Bowflex Sport Home Gym Exercise Equipment This new, sleek Bowflex Sport Home Gym utilizes the same Power Rod Resistance as the top-of-the-line Bowflex models allowing you to do over 60 exercises.Bowflex Sport Features: Over 60 gym-quality exercises! 210 p Click here for more information
September 5th, 2009
Tips on using the Bowflex
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Before I get into my tips, I’ll give a brief review. I’ve had this machine for 10 months now and I am mostly pleased with it. I started out as a computer desk nerd with no strength and I’ve worked up to about average guy strength - I can bench about 200 bowflex pounds now, more than twice what I started at. So it works - just don’t expect the miracles they advertise. The best thing about it is that is uses a pully system which makes it extremely versatile. The worst thing is the bows, which are elastic. If you can find a machine that uses pulleys like the Bowflex but has a weight stack instead of bows, that would be best, but I don’t think there is one in this price range.
Now for the tips.
1. The bows work by stretching, and can get stretched out of shape like a rubber band. So make sure you tie them back with the included strap after every workout. If you mess up and stretch them out, you *could* try connecting them to the opposite hook and leaving them like that for a couple of days. I did this and it seemed to fix the issue.
2. By the same token, the resistance varies with temperature. I found this out by accident when my AC stopped working. The temp went up by 10 degrees and I was suddenly able to lift about 10% more.
3. The bows are not like physical weights. The resistance changes from easy at the beginning of the motion to hard at the end. Also I believe they are overall lighter than physical weights.
4. The weight labels on the bows don’t add up mathematically. For example, 30lbs + 10lbs + 10lbs is much “lighter” than the 50lb bow. So while you are making gains you should actually increase from 45 to 30 + 10 + 10 + 5 to 50 instead of jumping directly from 45 to 50. Another way to think of it in your head is that the 50lb is actually 60-ish in Bowflex units. This is also true for the jump from 25 to 30. Since there are only 2 10lbs weights I get around this by doing extra reps at 25 until I can finally do a full set at 30. You could also try raising the room temperature by about 5 degrees which should soften them up to start, and gradually increase it with each workout.
4. Despite what Dr. Bowflex says, the machine just isn’t made for a cardio. I got a schwinn exercise bike to compensate for this. I immediately noticed being able to have longer workouts due to my increasing cardiovascular endurance.
5. The manual also states not to rest more than a minute between each exercise. I did this at first, but then (anecdotally) I discovered that if I rested longer in order to catch my breath, I could do more reps and make faster gains.
6. Certain exercises just don’t work that well - basically anything involving legs, feet, or cardio. The supposed rows are not even worth it. Also the leg curls are very awkward. The manual does not even describe how to do them but according to an old manual I found on the net, you need to lie halfway on the leg station seat and halfway on the bench (the opposite exercise - I forget the name - let’s call it “leg raise” - does work rather well though). Finally the leg press might be worth it after you upgrade to 310 or 410 pounds, but at 210 even someone completely out of shape might find them wanting - mainly because your legs are the strongest part of your body, even on a sedentary person. On top of this it is hard to get the leg press strap to stay in place when you are first getting into position.
7. In my case there were some exercises that hurt my joints. I’ve never had joint injuries that I know if, so it may just be my body shape. I’m pretty sure I did them correctly. However, in the manual it lists the muscle groups of each motion. Instead of trying exercises that hurt, I picked others that would exercise the same groups.
September 5th, 2009
Excellent - PLEASE Read!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Honestly, this machine is an excellent purchase, especially for those of you who WANT to work out and get into better shape, but don’t have the time or the commitment to go to a gym 3-4 times a week, every week (even if it’s a 10-minute drive away).
The people that say that the assembly process takes half a day or more honestly don’t know how to put anything together. I’m not saying it took 15 minutes, but 2-3 hours tops! In fact, it’s almost easy - it just takes some time because there are quite a few pieces and you want to make sure everything is in the right places.
As for the weights, resistance and not representing it’s numbered amount - it’s very possible that 50-bowflex-resistance pounds might not EXACTLY represent 50-regular-disc pounds. However, who cares? Just add another rod or two, and you’re good to go.
