, each with the reason behind it, so you can see exactly why a product scored the way it did and decide what matters to you.
The rules we follow
- We say how we judged it. Most ratings today are made from the brand's published specs, prices and store policies. Value is judged on Canadian prices, or US prices for US-only brands like Titan. Each rating says whether it came from specs or from using the product ourselves.
- Every score has a reason built on facts you can check on the product page.
- We don't guess. If a brand leaves out an important fact, like a rack's steel thickness, the score goes down and the reason says what's missing, because you'd be buying without knowing. If something can't be judged at all, it shows “Can't tell yet” and doesn't count toward the overall score.
- The overall score is a plain average of every score we could give, worked out by the site. Nobody types it in, and no criterion is quietly weighted. A product needs at least three scores to get one.
- Money never changes a rating. Brands can't pay for a score, and store commissions (when we have any) play no part.
- Ratings stay current. If a price moves more than 15%, the value score gets redone, and every rating gets a fresh look at least once a year.
Buying in Canada or the US: worked out automatically
Every product gets this score for your country from the stores' own data, updated whenever we recheck prices. Each store offer for your country starts at 5 and loses points for: customs fees at delivery (−1.5, or −0.5 if unknown), shipping worked out at checkout (−1, or −0.5 when the store caps it), flat-rate shipping (−0.5), freight quotes or unknown shipping (−1), not being in stock right now (−0.5, or −2 if sold out) and provinces it won't deliver to (−0.5). The product gets the score of its best offer.
What we score, by type
Every type is also scored on Value and Buying in your country.
Power racksBuild quality · Safety · Attachments & versatility · Room fit
Build quality
How well is it made: steel thickness, upright size and hardware?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Safety
Does it come ready to lift alone safely: included safeties, how they work, bolting down?
- 5★
- Strong safeties included, easy to set at any height.
- 3★
- Basic safeties included.
- 1★
- Safeties sold separately, or no safe way to fail a lift.
Attachments & versatility
How much can it grow: hole spacing, attachments, pull-up bar, add-ons?
- 5★
- A big range of attachments and fine hole spacing for exact setup.
- 3★
- Common attachments fit; standard spacing.
- 1★
- Few or no add-ons; awkward spacing.
Room fit
How easily does it fit a home gym: heights offered, footprint, bolting down?
- 5★
- Small footprint, sizes for low ceilings, or easy to store away.
- 3★
- A normal footprint for its type.
- 1★
- Needs a big room or high ceiling, with no smaller option.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
BarbellsBuild quality · Knurl & grip · Sleeves & spin · Versatility
Build quality
How well is it made: steel strength, finish and rust protection?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Knurl & grip
How well does it suit your grip: shaft thickness, knurl marks, centre knurl?
- 5★
- Grip details published and suited to most lifters.
- 3★
- Standard grip details, or some not published.
- 1★
- Grip details unpublished or unusual for its purpose.
Sleeves & spin
How do the sleeves hold up and spin: bushings or bearings, loadable length?
- 5★
- Quality sleeve system and long loadable sleeves.
- 3★
- Standard sleeves for the price.
- 1★
- Sleeve build unknown or short sleeves.
Versatility
How many kinds of lifting is it good for: squats, bench, deadlifts, Olympic lifts?
- 5★
- Excellent all-rounder.
- 3★
- Fine for most lifts, best at a few.
- 1★
- Built for one style only.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
Weight platesBuild quality · Weight accuracy · Bar space & handling
Build quality
How well is it made: material, insert and durability?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Weight accuracy
How close is each plate to its stated weight?
- 5★
- A tight published tolerance, like calibrated plates.
- 3★
- A normal tolerance for bumper plates (about ±1–2%).
- 1★
- A loose tolerance. (None published at all = can't tell yet.)
Bar space & handling
How much fits on the bar, and how easy are they to load and store?
- 5★
- Thin plates, so lots of weight fits on the bar.
- 3★
- Normal bumper thickness.
- 1★
- Very thick; a bar fills up fast.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
BenchesBuild quality · Adjustability · Pads & comfort · Room fit
Build quality
How well is it made: frame steel, stability, weight capacity?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Adjustability
How many positions does it have, and how many exercises does that open up?
- 5★
- Many back and seat positions, plus decline.
- 3★
- The common incline positions.
- 1★
- Few positions or awkward gaps between them. (Flat benches aren't scored on this.)
Pads & comfort
Pad width, length and the gap between pads, as published.
- 5★
- Generous pads and a small gap.
- 3★
- Standard pads.
- 1★
- Narrow or short pads, or a big gap.
Room fit
How easily does it fit a home gym: footprint, wheels, upright storage?
