Last Updated on February 14, 2024 by MarcyPro
We recently wrote a very similar blog to this one: What is a Smith Machine and How is Each Model Different? It was an incredibly popular blog as it answers a lot of important basic questions. As a result, we’d like to keep giving the public what they want with this blog.
Too long, don’t want to read? Scroll to the bottom of the blog for a feature comparison chart
You’ve likely seen stack gyms at club gyms but never bothered to tinker with it. Like smith machines, stack gyms can be a bit intimidating and confusing. These units are fairly simple; stack gyms are multi-station home gyms that have resistance coming from their weight stack and pulley system.
Stack gyms vary heavily depending on the brand or style. As a result, we will primarily focus on Marcy Stack Home Gyms which are all similar, but have their interesting differences.
As for the similarities, there are many. The most commonly asked question for Marcy Stack Home Gyms is – can I add more weight to the stack? Unfortunately, we have yet to create a stack home gym on which you can add weight. Marcy currently carries 150lb stack home gyms and a 200lb stack home gym as of January 2020. Though that may change in the future, there are no current plans to change the weight maximums.
All the Marcy Stack Home Gyms have a similar layout in which the seat can only be upright. The stack system connects to the lower pulley to allow for a wide variety of exercises. In use with the leg developer, the lower pulley allows for leg extensions. In use with the ankle strap / handle / or bar (depending on the model you get,) you can do a variety of leg curls, bicep curls, and more.
In addition, the lower pulley can be used with a bar (included with most models,) and the footplate for seated rows.
The upper pulley can be used along with the lat bar for various versions of lat pull downs. Utilize the upper pulley along with the handle (included with some models,) for cable crossover type exercises and more. Finally, purchase a Tricep Rope separately for triceps pull downs.
The final similarity between all the models would be the dual action butterfly / press arms. Easily change the angle of the arms to complete chest presses with the press arms. Alternatively, change the angle again to complete butterfly presses.
Before the differences, we have to address the most common question asked amongst those on Marcypro.com – What is the difference between the MWM-988, MWM-990, and MWM-1005. The answer, may not be satisfying, but it is finally here on the internet. There only difference between the MWM-988, MWM-990, and MWM-1005 is the appearance. Otherwise, the models are virtually the same.
Phew, happy to say that is finally settled! The MWM-988, MWM-990, and MWM-1005 have all the features described above. Now, on to the two other stack home gyms: MWM-4965 and MKM-81010.
The MWM-4965 is very similar to the MWM-988 / MWM-990 / MWM-1005, except for one key feature the MWM-4965 has: the center pulley. The center pulley can be used for a wide variety of exercises when using the handle. However, the main purpose of the center pulley is to utilize the ab attachment.
The MWM-4965 Stack home Gym includes an ab attachment (it looks like a pair of handles that sit on your shoulders.) The ab attachment connects to the center pulley; complete seated crunches with the ab attachment to easily add weight to your crunches.
The MKM-81010 is a monster of a stack home gym that includes a 200lb stack. Other than the larger stack, the other key difference is the amount of room you have while sitting on this unit. Because of the extra room and the ability of the press arms to move far back, you can sit on this unit backwards (with your chest facing the stack,) and do seated rows!
The most important reason to own a Marcy stack home gym aside from efficiency is the types of exercises you can do at home. Once thought to only be accessible with a gym membership, stack gyms bring home lat pull downs, lower pulley workouts, upper pulley workouts, and butterfly presses.
And, we love dropping the fun fact that Bruce Lee owned a Marcy Multi-Station Home Gym. Though it is different from the stack home gyms we make today, it embraced the same concept. The Marcy Gym Bruce Lee owned was compact and efficient so he could get the strict weight lifting workouts out of the way and focus on the rest of his training.
No matter which type of Gym equipment you need, Marcy has what will work best for you!
When it says max weight, what does this mean? Is it the individuals actual weight plus the stack weight? Or is is just max individual weight? Thanks. Will wait for your response.
Respectfully
Mac
Hello William! Thank you for your message. The max weights referenced above is the maximum amount of stack weights on a given home gym (for example, a 150lb stack weight gym cannot have more than 150lb of weight plates on it.) Please let us know if you have any additional questions, have an awesome day!
