Bowflex Reviews, Comparisons, and Tips

While going to the gym is highly beneficial for everyone, it isn’t necessarily the most convenient way to stay fit and healthy. Gym membership fees can skyrocket, the time it takes to get there may be inconvenient and costly and once you do get to the gym, you may have to wait for your turn to use the equipment.  Apart from the hassles and cost, going to and being in the gym can certainly take up time and when you don’t have that luxury, it simply is unwise to try to force and squeeze it into your schedule.  In comes home gym.  Setting up one could just be the solution for you.

You may have heard it being said before that going to the gym is more motivating than working out on your own but I personally think it isn’t true for all.  This is especially true when you consider the way fitness industries and companies are rounding up every nook and corner to come up with innovation for home gym equipment.  Newest models of home gyms breaking into the market feature ways to get you more engaged and to stay and get more motivated. Goals and games are just some of these features.

Whether or not you are into these new thrills or just really aim to get some fitness work done, there’s no question that the best place to do so when you’re pressed for time or budget is by setting up your own home gym.  It is convenient and can be inexpensive if you wise up before you actually buy an equipment or two for your home gym.

When setting up your own home gym, three of the most important things you should consider are your budget, your space and your fitness needs.  Not necessarily in that order.  With a ceiling for how much you are willing to spend, you will know which products to consider and which are out of the question.  A smaller space means you need to choose something compact or if at all possible, foldable equipment.  In terms of fitness needs, you need to evaluate first on whether or not you are after some cardiovascular workout, just toning, real muscle building, or a mix of these.  Once you’ve got that figured out, you should be able to shortlist the many equipment available for you.

This article should be able to help you learn a few things about:

• Choosing the right home equipment for you, whether you should get an all-in-one system, a cardio machine or both.
• All-in-one home gym systems, what they are, what they can or cannot do and how much they cost.
• The different kinds of cardio machines available (elliptical trainers, treadmills and treadclimbers), what each kind can do and what they cannot and how much they cost.
• Choose which all-in-one system and/or cardio machine works best for you in terms of need, budget and space.
• How you can score the best deals when purchasing a home gym equipment.

All-In-One Home Gyms: Weider, Body Solid, and Bowflex

All-in-one systems are a great way to bring the gym into your home.  They allow you to tone up or build muscles minus the travel time to get to the gym, the waiting time to use the equipment there and the bulk and clutter free weights and workout benches .  They’re compact, there are plenty of sizes and mechanisms to choose from and, lastly, they pretty much cost just as much as a gym membership or even less.

Home gyms have their limitations though and three of the more prominent ones are (1) most all-in-one systems or home gyms are purely for strength training alone and not for cardio except perhaps for the occasional units that include a rowing station like Bowflex.  In any case, when you get an all-in-one home gym, you don’t expect to do cardio with it.  (2) You can’t expect to build huge muscles with home gyms because most models have very limited resistance.  You have to be willing to shell out more money, provide more space or both to be able to do extreme muscle building with a home gym.  (3)The more compact ones make use of rods or bands for resistance and some people find that hard to get used to.

3 Reasons I Like Bowflex Home Gyms

There are plenty of reasons why people love Bowflex’s home fitness systems but my top three:

1. There is a wide range of price for every entry level from cheap models for beginners to pricey models for fitness buffs.  The models boasts of resistance that run from 210 to 400+ lbs.

2. The resistance is different from conventional weight, but that’s not a bad thing. The weight is consistent through out the movement, which will help prevent injury and promote an overall better strength.

3. Excellent support and training. Customer support is great and the manufacturer will deliver parts if broken.

A Look at Weider Home Fitness Equipment

For beginners and for those who are under a limited budget, Weider provides some of the most affordable entry-level home gyms in the market.  For as little as $100, you can avail of some pretty good equipment for toning like its Door Gym.  But the price usually comes with a payoff and in the case of the Door Gym, your door should be sturdy enough. The equipment is usually better installed from the outside too because of the additional support the door framing provides.  In any case, it is a good option if budget is your main concern.  But don’t expect much in terms of resistance, more exercises, warranty or quality.

Basically, what you would get from the Weider’s offerings are toning and not some serious muscle building.  Weider’s home fitness equipment mostly make use of body weight resistance with the highest additional resistance you can expect to hit only 240 lbs which you can get from the their most expensive offering, the Max Weight System.  While the brand’s home gym models may not exactly be true value for ones money, Weider Home Fitness Equipment are, in two words, “good enough” for any beginner to get started with when trying to get out of a gym membership and doing some toning at home.  You might need to look for exercise guides though because Weider usually do not include a handbook in their home gyms.  Check out these reviews from users of some of Weider more popular systems: the Weider X-Factor Plus Gym and the Weider Total Body Works 5000 Gym.