- 5★
- Small footprint, sizes for low ceilings, or easy to store away.
- 3★
- A normal footprint for its type.
- 1★
- Needs a big room or high ceiling, with no smaller option.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
DumbbellsBuild quality · Ease of use · Weight range · Room fit
Build quality
How well is it made: materials, handles, how the weights lock?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Ease of use
How quickly and easily can you change weights or pick the right pair?
- 5★
- Quick changes or every weight ready to grab.
- 3★
- Workable but slower.
- 1★
- Fiddly or slow to use.
Weight range
How light and heavy do they go, and in what steps?
- 5★
- From light to heavy in small steps.
- 3★
- A useful range for most people.
- 1★
- A narrow range or big jumps.
Room fit
How easily does it fit a home gym: floor space, rack or cradle needs?
- 5★
- Small footprint, sizes for low ceilings, or easy to store away.
- 3★
- A normal footprint for its type.
- 1★
- Needs a big room or high ceiling, with no smaller option.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
KettlebellsBuild quality · Handle · Weight range
Build quality
How well is it made: casting, finish and handle?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Handle
Handle thickness and finish, as published.
- 5★
- Handle size and finish published and suited to swings and presses.
- 3★
- Standard handle.
- 1★
- Handle details unpublished.
Weight range
How many sizes, and how light and heavy?
- 5★
- A wide range in small steps.
- 3★
- The common sizes.
- 1★
- Only a few sizes.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
Cable machinesBuild quality · Exercise range · Resistance · Room fit
Build quality
How well is it made: frame, pulleys and cables?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Exercise range
How many exercises does it open up: pulley positions, cable travel, attachments?
- 5★
- Many pulley positions and long cable travel.
- 3★
- The common positions.
- 1★
- Few positions or short travel.
Resistance
How light and heavy can the cables go, and in what steps?
- 5★
- From very light to heavy in small steps.
- 3★
- A useful range for most people.
- 1★
- Too light for strong lifters, or big jumps.
Room fit
How easily does it fit a home gym: footprint and height?
- 5★
- Small footprint, sizes for low ceilings, or easy to store away.
- 3★
- A normal footprint for its type.
- 1★
- Needs a big room or high ceiling, with no smaller option.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
TreadmillsBuild quality · Workout features · Room fit
Build quality
How well is it made: frame, motor or belt, weight capacity?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Workout features
What kinds of workouts does it support: modes, resistance, tracking?
- 5★
- Many modes and good tracking.
- 3★
- The basics.
- 1★
- Very limited.
Room fit
How easily does it fit a home gym: footprint, height, folding?
- 5★
- Small footprint, sizes for low ceilings, or easy to store away.
- 3★
- A normal footprint for its type.
- 1★
- Needs a big room or high ceiling, with no smaller option.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
BikesBuild quality · Workout features · Room fit
Build quality
How well is it made: frame, drive and weight capacity?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Workout features
What does it offer: resistance range, monitor, tracking, adjustability?
- 5★
- Wide resistance and good tracking.
- 3★
- The basics.
- 1★
- Very limited.
Room fit
How easily does it fit a home gym: footprint and how easy it is to move?
- 5★
- Small footprint, sizes for low ceilings, or easy to store away.
- 3★
- A normal footprint for its type.
- 1★
- Needs a big room or high ceiling, with no smaller option.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
RowersBuild quality · Workout features · Room fit
Build quality
How well is it made: frame, drive and weight capacity?
- 5★
- Top-tier materials and finish for home use; built to outlast you.
- 3★
- Solid, standard materials for the price range.
- 1★
- Thin or low-grade materials, or important facts not published.
Workout features
What does it offer: resistance, monitor, tracking, adjustability?
- 5★
- Wide resistance and good tracking.
- 3★
- The basics.
- 1★
- Very limited.
Room fit
How easily does it fit a home gym: length in use and storage?
- 5★
- Small footprint, sizes for low ceilings, or easy to store away.
- 3★
- A normal footprint for its type.
- 1★
- Needs a big room or high ceiling, with no smaller option.
Value
Is the Canadian price fair for what you get, compared with similar gear?
- 5★
- Clearly more for the money than similar products.
- 3★
- A fair price for what it is.
- 1★
- You pay a lot more than similar products for the same thing.
Buying in your country
How easy is it to get delivered where you live: shipping, customs fees and stock?
- 5★
- In stock, free shipping and no customs fees.
- 3★
- Some extra cost or wait, such as shipping worked out at checkout or a pre-order.
- 1★
- Customs fees, unknown shipping and no stock.
Questions or corrections
Spotted a wrong fact or think a score is off? Tell us through the contact on our About page. We fix mistakes quickly and note when a rating changes.