Hi MarcyPro team,
Sorry but I’m still don’t get it, for example the model MWM-990 said that it come with 150lb, but in the specifications said “Maximum Weight Capacity: 300lb” what does that mean?
a) It means that a some sub-model can come with up to 300lb, and the 150lb cannot be increase it?
or
b) The 150lb can be increased the weight with additional plates up to 300lbs?
Thank you
Hello Marco!
We apologize for the confusion, and thank you for reaching out to us! The 300lb maximum is the maximum user weight.
The 150lb stacks have 150lbs of weight plates (but the resistance varies depending on the station. The station resistance can be found on page 13 of the MWM-990 manual.)
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact at Marcypro.com – have an awesome day!
I just put together and used my Marcy MWM 990. I love this machine . Marcy is a solid fitness equipment manufacturer. I sold my Marcy MWM 988 to purchase the new model; however it was still working great after 3 years.
If a max weight is 150lb can you still add a plate to the stack with a pin?
Hello JB, thank you for your question! You cannot add any additional plates on top of the 150lb included with your unit. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us via live chat on Marcypro.com. Have an awesome day!
Thank you for clearing up the mystery between the MK 990 and 988. I thought they were the same except for the color. With that in mind, I have decided to purchase the MK 81010 as soon as they are available. Get one in and send me an email and it’s a done deal – sold
Hello Eddie. Please reach out to our live chat on Marcypro.com, we are accepting e-mails for in stock notifications there.
That’s the MKM 81010 I am referring to.
Before the virus I worked out at the gym 3 times weekly. I got tired of waiting for it to open again, so I ordered an 81010 on the 14th precisely at 11 am. It hasn’t shipped yet and I’m anxious to get back into a routine. I’m 73 years old so hurry up guys, I’ve got no time to waste. Don’t let age stop you. At the gym I outperformed some people 1/2 my age. Stay safe and healthy…
Hello! Thank you for supporting Marcy products!
Please contact our live chat personnel Monday – Friday, 9:00AM – 4:30PM if you have any additional questions regarding your order.
Have an awesome day!
The MWM-4965 model says it includes the “preacher curl arm pad” in the comparison chart. However, neither the pictures or manuals confirm this to be true. Can you please elaborate if the pad is included or if can be purchased separately to add to that model?
Hello Rosy V! Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention, the MWM-4965 does not have a preacher curl pad. The chart was fixed immediately.
You would currently be unable to purchase a separate preacher curl pad to add it to the MWM-4965, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at Marcypro.com – Have an awesome day!
Can you please explain how the 150 pound stacks can produce about 200 pounds depending on the exercise being performed.
Good Morning Christopher, thank you for your message! Each stack has a different level of resistance depending on which station is used. We made a note to have that information added to this blog; you can find the resistance charts for each unit in their owner’s manual (found on their Marcypro.com listing.) For additional details, please reach out to the live chat on Marcypro.com – have an awesome day!
What type of upkeep/lubrication does the gym require?
Hello Mike Lynch!
Thank you for reaching out to us! All moving parts should be lubricated periodically.
We recommend using silicone based lubricant as oil based lubricant gets a bit mucky over time.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time here or at Marcypro.com – have an awesome day!
Whats the difference between a mwm 988 and mwm 1005?
Hello Carol!
Thank you for your message. The MWM-988 and MWM-1005 are virtually the same. The only difference is aesthetic. As a result, you can do the same exercises on both devices. The MWM-1005 comes with one less weight plate (totaling 140lbs,) but the resistance breakdown is about the same.
The resistance breakdown for the MWM-1005 can be found on page 13 of the manual: https://www.marcypro.com/content/Product_Manuals/Home_Gyms/MWM-1005%20owners%20manual%207-27-2018%20-%20English%20-%20Final.pdf
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time, have a joyful day!
Can you purchase an ab attachment for the81010
Hello Frank Cabezu, thank you for your message! We sincerely apologize, an ab attachment is not available for the MKM-81010 (only the MWM-4965 has an ab attachment.)
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at Marcypro.com – Have an awesome day!
