Why Old-School Gym Brands Are Still Elite in 2026 (Icarian, BodyMasters, Magnum)

There’s a reason certain pieces of kit basically never hit the open market. As soon as they do, they’re gone.

Icarian, BodyMasters, Magnum, these aren’t shiny new Instagram brands. They’re the names you see whispered in Facebook groups, scribbled on “ISO” posts, and screenshotted between gym owners who actually train.

In 2026, with more equipment options than ever, it’s fair to ask: why are people still chasing machines that are 10, 20, or even 30 years old?

Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to skim but detailed enough to actually help you buy the right stuff.

What “Old-School” Gym Equipment Actually Is

When we say “old-school brands”, we’re not talking about rusty multigyms from someone’s shed. We’re talking about commercial-grade kit built mainly from the late 80s through the 2000s, designed for busy gyms where things got hammered all day, every day.

Old-school kit tends to be simple: welded frames, sensible geometry, no unnecessary plastic covers, and mechanics you can actually understand. The focus was on feel and reliability, not touchscreens and cupholders.

Take that compared to the prices for much of the contemporary equipment. Newer models prioritise looks, reduced shipping weight, or marketing gimmicks. Nothing’s wrong with that. But if the weight of 200 kg means more than the looks in your social media feed, the old gear feels different.

Why Lifters Still Hunt These Brands Down

Biomechanics That Just Feel Right

With Icarian, BodyMasters and Magnum, you can tell when you sit in them that someone who actually lifted helped design the thing. The paths feel natural. The load comes on where it should. You don’t have to fight the machine to hit the muscle.

When you’re running a serious gym, that matters. Lifters talk. If your hack squat feels like their knees are being pulled sideways, they’ll tell everyone. If it feels like it’s carved out for heavy sets with no drama, they’ll also tell everyone, and they’ll keep coming back.

Built to Outlive Trends

These brands were built in a different era, before planned obsolescence became normal. Frames are thick. Joints are straightforward. Bearings, pulleys and cables are often standard enough that any decent engineer or refurbisher can keep them alive.

That makes them ideal if you want to buy once and stop thinking about it. A new kit can be brilliant, but if something proprietary breaks and the brand vanishes or changes direction, you’re stuck. With old-school pieces, life is simpler: clean, maintain, replace the wear parts, and keep lifting.

Consistency Across the Line

One underrated strength of these brands is how consistent their ranges feel. Move from one Icarian piece to another, and the experience is familiar: similar seats, similar adjustments, similar “feel”. Same with well-kept BodyMasters and Magnum lines.

For a gym owner, that creates a sense of cohesion on the floor. Members don’t have to relearn a machine every two metres. For you, it means if you like one piece from the brand, there’s a good chance you’ll like several.

Resale Value and Cult Status

Because there’s a real cult following behind these names, the good pieces hold value. If you pick up a clean Magnum leg press or an Icarian row and decide to change direction later, you’re not sat on dead metal. There’s always another gym owner or home lifter waiting.

In practical terms, that reduces your downside. Your “risk” on a good old-school piece is often just the time, transport and a bit of refurb work, not the full sticker price.

Brand Snapshots: Icarian, BodyMasters, Magnum

Icarian – The Benchmark Workhorse

Icarian is the brand people mention when they talk about “perfect lines”. Their leg presses, hack squats, rows and basic selectorised pieces have a reputation for being brutally simple and brutally effective. The geometry is usually spot on, the movement paths are predictable, and the machines handle heavy abuse without doing anything weird.

Gym owners like Icarian because it sits perfectly in that sweet spot between no-nonsense industrial and actually comfortable to train on. In 2026, if you’re building a serious strength space, grabbing a few flagship Icarian pieces, especially for legs and back, is still a very safe play.

BodyMasters – The Sleeper That Just Works

BodyMasters doesn’t always get the same online hype, but people who know, know. Their presses, rows and accessories often feel like they’ve been designed purely for performance, not showroom appeal. You climb in, set the pin or plates, and the machine just tracks well.

Because it’s slightly less hyped than some other names, you can sometimes find BodyMasters deals that are incredible value for money. For a new gym trying to squeeze maximum performance out of a limited budget, that matters.

Magnum – Under-the-Radar Tanks

Magnum pieces show up less often, but when they do, they’re usually solid, heavy and trustworthy. Think about that friend who never posts training videos but quietly pulls massive numbers; that’s Magnum.

If you see a Magnum leg press, combo rack or major plate-loaded piece in good condition, it’s worth a serious look. The machines tend to be built for hard commercial use, and they’re particularly attractive when you want durability first and brand name second.

When Old-School Beats New-School

Hardcore Strength Gym or Powerlifting Club

If your customer isn’t someone who seriously goes for numbers, for squats, for pulls, or for heavy pressing exercises, then old-school companies are the cheat code. That’s because the gym enthusiast values everything from how stable he feels on the platform to how much he’s able to press without pain.

In that environment, an Icarian hack squat or Magnum leg press beats a pretty but flimsy modern piece every time. It’s about trust: your lifters know they can load the thing up and it will behave.

Boutique Strength Studio / PT Gym

In a boutique setting, you do have to think about aesthetics. People are paying for an experience, not just a numbers game. That doesn’t mean old-school kit is off the table, though.

