Free Weights vs. Crossbow/Bowflex

[Rip the Jacker]

Has anyone tried or researched the cons and pros? If so, please list them.

I'm not sure whether I should get a gym membership or use a bowflex/crossbow.

(And a great advantage the crossbow/bowflex would have is that it would be in my home, and after exercising I can get on ATOT)

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Rip the Jacker
(And a great advantage the crossbow/bowflex would have is that it would be in my home, and after exercising I can get on ATOT)

Get a membership, far from your house. For our sake.

 

[cKGunslinger]

In the last ~4 months so working out daily, I gradually phased out almost al the resistance/pully equiment and do almost my entire workout with free weights. I just "feels" better, for some reason.

*shrug*

 

[Descartes]

Any exercise is better than nothing. If it takes a Bowflex for you to exercise consistently, then get a Bowflex. Getting into the habit of working out is half the battle, in my opinion, and often having to drive to the gym just provides another excuse for people to ignore it.

Any device that limits the range of motion isn't optimal. This goes for Smith machines, Bowflex, and generally all the other machines that you find in the gym (there are some exceptions of course). That doesn't mean you can't get a reasonable workout, and there have been plenty of people that have proven that they can grow by using the Bowflex (check BodyBuilding--some guys on there do have results).

Hopefully someone else can chime in and provide a more physiological description as to why free weights might be preferred.

 

[shabby]

Free weights are harder then machines since you have to use your stablizer muscles, everyone will tell you that. However its always good to use them from time to time to switch things up.
Unless you got free weights at home i'd join a gym, theres some schweet t/a over at my local gym

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

In the last ~4 months so working out daily, I gradually phased out almost al the resistance/pully equiment and do almost my entire workout with free weights. I just "feels" better, for some reason.

*shrug*

That was my biggest issue with the Bowflex. Sure, it helped me tone up and lose 30 pounds (with a diet of course), but I felt I hit a peak once I started lifting again for strength. I quickly reached the max of the power rods and didn't feel like paying extra for more resistance.

I then joined a local gym and was humbled when I tried to lift the equivalent weight with free weights.

The Bowflex is a great piece of equipment and is unrivaled for the number of exercises that can be performed in such a small footprint.

 

[Compton]

I'm suprised you made the PROTEIN POWDER thread before this one.

 

[axelfox]

It also is about space in the house.

 

[mrrman]

I have a Bowflex and love it...dont do free weights any more

 

[D22]

Bowflex resistance is not even throughout the full range of motion. The beginning of the motion is far easier than the end of the motion.

Stick to weights. I tried both bowflex and crossbar and then bought a gold's gym weight bench, some adjustable dumbbells, and an olympic weight bar.

Oh yeah, pull-ups kick ass too if you want a huge V-shaped back.

 

[spaceman]

i know 3 people who have purchased the bowflex/soloflex.
2 are sitting in a garage, one is in a basement in ma while its owner is in minnesota.


a total waste of money.

 

[spikespiegal]

Back in my early 20's I had a micro percent body fat, and lifted enough free weights that I could do inverted 'bat hang' chin-ups with ease.

Now that I'm in my 30's free weights just hurt my back and make too many other things sore to bother with.

Biggest problem I find with working out is is doing legs, and legs being the largest muscle in your body they are also the most critical to excercise. The Crossbow / Bowflex resort to emphasizing leg curl type exercizes which have too limited a return based on ligament stress.

Leg presses and freee weight squats might build a lost of quad muscle mass, but they are also brutal on your back, spine, hips and knees. For this reason I got one of those Chuck Norris slider machines that allow me to do lower impact squats and still burn my legs in less than a minute. The rest of your upper body can be handled with a pair of barbells and push-up brackets.

 

[spaceman]

youd be better off just going to the scrap yard aqnd purchasing a used hunk of metal that occupies a 7x7 space in your house.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: D22
Bowflex resistance is not even throughout the full range of motion. The beginning of the motion is far easier than the end of the motion.

QFT

I've owned a Bowflex Ultimate. I sold it last year. Of course I took a huge $ loss, but I don't care. With the money I got from selling my Bowflex, I purchased a full cage/rack/smith machine, adjustable bench, two complete olympic weight sets, and some adjustable dumbells, with standard plates.. and in addition, the rubber flooring..
All for less than $1000. My smith/cage rack is rated for 800 lbs.. that is more than I'll ever even think about coming close to..

 

[vi edit]

I love the people that hype up free weights and talk about building stablizing muscles and completely ignore that the thread is asking about a Bowflex.

That's the Bowflex's main value. The cables force you to build stablizing muscles since they are independent of each other.

I use my Bowflex 3x a week with a combination of dumbells for some isolation excercises. It's a perfect combinaiton for 90% of the people out there.

 

[Rip the Jacker]

up

 

[lastig21]

I just bought a bowflex over the weekend, and plan to assemble it tonight or tomorrow. My wife and I had been going to the gym regularly, but finally got tired of the drive and wait times on equipment. Winter is especially tough as you freeze to death leaving the gym.

We did not have room for several different pieces of equipment, and decided a bowflex was just what we needed. We are not expecting (nor wanting) huge muscle gains. We simply want to trim down and tone up. Hopefully our bowflex isn't doomed to become the expensive clothes rack of so many others.

 

[TheNinja]

I would say that overall, free weights are better. Free weights are just more natural. However, 1) you need to know what your doing with free weights and have good form or you could get hurt. 2) free weights are not easily accessible for many people who don't have the time or discipline to go to the gym. I'd say the average person would get more use out of a bowflex simply b/c it isn't as intimidating as free weights and is safer. The heavy lifter would definitely prefer free weights though.