Has anyone used it before? Is it actually one of the best home gyms out there? Or is it a big waste of money?
Thanks for your input,
Randy
Waste of money, get freeweights
I’ve had a Bowflex for about 9 years and it is ok for an emergency when you can’t get to the gym. For the same amount of money you can set up an awesome power rack and Olympic weights, if you have the room.
Just doing squats, deads, bench and bent over rows, militaries is about all you need to build a solid base of quality muscle. IMHO
heh, my roommate wants to get one and and his reasoning is so that we don’t have to go to the gym anymore. I just laugh at him.
I’ve used it before-the plus side is that it is not that bad for a home gym. the “powerrod resistance” does feel different, but what value that statement has to your body, I don’t know (probably more effective for marketing).
a couple concerns I did have is that some of the exercises on it are very awkward, and I don’t mean in a good way, more like I have size 10 feet and I am wearing size 9 shoes, kinda way.
overall, it is not horrible, better than the soloflex (which isn’t saying much) but for what they charge for it, no way is it worth it.
one note, be careful who you take advice from on buying this thing. two guys I know, the two I mentioned in the chek forum (check it out if you haven’t, it is getting pretty interesting over there) were devotes of Tom Purvis, and they used to push that machine to their clients like it was insulin to a dying diabetic.
I found out that the reason why is because the company that makes bowflex (I think it is nautilus) was giving them fat bonus checks ($500) for every bowflex somebody bought who in turn referred their names as the contact.
I don’t know if bowflex still does this, but I think that caution should still be warranted.
They are poorly built and break a lot. Get free-weights or gym membership.
[quote]BudhaFunkSoulja wrote:
Has anyone used it before? Is it actually one of the best home gyms out there? Or is it a big waste of money?
Thanks for your input,
Randy[/quote]
I think that many items that are overly hyped can actually work. However, I have not seen any of them perform better over a longer period of time than free weights.
If I were you I would purchase a 300lb. Olympic Barbell set. It will cost you far less than the Bowflex thingamabobber…and it will deliver!
Sweet! Thanks for the advice boys! I had a feeling the olympic barbell set and a power rack would be better. I’m going to put it on my Christmas list!
Thanks again,
Randy
At Dicks Sporting Goods or Gaylans, depending on where you live, an Olympic bar and 300 lbs. of weights is $100.00 that leaves alot of money for a bench/rack.
They actually make a pretty good clothes-drying rack for items that can’t go in the dryer because of all of the rods and angles and such. But if you want to work out, free weights is where it’s at and always will be. The models for all of those machines use free weights.
DB
Bow Flex = trash
You can get a power rack, adjustable bench, and weights for the same price (maybe less) and it will be 10X more effective in helping you improve your physique.
This is assuming you don’t want to travel to a gym (which is likely your best option).
Best wishes.
I used to have a bowflex. I thought it was well made and convenient with limited space when you cant leave something out and always set up. Somewhat less chance of injury also.
What I did not like about it was the rods start at 60% resistance and go to 100%. I can tell you that what I was benching on the bowflex was not what I could do free weights. In fact I could only do about 60% on freeweights. Go figure. If they corrected that problem they would be great.
As it is now, I have a cheap rack, bench and olympic weight set. Im going to probably upgrade the bench and add power rings to the rack for dips soon. I also have a chin bar in my doorway. All that I have now cost less than a bowflex.
yeah dude, search around for a good deal. I was able to find 400lbs of weight, and a needlebearing bar plus brand new power rack with latpull and dip station on it for 300 bucks. I can’t wait to build it over my break. Talk about one sweet start for a home gym!
Would I say this is better than a bowflex… YES!
Pick up some power rings, bumper plates, and some Jumpstretch or Iron Woody Bands, while you’re at it.
[quote]CU AeroStallion wrote:
yeah dude, search around for a good deal. I was able to find 400lbs of weight, and a needlebearing bar plus brand new power rack with latpull and dip station on it for 300 bucks. I can’t wait to build it over my break. Talk about one sweet start for a home gym!
Would I say this is better than a bowflex… YES![/quote]
That is a good deal. I would have purchased better but needed as small a footprint as possible. I also have a high and low pulley on the rack but I would like a higher quality rack someday.