Good day, how can i find out what model I own? It was purchased second hand and it is missing the safety cover on the stack. Let me know if i can send you pictures if the machine? The model number is know where to be found on this unit. I also need to purchase a new cable for it.
Hello, thank you for reaching out!
If you do not have the manual or product box, your best bet would be to open a ticket and submit an image of your product at this link: https://marcypro.com/support
Thank you in advance for your patience and efforts, have an awesome day!
Can you use the same weights from mwm 988 on a mwm 1005?
Hello Rafael!
Yes, the weight plates from the MWM-988 and MWM-1005 are exactly the same; on all of our stack gyms, however, we recommend not going above 150lbs in plates.
Thank you for supporting Marcy products. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us at Marcypro.com or here – have an awesome day!
Can you recommend a cover for the 990? The only room for it is on our covered patio so I want to protect it as much as possible.
Hello Christine M Murphy!
Thank you for your message. Though the MWM-990 has a powder coating to protect it from rusting, we do not recommend keeping the unit outside as the changes in weather over time will increase the likelyhood of the item rusting.
Because we do not recommend keeping the unit outside, we do not have a particular recommendation for a cover.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at Marcypro.com – have an awesome day!
Hi there. I was looking at purchasing the model that Costco sells, 7119. Can you tell me which model it actually is (as I know Costco products tend to have their own special model numbers). Can you also tell me what differences the Costco unit has compared to the others? Is it just esthetic? Thank you.
Hello Kari, thank you for reaching out to us!
You are correct, it is essentially the same as the MWM-990, but the MWM-7119 looks a bit different. As a result, all the same exercises can be done on both units. For comparison, the MWM-990 can be seen here: https://www.marcypro.com/marcy-150-lb-stack-home-gym-mwm-990
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you for your support, have an awesome day!
Hello, I am looking to get a mwm-1005 with a great deal from Sam’s club. What are the differences in aesthetic between the mwm-990, mwm-988, and mwm-1005? I have seen in other replies that there are differences between the models, but the differences themselves are not explained. Do they only have different coats? Or are there more differences? Thank you,
Julius
E-mail Redacted
Hello Julius! Thank you for reaching out to us. The only difference between the MWM-1005 / MWM-990 / MWM-989 / MWM-988 / MWM-7119 is aesthetic. The MWM-1005 has a textured back pad, but otherwise, it is the same as the rest.
All the 150lb stacks (and one 200lb stack,) can be found on Marcypro.com – https://www.marcypro.com/home-gyms/stack-home-gyms
Not all units are available on Marcypro.com as some are exclusive to certain retailers (for example, the MWM-7119 is exclusive to a couple of vendors in Canada.)
Hope this helps! Thank you for your interest in Marcy products, have an awesome day!
Hi, I’m viewing on Amazon that a 5115, and a 7454 model are offered. I’m confused by all the different options. I thought I had it all figured out when I read this explainer only to discover there are even more models out there. What are the differences with those two models?
Hello David R – thank you for reaching out to us and we apologize for the confusion. The MWM-5115 is essentially the MWM-990, but in white and black.
The MWM-7454 is the MWM-4965, but in white and black.
We make a wide variety that look different, but in short, most of the 150lb stacks have the same functions / features.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you for supporting Marcy products, have an awesome day!
I am considering to order the MKM 81010 model and would like to know the specifications of the main frame, the thickness of the tubular still.
Hello Alessandro Aliberti – thank you for your message. All the steel used for our products is 14 gauge steel.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Have an awesome day!
Is the seat on all the Marcy Home Stack Gym models adjustable? Is it suitable for people of various heights & leg length?
Hello Amy, thank you for your message. The seats on the Marcy Stack Gyms are not adjustable.
All our products are made with people between 5’1″ and 6’1″ in mind. Though people outside of that range have found no issues using our products, some do.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time, have an awesome day!
Is it possible to get a poster of the exercises for the marcy home gym mwm 1005? I realize they are on it but I think it would be easier to view in poster form on the wall next to it. Thanks!
Hello Jennifer! Thank you for your message. We do not have a workout chart for the MWM-1005 specifically.
