The good: The Rolls-Royce of multigyms. The Vectra is beautiful to look at and intelligently designed. It’s packed with clever design features, such as the drop-down leg curl, but its best feature by far is the option to instantly switch between free weight or fixed-path pressing, allowing you to target different muscles. It’s the next best thing to having a gigantic spotter.  

The bad: Do you have the best part of five grand to throw around?

MF verdict: For a self-adjusting, simple-to-operate machine that’s a pleasure to use, you can’t do better. 

The good: This seats up to three people at once and takes huge weights – the leg press alone will let you push up to 210kg. Fixed-range exercises mean it’s safe for inexperienced people, but a weight room's worth of workout options gives you plenty to do. And look at the lovely curvy design.

The bad: It takes up a significant amount of space – you may find it ends up in the garden. 

MF verdict: If you’re planning to work out with a partner, this could be the system for you.   

The good: For people who like free weights but want safety, the Powertec is the hardcore choice. Popular among bodybuilders, it allows more than a dozen of the most important exercises and you can add as much weight as you reckon you can handle – until you start benching over 250kg, it’ll take the strain easily.

The bad: For some reason, Powertec thinks the ‘hardcore’ set like their gear to be coloured like a JCB. And you have to buy your Olympic plates separately.

MF verdict: Perfect for people looking to get big, but it might look better in the garage than the living room. 

The good: An incredibly versatile cable multigym, the Torque offers an open exercise platform, so you can do your moves on an optional bench, a gym ball, or standing. The cables are almost silent and allow you to work according to your own range of motion. Best of all, the whole thing folds up into what looks like the teleportation cabinet from The Fly.

The bad: 100kg of plates will keep you going, but it's not quite enough for really hardcore lifters. 

MF verdict: A workout system with so many options that it should be impossible to get bored with your workout.