The Arcadia vs. the Arcadia Max Functional Trainer

They’re siblings, but they’re not twins. Here’s a look at what makes the Arcadia™ functional trainer different from her big sister, the Arcadia™ max functional trainer. Hint: It's more than just size.

First, let's properly meet the two characters of discussion.  

What is the Arcadia™ Functional Trainer? 

The Arcadia™ functional trainer is REP's first functional trainer designed by REP's Colorado-based engineering team from the ground up. The Arcadia™ functional trainer has:  

• the same awesome trolleys seen on our popular Ares™ cable attachment and Athena™ attachment  
• 10lb increment, selectorized weight stacks  
• in-house-designed, knurled handles  
• 32 cable positions  
• dual weight stacks that top out at 170lbs each, for a total of 340lbs at a 2:1 ratio (moving 100lbs feels like 50lbs). Upgrade the stacks to 220lbs each, for a total of 440lbs at a 2:1 ratio.  
• hot-rolled steel plates 
• 5lb (feels like 2.5lbs) add-on weights for micro-adjustments  
• integrated band pegs on the base and headplate to hit the maximum resistance of 540lbs 
• a magnetized adjustment pin that slides in smoothly 
• high-quality, galvanized wire cables with a raw-steel core 
• 180-degree swivel pulleys 
• patent-pending, lightweight trolleys equipped with plastic liners, knurled handles, and oversized pop-pins 
• laser-cut numbers on the front of the uprights 
• an integrated multi-grip pull-up bar 
• two steel D-handles with nylon straps 
• three heavy-duty, laser-cut pegboards with nine 4” and three 6” pegs for storage of small attachments  
• a metallic powder coating  
  
  

What is the Arcadia™ Max Functional Trainer? 

The Arcadia™ max functional trainer was also designed by REP’s engineers in Colorado. Consider it the big sister of the Arcadia™ functional trainer. The Arcadia™ max functional trainer has: 

• the unique trolleys of the Ares™ cable machine and Athena™ attachments 
• 10lb increment, selectorized weight stacks 
• in-house-designed, knurled handles 
• 36 cable positions  
• dual weight stacks that top out at 220lbs each, for a total of 440lbs at a 2:1 ratio (feels like 110lbs per stack).  Upgrade the stacks to 270lbs each, for a total of 540lbs and one of the heaviest functional trainers anywhere. 
• hot-rolled steel plates 
• integrated band pegs on the base and headplate  
• a magnetized pin for weight adjustments  
• integrated, selectorized 5lb micro-plates   
• aluminum pulleys 
• an integrated multi-grip pull-up bar 
• two fully knurled, steel D-handles 
• four full-length pegboards and numerous hooks for storage of small attachments  
  
  

Similarities Between Arcadia™ Functional Trainer and Arcadia™ Max Functional Trainer

Those were a lot of bullet points. So let’s make it easy for you.

Here are some of the similarities between the Arcadia™ functional trainer and the Arcadia™ max functional trainer -- in the form of more bullet points. But they’re more specific bullet points, so surely that’s better.  

• They both have built-in multi-grip pull-up bars for various types of pull-ups.  
• They both feature integrated band pegs so you can attach bands to increase resistance and create more exercises.  
• Neither has a specific lat pulldown and seated row feature.  
• They have a cable ratio of 2:1. Not sure what a cable ratio means? Here’s what a cable ratio means and why that’s important.  
• They are stand-alone functional trainers that do not attach onto a power rack or rig. 
• They come with two D-handles. 
• They have built-on storage for small attachments.  
• They were both designed by REP’s Colorado-based engineering team from the ground up.  
• They use the unique trolleys seen on Ares™ and Athena™ cable attachments. 
• Their selectorized weight stacks jump by 10lb increments.  
• They feature in-house-designed, knurled handles.  
• Their plates are made from hot-rolled steel.  
• You adjust the weight with a magnetized pin.  
• They use high-quality, galvanized cables with raw-steel core.  
• Their pulleys were both made from strong aluminum with a 180-degree swivel for versatility in exercises.  
• They feature patent-pending, lightweight trolleys equipped with protective, plastic liners, knurled handles, and oversized pop-pins.  
• They have laser-cut numbers on the uprights to make it easy to line up your cable height.  
• They’re finished with durable metallic black powder coating.
    

Differences Between Arcadia™ Functional Trainer and Arcadia™ Max Functional Trainer

That’s where the similarities between the Arcadia™ functional trainer and Arcadia™ max functional trainer end.

Here are the main differences between these similar but unique pieces of gym equipment.  

Cable length: The cable of the Arcadia™ max functional trainer is a whole foot longer than the OG. The cable travel for the Arcadia™ functional trainer is 6.75', whereas the max turns out to be 7.7' (93.4”). 

Cable positions: The Arcadia™ max functional trainer has more cable positions – the most positions of any cable machine, actually. It boasts 36, whereas the Arcadia™ functional trainer has 32 height options on the upright.  

Weight capacity: The Arcadia™ functional trainer tops out (both sides with upgraded stack and add-on weights) at 340lbs. With a 2:1 ratio, this feels like 170lbs.

The Arcadia™ max functional trainer offers a lot more, with a max capacity (with the upgraded stack and add-on weights) hitting 540lbs. At a 2:1 ratio, that feels like 270lbs. This is one of the heaviest functional trainers anywhere. 

Footprint: The Arcadia™ max functional trainer is designed to be bigger. It’s taller, wider, and heavier.

The compact Arcadia™ functional trainer is 6.7' tall, 4.6' wide in the front, 2' wide on the back, and 2' deep. Or 80.9"x55.3"(front)-24"(rear)x24" (HxWxD). You can further reduce the height to 6.5' (or 78") by inverting the multi-grip pull-up bar.  

The Arcadia™ max functional trainer is 7.3’ ( 87.6") tall, 6.3' ( 75.5") wide in the front, 2.7' ( 32.9") wide at the rear, and 3.7’ ( 44") deep. Every dimension is bigger. The 7.3' height makes it more suitable for taller lifters, if you gym has space. 

Basically, the max is nearly a foot taller, and the front opening is a lot wider, so you have more working space. But whether this bigger footprint is a pro or con really depends on how big your home or commercial gym is. 

Storage: The max has more integrated storage. The Arcadia™ max functional trainer comes with four built-on pegboards and numerous hooks. The Arcadia™ functional trainer only has three pegboards.  

Micro-weights: Both have micro-weights for smaller jumps, but they’re presented differently. The Arcadia™ functional trainer comes with premium 5lb (feels like 2.5lbs) add-on weights. The Arcadia™ max functional trainer's 5lb micro-weights are integrated into the selectorized weight stack -- no separate micro-plates that can be misplaced, especially in commercial gyms. 




Aimee Heckel, CPT, is a health and fitness journalist with over 20 years of experience. She set an all-time world-record deadlift in her division across all powerlifting federations at Mr. Olympia. In addition, she earned a national deadlift record and 18 Colorado state records. Heckel also has nine world records in grip sport, a pro card in natural figure bodybuilding, four first-place bodybuilding titles, and was named IPE Ms. Colorado Figure.