CORTEX FT-12 Functional Trainer

CORTEX FT-12 Functional Trainer If you want full-body strength and cable training but a wall of commercial equipment will never fit your spare room, the FT-12 is built for exactly that. It packs a dual-pulley cable station, a 100kg enclosed stack, and a pull-up and dip frame into a footprint close to one square metre. The trade-off to know up front: this is one 100kg stack feeding two pulleys, not two independent stacks. On the 1:1 setting both arms share the full stack, and on the 2:1 setting a single pulley gives you lighter, finer resistance for isolation work. Is This Functional Trainer Right for You? This functional trainer is right for you if: You train at home and want lat pulldowns, rows, cable flys, crossovers and curls from one compact station You have a corner or spare room and need a freestanding unit that does not require wall mounting Your ceiling is at least 2.3m and you want a built-in pull-up and dip frame as well as cables You want the option to add a second FT-12 later to build a full cable crossover Look at our other functional trainers if: You need two fully independent weight stacks for heavy simultaneous two-arm pressing Your ceiling is below 2.3m, where the frame and pull-up bar will not fit comfortably You only want free weights and a rack, in which case our home gym range is a better starting point Adela's Take I recommend the FT-12 to people who want cable variety at home but assume they have no room. The dual-pulley design covers the movements most home trainers actually use. Two honest limits: it shares one 100kg stack, so heavy single-arm isolation tops out on the 2:1 setting, and at 164kg it is a two-person build. Pair it with a bench. Adela Ledvinkova · Bachelor of Exercise & Sport Science · Our In-House Fitness Coach At a Glance CORTEX FT-12 dual-pulley functional trainer frame Enclosed 100kg weight stack assembly Straight curl bar 2x D-strap handles Lat pulldown bar Leg roller attachment Tricep rope Multi-grip double chin-up bar and dip handles Secondary adjustable footplates Carabiners for adding your own cable attachments Most Compact Dual-Pulley Design A footprint close to one square metre gives you a true dual-pulley cable station without surrendering half the room to it. The occupied space is roughly 106.5cm by 105cm, so it tucks into a corner most full-size cable machines cannot. Occupied footprint: 106.5cm x 105cm Feet measurement: 98cm x 87.3cm Freestanding frame, no wall mounting required What this means for you: You get genuine cable training in a spare room, garage or corner rather than a dedicated gym. Full-Body Functional Training The dual pulley system moves independently on each side, so you can run balanced two-handed work like cable flys and crossovers as well as single-arm movements. Independent left and right pulley travel Lat pulldowns, tricep pushdowns, rows, flys and crossovers from one station Built-in chin-up bar, cable fly and crossover, and dip station What this means for you: One machine covers most of the pulling, pressing and core work a home trainer does in a week. Enclosed Weight Stack The full stack is housed behind panels, which keeps dust, debris and curious fingers away from the moving plates. The 100kg assembly is a 5.4kg steel shaft plus a 94.6kg stack, made up of 16 plates at 5.7kg and one 3.4kg plate. 100kg total weight stack assembly 16 x 5.7kg plates plus 1 x 3.4kg plate on a 5.4kg shaft Fully enclosed for safety and a clean look What this means for you: It is safer around children and pets, and it stays looking tidy in a shared living space. Smooth Chrome Weight Sliders Chrome-coated sliders let you change the working weight quickly and without scratching, so resetting between sets is fast. Chrome-coated sliders for smooth adjustment Scratch-free pin selection Quick weight changes between exercises What this means for you: You spend less time fiddling with the stack and more time training. Flexible Weight Ratios Choose a 1:1 ratio when you want the full stack through combined pulleys, or 2:1 on a single pulley for lighter, finer resistance. 1:1 ratio for combined pulleys 2:1 ratio for single-pulley isolation Tune resistance and cable travel to the movement What this means for you: Heavy compound pulls and light, controlled isolation work both have a setting that suits them. Integrated Pull-Up and Dip Stations Built-in bars handle pull-ups, chin-ups and dips, so your bodyweight work lives on the same frame as your cables. Multi-grip double chin-up and pull-up bar Dedicated dip handles No extra bodyweight station needed What this means for you: Upper-body bodyweight strength is built in, saving both money and floor space. Compact Yet Stable Frame The freestanding frame is made from powder-coated 16-gauge steel and weighs 164kg, so it stays planted without being bolted to a wall. Powder-coated 