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

Bowflex® SelectTech® 552 Dumbbells

People have ever increasing demands from their items these days and ways to get in shape is no exception.  We don’t just want a product to serve its purpose well; we want it to fit into our lifestyle too.  Such is the case with adjustable dumbbells.  I have personally used one, the Bowflex kind that goes up to 90 lbs and I think that whoever thought of these babies know that health buffs who would prefer to do their thing at home than in the gym would want to have an equipment that can progress with them without cluttering their space.  A complete set of dumbbells can do the former but not necessarily the latter.  Adjustable weights can do both and then some more.

The Pros and Cons of Using Adjustable Weights

The Pros

• We all know that muscles adapt to the resistance they are subjected to after a period of time and the only way to get around this and ensure your muscle growth doesn’t stagnate (and so too your training) is to introduce heavier resistance.  With adjustable weights you get to do that without having to run to the store to get new ones once you’ve outgrown your old ones.  You simply replace the weight plates and whatnot.  So that’s one point for adjustable weights: the assurance that you have readily available resistance you can use. No hassle, no pauses in your training.
• Another obvious point for adjustable weights is their easy-to-store features.  As mentioned earlier, you can have all the weight you need with no problems of how to squeeze them into your space.  This is especially practical for those with small living spaces.
• Adjustable weights are a great option for those who want to do their strength training without having to run to the gym.  Dumbbells can help train and tone practically every muscle in the body with the right training exercises and with these weights, your entire body should be covered well and good, if it is a well-rounded workout you are after.
• Some adjustable weights even have additional features that make them ideal over the average dumbbells and one notable feature is the quick dial and lock switch that you can make use of so you don’t have to get up to change the resistance.  You can literally just lie down there, do a little dialing and you’re good to go.  Bowflex’s adjustable dumbbells have this exact feature.

The Cons

• Some people find the range to be a big minus but personally, I think that a 130 pound range is pretty good and reliable for the features adjustable weights provide.  Heck, I would even go for the 50 to 90 if I didn’t have anyone to share it with. In any case, these weights are for the average person simply wanting to tone, maintain or get fit and definitely not made with the heavy lifters in mind.
• It can get pretty expensive and it isn’t exactly practical if you’ve no intention of using the whole range the product offers.  If you’re only planning to use 5- to 10-pound weights, you’re better off buying these weights individually.  But if you’re sharing it with someone, such as in my case where I’m sharing an adjustable dumbbells set with my husband, it’s a pretty good investment.
• Users complain about parts breaking, getting lost or making noises.  Some even have weights slipping off.  These are probably some of the adjustable dumbbells’ biggest and reason-for-concern flaws.  Compared to the solid sturdy build of your traditional hexagon weights, there’s definitely some maintenance and caring time that should be allotted for your adjustable set if you ever decide to get one.  You want to add oil on some parts and make sure you put them back in their designated area, and you should have a designated area, for them.  They’re compact but it’s not good advice to leave them just anywhere.  Also, it’s very important to get a good brand.  More often than not, you always get what you give, or in this case, pay for.
• Grip isn’t an issue, as far as I’m concerned, but it certainly is for some.  The irregular shapes make it hard for some to do certain exercises or even get their hands to grip the product in the first place.

Overall, adjustable dumbbells are pretty up to par with the ordinary or traditional hex weights that are neoprene or vinyl-coated that you can find out there, minus the clutter.  At least that is the case as far as my experience with the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells go.  But of course, it’s always a different stroke for each different folk so it is important to know about other similar products that are available so you can make the best choice for you.

Vs Weider Adjustable Dumbbells

The Weider Powerswitch Adjustable Dumbbells are pretty traditional looking and compared to the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells, they are much more affordable.  There are three models available: 5-25lbs single dumbbell, a pair of these 25 lbs model that adds up to up to 50 lbs of resistance, and lastly a 10-50lbs model that is bought in pairs adding up to a total of 100 lbs of resistance.  Compared to the Bowflex SelectTech’s, these models are pretty limited in range.  Durability-wise, Weider has had a good share of complaints as opposed to Bowflex’s practically zero.  Both have plastic parts that people are initially very wary of but in the end, Bowflex keeps it together while Weider just cracks at the threading (which is a key component in keeping the plates in place) and the storage case.