The Body Solid Gym Selection

Two of the biggest advantages of Body Solid home gyms among all other exercise systems are perhaps their excellent warranty and crazy sturdy build.  Other than that, the brand doesn’t provide much innovation but if you’re not into the frills to begin with, it could probably provide the best equipment for you.

Body Solid home gyms make use of stacked weights so you can be sure you’re getting a familiar gym feel compared to the bands or rods of most home gyms.  This does, however, also mean that you will not be able to move your exercise equipment around or tow it away for easy storage.  The brand’s units’ price range starts at a high $800 dollars and can reach to a little under $2,000. But you will get what you pay for and in the case of Body Solid, you will usually get a lifetime warranty (not that you would ever need it because like I said earlier, it has a crazy sturdy, solid build).

In terms of resistance, Body Solid home gyms only provide to as much as 210 lbs of resistance for the higher-end ones and just around 160 lbs for the lower-end models.  As far as I know, these aren’t upgradeable. If you’re thinking of bulking up to more than what any of these models provide, you might want to get a different brand of home gym.  In any case, Body Solid has pretty solid ratings in review sites although most often complain of assembly issues due to outdated guides.  Here are some of the more helpful reviews from users who say that they are “very satisfied with new Home Gym” and that Body Solid is a “great small home gym”.

Getting the Best Deal: Buy Used All-In-One Workout Machines

You can get the best deal by buying your home fitness equipment second-hand. Because many people buy their equipment and only end up using it for a couple months, then lose motivation, the equipment is often near-new.

Cardio Home Fitness Equipment: Ellipticals, Treadclimbers, and Treadmills

If you’re thinking of setting up your own home gym, you simply can’t do away without a cardio machine.  While you can do some dancing at home (which is what I did before I got a my own unit) or you can run outdoors, cardio machines have the advantage of being able to give you more intensity and allowing you to easily do interval training which is the best way to burn fat.  You also get to watch your progress as you go along through the built-in monitors. The more advanced ones can even provide you with various programs or goals to keep you motivated.  In fact you can even get some toning done with some machines; a rare feature to find but it is definitely included in some.  There are different types of cardio machine; there’s always something for everyone and no doubt there’s something that’s just right for you.

Treadclimbers

Treadclimbers are cardio machines that put together the mechanisms of a stair climber, an elliptical and a treadmill.  A treadclimber features two treadles that move up and down imitating the action of a stairclimber.  Each treadle carries a moving belt that mimics the function of a treadmill.  The combination of movements along with the soft padding of the treadles akin the treadclimber to an elliptical where you can get a low-impact, high-intensity workout.  You can work your muscles or tone through treadclimbers and not just do pure cardio.  However, these machines have limited speeds with most approximating at 4mph.  Treadclimbers are perhaps the most expensive cardio machines available to date with prices ranging from a grand for lower-end models to a little over $3,000 for brand new, home grade, high-end units.

Ellipticals

Ellipticals or elliptical trainers are low-impact, high-intensity cardio machines.  They are specifically designed for people who cannot withstand or would prefer to reduce impact on the knee joints caused by jogging or running.  Its main mechanism involves two foot pedals that are attached to a mechanical motor or drive system which functions as a control system for the intensity of your workout. The controls for the motor or intensity of the machine are connected to a dashboard and with a touch of a button you can make your workout either easier or harder.

You simply step on the pedals and use your leg to power or start the elliptical.  Leg power will drive the pedals to glide up and down and you do not need to lift your foot.  The movement mimics the natural movement of the legs when running, walking, jogging or climbing stairs ( at least that is how it should work ideally) but you won’t be lifting your feet as you would with a treadclimber or treadmill.  How natural a movement you are going to experience depends on the make of your elliptical so choosing a good one is of the essence.  Most elliptical trainers also allow you to work your upper body through the grip or handles that you can use to power the machines as well. Toning can also be a part of ellipticals if you find the right one.

Good, durable and reliable elliptical trainers usually sit within the $600.00 price range and above.  A feature-laden and commercial grade one can run to as much as $6,000.00.  I’ve seen a few brand new ones that cost just below$100 but these are usually mini trainers or elliptical-like trainers.

