There had been debates for year about which resistance training is best for your body. Each training method has advantages and disadvantages. The answer depends on your goals, budget and access to a good gym. In most cases it is best to use a combination of both kind of equipment.
Free Weights vs Machines
| Examples | FREE WEIGHTS | MACHINES |
| Advantages |
simple, easy to use, relatively inexpensive required balnce resulting in better coordination and greater muscle utilization provides for greater variability easy to maintain, take up very little space exercises resemble real-life movements |
safe, easy to use good for beginners because less balance is required productivity in a short amount of time requires less supervision ideal for circuit training |
| Disadvantages |
requires strength to maintain balance and coordination accidents are more likely to happen spotters are required complete workouts may take up more time inability to train through full range of motion in many exercises poor matching of resistance of strength curve |
lack of development of balance and coordination contrained movement patterns machines are expensive machines take up a lot of space |