Why Free Weights Rule (and Machines are Just... Fine)

Let’s get this out of the way: machines have their place. They can be helpful if you’re rehabbing an injury, brand new to the gym, or just want to isolate a single muscle without thinking too hard. But if you want real-world strength—the kind that helps you lift a big rock out of garden, carry your bike when it gets a flat, or hoist a kayak onto your car—free weights are where it’s at.

"Machines often give you a false sense of strength. They remove the challenge of balance and coordination—two essential parts of being a functional human."

Free weights (think dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells) don’t just train your muscles—they train your brain, too. You’ve got to stabilize, coordinate, and actually control the movement. There’s no seatbelt or guided track to keep you safe. It’s just you, gravity, and your willpower. That means more muscles get involved, especially the stabilizers that machines tend to ignore.

Ever wonder why someone can leg press 400 pounds but can’t squat their own body weight? Machines often give you a false sense of strength. They remove the challenge of balance and coordination—two essential parts of being a functional human. Free weights force your body to move as a unit, just like it does in the real world.

Plus, there’s just something empowering about picking up a heavy dumbbell and knowing you controlled every part of that lift. It builds confidence, resilience, and yeah—pretty great muscles too.

So next time you’re at the gym, skip the machines that look like medieval torture devices. Grab a pair of dumbbells, learn some solid technique, and start building the kind of strength that lasts a lifetime.

Your body (and probably your ego) will thank you.