Ultimate Body Press

[SirJangly]

Here it is for those who don't know:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...encoding=UTF8&v=glance

I was planning on getting it for my dad's bday, and want to know what you guys think Thanks in advance!

 

[purbeast0]

get him a gym membership instead.

all of these "work out equipment" items are gimmicky pieces of crap.

why do you think no gyms have any of these exercise items sold on informercials? cause they are worthless.

 

[SirJangly]

Well we have a $5000 smith machine, and a gym quality bike and treadmill. These were bought from a company who provides them to "gyms." The only issue is a lack of dip bars on the smith machine, which is why I'd want this.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: SirJangly
Well we have a $5000 smith machine, and a gym quality bike and treadmill. These were bought from a company who provides them to "gyms." The only issue is a lack of dip bars on the smith machine, which is why I'd want this.

If you have a $5000 smith machine, surely you can buy a $150 dip/pull up/hanging leg raise tower. It'd be way better than that piece of crap.

 

[Cattlegod]

you can just scoot your washer and dryer close for dips. i wouldn't bother with this.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: SirJangly
Well we have a $5000 smith machine, and a gym quality bike and treadmill. These were bought from a company who provides them to "gyms." The only issue is a lack of dip bars on the smith machine, which is why I'd want this.

If you have a $5000 smith machine, surely you can buy a $150 dip/pull up/hanging leg raise tower. It'd be way better than that piece of crap.

There ya go.

 

[SirJangly]

True about the tower, but the new smith machine is HUGE, and I'm not sure if there is room for a tower in the 2nd garage...the appeal of the UBP is it's size Well, obviously lol

 

[paulxcook]

<------- H&F

 

[SirJangly]

Originally posted by: paulxcook
<------- H&F

??

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: SirJangly

Originally posted by: paulxcook
<------- H&F

??

http://forums.anandtech.com/ca...tid=88&flcache=8825186

 

[chalmers]

Smith Machines are garbage.

 

[SirJangly]

Originally posted by: chalmers
Smith Machines are garbage.

Care to elaborate on that statement? I'm sure if you buy an $800 model from Big 5 it would be, but I'd have to disagree from experience with the higher quality models.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: SirJangly

Originally posted by: chalmers
Smith Machines are garbage.

Care to elaborate on that statement? I'm sure if you buy an $800 model from Big 5 it would be, but I'd have to disagree from experience with the higher quality models.

Free weights are better.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SirJangly

Originally posted by: chalmers
Smith Machines are garbage.

Care to elaborate on that statement? I'm sure if you buy an $800 model from Big 5 it would be, but I'd have to disagree from experience with the higher quality models.

They are garbage in the sense that you should only use them if you are injured (usually back injuries) because they isolate your body on a single plane. Your body needs its stabilizers and that's why free weights are much better and safer (especially for athletes). If you aren't injured and you use the smith machine, then you are definitely hurting your progress. Get a gym membership and start doing barbell squats - much healthier.

 

[SirJangly]

I do use free weights when I can. This particular model does not isolate, as the weighted barbell not only goes vertically but horizontally as well. It's pretty awesome actually, and much safer if you work out alone.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: SirJangly
I do use free weights when I can. This particular model does not isolate, as the weighted barbell not only goes vertically but horizontally as well. It's pretty awesome actually, and much safer if you work out alone.

Not true at all. Any sort of guides will take away from the need to use your stabilizer muscles and will prevent you from having proper (freeweight) squatting form.

The safest way to squat is to do so in a power rack.

 

[gramboh]

Yeah those two plane ones are still inferior to a free weight exercise, you are not stabilizing the weight anywhere near as much as you do on a free weight squat etc.

As far as the linked item goes, it looks really annoying to use, I would not want to do weighted dips that close to the ground and be forced to kick my legs so far behind me, plus on a full range of motion the plates on the weight belt will hit the ground for sure, in the pic the guys got a small 25lbs plate or something and is not even close to full ROM and it's near the ground.

Can't believe a $5k machine doesn't have a real pull-up bar or come with a dip attachment. For $5k you could've bought a nice power rack w/ pull-up bar, lots of nice bumper plates, oly bar, dip bars, bench, rings etc etc. Return the smith if you can.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SirJangly
I do use free weights when I can. This particular model does not isolate, as the weighted barbell not only goes vertically but horizontally as well. It's pretty awesome actually, and much safer if you work out alone.

Wrong. Like BeauJangles said, a power rack is safe (perhaps SAFER since you can bale it backwards and not get crushed) and is also better FOR you. You ARE NOT - I repeat - you ARE NOT developing your stabilizers at a rate to keep up with you practical squatting weight. You're setting yourself up for injury. For example, if you wanted to pick something heavy up or wanted to run explosively, you increase your risk of injury since your ligaments and small muscles have not adjusted to a real life load. Please don't fool yourself.

 

[SirJangly]

Originally posted by: gramboh
Yeah those two plane ones are still inferior to a free weight exercise, you are not stabilizing the weight anywhere near as much as you do on a free weight squat etc.

As far as the linked item goes, it looks really annoying to use, I would not want to do weighted dips that close to the ground and be forced to kick my legs so far behind me, plus on a full range of motion the plates on the weight belt will hit the ground for sure, in the pic the guys got a small 25lbs plate or something and is not even close to full ROM and it's near the ground.

Can't believe a $5k machine doesn't have a real pull-up bar or come with a dip attachment. For $5k you could've bought a nice power rack w/ pull-up bar, lots of nice bumper plates, oly bar, dip bars, bench, rings etc etc. Return the smith if you can.

It actually has an amazing pull up bar, just not one for dips. What is this power rack you guys speak of?

 

[spamsk8r]

A power rack (see Image) is the standard squat cage. It allows a trainee to do full range of motion squats without having to worry about bailing on the weight. This is as opposed to just a squat rack, which doesn't have the full cage action going on. If I had room for a home gym this would be the first thing I bought (after an Olympic barbell and bumper plates, of course).