Customer Reviews
Good home gym 
2008-06-09
The bowflex is a great home gym, but it doesn't replace going to an actual gym. Its good if you don't have time to go to the gym all the time.
It works, if you use it. 
2007-11-25
I'm 22 year old male in horrible shape. I use to be an athlete when I was younger (gymnastics, Aikido, all-star soccer team, swim team, baseball) but found out I had a genetic defect that made parts of my bones hollow. So I quit doing anything physical (after I broke my arm for the second time schools wouldn't even let me on the playground in fear of being sued).
So for the last 8 years I've been on the computer everyday, all day. Which has lead up to a over weight (25 lbs) out of shape young man. I started having bad lower back pain, neck pain, and just plain felt weak. So I bought the BowFlex Ultimate XTLU with all the options.
I tried the diet and quit that after the first few days (a gallon of ice cold water everday? I don't think so).
I kept doing the weight training. I started out doing the 3 days a week, 20 mins a day thing (BTW it's 20 mins of actual weight lifting, and another 15+ of warming up and cooling down).
I started out bench pressing around 60lbs (stop laughing). At the end of week two I was benching around 80lbs. So I started working out five days a week. Each day concentrating on different areas, mostly my lower back and upper body with legs and other areas in between.
By week four I was benching 120lbs and maxed out for the lower back exercises (can't remember names of the exercises). I pretty much doubled all my starting numbers by the end of week four.
Then one day while doing the bench press exercise I just couldn't push it anymore. It wasn't a physical problem, it was a mental one. Which when it comes down to it is what really matters, the mental strength to continue.
I haven't used it for about six months now. It sits behind me collecting dust, but holds my jackets rather well. Along with other clothing items on hangers, a backpack, and whatever else I could hang on it. My cat runs up the bench cushion to get to the top of my dresser where she sleeps. So it still has some uses.
So does it work? Yeah, it works, as long as you have the mental strength to keep using it.
must have patience to switch out parts 2007-08-11
This is a good machine although a little spendy. The leg attachment is a bit flimsy and mine bent at the locking bolt area while i was using it (I am 6'2 210).
Pros: Don't have to worry about going to gym.
Don't have to worry about having a spotter.
Cons: Must have patience swapping pieces out during workout.
Leg attachment is a bit flimsy.
Takes up a fare amount of space.
Requires a fair amount of self motivation since you are training
in solitude.
Great product 2007-05-29
First lets square away a few things. If you are training heavy and going for muscle bulk, it is my opinion and experience that you will get substantially better results from free weights. I used my bowflex for several years, and it is a wonderful machine. However, I recently joined a gym and engage in a high intensity weight lifting program. I would say that under those cirmcumstances, with a bowflex, you get about 65% of the results of freeweights and maybe %70 the results of weight loaded machines.
Next, the negative comments made by competing companies are all bunk. For example, they often claim that bowflex does not give you the full range of motion. This is completely wrong; the infomertials that make these claims show the bowflex being improperly used. I have read two massive books on bodybuilding and many other articles. I absolutely know how to properly do excercises and the bowflex will give you the full range on any of the 90+ exercises shown in the bowflex manual.
Another commercial shows the machine hooked up to a weight measuring device. It is true that there is less resistance when the rod is only slightly bent, but this doesn't matter because the rods are already partially flexed in the starting position for each exercise.
These people also claim that you can't change exercises fast enough with a bowflex. I had become used to changing resistance and attachments within a week of owning my bowflex, and changes can be made very fast. If you understand the concept of 10+10=20, you won't have a problem.
The bowflex is a versatile machine and is great for circuit training. You can gain quite a bit of muscle, and although your gains won't be as good as freeweights, you get excellent tone. Is is great for losing weight and you can have an extremely low or very high intensity workout. You do not need a partner (or spot) and there is next to nill chance of injury. It is solidly constructed and I have found customer service highly responsive in getting me replacement parts under warranty when I need them.
I did find that it took awhile to put the machine toghether (3hrs), but it is not overly difficult. So all in all, if you have reasonable expectations, I think this is a very good buy.
Good product 
2007-05-09
Pros:
1) Lighter weight (compare to others that uses actual weight)
2) It works from upper body to lower body (bench to squad)
Cons:
1) Since it uses bows, I do not feel much of negative weight (It has some negative weight)
Conclusion:
Since lots of sports stores carry bowflex nowadays, go there try it first. It is almost effective as GYM (My body is less sored than GYM). Saving me a time to go to GYM and I work out more. It's worth money (I bought a use one - paid much less).
Very pleasant surprise 2007-03-17
Bowflex Ultimate Home Gym offers over 90 gym-quality exercises! The Bowflex Ultimate Home Gym provides 310 lbs. of smooth Power Rod resistance, multiple cable / pulley options, aerobic rowing and leg presses for a custom, full-body workout: 310 lbs. of Power Rod resistance; Lat tower with angled lat bar helps build back and shoulder muscles quickly; Lower pulley / squat station enables you to do squats and build your glutes, hamstrings and quads; Leg extension / leg curl attachment helps develop strong, muscular legs; Sliding seat rails allows you to perform aerobic rowing and leg presses; Triple function hand-grip / ankle cuffs; Multiple cable / pulley positions enable custom workouts; Some assembly required; Measures 8'2" x 4'2" x 6'11". Consult with a doctor before beginning any exercise program. Get yours now! Please Note: This item is shipped directly from the factory. Please allow an extra 2-4 weeks for delivery... sorry no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses. Bowflex Ultimate Home Gym
a letter i wrote to nautilus 2006-01-05
January 5, 2006
In regards to:
Nautilus, Inc.