What works well is a hybrid floor: a few carefully chosen old-school anchors (like a leg press, row or key upper-body machine) surrounded by newer, more design-led pieces. The hardcore lifters get their performance kit; the general population still feels like they’re training in a modern, curated space.

Serious Home/Garage Gyms

For a serious home lifter, old-school kit is “buy once, cry once”. You might pay more upfront or deal with the hassle of moving a huge piece into a garage, but once it’s in, you’re done.

A single well-chosen Icarian or BodyMasters piece can replace a whole row of cheaper, wobbly machines. If space and access allow, it’s one of the best upgrades you can make.

How to Assess an Old-School Machine Before You Buy

You don’t need to be an engineer, but you do need a basic system so you don’t end up with an expensive restoration project by accident.

Quick Visual Inspection (5-Minute Check)

• Check the frame for bends, cracks or obviously bad welds.
• Look for serious rust, especially around feet, joints and hidden corners.
• Inspect upholstery for tears, deep cracks or foam that’s completely collapsed.
• Run your eyes along cables, rods and guide rails for fraying, scoring or pitting.
• Make sure all adjustment points still move and lock properly.

The “Under Load” Test

• Load the machine with something close to a real working weight, not just a token plate.
• Move through the full range and feel for sticking points, jumps or grinding.
• Listen for clunks, squeaks or scraping that suggests worn parts or bad alignment.
• Test both slow, controlled reps and more explosive drives to see if anything shifts.
• If possible, get more than one lifter to try it; different body types pick up different issues.

Parts, Spares and Future-Proofing

Once a machine passes the basic tests, think about the next ten years. Are the cables, pulleys and bearings standard sizes that any refurbisher can source? Is there still an active second-hand parts ecosystem for that brand? Do you know someone local who can service commercial kits?

If most of those boxes are ticked, you’re probably safe. If everything on it is proprietary and nobody can get parts, you’re taking a bigger gamble.

How TDM Gym Fits Into This

At TDM Gym, we lean into exactly this space: proper commercial kit, often from the brands serious lifters still ask for by name. We’re not trying to flog you random pretty machines that photograph well but feel terrible.

Instead, we hunt down the pieces people actually train on, from Icarian leg presses and rows to BodyMasters presses and Magnum staples, then check, service and prep them so they’re ready for a second life.

So if you’re either creating an entirely new gym facility and know you want the old-school vibe or if you’ve got some sort of ‘grail’ machine on your shortlist that you'd love to get your hands on, we’re here to help determine what’s doable.

FAQs

1. What do you mean by “old-school” gym equipment?

By “old-school” we mean commercial-grade kit from brands like Icarian, BodyMasters and Magnum, typically built in the late 80s to 2000s for busy gyms. Heavy frames, simple mechanics – just machines designed to be loaded and abused every day.

2. Is old-school gym kit safe to use if it’s 20-30 years old?

Yes, if it’s been thoroughly inspected and maintained. Frames, welds, and structural components will easily go on for decades. It’s all about being sure that the components subject to normal wear and tear, e.g., the cables, bearings, pulleys, and upholstery, are all in good condition.

3. Why would I buy older equipment instead of brand-new machines?

Old-school kit often has better biomechanics, heavier construction and proven reliability. You’re buying something lifters have trusted for years. For many strength gyms, that matters more than having the latest touchscreen or cosmetic design.

4. Are Icarian, BodyMasters and Magnum still supported for parts?

In most cases, yes. Even if the original machines are no longer in production, many parts will be common sizes, and the market for refurbished parts and used equipment will provide what is needed. A good refurbisher can source or fabricate what’s needed in most scenarios.

5. How do I know if a used machine is worth refurbishing?

Start by evaluating the frame and the mechanisms. When the frame is straight, the welded parts are strong, and the mechanism for the movements works well. However, if the frame is either twisted or broken, in most cases it’s just not worth the repair.

6. Will old-school machines fit the look of a modern boutique gym?

They can. A lot of older pieces actually look better once they’ve been cleaned up, resprayed and re-upholstered. You can also run a hybrid setup: a few old-school “hero” machines surrounded by newer, more design-led kit.

7. Are these brands suitable for home and garage gyms, or just commercial facilities?

They’re absolutely suitable for serious home or garage gyms, as long as you can handle the footprint and the weight. Many home lifters prefer to buy one or two “forever” machines instead of cycling through cheaper, flimsy kits.

8. How much work goes into refurbishing an old-school machine?

It depends on the condition. A light refresh might just involve a deep clean, lubrication and new cables. A full refurb can include stripping and repainting the frame, replacing upholstery, bearings, pulleys and hardware, and resetting everything to factory-smooth.

9. Do old-school machines hold their value?

Good ones do. Desirable Icarian, BodyMasters and Magnum pieces tend to sell quickly on the second-hand market. That means if you ever need to change direction, you’re not stuck; there’s usually someone ready to buy.

10. Can TDM Gym help me find specific Icarian, BodyMasters or Magnum pieces?

Yes. We specialise in sourcing used and refurbished commercial kit, including old-school “grail” pieces. If you’ve got a shortlist of machines you’re chasing, we can help you hunt them down, assess their condition and get them ready for your gym floor.