Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Over the last 2 years, I have been member of 4 different gyms. I traveled a lot overseas during that time, so I juggled the memberships quite a bit and ended up paying way more than I wanted. My usual trips to the gym took 2-4 hours including travel time, I'm a pretty motivated person, but after a while, it is just becomes too difficult to get myself in the gym because of the time and money involved.
After coming back from a recent 1 year trip overseas, I've decided to look into home gyms to save both money and time. After extensive research, I ended up purchase the Conquest here on Amazon. Some other machines I looked at were the Platinum Crossbow, Total Gym, Bandflex. After comparing all the machines and going to the local sporting store to try out the Bowflex, I had no doubt that Bowflex is well worth the money.
Other machines might be cheaper, smaller and easier to assemble. But I found that the Bowflex quality is difficult to match.
Setup:
I put together the machine in about 2 hours. All you need is a couple of screw drivers, the everything else needed is in the package. The instructions were easy to follow and makes logical sense. However, my Bowflex, like many others, arrived missing a few parts. In my case it was just a few washers and a couple of screws, nothing critical, but such problems seemed common from what I've read.
Operation:
If you have not used a Bowflex yet, you are in for a treat. The Power Rods provide very smooth resistance and wonderful range of motion. The resistance builds as you flex the power rods, very easy on the joints at the beginning of the motion, yet still provides enough to break down your muscles toward the end of the motion. The DVD provides instruction for basic exercises (about 15), and the manual covers over 60 different exercises. A lot of them are simply variations of another exercise, but I found myself creating new ways to exercise that is not covered in the included material. The weight and type of exercises were easy to change, and will not interfere with your workout. I found this to be a very good time saver vs waiting for machines at the gym.
Size:
No matter how many times you have seen the Bowflex on TV, you won't realize how big the machine truly is until you have put it together. The conquest is easily 7ft tall, and takes a huge amount of space in my living room. It has wheels, but you will not be able to fit it through most doors, so think long and hard before you decide which room you will place it.
Value:
I ordered here on Amazon because of the awesome discounted price they had, evident by the fact the machine sold out 2 days after I placed my order. But after using the machine for a week, I can honestly say I would gladly pay full price for the machine. Like any other piece of exercise equipment, if you make good use of it, and it is worth every penny. I noticed that this machine is nearly identical to the more expensive Sport model, but is hundreds cheaper.
Summary:
This is the best item I have purchased in 2006, over the years I always ignored the Bowflex TV ads and considered it a fad. But the Conquest proved its worth a dozen times over the last week; for once a machine that works better than advertised.
Pros: solid construction, long warranty, exercise variety, smooth motion, easy operation, great long term value.
Cons: Setup time, size, missing parts
Neutral: Decent resale value.
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Bowflex Conquest Home GymBring the power of Bowflex to your home gym with the Conquest Home Gym, which provides a gym-quality workout in the comfort and safety of your own home. It offers 210 pounds of Bowflex Power Rod resistance technology and more than 65 exercises to get your body in shape. This machine can fit in the corner of your home, garage, or even small apartment or condo. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of your Power Rod units to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 210 pounds of resistance. Great for all fitness levels, this versatile machine helps work the back, shoulders, triceps, lats, chest, abs, glutes, hamstrings, quads, and more. It offers the following exercise options:
Base platform
Lower pulley/squat station
Lat station
Lat bar
Leg curl/extension station
The sliding seat allows for aerobic rowing while a Bowflex equipment mat is included for stability and floor protection. The Conquest folds up and rolls on wheels for convenient storage.
Bowflex's patented Power Rods provide resistance, or weight, that feels as good as or better than free weights--but without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of your Power Rod units to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 210 pounds of resistance.
They're precisely manufactured from a high-tech composite material under the highest quality control measures, then sheathed and tested four separate times to ensure quality and durability. The Power Rod units are so strong, you can flex them repeatedly but you won't be able to wear them out. In fact, they're so strong, they're backed by a lifetime warranty.
Specifications:
Weight resistance: 210 pounds
Number of exercises: 65
Open dimensions: 40 inches wide by 76 inches long by 84 inches tall
Folded dimensions: 40 inches wide by 40 inches long by 84 inches tall
Maximum user weight capacity: 300 pounds
Manufacturer's Warranty Three-year warranty on machine; lifetime warranty on Power Rods
What's in the Box? Bowflex Conquest home gym unit, instructional video, equipment mat, and t-bar
About Home Gyms While offering the convenience of working out in the comfort and privacy of your own home, home gyms also allow you to focus on specific routines without having to wait in line or switch between a complex array of machines. In addition to improving strength, power, coordination, and muscular endurance, weight training can enhance weight reduction, enhance the immune and cardiovascular systems, and help prevent injuries. In general, home gym machines are compact units designed to strengthen and exercise many parts of the body. While no single home gym can provide a complete strength training solution, they are a convenient way to combine many exercises into a single unit. Some home gyms focus exclusively on upper-body workouts, while other, more advanced units focus on upper- and lower-body conditioning.
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