@dkitching I have strong preferences on equipment now having access to better gyms and trying tons of equipment over the years with access to bodybuilding gyms with niche equipment
Not in any particular order these are my favorites I've actually used:
- Flex Leverage Incline Press
- Flex Leverage Flat Press
- Nebula 35 Degree Leg Press (angled footplate model. Rogue/Arsenal make a copy of this.)
- Atlantis Hack Squat Pro.
- Icarian Chest Supported T-Bar Row (and copies)
- Prime/Strive Leg extension (both plate-loaded/non)
- Nautilis Leverage Presses
- Nebula Standing Leg Curl
- Icarian Leg Press (earlier model)
- Hammer Strength DY Row
- Hammer Strength Plate-Loaded OHP
- Pendulum Hip Press
- Hammer Strength Plate-Loaded Hamstring Curl
- Cybex Squat Press
- Nautilis Glute Drive
- Atlantis Seated Lateral Raise Machine
- Prime/Strive Selectorized Chest Fly
- Prime/Strive Extreme Row.
With chest machines the flex-leverage were probably the biggest innovation due to their ideal convergence path + resistance profile which is lengthened bias heavily toward the beginning and converges significantly relative to some of the other models on the market.
The Nebula/Icarian Leg Presses are great because they have angled foot-plates which allow for greater knee flexion than most models allow for. Also the Nebula in particular is quite adjustable which is a bonus.
The Chest-Supported T-Bar Row is still my favorite back-machine because of the fantastic resistance profile and the ability to completely lengthen the movement to the utmost possible with shoulder protraction/retraction and for whatever reason the older Icarian model had a particularly good feel to it.
Leg Curl machines tend to be hard to design well and I found the most comfortable ones to use are the standing versions. Unfortunately outside of nebula who no longer exists (purchased by Rogue in 2012) almost none of the standing leg curl allowed for good hip flexion to fully lengthen the hamstring which is best for bodybuilding.
I've yet to have access to use a lot of cool machines that are newer or more unique. The newer Atlantis Incline/Decline Press machines and some of the newer Gymleco pieces which are copies of the flex-leverage pieces look amazing.
A few other random honorable mentions I'll throw in are:
- Randy Coyle Swing Squat
- Hoist Roc-It Decline Press
- Atlantis Pendulum Squat
- Rogers Pendulum Super Squat Pro
- Nautilis Xpload Incline Press
- Prime/Strive Preacher Curl
- Bodymaster Horizontal LP
- Cybex Hack Squat (New/Old)
- Startrac Hack Squat
- Cybex Eagle NX Row
- Life Fitness Tricep Dip Machine
