The Definitive Review from a Personal Trainer on the CrossBow
Written: Sep 22 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Provides many exercises, unique rower, comfortable bench.
Cons: You have to like the way the Bows work to like the CrossBow.
The Bottom Line: The CrossBow is a simple machine but not everyone will like the Bows including me. The guarantee and rower gives it a good rating and a recommend.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Weider Crossbow Platinum Home Gym |
If you are just passing by I will tell you my qualifications for writing this review. I’m a Certified Personal Trainer. A few years ago I left the gym at which I was working and started my own business. I primarily go into people’s homes and train them either on their equipment or through my bag of tricks. I finally decided that I should review more of the many, many pieces of equipment I’ve had the pleasure or displeasure of teaching on, watching and using. It has taken me a long time to decide to review Weider’s Crossbow because I wanted to be sure of my rating.
About the CrossBow
There are many different types of machines. The ones you may be most used to use stacks. That means the weights are stacked one on top of the other. A pin goes into the amount of weight you want whether it is 20 pounds or 200. You may also have experience with machines that use resistance digitally or benches where you put on plates to give you the amount of weight you want. This is where CrossBow is misleading in my opinion. They say that the CrossBow eliminates the “hassle” of changing resistance levels. They call this their Quick-Chain Resistance system. They say you can move from 5 to 240 pounds of resistance (You can upgrade to 440 pounds) in seconds.
If I weren’t a personal trainer I would say far be it for me to say they are wrong but I am a personal trainer and this is incorrect. It is only correct if they are comparing the CrossBow to a bench with a bar which takes plates. If you have to stack plates and take them off each time you want to add or decrease weights then I agree. The CrossBow does take less time than stacking and unstacking plates. However it certainly takes more time to use the Bows than it does to push in a pin.
The CrossBow is not a complicated piece of equipment but when it first came out (and the Bowflex) it was unique. I was cautious about these Bows thus the fact it has taken so long for this review! The way it works is simple. You reach back, flip the ends of the CrossBows under the collar (there is a notch to place the ends in) and you now have the amount of weight you want to pull, push, lower or raise. The Bows are made of graphite. It sounds simple, right? I don’t think it is so simple. Simply reaching back is not so simple for everyone. I workout even if my shoulder is bothering me. I can do lat pulldowns (a back exercise with a bar attached to the machine) just by putting the pin in and going easy on the weights. However if my shoulder or a client’s is bothering her, then “simply” is not so simple.
Let’s talk about what it comes with:
The CrossBow is an efficient machine. 240 pounds is more than many machines I’ve seen and considering you can upgrade it offers enough resistance for most home users.
The machine is stable. It has a bench which is attached to a pole and the Bows stand on a platform. I like this platform which has a type of tread on it. It keeps my feet positioned well.
You’ll get 2, 10 pound; 1, 20 pound; 1, 40 pound; and 2, 80 pound Bows. Each one has a lifetime replacement guarantee. There are two guarantees. One is that you can use the CrossBow for 6 weeks and they guarantee you will get the results you want. That means if you haven’t lost weight or inches or if you don’t feel better or for whatever reason, you can ship it back, they’ll pay for the shipping, no questions asked.
Now I know I am being cynical here. I happen to like the Weiders and many of their products. However in my experience when a person starts working out who hasn’t they are going to lose weight because they are burning more calories than they were. Unless they start eating more that’s a fact. In addition, most likely since they are working out, they will feel better and that feeling will eliminate some overeating. Thus in 6 weeks people in general probably will lose a few pounds and feel better. It is a great guarantee but it would be better if the guarantee were for a year because by then many people have lost interest in their new machine and it has become a clothes hanger for their clothes that are tight again.
The second part of the guarantee is on each CrossBow. This is a lifetime warranty. All the other part have a limited 5-year warranty.