Treadmills

A treadmill can be defined simply as a cardio machine that allows you to run, walk or jog in place.  This works through a conveyor belt that moves either through manual or electric power.  Manual treadmills stay stationary unless you start stepping on the belt and walking or running on it.  These treadmills are often smaller and portable and sensibly a better choice for home use.  Although, currently there are plenty of electric powered ones that are as portable in the market that is affordable and provide better motivational goals or programs.

Electric-powered treadmills have better features with programs that allow you to do interval training through varying inclines and treadmill speeds that can be manually entered into the dashboard or imbedded in the machine’s built-in programs.  Treadmills have been around for a long time and are very reliable especially if yours come with a good name.  Dependable treadmills that can withstand regular use stand cost about $1,000.00.  If you’re using it with someone else who also regularly uses it for running, you have to start looking at a $1,500-$2,000 price tag. For state-of-the-art treadmills, the price can go to as high as around $8,000.00

The TC5000 Treadclimber is Bowflex’s answer to every fitness buff’s desire to burn more fat, and not just mere calories, with each workout.  At least that is how I see it.  The main function and goal of the Treadclimber is to provide a fat burning, full cardio, low-impact workout so the joints can avoid common joint injuries associated with jogging, running on concrete.  The Treadclimber is a merge of your standard treadmill, stairclimber and elliptical, supposedly.

See larger image Bowflex TC5000 Treadclimber (Refurbished) (Sports) List Price: $2,499.00 USD Release date June 13, 2007.

Key Features of the TC5000

Here are some of the winning features of the TC5000:

• The TC5000’s main key feature is its unique movement.  It has dual treadles that move up and down like a stairclimber.  Each treadle has a moving belt that allows you to walk as you would on a treadmill.   The result is a low impact workout that gets your heart rate up and allowing you to hit your fat burning zone like you would on an elliptical.  The only difference is you get to move your legs as if you’re really walking or power walking.
• The TC5000 gives you up to 12 intensity or resistance settings to choose from so you can increase your resistance when you’ve adapt to a certain level.  This is also a great feature for interval training.
• You have the option of using the treadclimber as a traditional treadmill or stairclimber through very easy-to-follow steps.
• You can also adjust the speed from 0.7 to 4.0 mph.  That may not be as fast as your regular treadmill but with its many movements, you are bound to get just as good a work out (if not better).
• The display or indicator shows your speed, distance, total steps, time, calories burned per minute, your total calories burned and heart rate.  It also has a climb indicator that displays every 100 feet of elevation.  The numbers appear in red LED and thus make for readability under any lighting condition.
• Your heart rate is monitored through the wireless chest heart rate monitor that comes with the equipment for free.
• At each side of the treadles are large footboards you can get on to easily stop and safely stop or start your workout at any time.
• The TC5000 comes with a Quick Start feature that remembers your previous weight and resistance settings.
• Apart from the indicators, the front panel also features molded console for storage of and your easy access to water bottles, books, magazines and the like.
• The TC5000 is 46 inches long by 30 inches wide by 55.25 inches tall and 185 pounds. This compact and sturdy machine is capable of holding up to 300 pounds of weight.
• The TC5000 comes with a 5-year warranty for its commercial-grade motor, 3 years for its parts, 3 years for the electronics, and 2 years for the hydraulics.

Average User Ratings: Amazon and Eopinions

The TC5000 receives a 3-star user rating on Amazon and 3.5 on Eopinions.  Users rave about the concept, of how it truly brought their heart rate up at such low speed and helped them lose weight as a result.  The benefits of the TC5000, however, seems to get cancelled off by many factors that include

1. Difficulty of assembly.  It takes two people to get it up and running.
2. Poor quality.  It breaks down and doesn’t last as long as it should for its price.
3. Horrible service. They replace parts but they give instructions over the phone and, again, for its high price, they should be able to send their own crew to fix their product which by the way shouldn’t even break down until five years after, to begin with.
4. Price.  Apart from numbers 2 and 3, the product is simply too costly for what it can provide: cardio workout and no strength training.
5. Treadle problems.  Users experience problems with the treadles.  They are too short for running and for tall people and they’re also hard to walk or tread on without grabbing on to the handles.  It is possible but it takes a while, and we’re talking about months, to get used to.
6. Noise.  Users often complain of clunking noises when the motor is running. You wouldn’t be able to watch TV without turning on the volume.  In any case, you would either get used to the sound or remain to get distracted by it or it doesn’t go away.

The concept is there and users seem to like its results but the product, they say, definitely needs improvement.

