Site Icon Sam’s Review: ATX® Compact Smith Machine 500

21/10/2026
A person, in a black ATX t-shirt and shorts with white socks and light shoes, performs a squat with a barbell on their shoulders inside a gym featuring an ATX® Smith Machine 500 for low ceilings (198 cm), with a weight bench and other equipment visible in the background.

Walk-Through Innovation

The walk-through design of the ATX® Smith Machine 500 is a game changer. This isn’t just about utilizing space efficiently by placing it across doorways or using the space behind for storing cable attachments. The German engineering behind this feature ensures stability without the need for obstructive crossbeams, making it the ideal companion for using any adjustable bench.

The ATX® Smith Machine 500 - Low Ceilings - 198 cm, a black metal workout rack with a horizontal barbell on a sturdy frame, features adjustable pegs for versatile weightlifting. Its displayed on a white background.

Compact Smith Machine Features

  1. Precision Placement: Laser-cut holes in the base serve as a guide for bench alignment and squat positioning.
  2. Grip: With 50mm x 50mm uprights and a built-in locking mechanism, your grip space is maximized.
  3. Expandable Design: Easily convert to a half rack with optional J-Hooks and Spotters.
  4. Clear Markings: Laser-cut hole markings accommodate both smith machine and optional half rack attachments.
Close-up view of a black, angular metal structure with bolts from the ATX® Smith Machine 500 - Low Ceilings - 198 cm, featuring a vertical shiny metal bar positioned at the corner.

Robust Construction

  1. Solid Steel Barbell: Crafted for durability and performance. We supply 50mm Olympic sleeves.
  2. Stress-Free Assembly: Pre-welded support brackets enhance stability and ease assembly.
  3. Reinforced Structure: Top and bottom brackets fortify the machine’s integrity.
  4. Quality Components: Although this is a lighter duty ATX smith machine it still uses the best quality materials.
Close-up of the ATX® Smith Machine 500, designed for low ceilings at 198 cm. Showcases a sturdy grey metal frame and bolts with a vertical support bar, ideal for strength training and workout support.

Ultra-Smooth Operation

The ATX® Smith Machine 500 boasts solid steel guiderails with a sleek chrome finish, enhancing both the machine’s smoothness and stability. Elevating the performance, ATX® incorporates linear bearings in the bar housing, offering a significant advantage over the conventional nylon sleeve design by reducing friction as the bar moves along the guiderails.

Close-up view of the ATX® Smith Machine 500 - Low Ceilings (198 cm) featuring a black metal frame and shiny silver support bar. The image focuses on the joint and textured tightening knob, highlighting the machine’s construction and materials.

Please note: Free Weight Barbell, Collars, Weight Plates, J-Hooks are all sold separately.

The Final Word

Just like most things in life, purchasing gym equipment involves compromise. We all want the best but with space and financial constraints we all have to make sacrifices. But that doesn’t mean your training has to suffer – in some ways it can get better.

That pretty much sums up my experience with this little compact smith machine. Not being a massive fan of smith machines, I would have easily overlooked this little gem. But I like to try out the gym equipment I sell so I put it through it’s paces.

Our mezzanine floor where this is set up has a bit of bounce. So I honestly don’t know how stable this machine really is. But even on this unstable floor I just really slowed and controlled my form. For smith machine squats I was lifting bugger all – really embarrassing to be honest. However the deep reps with a pause and slow pace cooked my quads. So much so I got hooked.

Bent over smith rows is another favourite of mine. They are great on this smith because it has a really low bottom out point.

So if you are tight on space and money plus not looking at breaking world records. This might be the smith machine for you.