I must say that this machine is probably NOT for body builders (you should be in the gym like 6-7 times a week) but for those of you have just want to feel stronger and look better, I promise that this machine will get you there, 100% guaranteed! I’ve been using it for about 2-3 weeks and I already feel the difference (it doesn’t come over night, but you can certainly feel it and slowly but surely see it).
My only suggestion: CONSISTENCY! If you’re willing to put 30-to-60 minutes a few times a week, I guarantee this machine is MORE THAN ENOUGH to see nice results, again, for people who just want to get into a better shape or lose weight.
September 7th, 2009
Information about the Bowflex Sport
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Delivery time took two weeks. To assemble it, we had to unpack it in the garage and put it together in the basement because the box it comes in is large, heavy (200+ lbs.) and unwieldy. Took two people 2.5 - 3 hours to assemble. Very easy to assemble, but you really do need two people to do it. Before you buy it, manually measure the height of your basement. Ours was short by about ½ an inch and we had to move it to an inconvenient location. Takes up 8 feet in height by six feet in length of floor space when the bows are completely flexed.
The Sport is an excellent machine. Hubby and I have both used it three times since putting it together. That’s every other day. We have both noticed significant gains in strength. Hubby used to be a body builder and says it is an excellent piece of equipment. It came with an interactive workout CD that helps you develop your workout, shows you how to properly perform each exercise and keeps track of your gains. As for strength, I used to literally slog up the stairs. The day after the second workout, there was no resistance in my quadriceps as I climbed to the second floor. The difference was astonishing, as I was not expecting to notice anything for six weeks, if ever.
Caveat: We did not follow Bowflex’s suggestions in developing our workouts. Historically, at the gym I’ve lifted far too little weight and done far too many repetitions and thusly noticed no real changes in my body. Now, my husband has directed me to workout with enough weight so that at the 9th repetition of the first of my two sets for any given exercise, my muscles should be trembling/begging for relief. I take a brief rest (under 1.5 minutes) and then I do my second set.
If women are concerned about gaining so much muscle that it makes them “bulk up,” they have no need to. In order for this to happen, they need to either be a) genetically rare or b) they have to take anabolic steriods (synthetic analogs of the male hormone testosterone). Without one or both of these factors at play, it is physiologically impossible to develop the bulky physique of a man. It was based upon this fear that I used to lift lower weight amounts while doing excessive repitions. Be responsible and confirm this information on your own on the web or with any physical trainer at your local gym.
Get this machine. If only for the fact that it will give you amazing gains in strength. As for weight loss, that’s the cherry on the Sunday. I haven’t noticed any, but I think it’s too soon to. Just keep in mind that muscle is metabolically active, meaning it burns fat even while it is at rest while fat is metabolically inactive at all times. I hope this review was helpful for you.
September 7th, 2009
great product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
this is awesome, we love it. easy to put together, easy to read instructions. all around great item.
September 7th, 2009
Fast effective workouts.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
First, a couple of notes to help distinguish this from the other BowFlex units.
This one supports the 310 lb and 410 lb upgrades. The less expensive Motivator 2 doesn’t.
This unit has a bigger footprint than the Extreme. The seat area is longer.
The specs say 100″ is needed for the length. I have it set up in a room with 9′ 6″ between the walls (114″). With the head of the unit as close to the wall as I can get, without the rods rubbing the wall, I have just enough room to walk around the foot. Otherwise you have to step over the unit.
It’s fast and easy to change the weights. A lot faster than changing the weights on my power rack with Olympic size free weights. Just make sure to take the rod tension off before trying to attach the cables for the other attachments, since you need a little slack to get the cables to reach and it can be tricky if you have rod tension on the main cable already.
The Darden book, The BowFlex Body Plan, is a good accessory. He spells out a lot more info on the different exercises, nutrition, etc. than the booklet that comes with the machine. One thing I liked a lot about the book, he condenses all the possible exercises down to 23 “best” exercises. That really helped me narrow down and get a good idea of which ones to focus on, since with 60+ available I wasn’t sure which ones to do when starting my routine. He has a lot of supporting info on the correct number of sets and reps to shoot for too.
