Bowflex Tips

Reviews on Bowflex Power Pro XTLU Bowflex Power Pro XTLU: A Less Expensive Alternative To The Ultimate The Bowflex Power Pro XTLU is the highest end model of the Power Pro line. It's about $400 cheaper than the Bowflex Ultimate, which is my fa...

Reviews on Bowflex Xtreme XTLU Home Gym Bowflex XTLU 6/18/07 Bowflex Xtreme XTLU Paid $899.00 free shipping and 100 LBS upgrade From Bowflex.com I live in NC and purchased the XTLU on a Fri...

I purchased the Bowflex because I started working out with weights back in June of this year (2000). I loved the results I was getting with weights, but hated going to the gym — I especially hated the thought of going to the gym in cold weather. (BRRRRRR!)

I don’t like to make what I consider big purchases sight unseen. I had been considering the Bowflex for several months — with the infomercial they have out it is hard to believe it isn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread! I also had heard from other people that the machine was terrific (before I read roro’s opinion). I finally decided to take the plunge when Bowflex sent me a special offer, "use the machine for 6 weeks, and if you don’t like it send it back and we will pay the return freight". Terrific! At worst I would be out $170 shipping!

I bought the works! I purchased the XTLU along with the chest bar assembly. Customer service was a delight to work with, and I eagerly awaited my machine which arrived in just 3 weeks.

When the delivery came via UPS I was amazed to see there were 4 boxes. However, I became dismayed when I opened them and realized how much work was involved in assembling the product. My husband is "Jim the Tool Man". He is Mr. Fix-it and has every tool known to mankind and this contraption took him 3 hours to put together. I am pretty handy when it comes to putting things together, but I just looked at it once, and begged my husband to put it together.

This morning I gave the machine the total workout. Normally I can do a total body workout of three sets per body part in 60 minutes at the gym (this includes changing weights, adjusting benches, etc.). I figured with the learning curve involved, I would need to double that time the first day. Well, after an hour, all I had managed to do was some rowing, some squats, some leg presses and some calf raises.

In the gym I can press 80 lbs on the leg press. That is tough for me. I pressed the entire 210 lbs. on the Bowflex and didn’t even break a sweat - even after 25 reps! The rowing was completely uncoordinated. I am fairly coordinated — I was able to Nordic Trac perfectly the first time I used the machine — and the action on the Bowflex was just awful, even with the foot straps and t-bar. In the gym I can manage about 60 lbs. on calf raises, maybe 80 lbs if I am only doing one set. Once again, the entire 210 lbs. of Bowflex resistance did nothing at all to work my calf muscles.

On the positive side, the squat attachment worked very well, and I felt I got a great quad/hamstring/glute workout with that. The straight-leg deadlifts using the squat attachment also worked well. (But, honestly, I can get just as good a workout on these two exercises with my dumbbells, and not get into awkward positions doing it). I also played around with some of the upper body exercises. They were fair, but simply not worth the $1,846 investment I made. Tension was not even throughout the exercises and resistance progression is uneven (30 + 10 + 10 not the same as 50 on resistance).

I feel the Bowflex is overpriced. It has its market, but it is not for the serious fitness enthusiast. I am returning my unit (though I was offered a $100 discount to keep it). It simply doesn’t meet all of my reasons for purchasing the Bowflex over other types of home fitness machines, namely:

1) Ease of transition between exercises

2) Smooth transition to increased resistance

3) Outstanding home workout — alternative to gym workout

4) Provide gym-quality workouts on exercises where my dumbbells won’t work.

Oh, by the way, I don’t know if this may have anything to do about why the machine didn’t work well for me, but I am 6′ tall in socks. The machine placed me in a lot of weird positions, and for $1,846 I generally expect better construction. I am in sales, and I sell high quality commercial items, I sell plenty of items that are far better constructed, and cost less!

I know many people love this machine, but I will be trying the unit that roros suggested (Personal Trainer from www.exerciting.com), in fact I just placed my order today. When I have tried out that machine I will post my thoughts under comments. NOTE: CHECK COMMENTS, I ADDED MY REVIEW ON THE PERSONAL TRAINER ON 11/27/2000.

Thanks for listening, and I hope my opinion has been helpful to others!

ADDENDUM (10/23/00):

After a few more days of using the Bowflex (before packing it up and sending it on its merry way) I have decided to re-evaluate my original 2-star rating and bring it up to a 3-star rating. The Bowflex is not an AWFUL machine. It simply is way overpriced for what you are getting. It does not provide resistance comparable to gym equipment. It does not provide good negatives (so important when you are into body shaping and building). It does not offer accurate incremental step-ups in resistance. However, it can provide a decent workout for someone just looking to work their muscles, and who is not into serious fitness training.

I do feel Bowflex is making A LOT of money hand over fist for this product, and I think they might want to reduce their price, or take some of the millions they are making and put it into a better-built machine.

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