However, the MWM-1005 is identical to the MWM-990, which we have a workout chart for: https://www.marcypro.com/content/Workout%20Charts/Strength/Stack%20Home%20Gyms/MWM-990%28WC%29.pdf
That workout chart can also be ordered from our customer service team at https://marcypro.com/support
Thank you for supporting Marcy products, have an awesome day!
What are the dimensions of the main box the mwn-1005 comes in (box 1 of 3)?
Hello French! Thank you for reaching out to us.
Box 1 – 73″ x 17″ x 10″ – 135lbs
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you for your support, have an awesome day!
I bought the WMW-988 from Amazon and it stated on their website that this machine offers 33 different exercises. I only see 15 exercises listed. Is there a more comprehensive exercise capabilities listed elsewhere or is Amazon’s website incorrect?
Hello Keith! Thank you for reaching out to us.
We normally advertise the unit as having 30 possible workouts, though, some require add-ons. The following blog goes through 30 workouts that can be done on our 150lb stack gyms: https://blog.marcypro.com/2022/08/03/30-best-stack-weight-home-gym-workouts/
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us at any time, have an awesome day!
Great blog. I see a lot of units that are essentially the same, the ones with the preacher attachment. I get that some retailers have an exclusive on certain models and in certain colours. But…for models that are the essentially the same, there are big price differences, in Canada. Are there quality and/or material differences or is it just what the retailer is charging? Thanks.
Hello Jeff Stevens, thank you for reaching out to us. If they are Marcy branded, they are generally the same as they’re made with the same quality materials. A couple of units are slightly different (such as the MWM-4965 having a center pulley or the MKM-81010 having a larger weight stack.)
If you find a Marcy stack gym that has the same features and weight stack size with a price difference, then it is just what the retailer is charging.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you for supporting Marcy Products, have an awesome day!
Based on that information I have just purchased one. Thank you.
Why is the MWM-988 35″ wide and the 989 and 990 are 36″ wide? What’s the difference? Also, did you fix known issues on the 989 and 990 that were found on 988?
Hello John, thank you for your message. The inch difference appears to be a rounding difference as the units are all virtually the same.
That I am aware of, there is no specific issue facing those models, but since the MWM-988 is essentially the same unit, all three would have the same functions.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at https://marcypro.com/support – have an awesome day!
Hello, friends at Marcy! I understand MWM 4965 does not have a preacher curl arm pad. But can I buy it later and just add it? Or, can I manufacture my own pad and insert it somehow? Is there any way I could add the preacher curl pad myself?
Good Morning George, thank you for reaching out to us!
Unfortunately, the MWM-4965 cannot have a preacher curl pad added to it and we’re unable to recommend any modifications for safety purposes.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time at https://www.marcypro.com/ – have an awesome day!
hello there, the dimension of the units (specifically mwm-1005), does this include any area around them required? ie is there recommended extra space (looking to see if fits) I am more interested in when sitting and stretching legs would the legs go over the stated length of 68 inches. the room Im looking at only has 78-79 inches total space for length.
Hello Richard, thank you for reaching out to us. We recommend 2 feet of space around the unit so you’re able to easily access the weight stack and easily move around the unit. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at anytime at https://www.marcypro.com/
Have an awesome day!
I would venture to say that you need a bit more room. You may have enough space to use the leg portion but there is a front portion as well to do weighted squats or vertical rows – that portion pulls out near the bottom of where your legs rest. I don’t think you would be able to utilize that section easily.
Hello, I am 6’ tall and wondering if I will get a full range of motion with all exercises on the 4695 even the pull downs without the plates bottoming out on the top of the stack. Or will the 81010 be needed for 6’ tall height? Thank you
Hello Scott! Thank you for reaching out to us.
All our products are made with people between 5’1″ and 6’1″ in mind. Though people outside of that range have found no issues using our products, some do. As a result, it would be hard to confidently say if you’d experience the issue described in your question since you’re at the edge of the recommended height.
If possible, we’d recommend trying a stack gym that is the same height as ours (or ours if you know someone who has one,) to better determine if the height of the machine is suitable for you.
In the meantime, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at any time, have an awesome day and thank you for your support!