1600 se Nutilus Dr.
Vancouver, WA. 98683
360-859-5110
Attention: customer service
Dear Nautilus, Inc.,
SUBJECT: MY ORDER EXPERENCE
At the end of December I orders a bow flex ultimate xtul on you website. I printed out the order and never got an email confirming.
About 3 days later I get a massage saying that there is an error with my address (there wasn't), so I called and found out you are close to where I live and I can pick it up. I spend 15 minutes on the phone with you rep. and most of the time was dead air, I doubt he said 10 words to me and I had to drill him about where I could pick it up and when.
So I spent 2 hours fighting traffic and show up at your will call just to find that they have no info and I would have to go upstairs. At this point I say ok well take me there, this is where the pissy attitudes start coming out. I make the guy on the dock take me upstairs.
Now your sales people, I stand there for 20 minutes getting the rundown on how screwed up the order is and I would have to come back. At this point I through out the slandered customer reply (being in customer service myself doing onsite installs and repairs for a very good German company) ok kill the order. He was more than happy to do that but he wouldn't get on the phone and fix the problem. 1500 dollars may not be much to you but it's a hell for a lot to me and I spent a lot of time deciding to buy this machine. So now im getting mad, after another 5 minutes of giving him what for he writes a new order and sends me back down stairs.
Now im getting the cold shoulder from the dock staff, The guy driving the forklift is doing so in a very dangerous manner (I would have been fired from a warehouse job for this in my earlier days) so to top it all off they through the boxes in my van, I mean really slam them down leaving me to wonder if anything was broken. Im not one to rip on the little guys in the warehouse, given its usably a middle management issue the lets this happen but I also don't like bad language and attitudes when things go wrong..
So here's where im left, a machine I like but may not keep due to how I was treated. It leaves me to wonder having dealt with many customers and suppliers ,what good is a 10 year warranty when its this hard to deal with you and given most companies that act this way don't stay in business.
Sincerely,
CRAIG COOPER 12852891
ORDER 5021
FIELD TECH.
heidelberg usa.
A great workout, even as good as the gym 2005-12-11
I have been using a Bowflex for years. I am a huge fan. Although I rip the Xtreme2 in my review of it, I love the Ultimate. The workout is as good and maybe even better than the gym.
I'm a big guy and fairly strong. The Bowflex gives me a great workout and even challenges me. I honestly think its a better workout than the gym because with this, I can go very heavy and not worry about having a spotter or dropping the weight on me. You can apply all bodybuilding techniques, including pyramiding, drop sets, rest pause sets, low reps, high reps, heavy duty, etc. Additionally, changing the weight and cables is quick and easy, making the transition from one exercise to another quick, so you can keep your heart rate elevated.
I have put on alot of mass since getting my new Ultimate not too long ago. Those who say you can't go heavy or can't get a gym-type of workout must not be doing it right.
This equipment can and, if properly applied,will give you a kick a_ _ workout.
It worked for this ol' guy . 2004-12-22
OK, I'm not THAT old (51) but I was starting to feel that way. One day I woke up and realized I was 25 pounds overweight. Add to that my rising blood pressure and poor lung capacity and you get the average guy in his 50's. As I wathched the Bowflex infomercial I just said to my wife "I've had it!" I went out and got one that weekend.
Well, with the help of Bowflex and the accompanying diet info I lost the 25 pounds and have kept it off for almost 2 years now. In addition, I got into good enough shape that last year my wife and I bought bicycles for Christmas and have had a great time riding on weekends.
My blood pressure dropped and I can easily wear 34 waist pants again! I have had to buy new clothes but it's $ well spent.
Take my word for it, dieting alone will not do it. Get a Bowflex, follow the diet plan, and use the machine... You WILL succeed!
Oh, one more thing. Be warned. As the pounds drop off, be prepared for lots of comments. Some folks will be complimentary but other nay-sayers will try to drag you down by saying things like you're losing too much weight. It sure is nice to be complimented at my age.
Good luck!!!
Amazing workout "machine" 2004-11-08
The Bowflex is one of the most amazing machines I have ever used. With its range of exercises and a little creativity on your part, you can do just about any exercise you want to do. I completely recommend this if you don't have the time to go to the gym or if you just really enjoy working out at home.
One disclaimer, don't think you can get the same results you can get from free weights. If you are an avid free-weight lifter, you can get your kicks out of maxing the leg press and perhaps even maxing the bench. The PowerRods have a tension that is proportional to the amount of bend you give them. Thus, if you do an exercise with 100 pounds of resistance, but only move the power rods through their first half of bend, you aren't getting 100 pounds of resistance. Also, when you extend the arms of the pulleys to do the wide grip bench, you decrease the amount of bend in the rods to the point where, even if you bend them all the way, you aren't getting full resistance.
Don't get me wrong, I love this thing; I've had mine for the past 2 years and it is amazing. I work out twice a day for about 45 minutes to an hour each session, only because I don't have the time to make it to the gym. Get this if you are very serious about workout out at home and don't have a lot of space to fit other equipment. Make sure you have a positive attitude going into the lifting programs. Experiment with ideas on different exercise movements. More than anything, this piece of equipment is a blast to use, have fun with it!
