Temple of Gaines Multi-Flyte Review: The Ultimate Space-Saving Shoulder Machine
If you're tight on space but still want quality shoulder and chest training at home, the Temple of Gaines Multi-Flyte deserves serious consideration. This compact machine delivers exceptional versatility while taking up minimal floor space in your home gym.
What Is The Temple of Gaines Multi-Flyte?
The Multi-Flyte is a specialty machine designed to perform four primary movements with excellent effectiveness:
- Lateral raises (side delts)
- Front raises (anterior delts)
- Rear delt raises
- Chest flies
With a footprint of roughly a quarter of a standard gym stall mat, this machine packs serious functionality into a compact design. Its key feature is a pair of adjustable arms mounted to cams that move in either direction, providing versatility for targeting different muscle groups.
Who Is Temple of Gaines?
Temple of Gaines is a relatively new equipment manufacturer that burst onto the home gym scene about 18 months ago. The company is primarily run by its founder, Yoni, who started as a home gym enthusiast building DIY equipment.
Eventually, Yoni transitioned from DIY building to sourcing and importing equipment, focusing specifically on specialty bodybuilding machines. The company's mission centers on providing high-quality specialty equipment at more affordable prices than commercial alternatives, all while maintaining exceptional customer service.
How the Multi-Flyte Works
The machine features a simple but ingenious design:
- Two adjustable arms connected to rotating cams
- Cables that run from the cams to a weight stack
- A weight stack that goes up to 220 pounds
- A hydraulic strut for easy height adjustment
- Numbered markings for precise positioning
The proper setup involves aligning the center of the cam with your shoulders and adjusting the arm position based on your exercise. What makes this machine special is how the cables feed into the round cams, allowing them to turn either outward or inward to accommodate different movement patterns.
Exercise Options
Lateral Raises
Unlike dumbbell lateral raises where resistance peaks at the top, the Multi-Flyte provides resistance from the beginning of the movement. Set the arms at position 2 or 3, stand upright, and raise your arms out to the sides. The constant tension throughout the movement creates a unique and effective stimulus for the side delts.
Rear Delt Raises
By positioning your head against the pad and leaning forward at an angle, you can effectively target the rear delts. This provides a chest-supported rear delt movement without needing a separate bench.
Front Raises
Simply face the machine and push the arms forward to perform front raises. Again, the constant tension provides a different stimulus than traditional dumbbell front raises.
Chest Flies
By flipping the arms to position 6, you can perform a unique chest fly movement. This can be done standing upright or with a slight forward lean for different angles of chest activation.
Quality and Customization
The Multi-Flyte comes with several options for customization, including:
- Aluminum pulleys (upgrade option)
- Knurled handles (upgrade option)
- Rubber protectors for the arms
The machine sells for approximately $2,000, with upgrades adding about $200 to the price.
Areas for Improvement
While the Multi-Flyte is an impressive machine, there are a few minor issues to be aware of:
- The pin storage situation could be improved for single-plate use
- Some early models had the top two plates bolted together, making the minimum starting weight 22 pounds
What's notable, however, is the company's responsiveness to feedback. When these issues were pointed out, Temple of Gaines quickly addressed them with solutions and replacement parts.
Is It Worth It?
For home gym owners looking to maximize their shoulder and chest training without sacrificing a large amount of space, the Multi-Flyte presents an excellent option. The machine's versatility, quality construction, and space efficiency make it a standout choice for those who prioritize bodybuilding-style training.
The unique resistance profile of the movements offers a different stimulus than free weights, potentially providing new growth opportunities for plateaued muscles. Combined with exceptional customer service and ongoing improvements, the Temple of Gaines Multi-Flyte earns its place as a premium home gym investment.