Vs Lifecore Adjustable Dumbbells

The Lifecore Adjustable Dumbbells set works just like the Bowflex ones: each has to be on their respective tray when you adjust them.  The mechanism differs, however:  While Bowflex uses an adjustable dial that you turn to change the weights, Lifecore uses a slide-and-lock design.  Both have plastic parts which many people have serious doubts with in terms of life expectancy.  But neither has ever really broken with careful use.  Smashing either dumbbell sets is not recommended.

Since you can probably get the same results using either of the two, I guess the determining factor for which to choose would be the range, price and warranty.  If you place Bowflex’s lower-end, Selectech 552 with Lifecore’s Corebell 5-55 head-to-head, Lifecore outdoes Bowflex in the range category by a mere 2.5 lbs while Bowflex wins the price battle as it is priced around $40 lower.  These two are a close call as both have equally good reviews with users.  If you want heavier weights though, Bowflex becomes the clear winner as it offers up to 90 lbs with its 1090 model.  When it comes to warranty however, Lifecore is the clear winner with lifetime offering on the weight plates and Bowflex providing only up to 5 years.

Vs Powerblocks

The Powerblocks Adjustable Dumbbells set is pretty much the only real competition Bowflex has in the category because when compared head-to-head, each has their own advantage over the other.  Price-wise, Powerblocks are slightly higher than the Bowflex variety but the difference is almost negligible.  In terms of build, they’re equally sturdy too.  There’s the clacking sound of the parts that many complain of when you use them but really, they’re just a nuisance in the beginning and is no reason for worry at all as both have been proven to not fall apart and be very reliable and safe even after years of use.

In terms of range, Powerblocks offers more.  It has models that have 3-24 lbs, 5-45 lbs and 5-90 lbs ranges as opposed to Bowflex’s 5-52.5 and 10-90 lbs models.  Both offer 2.5 increments for the lower weights.  Powerblocks also offer add-on weights that can bring you up to 130 lbs of weight for each dumbbell but this is only available for the 5-45 lbs model and not for the cheapest personal training set of 3-24 lbs.

In terms of design, I personally like Bowflex.  It looks rather traditional and you get more space for your grips.  Powerblocks tend to make my arms feel cramped although they really aren’t.  It’s a frivolous category as function should always take precedence over form but to those of you care about the little details, it is worth mentioning.

Function-wise, each has an edge over the other.  Bowflex has the edge over Powerblocks for its ability to provide distinct distribution on each end of the dumbbell as you can set the dial lower on one side and higher on the other.  This is perfect for tricep curls, as most would say, and for other exercises that works best when this feature is used.  In terms of overall weight distribution though, Powerblocks seems to edge out on Bowflex a little since the upper part of the Bowflex dumbbells are a bit bare and most of the weight are settled at the bottom.

Powerblocks are smaller in size which makes them easier to do double-arm exercises with.  But the Bowflex carries an advantage for its plastic covered weights over the Powerblocks’ pure metal finish.  With the Bowflex, irritating noises when the dumbbells clash are completely eliminated.

As to ease of use, I think each have their advantages as well.  In terms of the switching mechanism, Bowflex’s dial switch is a breeze to use; you can run into minor mistakes when switching using the pins with Powerblocks.  However, Powerblocks can also easily be adjusted on any flat surface while Bowflex has to be placed in its case.

The Best Adjustable Weights: Price, Feature, and Function

In summary, although I’m a big Bowflex fan and user, I have to say that you can’t go wrong with getting a Bowflex, a Powerblocks Adjustable Weights or a Lifecore set.  It all boils down to the features.  You have to really ask yourself which of the features you are actually willing to live with and/or without.