Even if you don’t plan to lift more than 210 lbs, if you do calf raises or shrugs you’ll go over the 210 lb mark pretty easily, so plan on at least the 310 lb upgrade.
September 7th, 2009
Great machine for a great deal of the day price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m very happy with this machine. I’m able to get a great workout from the comfort of home. Next time I purchase a bow flex machine, I’m going to buy something two levels higher. Hightly recommended. It works as advertise.
September 8th, 2009
Excellent Machine for the Long Haul
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I ordered this machine just over three years ago. It has been long enough that my memory of how difficult it was to set up is a little hazy, but what the other reviewers say about 2 to 3 hours rings true. It does take up a lot of space, but we have an unfinished basement which is perfect for the machine because of all the space and because it is nice and cool down there in the summer. I have been using the machine two to three times a week for the last three years. In all that time nothing has needed replacing, repairing, or even tightening. The Bowflex is a rock. Nor have I wanted for more options. The Bowflex Sport provides more workout possibilities than I will ever use. I originally got the machine because finding a spotter for free weights was sometimes a challenge. I wanted a workout that was safe to do alone. You can hurt yourself with the Bowflex with poor posture or inattention so read the manual carefully, but unlike free weights you don’t run the risk of killing yourself.
Until this spring I was using it mostly to maintain strength, range of motion and flexibility. Basically I just wanted to be strong enough to help people move, shovel snow, push a car, and so forth without straining a muscle. In May 2007 my wife got interested in using it so she invited her Pilates instructor (and all-round fitness guru) over to suggest a workout. He devised a devilish program for both of us. The workout ups the time I used to spend from 10 minutes to 45 minutes, but the results are worth it. The workout is based on the pyramid system where each exercise starts with an amount of weight that allows for 13-20 reps, then increases the weight so only 6-10 reps are possible, and finishes with the most weight with 3-5 reps. Ever since I have started this program the amount of weight I can handle has gone up remarkably, and I have lost five pounds without changing my diet. Actually I eat a little more now because I started getting hungry all the time. Weight loss was not my goal (I am 6 foot even and used to weigh 150), but it is a pleasant side effect. Even though I have always exercised regularly, the increased Bowflex work out has also made a noticeable difference in how awake I feel throughout the day. I am more alert in the mornings, and I rarely crash after lunch any more.
Suggestions:
- Plan on spending some time setting it up.
- Make sure you have adequate space.
- Find a good program. The manual I received with the machine is great for showing individual exercises, but not for designing a workout.
- Consider learning some basic Pilates. Pilates increases your core strength and teaches body-awareness. Both will help protect your back during a Bowflex workout. Engaging your abs/gluts while working with the Bowflex makes the workouts just that more intense. Pilates mat work also provides an antidote to the stiffness that a good workout leaves a middle-aged body with.
September 9th, 2009
Solid Unit but difficult instructions!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We just finished assembling the unit and it took 5-6 hours. There are 26 steps to the instructions and I found 5 manageable errors in the manual until step 23. Step 23 was a nightmare! They show a picture that is physically impossible to do. I struggled with it until I realized the instructions for the step are totally wrong and ignored them. The remaining 3 steps aren’t great either since they tend to refer to parts that are not shown in any image. Still, once assembled, it is a solid and impressive unit - quite large and it cannot be easily stored away - that is fictional. We now have to learn how to actually do the different exercises and then put a routine together - you are on your own a bit for that too. By the way, the leg attachments say to set the bars in a certain position for you height. I’m 6′ 2″ and my wife is 5′ 4″ so that may be a problem. Besides, they don’t tell you how to adjust for your height anyway, just that you need to do it. It is frustrating that all they would have needed to do is to pay one person to set-up a unit while they watched, and they could have had the manuals many errors and omissions corrected. I’ll post a follow-up on how it works for exercise.
September 12th, 2009
Good Value for the Money
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this as a replacement for my gym membership. I’m enjoying it. It’s easy to assemble and use. I got the 310 lb. upgrade for it and it was easy to install. My only concern is that the weights aren’t true to their claim. I’m a 26-yr old woman and have never been able to bench or curl 100 lbs. This machine says I can. Overlooking this, you do get a good workout for the price.
