Are Bowflexes Worth the Money?

[blueray4]

I'm 20 years old, 185 lbs, 6 foot even. My goal is to have a great physique. Not very much into heavy power lifting. But I would like to be strong too, but not like Worlds Strongest Man Pudzinowski strong. However I've been lifting for a while now and I'm almost at my optimum physique.

I own a heavy duty Smith Machine at home, complete with a lat tower attachment. Right now I'm at school and fortunate enough to have a state of the art gym across the street. But when I go back home for the summer, all the gyms are either too far or shitty. I was thinking about selling my Smith Machine for a bowflex, since I heard Smith are bad for development. I was looking at a Bowflex at Sears for $900 w/ lifetime warranty, but it looked like a very basic system. And it looks like if I bought directly from bowflex, an Ultimate system would run in the range of $1500. Are bowflexes worth it?

Thanks

 

[rnch]

i suspect you would do better putting the Bowflex Bucks towards a gym membership instead.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

No they are not worth it. Good for rehab, but you do not get linear resistance through the full range of motion. Use the money and buy a power rack, free weight set, and adjustable bench if you want to work out at home. Or you could prepay for a few years at a gym.

Nothing can replace freeweights, but freeweights on a cable and pulley come much closer than bowflex.

 

[beerdrinker]

Definitely opt for the power rack, a bench, and some free weights. You'll have the ability to do some serious lifting, and will probably have spent a lot less than you would for a Bowflex. For real, a decent power rack will be under $400, a good bench under $200, and a 300lb Olympic weight set with bar is $100. $700 gets you everything you really need. More plates are cheap if you need them.

I knew a guy who used a Bowflex to start with. He actually did pretty well for himself with it, so I'm not going to say it absolutely doesn't work. He didn't get big or anything, but it made a difference. He eventually got to a point, past beginner stage, where he needed something more and joined a gym. That's the problem with stuff like that. You outgrow it, or reach its limitations quickly. You don't outgrow a barbell with a bunch of plates.

 

[Kabeetz]

I never would have believed how often this question comes up before I started getting active on this board. . . they sure get their marketing dollar's worth, that is undeniable.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

I got fooled into one too. After using it a while to rehab my shoulder I realized that the models didnt use the bowflex to get where they were. I ended up giving it away to goodwill cause I couldnt sell it to somebody without a guilty conscience. I actually had a high school wrestler want to buy it and I turned him down and turned him to free weights.


They certainly do have great marketing. 30 minutes a day three times a week is all you need for rock hard abs, sculpted body, and the best fitness of your life. Im 45 and in the best shape of my life thanks to bowflex.

 

[Rabid_Goose]

Hey, if they are good enough for that 49 year old man to get into the best shape of his life for that rock band, then it is good enough for me!

The sooner someone tells America Abs don't come from Sit Ups and 30 minute work outs, the less chance of me throwing Molitoth Cocktails at BowFlex HQ.

 

[Powerbuilder333]

No!

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

No they are not worth ANY money. A simple weight set would be MUCH cheaper and more effective IMO. You can even get a deluxe olympic weightlifting set from Glenn Pendlay for cheaper than that, free shipping too!