One Model Below: The TC3000. Whats the Difference Between the Two?

The TC3000 has all the features of the TC5000 except that the former doesn’t show your total calories burned, doesn’t monitor your heart rate and doesn’t provide a climb indicator.  The TC3000 is also slightly narrower at 28.5 inches instead of the TC5000’s 30 inches.  Apart from those, there are no other significant differences and the same is true for the price.  The general 5 problems of the TC5000 Treadclimber mentioned earlier still apply to the TC3000 and so too the former’s advantages which is its effective low-impact, cardio workout.  Having said those, with no significant differences in either, you’re better off with the TC5000 because of the very small price difference between the two which is about $300.  If you can get the TC3000 for a marginally higher price difference compared to the TC5000, you’re definitely better off choosing that.  If that is the case, the biggest thing you’d be missing out on, at least as far as I’m concerned, would be the heart rate wireless monitor and you can always purchase that for less than $100.  The only other exception when you should get the TC5000 would be when you need more leg room for your strides.

One Model Above: The TC6000. What Makes the TC6000 Better?

Perhaps the most notable feature of the TC5500 is the GO (Goal-Oriented) Coach Console but we’ll get to that later.  Minus the Coach Console, the TC5500 is, in a nutshell, an improved version for the TC5000.  Everything about the T5000 is one-upped by the 5500.  The treadles are longer, making this model the most comfortable treadclimber to date.  It is also appropriate for taller people as it has a few inches off its height from the ceiling.  It has a lighter weight yet remains sturdy.

With 15 functions, you get to monitor more details of your workout as opposed to just the 8 functions of the TC5000.  Additional functions include HR Workout and Landmark Challenges. Landmark challenges are part of the GO console which allows you to compare your current workout with others' (the TC5500 can store workout details of up to 4 users) as well as your own previous records.

Landmark challenges are pretty much goals that once achieved can get you to unlock more challenges.  Three challenges are available from the get-go and 6 more can be unlocked as you go along.  Pictorial and interactive workouts are available and the theory is that this should get you motivated to get on your treadclimber.  There’s not much opinion on this one as the product is relatively new but in theory, the whole thing should deliver as it promises.  If it doesn’t, you have the warranty to back you up.

In any case, the TC5500 is a mile better than the TC5000 but you have to be willing to shell out an additional grand, more or less, if you’re getting the former.  There’s definitely more features with the TC5500 and I personally think it is worth the investment.  But if you’ve a limited budget and can do away with the frills, the TC5000 should pretty much get you the same result as the TC5500.

See larger image Bowflex TC5000 Treadclimber (Refurbished) (Sports) List Price: $2,499.00 USD Release date June 13, 2007.

Stamina InStride Electronic Stepper List Price: $90.00 Sale Price: $69.29 You save: $20.71 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

It has really only been in the past decade or so that the technology in fitness machines of all types has gone through their most notable advancements. This doesn't mean that there weren't fitness machines prior to that because there were lots of them. It just means that in more recent times they have become more advanced in their functions and features and also frankly, more durable.

An Amazingly Broad Range of Prices

The stair stepper is a fine example of this. For example to begin with the range in all the various makes and models is absolutely incredible now. It's not just the number of types, but the price range as well. For instance, you can now find a simple working mini stair stepper being sold at WallMart with a price tag in the area of $50.

The Inexpensive Mini Stair Stepper

The $5,000 StairMaster By StepMill

Then the very top model currently on the market is the StepMill, made by StairMaster and it features a a price tag of a little over $5,000. Of course there are many more types and models in between these two extremes in prices but it just goes to show the incredibly broad range in diversity that's out there on what is in effect the same machine.

So Just what Defines a Stair Stepper?

Well almost the same machine. This is because in truth, what actually defines a stair stepper isn't in the machines themselves but rather the stair stepping motions that you're legs are doing when using them. In the end, this is why there is such diversity in price, form and feature functions in this one particular category of fitness machine.

The StepMill By StairMaster

Do You Really Need a Stair Stepper Downstairs?

This is also a great time to point out one other very important fact that you may want to consider. This is that given that the stair stepper is so singular in its functions. That is that it will really only allow you to do stair stepping exercises. If you have a set of stairs available in or near your home, you may want to consider that you're money may be better invested elsewhere.

Perhaps Other Types of Fitness Gear?

After all, do bear in mind that the machine is going to take up space and if you have nice set of stairs already, why not consider making better use of that space and money on perhaps something like a compact weight resistance machine or a treadmill for instance?