16-gauge steel (1.5mm) 164kg net weight for stability Freestanding, no wall fixing required What this means for you: You can place it where it suits the room, and move home without unbolting it from the structure. Fits Standard Ceiling Heights At 2.26m to the top of the frame, the FT-12 fits comfortably under most indoor and garage ceilings while keeping full cable travel. Overall height 226.5cm Suits standard residential and garage ceilings Maximum user height 200cm What this means for you: You can confirm it fits your room before it arrives by measuring to 2.3m. Secondary Adjustable Footplates Included The included secondary footplates let you set the foot height to match your bench and the exercise, which helps your positioning on movements like seated rows. Adjustable foot height for different movements Works with any bench you already own Helps keep proper alignment on seated work What this means for you: You can dial in a comfortable, repeatable seated position instead of compromising your form. Specifications Weight stack assembly 100kg total (5.4kg steel shaft plus 94.6kg stack: 16 x 5.7kg plates and 1 x 3.4kg plate) Pulley ratios 1:1 combined pulleys, 2:1 single pulley Resistance type Selectorised 100kg weight stack Exercises supported Lat pulldown, row, cable fly, crossover, curl, tricep pushdown, pull-up, chin-up and dip Frame material Powder-coated 16-gauge steel (1.5mm) Cable construction 6mm overall: 4mm galvanised 1860 MPa core rated to 1000kg per metre, 2mm black PU coating Occupied dimensions (L x W x H) 106.5cm x 105cm x 226.5cm Feet measurement (L x W) 98cm x 87.3cm Net weight 164kg Maximum user height 200cm Included attachments Straight curl bar, 2x D-strap handles, lat pulldown bar, leg roller, tricep rope Expandability Combine two FT-12 units for a full cable crossover; carabiners allow other attachments Recommended ceiling height 2.3m or higher Warranty 12 months parts replacement warranty What's in the Box & Setup Effort: a two-person job, around 45 to 60 minutes for a first build. Tools: a spanner or wrench (bolts and fixings are included). What arrives FT-12 frame components and uprights Enclosed 100kg weight stack assembly Attachment set: straight curl bar, 2x D-strap handles, lat pulldown bar, leg roller, tricep rope Secondary adjustable footplates, fixings and user manual Setup reality Arrives across multiple cartons, with the heaviest carton around 52kg, so have a second person ready Assembly runs to about 7 steps and takes most people 45 to 60 minutes Bring all cartons inside before unpacking, as the weight stack cartons are heavy to move No power required, the FT-12 is fully mechanical Frequently Asked Questions Is one 100kg stack enough for two-arm exercises? For most home trainers, yes. On the 1:1 setting both pulleys draw on the full 100kg stack, which covers flys, crossovers, rows and pulldowns comfortably. If you chase heavy single-arm isolation, the 2:1 setting will feel light at the top end, so be honest about your working loads. Will it fit under a standard ceiling? The frame stands 226.5cm tall, so it suits most indoor rooms and garages with a 2.3m ceiling or higher. Measure from your floor to the lowest point above where it will stand before ordering, including beams or light fittings. How loud is it to use? Very quiet. The FT-12 is a pin-loaded cable machine, so the main sound is the plates settling at the bottom of each rep. There is no motor and no impact, which makes it well suited to shared homes and evening sessions. Will it be too heavy for an upstairs room or apartment floor? At 164kg the weight is spread across a 98cm by 87.3cm base, so the load per point is modest. Most ground-floor and slab floors handle it easily. For a timber upstairs floor, check the span and joist direction, and place it near a load-bearing wall if you can. How hard is it to assemble? Plan for a two-person build of around 45 to 60 minutes across roughly 7 steps. All bolts and fixings are included and you only need a spanner or wrench. The heaviest carton is about 52kg, which is the main reason a second pair of hands matters. Can two people move it once it is built? Yes, with care. Two adults can shuffle it short distances on a flat floor, but at 164kg it is not a casual one-person move. Decide where it will live before you build it, and use furniture sliders if you have hard floors. Can I add a second unit later for a full crossover? Yes. Two FT-12 units can be placed facing each other to create a full cable crossover, and the carabiners let you run your own attachments. It is a sensible way to start compact now and expand later. Does it need power or an app? No. The FT-12 is fully mechanical, so there is nothing to plug in, charge or connect. You select your weight with the pin and train. CORTEX FT-12 Functional Trainer User Manual Click below to download the user manual.