Product Review: Bowflex Revolution
I’ve said time and time again that fitness is a very important part of the life of any serious martial artist. With that in mind, a few months ago I started looking into some proper exercise equipment for the house. Let’s face it – most people dont get to the gym as much as they should, and having something at home can be very handy (so long as the problem is one of time, and not one of motivation). In the end, I settled on what you see here: the Bowflex Revolution. We’ve all seen the ads on TV, but that doesnt prove anything. What everyone wants to know is whether or not it is any good. Well, it has been a few months and so I think I’m ready to give it my verdict.
The first thing you should know is that this thing is BIG. Huge, even. On TV and in the pictures it doesnt look nearly as large as it actually is. Expect it to take up roughly the same amount of space as a full weight bench, and you wont be surprised when it shows up (like I sure was). The Bowflex Revolution is designed to be a complete home gym. The only thing missing is a treadmill.
The Good:
Once you get used to it, it is very simple to use. The learning curve is not steep, but it does exist. Obviously it isnt as easy as it looks in the commercials, but what is? Even without the manual, I suspect anyone could figure it out.
The included manual contains a LOT of good exercises. Look up the muscle group you want to work on, and it has dozens of exercises and detailed instructions on how to perform them. This is fantastic for the folks who want to get in shape but dont really know what they’re doing.
The “Spiral Flex” technology they’re talking about in the commercials? It works. The “weights” are very light and easy to handle, but provide all the resistance you could want. There is no jerkyness to your movements while exercising (at least, none caused by the equipment). This is fantastic for helping to prevent joint/muscle strains and injuries. I cant begin to express how impressed I am by this system.
The system is incredibly versatile. When I said above that all it was missing was a treadmill, I meant it. There is not a non-cardio exercise I’ve been able to think up that I couldnt do on the Bowflex. I’m sure there are some out there, but it is negligible compared to what the system is capable of.
The Bad:
As much as I love the “Spiral Flex” technology, changing weight between exercises is a pain. If you want to add weight, you have to go get the discs, put them on each side, lock them in place, and go. If you want to remove weight, you have to unlock the discs, slide them off the bar, and put them someplace. It may not sound like much, but trust me when I tell you that it gets annoying.
The Bowflex Revolution is expensive. Yes I know it is their “flagship” model, but you should expect to spend at least $3,000.00 for one of these. That is a lot for exercise equipment. Particularly since most people who buy these things never use them. If you’re going to buy something to never use, you can get that something much cheaper.
They provide lots of exercises, and tell you what muscle groups they work on, but they dont really help you put it all together. Opening up that manual and seeing all those exercises can be intimidating to a novice. I think they should flag the book as for “advanced” users and provide a simpler, friendlier, guide for beginners.
The Verdict:
I like it. Would I recommend it to everyone? No. You should only buy the Bowflex Revolution if you are really serious about getting in shape, are already motivated to do it, and, most importantly, can afford to spend this sort of money on exercise equipment. If you are just making your first foray into home exercise, I’d start off with something a bit cheaper (and maybe a bit smaller too).
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Tags: bowflex, equipment, fitness, review, revolution, training