Bowflex anyone have one?

[Jims5543]

Wife and son want one, gym membership is up and we can buy a used one off of craigslist for the same price as a 1 year renewal.

I am not looking to compete in a BB competition just stay tight, are they any good?

[Scott R]

I've used one, they are fine for what you're looking to do. I'm at my competition weight right now and I don't think it would be very helpful for me (VS free weights) but for what you want it will work fine.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'd rather stink up a gym rather than my own home, but that's just me.

I think my neighbor might have one - I can ask him about it later.

[IROC]

I have owned two Bowflexes over the past 8 years or so. Both my wife and I use it on a regular basis. When compared to a gym full of free weights, the free weights obviously win out, but to me the real beauty of a Bowflex is that you can do a variety of perfectly decent exercises in the comfort of your own home. You can get in an entire workout in less time that it generally takes to drive back and forth to a gym.

Is it the perfect exercise machine? No. Does it work? Yes. I recommend it.

[Jims5543]

I was going to get those dumbells as well the ones where you dial in the weight and lift them up.

I do 80% of my work with dumbells and a bench.

[Jims5543]

I was going to get those dumbells as well the ones where you dial in the weight and lift them up.

I do 80% of my work with dumbells and a bench.

[dhoward]

Looks like another terrific coat rack to me....

[Fritz Peyerl]

they are outlawed in Canada. Do to safety issue.
They tip over if you hang to many shirts and Pants on it for drying.

[kstar]

I would spend probably less money on push-up handles, "doorway" pull-up and dip bars and ab-slings.

Personally, I like moving around body weight vs. resistance or free weights. I'm not a body builder but do like having a natural and "balanced" form.

I like the "Easy Effort" stuff:
http://www.pullupbar.com/

2˘

Best,

[IROC]

Originally Posted by dhoward

Looks like another terrific coat rack to me....

That's what a guy I used to work with said. I saw him recently and he weighs 300 lbs + and is a heart attack waiting to happen and I weigh the same as I did 20 years ago.

[sjf911]

I think it really depends on what you are used to. To me, the rubber-band feel is a real turn off but I have been lifting free weights for 35 years and I never have cared for machine weights of any kind. They certainly look attractive from the standpoint of optimizing space and performance. On cold winter days when it is 20F in the garrage, I sometimes wonder myself.

[71T Targa]

I have one that I've used off and on over the years. I think it's great and would recommend it.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by IROC

That's what a guy I used to work with said. I saw him recently and he weighs 300 lbs + and is a heart attack waiting to happen and I weigh the same as I did 20 years ago.

+1

I my weight has never fluctuated more than 10 lbs one way or the other over the last 15 years.

This will get used if we get it.

[berettafan]

our office has one and while i'm not complaining i'd much prefer something along these lines:





IMO the cable/bar system is tedious. I'd prefer a machine that has 5 or 6 uses ready to go at all times with zero re-routing antics.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by berettafan

our office has one and while i'm not complaining i'd much prefer something along these lines:





IMO the cable/bar system is tedious. I'd prefer a machine that has 5 or 6 uses ready to go at all times with zero re-routing antics.

One advantage of the Bowflex is that it does not restrict (or control) your movements through the range of motion of the lift like many machines. I can perform most of the "re-routing antics" in less than 30 seconds. It's a non-issue, really. You spend as much time lifting 45 lb plates onto the end of a barbell as you do re-configuring a Bowflex.

[Jims5543]

Give me an incline/decline bench and these and I can accomplish 80% of my workout.

[berettafan]

Mike the flip side to the 'restricting your motion' coin is that many people with bowflexes probably are doing their exercises completely wrong.

The appeal of that big yellow monster to me is that there are several operations ready to go with zero weight changes.

[cab83_750]

I say no. The exercise routines are pretty much restrictive (as previously mentioned by others).

Go with a bench, barbells and dumbbells.

[jluetjen]

Originally Posted by IROC

I have owned two Bowflexes over the past 8 years or so. Both my wife and I use it on a regular basis. When compared to a gym full of free weights, the free weights obviously win out, but to me the real beauty of a Bowflex is that you can do a variety of perfectly decent exercises in the comfort of your own home. You can get in an entire workout in less time that it generally takes to drive back and forth to a gym.

Is it the perfect exercise machine? No. Does it work? Yes. I recommend it.

I agree with IROC. I've had one for a number of years and with a little bit of thought, I can fit 3 sets of 9 exercises, 15 reps each into half an hour -- and not rush. I've seen guys in the gym spend half that time setting up the weights for a single exercise. The only time that my weight has changed in the last 10 years or so that we've had them is when I've increased the resistance. The bowflex system is most likely not perfect, but it seems to work pretty well when combined into an exercise program that includes the elliptical machine that's parked next to it (45 minutes), Paletes (30 minutes), 35 mile bike rides and Aikido training.

We're on our second bowflex too, but the only reason that we changed is when we bought a second machine for the pull-down tower that my wife likes, and the leg sub-system that I wanted. I gave the rest of the 2nd system to my nephew (a budding triathlete) and he's happily using it now.

I like having the system in the house because I can just crawl out of bed in the morning before anyone else has woken up, put the last weekend's races (on tape) on the TV, and start working out. There are no excuses. No one cares what I look like or what I'm wearing while I'm working out. The dirty clothes can go straight into the laundry and I've wasted no time or gas on driving to the gym.

[David]

The bowflex always felt weird to me.

My exercise equipment includes a pull up bar, a bench with dumbells, a barbell for squats, another set of dumbells for curls, and a floor for push-ups. It's worked fine for me for the last 25 years or so.