I have seen the CrossBow over time and my suspicion when it first came out that the Bows couldn’t possibly stand up over time has been confirmed. One client has had hers for about 9 months. There is some wear on several of the Bows. Another person had a Bow break. Machines do break down so this guarantee is a nice one because it seems the Bows are more apt to break than a traditional weight stack. Although they are very strong, they work like a bow and arrow and each one gets pulled with what can be quite a bit of resistance. So expect over time to be replacing these Bows.
It has a lat tower. As I said this is primarily used for the back and a lat bar is attached. This is an accessory. However one client bought her CrossBow at Sears at a time when they were including this $50.00 accessory. You will get short workout handles which act in a similar fashion as the Cap Handle but are made of material. I don’t like these handles but if you have young children around they are safer than metal. They won’t hurt if one decides to throw a handle at you! These handles are used for many exercises such as bicep curls and flyes for your chest area. It also comes with long workout handles which are identical to the short ones but longer. I rarely use them. The only time I do is if my client doesn’t have a Tricep Rope Press Down. Then I will use that attachment for an overhead tricep extension but it isn’t my preferred exercise so I think that accessory is a waste.
It comes with an ankle strap which only women like. I’ve never seen a man use it but it is great for the butt and hamstrings. It is a strap that attaches to the base of the machine and goes around your ankle so you can then do leg lifts.
It comes with an adjustable bench. The bench is nice. It has four positions which make various exercises more effective. For example I often do or have clients do bicep curls and flyes (for the chest) with the back of the bench various angles. It is also nicely padded and comfortable. I haven’t noticed any rips in the benches I’ve seen.
The machine has the ability to allow you to do leg extensions which isolate your quadriceps (thighs). This is standard on just about any machine.
The CrossBow has a unique rowing ability. By sitting facing the machine it acts as a rower which is a really nice feature not seen on many machines.
You get a chart and video with the machine. This is not all that unique anymore either. A lot of equipment come with videos however I’m not putting the CrossBow down for including this, just not jumping up and down. If you don’t have a trainer, using any type of machine without learning how can be hazardous to your health!
I haven’t counted how many exercises I’ve done on Weider’s CrossBow. They claim over 65 and I could certainly list more than I’ve listed such as a standing leg curl (using the leg extension part that is at the front of the base) and the seated row (works your back using the handles). Again not to be too cynical but looking at the 65 exercises listed I see some that require the lat bar (accessory) and some that are almost duplicates of others listed. For example listed are a lat pulldown, reverse grip lat pulldown and wide grip lat pulldown. Sure those are three different exercises but they are all lat pulldowns with your hands in different positions.
On the other hand there are exercises that I do that are not listed so it's a wash.
Changing from one attachment to another is just like on any other cable. You just take it off and put it where you want. So if you have, let's say a lat bar, on the lat tower and want to do upright rows with this bar, it just comes off the top cable and goes on the bottom one.
This comes unassembled. Thankfully I have never had to assemble it because no one has told me it was anything but difficult and took hours – just a warning to give yourself time!
The CrossBow is a large piece of equipment. It stands 6'11" high, 5'6" wide and 6'8" deep. The suggested maximum weight load is 260 pounds so if you weigh much more than this, this isn't the machine for you.
It folds and rolls. I have not seen it do either and in my opinion from looking at it I certainly wouldn't call it a portable piece of equipment.
Jo's Final Thoughts:
I purposely looked at this machine critically because it is touted as perfect and it isn’t. I really want to rate this fairly. I started the review thinking I was going to rate it lower because I’ve never liked the Bows. This is a personal preference on my part. Although I don't like them doesn't mean they are bad. If you have no shoulder problems and are not terribly overweight making it difficult to grab the Bows you might like this machine. It is large. You will need a place to put it but it offers a lot of exercises and gives you the rower as well.
I hope you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. The CrossBow costs $500. If you want a machine that can give you more resistance than most and don’t mind handling the Bows give it a try and truly take them up on their 6 week guarantee.
In spite of bashing this machine in many areas I am rating this 4 stars and recommending it. It has its flaws but so do most machines. If you couldn't return it after 6 weeks, my rating might be different.
Please feel free to leave me a question, comment or e-mail me privately.
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Recommended:
Yes
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