September 12th, 2009
Bowflex Sport Home Gym
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I Bought this product three weeks ago, so far is working very well. The instruction for putting it together is well written, I built it by myself for about 2 1/2 hrs. The system is very easy and quite to setup so you can change your exercise position quickly.
September 13th, 2009
Good Machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I own it for over three year now and I still love it.
It is very well made, it is little difficult to put it together since there are many pieces but every pieces fit perfectly.
It save me time and money since I can work out when ever I feel like it with out all the driving.
And I do have to say I try many machines but this is next best thing to having your own professional gym. You don’t have to wait or wash other people’s sweat off.
Yes, this is big but it is perfect for me to do pull up on the machine.
Another downer is fact that weight is not accurate, it is lighter than what they claim to be so you might need extra weight, also rod’s stiffness varies with the temperature.
September 13th, 2009
Great Workout for Middle Age!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My wife and I are middle aged people who needed to get in shape. We bought the Bowflex after investigating numerous other types of equipment. Six months later we are certain that we made a good choice. The Bowflex Sport unit came with all of the parts, and took us a good 4 hours to put together. (The directions were decent, but one person might find it difficult to setup). Directions were adequate. The machine itself is sturdy and easy to use. The workout is great — the power rod system is easy on the joints, and provides a very adjustable level of resistance. A complete workout, with stretching included, runs about 45 minutes. Changing the setup for different exercises is easy and quick. There is much less stress put on muscles and joints as opposed to free weights — it is really ideal for older people. Our only surprise was with the size of the thing — make sure you have the room! (Thankfully the unit folds up easily). We found the basic unit to be more than enough, and we were glad we didn’t buy anything more expensive. All in all a good investment.
September 15th, 2009
Very pleased.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very please with my Bowflex Sport. It took a while to setup by myself as I was doing it after a motorcycle injury to my leg, but it has definitely helped get me back into shape and having it close by keeps me motivated. Its something I look forward to using when I come home! Soon I’ll have to order some extra bows for added resistance! A great buy, I recommend it highly.
September 15th, 2009
excellent piece
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
easy to set up, very easy to use. not difficult to change for various exercises, great product especially for price
September 16th, 2009
8 yrs old and still working great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For normal people (i.e. you are not a guy in the gym three hours a day slamming protien drinks, and compensating for other things that are smaller then they should be) this is the best home gym you can own. I bought one in Feb 1999 and it has worked great ever since. My wife probably uses it more than I do. If you can find a better home gym for the price and size, let me know. Beware, there are a lot of cheaper knock offs out there…they are a waste of money and will fall apart.
September 16th, 2009
Great value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I ordered this Bowflex at $200 off PLUS a $200 coupon, PLUS free Super Saver Shipping, for a total final price of $599. Others have complained about the slow shipping, but mine arrived a week ahead of schedule, and it was approaching Memorial Day weekend!
Others have complained about how hard it was to put together. I wouldn’t know, I was at work during the day and my teenage daughter, being impatient and at home alone with this box, assembled the entire thing by herself. I’m sure it would have gone faster and smoother with two people.
As for the workout, if you’re not already a hardcore fanatic, this machine should be plenty for you. 80% of all the exercises use the Bowflex in the same basic configuration. You’ll use the leg lift portion for only a couple of exercises, other leg exercises use the same setup as the chest and arm workouts. The biggest hassle with any workout (machine or free weight) is reconfiguring the hardware for another exercise. It’s easy to switch the bench seats for flat, incline, or no seat, and once you get a system to your workout, you can make the changes to the weight and configuration quickly and easily.
Mine came with the Bowflex iTrainer software, which is useful. It could be a little better to customize your workout, but it’s a nice addition and you can install it on multiple computers if you like. It shows small videos of the exercises (better than the photos in the book), and lets you create and track your workout regimen. The software will let you set up multiple users on the same installation, so everyone can share the software, and you can print out your workout schedule to have at the Bowflex.
It takes up a LOT of space, right now it’s in my living room and it looks like an altar or something. Ready to use, and allowing for the bend of the bars, you’ll need a T-shape space about 6′ wide by 7′ long by 6′ high. It folds up and rolls, but it doesn’t roll well on the small wheels, especially on carpet. It’s quite heavy, so moving it on wheels is about like moving a refrigerator around, it takes balance. Don’t think you are going to move this in and out of a closet every time you want to use it, but if it’s sitting in the guest room, it’s easy enough to fold up while company visits.
