The Bowflex Extreme Reviewed

There is an old saying "Good things are seldom cheap, and cheap things are seldom good." But does the Bowflex Xtreme enter under the category of "Good"?

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Below you can find information on what the Bowflex Xtreme can do, what it can’t do, and also help deciding whether (or not) it is the "right" piece of equipment for you.

What Will Working Out on the Bowflex Extreme Do for You?

Of course that depends on what your starting point is. Working out on Bowflex can be very beneficial for anyone, but especially for those who are not currently physically active. One of the tremendous benefits of Bowflex is that it is very “user friendly” (unlike free weights).

What does Bowflex say working out on the Extreme will do?

"Women lost an average of 16.96 pounds of fat and men lost an average of 27.95 pounds of fat in only 6 weeks! These people didn't workout every day either. They worked out three times a week for only about 20-30 minutes. Hey, you can do that too! You can take 20 minutes out of your day for these kinds of results."

Bowflex puts it's money where it's mouth is... they offer a 6 week money back guarantee - if you don't like it just send it back for a full refund (minus shipping costs).

Is working out on the Bowflex Extreme as effective as free weights?

Bowflex’s Power Rods

Pros

+Easy to change - just hook in another rod for more resistance (or less).

+Light - no picking up weights off of the floor or adding plates - which if done incorrectly can be dangerous.

+Can have up to 410Ib of resistance - for most people 410Ib will be more than enough.

+Body has a nice "toned" look - working out on Bowflex gives your body and muscles a long, toned look rather than the “blocky” look free weights can create.

+Smooth movements - because there is no momentum with Power Rods, you can train as quickly or slowly as you like.

+Very safe - no momentum, thus no risk of injury.

Possible Cons

-Temperature sensitive - If room temperature is "cold", rods can get stiff.

-Sunlight sensitive - If Power Rods are in direct sunlight they get very light.

-Only 410Ib - If you are exceptionally strong 410Ib can be light for certain exercises such as leg press and calf raise.

Free Weights

Pros

+Unlimited resistance (in gym) - If you are used to training with “weights”, the tension offered by Power Rods will feel different, but will be challenging in a new way.

+Muscles - get thicker which gives the body a "harder" look.

Possible Cons

-Stiffness - Using free weights can shorten the muscle which can cause stiffness (stretching can solve this problem).

-Momentum - Free weights and weight stacks can be susceptible to momentum - if a person happens to do the exercise to quickly the weight can become lighter but also can increase the person's risk for injury.

-Muscles - can have more of a "blocky" look to them.

Is the Bowflex Extreme the "Right" Piece of Equipment for You?

Here are a few questions to help you decide:

• What are your goals? Are you trying to improve in a sport, or just trying to tone-up and slim down? The Bowflex Extreme can be effective for both.
• How consistent have you been at exercising regularly in the past? The Bowflex Extreme is a fine piece of equipment, however, if motivation is a struggle for you, it won't give you the "drive" to train by itself.
• Are you able to do squats? Though the Bowflex Extreme XTLU does come with a leg extension (for toning the front and back of your thighs), squats are still the best exercise for overall toning. 2nd to the squat is the leg press. Unfortunately the Bowflex Extreme doesn't allow you to do leg presses - but the Bowflex Sport does.
• What is your budget? The Bowflex Extreme comes in at $1299 plus shipping and handling.
• Is quality important to you? Just like any other product Bowflex has knock offs like the Crossbow etc. They do cost less, but are not of the same quality.

What kind of results are owners getting with the Boflex Extreme? Please click here to find out what they think

What experiences have others had with their Bowflex, see below.

For a comparison of the benefits of a horizontal bench Bowflex vs a vertical bench like the Extreme, please click here

To share your opinion, please click here

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