Fitness Tech F17 Smith Machine and Half Rack Combination

The Fitness Tech F17 combines a bearing-guided Smith machine bar with a professional half rack in one frame. Thirteen safety catch positions, integrated 50 mm Olympic plate storage and a pull-up bar are included as standard. Light In Fitness supplies it at 1,695.44 EUR excluding VAT.

Two training stations in one footprint

Most clubs need both a guided bar and a free bar, and most clubs do not have the floor for two separate frames. The F17 resolves that: the Smith carriage runs on the uprights for guided squats, presses and rows, while the half rack section takes a free Olympic barbell on J-cups for the same movements unguided. A single foundation of floor space delivers a beginner station and an advanced station.

• Vertical bar guidance on bearings, smooth on both the concentric and eccentric phase
• 13 safety lock positions for unsupervised training
• Integrated 50 mm Olympic plate storage on the frame
• Pull-up bar included

Bearing guidance, not bushings

The difference between a cheap Smith machine and a commercial one is what the carriage runs on. Bushings bind under off-centre load and get noisier with use; bearings keep the carriage moving evenly even when a user presses asymmetrically, which is exactly what happens on the last repetitions of a heavy set. On the F17 the descent is as controlled as the ascent, which is what makes tempo work and eccentric training viable on it.

Safety in an unsupervised room

Thirteen lock positions mean a user can set the catch just below their working depth on almost any movement, from a quarter squat to a full-depth bench press. A failed repetition ends on the catches rather than on the athlete. For clubs with extended or 24/7 access, this is the practical argument for a Smith machine over a free rack, and here you get both options in the same frame.

Specification

Overall dimensions and shipping weight are confirmed on the order acknowledgement. Check the ceiling height before ordering: a Smith and pull-up combination needs clear headroom above the top of the frame.

Frequently asked questions

Does the F17 have to be bolted down?

We recommend it. A half rack used for free barbell work takes eccentric loading when a bar is racked hard, and pull-up use applies horizontal force at the top of the frame. Anchoring into a concrete slab, through the platform where one is fitted, is standard practice on commercial installations.

Can a free barbell be used inside the rack while the Smith bar is in place?

Yes. The Smith carriage parks at the top of its travel on the catches, leaving the rack section clear for J-cup work. In practice clubs run the two functions in alternation rather than simultaneously, since both use the same working area.

What plates does it take?

Standard 50 mm Olympic plates, on both the bar and the frame storage posts. Plates and barbell are quoted separately; we normally propose a bumper or cast-iron set sized to the expected traffic.

Light In Fitness supplies racks, rigs and guided-bar stations to commercial gyms, hotels, fire and police services and corporate facilities. See the full racks and cages range or the dedicated professional Smith machines selection. Send us your room dimensions and ceiling height and we return a layout and a firm quotation.