We have been adding various exercise machines to the fitness center in our development for a number of months. Some are brand new and others are used. The bottom line is that they are all top of the line machines and most provide numerous workout options. One of the newer options is the Bowflex Revolution. We decided to bring it in recently and I could not be more pleased with the machine.
The fitness center has three exercise bikes, two treadmills, two ellipticals, and three different Bowflex machines. Everything gets a good amount of use, but it seems as though the Bowflex Revolution has taken the lead in just a few short weeks.
The first thing that you notice with the Revolution is that it does not have the same appearance as other Bowflex machines. It is built more as a bench with a number of options coming off the bench. In other words, it is longer versus the previous models which I would describe as taller. It also looks sportier and to me that gives you an energy boost right off the bat. It also looks cleaner and like it utilizes better materials than previous models. That is not a knock on previous models, but more a praise of the quality of the Revolution. The quality may be evident in not only the materials, but also in the 10 year guarantee on basically everything.
The machine- in keeping with Bowflex tradition- is flexible when it comes to size. You will need a decent amount of space, nonetheless. The machine measures a little over six feet in height, nine feet in length, and is slightly over five feet wide. A pretty good footprint, but you are able to narrow down that footprint by folding various parts of the machine. The folded footprint is 55" by 37". A little bit easier to store and easily folded up for storage.
A few other notes about the machine that I think deserve mentioning. For one, the machine is very quiet. I am not going to say that you could use it beside someone who is sleeping and not wake them up, but if they are a heavy sleeper you could probably do so. Secondly, I used to notice a black dust that would come off of previous machines (Usually under hinges and areas that rub together.), but have not noticed this with the Revolution. A plus if you want to use over carpet areas. Thirdly, the machine is very smooth. There are no jerky movements or chafing actions. I find this as a huge positive as this usually means you have a better constructed machine.
How about the workouts? Well, there are more than you possibly do in the period of a week. All in all, there are more than 100 exercise options. The exercises can be performed with up to 220 pounds of resistance. You can order an extra resistance plate that adds 80 pounds, but it runs around $100. An upgrade will also get you to 600 pounds for leg workouts. For a vast majority of the population, these weight amounts are more than enough than they will ever need. I should add that you are also able to perform workouts for every part of your body with this machine.
The technology behind the machine was developed after studying an astronaut training technique. Huh? Well, astronauts typically lose 20% of their muscle mass when in space. So NASA developed a resistance training routine in order to combat the muscle loss. Bowflex has taken the technology and applied it to the Revolution. The technology uses resistance plates that appear like traditional weight plates. I far from a technology guru, but the technology is pretty cool when you think about it and how it has been applied.
Ok, so back to the workouts. What can you actually do with the Revolution? Pretty much everything. The exercises include the following: Rowing, preacher curls, curls, leg extensions, leg presses, chest and shoulder presses. As I mentioned, there are over 100 exercises, so this is just a short list of the things that I like to try to do when working out. A nice option that makes these exercises even more difficult is the ability to change the angles of the machine to work different parts of your body. In other words, you can move the position of the arm in order to work different parts of your arm with the same exercise. The bottom line with the workouts is that you will feel the burn if you work yourself hard- just like with any other workout. Yes, you truly do get out what you put in when it comes to working out.
The Revolution comes with a pretty good DVD and manual that will teach you how to use the machine and how to get the most out of the machine. I think that most of it is common sense if you have worked with a Bowflex previously. However, it does not hurt to learn how to get the most out of the workouts.
The one negative that I have found with the Bowflex Revolution is that is not cheap. I would not have purchased this machine for my house. The cost is in the ballpark of $2500.00 when you figure in shipping and handling. The only reason we went through with the purchase is that we were getting it for the community and, hence, not spending our own money. I do look at this and think that over the years you will more than get what you pay for. Over a decade you are looking at a cost of roughly $20/month. This is much cheaper than the typical fitness center cost and Bowflex will allow you to finance it for as little as $37/month. I hate financing anything, so I would have to be in the position of having $2500 that is not earmarked for anything.
The bottom line with the Bowflex Revolution is that this machine is wonderful. There was a ton of press for the machine and it seems to have more than lived up to all the positives. The machine is a definite upgrade over some pretty good previous models. I think you will be very pleased as long as you do not mind the hit that your wallet will take.
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