Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us? Getty Images; Jason Speakman, Men's Health Illustration 9 min read FOR MOST OF recent gym history, Smith machines, the fixed-barbell weight racks commonly found in big box gyms and hotels, have largely been neglected to the status of four-figure dust collectors. One reason is that different fitness factions, from powerlifters to strongmen to functional fitness athletes , prefer using free weights and other implements (like sandbags, kettlebells, and clubs). With its promise of stability, gym bros viewed the Smith machine as a waste of space at best—or the wussy version of a “real” barbell at worst. Things have changed. Over the last few years, some of the biggest voices in the evidence-based lifting world—including Dr.…