Bowflex?

[grfox92]

Anyone ever use one of these? I finally have a place big enough to have a workout area at home. I haven't been getting to the gym as often as i need to. 4 kids, a horse, 2 businesses will do that.

Anyway, these Bowflex are a dime a dozen on FB Marketplace. There is an XLT one town over for $100.

Can I get an effective workout at home with one of these things? Or are they just an as seen on TV gimmick?

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[COJoe]

I have had an original Bowflex for almost 20 years and it's held up well. There was a period of rest for it but the past three years or so it's seen weekly use. If you follow the instructions, three seconds up three seconds down, it will build muscle slowly. It only has 210 #s of weight though but you can find additional rods online or ebay. I don't know how 20#s with rods compares to 20# dumbbells but either way, you will feel a difference when you add an additional rod to each side. It is real convenient for me to have in my house and the bench folds up out of the way in needed. It's pretty safe to use, meaning, if you struggle with a weight, just stop the set. Lots of exercises in the manual for it. I think mine is the XLT. My wife seems to appreciate my muscle building progress....

 

[fmyth]

I bought one in 1984 and used the hell out of it. I later joined a gym. If I was looking to work out at home I'd buy a set of bowflex or similar selectable wieght dumbells and a flat bench.

 

[blkqi]

You would be better served by a cable machine if you definitely want an all-in-one gym.

 

[D S 319]

For $100 it’s better than nothing! Throw in some calisthenics and you can get some good work outs in. Keep it simple.

 

[COJoe]

For $100 it’s better than nothing! Throw in some calisthenics and you can get some good work outs in. Keep it simple.

I agree, I added in core exercises, so, between the two, they will serve you well for general conditioning.

 

[Coach Chris]

Bowflex is similar to using exercise bands where the maximum resistance is at the end range.
It's good enough for motor unit recruitment. Not so great for hypertrophy.
It would be worthwhile to supplement it with heavy sandbag/stone training, loaded carries and sled drags just to fill in the gaps.

 

[ddowning]

Bowflex is similar to using exercise bands where the maximum resistance is at the end range.
It's good enough for motor unit recruitment. Not so great for hypertrophy.
It would be worthwhile to supplement it with heavy sandbag/stone training, loaded carries and sled drags just to fill in the gaps.

^^^^THIS. I have had one a long time. It is not in the same realm as free weights. I would get a bench and selectable dumbbells unless that is not an option.

 

[nphunter]

Anything you use will work. The reason they are cheap is because most of us are too lazy to use them. The bow flex is great for quick workouts without a mess. Most people could achieve their goal on a bow flex, if your intent is to be in a body composition competition go free weights. Bow flex’s are good for just getting tone though and are low resistance if you have had an injury.

 

[Poser]

Bowflex is similar to using exercise bands where the maximum resistance is at the end range.
It's good enough for motor unit recruitment. Not so great for hypertrophy.
It would be worthwhile to supplement it with heavy sandbag/stone training, loaded carries and sled drags just to fill in the gaps.

In addition to forcing the user into fixed bar path. I'd put it squarely into the "anything is better than nothing but not anything close to a good ROI for your time or money" category

 

[180ls1]

Anything you use will work.

Emphasis on use.

Adherence is as much of an issue, probably even more so than the equipment itself.

 

[fmyth]

Bowlfex for sale. Used daily. Like new condition.

 

[COJoe]

Bowlfex for sale. Used daily. Like new condition.
View attachment 853339

Yup, I've used mine that way as it is useful in drying pants/jeans or towels with my lat pulldown attachment..... But the rest of the week it gets used properly.

 

[TxLite]

Bowlfex for sale. Used daily. Like new condition.
View attachment 853339

Looks like the one at my house when I was a kid