I definitely think that, for a little more than a year’s gym subscription, I got a great value, and with four of us in the household using it, we’re getting more than my money’s worth.
September 18th, 2009
Metal vs. Rod
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Assembling was not as bad as I thought it would be. My goal for this gym was to tone up my muscle and it work well. Although I think the gym can’t compare to the real weight. The initial tension of the rod is weak while it tense up at the end. e.g. When you lift 50 lb dumbell, you would have a 50 lb dead weight. For the Blowflex, as you lift you will feel 30lb, 40lb, then 50lb. Overall I gave it a 3 star.
September 18th, 2009
Overall a great unit, but difficult assembly
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The Sport is an excellent machine with a few caveats:
First, delivery. It took about a week for delivery, which is fine. I got a call from the delivery company to set up an appointment, and was told that they would only take it off the truck, not actually bring it inside. Amazon only covers curbside delivery. Considering I am on the 3rd floor of an apartment building and it weighs 230+ lbs, this was not good. I was told they would not even bring it up using the elevator. Luckily, the delivery guy called and asked if he could bring it earlier in the day and offered to bring it up for me in return. I just lucked out because there is absolutely no way I could have gotten it upstairs on my own.
Assembly:
I basically dismissed all of the complaints on here about difficult assembly, but they are all true. It took me about 4 hours to assemble and I am pretty handy. The parts are well constructed, but they do not fit together easily. The bolts are tightened using an included allen wrench, which stripped after 2 bolts. It would have been much smarter to make them tighten with a large flathead screwdriver. The nuts are locking nuts and are nearly impossible to tighten properly with the allen wrench. I ended up going to the hardware store and purchasing regular 3/4″ nuts that I could actually tighten with the allen wrench. I would highly recommend you do the same. Otherwise, I would still be trying to assemble the thing. There are several screws that need to be tightened in pre-threaded holes and it was very difficult to get them in properly. One took me literally 20 minutes just to get threaded (no joke). The instructions are decent, but a couple steps, (such as the seat assembly) are not clear and I had to do some steps twice to get it right.
The third thing I will caution you about is that this thing is BIG. You really can’t tell from the pictures just how long the bench and leg extension are, but they take up over 6 feet from the main unit. The bows flex outward and need about 6 feet of room as well. It does fold up, which helps, but make sure you have a large area for the machine. And don’t plan on moving it from room to room once assembled, it is way too big to get through a doorway.
All that being said, I am very happy with the Sport. It is very solid and I get a good workout from it. At first, the resistence of the bows felt weird, but it does the trick. It just takes getting used to. I have been working out for about 2 weeks about 20 minutes most days and have seen great results. The range of exercises is pretty impressive. You can do several varations of exercises for all muscle groups, as well as aerobic rowing.
I don’t think you could get a better home gym for the price. If Bowflex would spend some time simplifying the assembly process and clarifying the documentation, they would have a five star product.
September 18th, 2009
Great for starters or beginners!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you decided to get this, I would highly recommend that you get the upgrade rod to 310 lbs. This is great for those that are trying to get back into shape or just started to work out. Just remember to install the CD and following the workout excercise. Oh, remember to STRETCH!!!!
September 18th, 2009
Good setup at a good price!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Bowflex Sport home gym is amazing! There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars more for the newer, fancier model. This one has everything you need to do a huge variety of strengthening and toning exercises. As entry level users, our family has had no problem adjusting our routine to fit in an every-other-day workout. The Bowflex Sport allows for all of our different strength levels with a quick change of the resistance of the power rods, and easily changes accessories to provide a multitude of different exercises for your whole body. The only downfall of my purchase was the extended delivery time (by a freight forwarder) but HEY - it was FREE shipping, so I can’t really complain! One word of warning: be prepared for the assembly process! (This great machine first comes in the form of a jigsaw puzzle that requires two people for assembly). Overall, I am very satisfied with this great tool that has lead us down the road to a healthy new lifestyle for the entire family!