One of the few serious home options re: function & value
Written: May 15 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Value for the money, durable, excellent gym-quality feel, no spotter required.
Cons: Not easily moved (no wheels). Replacement cables not easily obtained-stock up with extras. Machining: so-so.
The Bottom Line: Excellent if you want gym-quality home workouts without a spotter. Only viable alternatives are some of the Bowflex models IMO.
Note that an optional preacher bench can be ordered.
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| pumpster's Full Review: Powertec Leverage System Home Gym |
I've worked out for more years than i want to admit. Always wanted to be able to work out at home, which wasn't easily possible until relatively recently. Remember the Soloflex? Perhaps the precursor to most of the equipment we can now choose from, but there wasn't much 10-15 years ago, and it was limited.
Did a lot of research, both online and in visiting stores to try out equipment. My conclusions for a single multi-purpose machine were to go either with a Powertec WB-LS or Bowflex. Now, of course you're going to get some very predictable reviews repeating over and over that free weights are the only way to go. As a veteran lifter, I won't tell you that. The Bowflex is the sh--, it is excellent in both feel and function. I'll put a review in for a Bowflex, but briefly will say that it effectively covers all bases and i'd recommend either the top of the line Bowflex Ultimate XTLU or mid-priced Bowflex Elite, Sport or Schwinn Comp (Schwinn's owned by the Bowflex parent co.).
Love the Bows. I'd say the Powertec WB-LS is the only viable challenger for serious home workouts in a small package. Excellent feel, intense workouts possible, heavy weights can be hoisted. Like the Bowflex, it provides the ability to go to failure at home with no risk, no need of a spotter.
Powertec utilizes leverage; while some say this is free weight in design i'd say it's actually better than free weight thanks to the multiplied resistance provided through the use of the lever arm-part of the pulley design. Basically it's like free weights but a little more intense, as you'll feel when doing lat pulldowns for example.
You can do bench press, incline bench, rowing, pulldowns, pulley curls, pulley extensions, shoulder presses, etc. Basically almost any exercise you'd want to do in a gym, with the same feel or better in some cases, because as mentioned, i'm a believer in leverage lifting.
Price: excellent. Look around online and you'll get a better price in the $$650-$700 range including delivery. Ordering from a distributor i got it in 7 days, so if a company says a month find another source. Factor in $100-$200 for olympic free weights to use with it-i'd strongly recommend getting rubber coated plates to protect the home, and consider also getting some 1/4" or 1/2" thick rubber workout mats to put under it which helps and adds a pro look to your workout area as well.
Build quality: Sturdy, will last a lifetime, with a couple of provisos: as mentioned by some others, the tolerances aren't the best, could have been machined better, and you might find getting the bolts to fit through the pieces a little problematic. However, with a little time expended to do this, no big deal; thing's solid. Second, it's hard to get spare parts re: pulley wire. If one breaks, you could wait a long time to get a replacement, thus i'd suggest calling Powertec once replacement cables are available and getting 3 replacement pulleys so that you won't have to worry in future.
Other than these relatively minor considerations, an excellent, gym-quality multi-purpose machine for home use. Add some dumbells to the equation to increase your options as well as Powertec's optional preacher bench and you're set.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pumpster
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Reviews written: 2
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