RitFit M1 Multi-functional Smith Machine – Our Review

Few pieces of equipment in the home exercise industry are as comprehensive and versatile as this all-in-one gym system.

The robust system provides a natural, centered bar path for a comprehensive range of compound lifts like squats, presses, and rows. The Ritfit M1 also incorporates an entire strength training circuit with a dual cable crossover stations, and a full rack of precision-engineered attachments and accessories.

Is this a “cancel your gym membership” – level of rack, though…?

Let’s take a look!

Shipping/Delivery

I received delivery information from RitFit and the overall shipping process was timely and seamless. It arrived in three securely-taped boxes and I had little doubt that the rack/merchandise would be delivered without blemish.

Interestingly enough, a previous shipment I received from RitFit was similarly packaged and delivered, although it actually did contain a couple of slightly damaged pieces. Thankfully, no problems this time (although even last time, the company was quick to replace the two damaged pieces very quickly and at no charge to me).

Shipping/Delivery Rating: 100

Assembly

Like most (all?) home racks, you cut those boxes open and have about 14,934 pieces, nuts, bolts, and washers looking back up at you. The M1 is…not different. Laying out all the components and hardware in an organized manner is highly recommended to streamline the assembly process.

Also like most rack builds, the M1 is a bit of arranging and connecting parts…and a lot of tightening. Having an extra pair of hands to assist with lifting and holding the bulky frame sections in place (along with assisting with said tightening) is also invaluable.

Despite the lack of written instructions, the clear pictorial guide provides a roadmap that made the build achievable with a little assistance from a friend of mine. All in all, assembly time took nearly 4.5 hours to construct everything; 80% of that time involved simply tightening and adjusting bolts.

Assembly Rating: 90

Construction/Steel

Like many home gym racks, the M1 is composed of 14-guage steel. Although this steel is somewhat common in the industry, it is on the lighter and thinner side. However, this certainly isn’t a dealbreaker and, as we’ll see below, I haven’t found it to have any significant negative impacts on the rack’s overall stability.

The M1’s uprights are 2×2-inch, making them not only more resilient and durable than the less common 2×3-inch variety, but also generally more compatible with a higher number of non-branded accessory items.

Construction/Steel Rating: 70

Stability

Despite the relatively thin steel, the M1’s build quality is excellent and it has been well-engineered to promote a stable lifting experience. This has proven to be true when I have performed both free weight/barbell exercises, dropping the bar from a short distance onto the safety bars or into the J-cups. In either case, rack sway and movement has been minimal.

To be more specific, when performing body-weight dips that shifted my full mass back and forth, explosive pull-ups that saw me aggressively kipping or grinding out sets of heavy barbell shrugs that transferred tremendous force into the machine, the M1’s foundation never wavered.

If you’re concerned with your rack floating around (like, in a bad way), there are four areas on the bottom where bolts can be inserted to better secure it to the ground. I didn’t find these to be necessary (I didn’t bolt mine in), but this would undoubtedly add another degree of stability to the machine.

The Smith Machine also gives no indication that it is incapable of maintaining it’s intended flow/barbell path, remaining perfectly in line under heavier loads.

Stability Rating: 100

Functionality

Whenever we talk about a combined power rack and Smith Machine, it can be difficult to recognize the sheer number of exercises possible from the equipment in question. The M1 is no exception and even the most “creative” lifters would be hard pressed to find a traditional exercise that they were unable to perform with it.

The cable resistance comes courtesy of durable aircraft cables running through self-leveling pulleys. Of course, there are standard safety bars, J-cups, and pull-up bar common in most home gym power cages. Cable resistance comes courtesy of durable aircraft cables running through self-levelling pulleys.

Non-Smith Machine-phobes would likely argue that the M1’s centerpiece is the heavy-duty Smith Machine with its 7-degree slanted slider rail. This allows for a smooth, natural bar path that mimics free weight movements. 

As mentioned in the “Stability” portion above, the Smith Machine operates effectively, even when its barbell is loaded up, ensuring balance and safety when performing movements like squats, presses, rows, and deadlifts (well…I should say, Smith Machine squats, Smith Machine presses, Smith Machine rows, and Smith Machine deadlifts).

Although needing to lock your wrist with very big weight was not ideal, the slope lessens some of the shearing forces compared to a vertical Smith.

An adjustable bench can be used alone with the safety catches provided, or it can be utilized in perfect harmony with the Smith machine to perform Smith Machine bench presses at different angles. This makes a variety of dumbbell movements possible, including focused curls, flyes, and rises. However, when performing a lot of these non-Smith Machine exercises, I found that it was useful to rack the bar as high as possible because it tends to obstruct the use of the bench for auxiliary motions.

For cable crossing attachments like ropes, bars, or handles, the low pulley arrangement is combined with a high pulley overhead on the other side. Exercises for your back, shoulders, and arms can be done with this cable station, including lateral lifts, upright rows, and tricep pushdowns.

When performing cable exercises, the self-leveling pulleys give smooth, steady strain. However, keep in mind that the cable system is retractable, so the more weight you use, the faster it may break out of your hands when trying to rack it. I haven’t run into a problem with this, but I would suggest easing into the weights you use with these.

Another problem I encountered was that instead of having an easily adjustable cable (where each cable can be adjusted with a quicky twist and pull), the cables must be screwed in and out of place. Much of the time, this isn’t all that bothersome, but if I’m performing some type of HIIT workout, the breaks to manually unscrew and tighten the levels were longer than I had experienced and diminished some of the intensity.

Functionality: 90

Accessory Compatibility

With only a few “non-standard” accessories included (two lat pulldown handles, a T-bar, landmine, and footplate for low lat pulls) being included in the base M1 package, if the rack interests you, you might want to check out supplemental accessory items.

As it is, the included items allow for a combination of lat workouts from different angles. The low row footplate anchors your feet for seated cable rows smashing your back and biceps, though sizing feels a bit cramped.

RitFit offers a few different accessory items that are guaranteed to fit the M1, but none of these are really that groundbreaking. Given the 2×2-inch uprights, there are a lot of non-branded accessory items that fit this rather common upright circumference.

Accessory Compatibility: 80

Price

As more and more home Smith Machine/power cage or rack combinations have come on the market, there has been a greater number of truly affordable combo machines hitting the market. While these vary in overall functionality and general quality, it’s important to recognize the rather large price range this segment boasts.

Smith Machine/power cage or rack combos rarely go for less than $700 with very few going for under $800. At the time of this writing, this places the M1 in the still relatively limited company (in a good way!) at its price point.

Considering the rack’s overall functionality, I would argue that its price is good not only in absolute terms and relative to other racks, but also in regard to overall value.

The price point gets a little sweeter if you use GGREVISITED at checkout. You’ll get about $65 off and the PSR05 gains a few points in this area.

Price Score: 90*** (if GGREVISITED is used at checkout)

Customer Reviews

As of this writing, I have been able to find too many customer reviews for the M1.

On the RitFit website, the M1 is currently sporting four five-star reviews. This is obviously not the biggest sample size, but at least they’re all “perfect” scores.

On Amazon, the M1 has gotten a bit more attention (10 reviews) and overall 4.9 rating (out of 5). Still not the biggest sample size (14 total reviews), but with so many 5-star reviews, enough to instill a degree of confidence in the rack.

The “robust design” and “adaptability of the cable stations and accessories for a complete at-home workout” were the reasons listed for the positive reviews. The primary grievances appear to be related to the expensive cost (particularly when upgrading) and necessary space requirements/overall footprint.

Ultimately, the majority of owners appear content with the effectiveness and quality of the purchase.

Customer Reviews Score: 99

Customer Service

I have never personally been in contact with RitFit’s customer service personnel and did have any contact with them before or after I received the M1. However, other members of our team, most notably Tom, have spoken with RitFit’s people on a few occasions.

When a couple of pieces included with previous RitFit equipment we reviewed were slightly damaged on arrival, RitFit personnel were quick to ship out the exact replacement products without any additional charge. They also followed up on the parts, wanting to make sure that they had not only been received, but also that they were in good working order and able to complete the racks with.

Customer Service Score: 100

Who is the RitFit M1 really for?

I’m having a more difficult time thinking about who wouldn’t enjoy having a little fun with the various cables, attachments, and general utility the M1 provides.

With that being said, let’s take a look at who would enjoy the M1 the most (and who it might be a bit…much for):

Strength or Aesthetics-chasing Trainees

Serious home gym enthusiasts looking for a comprehensive all-in-one strength training solution will likely get their wish with the M1. This population could include bodybuilders (who will appreciate the cables and Smith Machine) as well as powerlifters (who will appreciate the racks durability and ability to perform common complementary lifts).

Those with a Little More Space

The M1 doesn’t have the biggest footprint, but it is a bit bigger than some of the more “space-saving” rack options. The ideal M1 trainee likely has a home or garage workout area they can devote some floor space to (approx 7×6 feet).

…and if you’re on the fence and trying to think about where to come up with some space…well…do your kids really need separate bedrooms?

Not for more “Focused” Lifters

A lot of lifters need a rack to balance and hold their barbell, a bench, and some plates. Most Olympic lifters don’t even need this much equipment.

If you don’t see the point of the Smith Machine now or if your discipline relies on more “functional” movements, all of the M1’s cables and pulleys might seem a bit superfluous…and unnecessary for your specific needs.

How we tested the RitFit M1

I put the RitFit M1 through its paces with a strength and powerbuilding routine. My main goal in these efforts was to “train” my body into gaining the most muscle possible, while focusing on form and maintaining strength. 

Prior to working with the M1, my programming didn’t involve all that much Smith Machine work and I found myself implementing more of these movements over the time where I was primarily using the machine.

In addition to more focused training, the cable pulley system enabled me to prioritize prehab and athletic performance. This complemented my compound lifts with improved shoulder integrity and torso stability.

M1 Alternatives

As mentioned earlier, the Smith Machine/power cage combo market has been steadily growing over the last few months and years. If you like a lot about what the M1 is putting out, but it isn’t quite right for your purposes, take a look at some racks that are pretty similar, but with their own distinctive charms and advantages:

Frequently Asked Questions

Investing in a piece of home gym equipment like the RitFit M1 is nothing to sneeze at. Let’s take a look at a few more questions (and answers!) to help you decide whether or not to pull the trigger…

The RitFit M1…Versatility at the “Base” Level

The M1 offers a lot of versatility and a few unique nuggets for Smith Machine/power rack combo enthusiasts. From being capable of handling heavy powerlifting sessions to facilitating a range of bodybuilding isolation exercises a diverse group of home lifters will likely be very appreciative of what they’re able to do with it.

Some minor drawbacks like slightly cramped footplates, annoying cable pulley adjustment process and rather pedestrian hardware are outweighed by the machine’s overall utility and competitive price point. Most home gym athletes would appreciate the M1 and would need to train for a long time to outgrow its capabilities.

As we finish things up, I encourage you to check out our definitive guide to the best Smith Machines on the market today.. The M1 has a spot on this list, but if it turns out not to be the piece for you, maybe one of the other 7 in our review will work out better!