Weider Takes Home Gyms to the Max.
Written: Mar 02 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive; works all muscle groups, has a rower, easy to use.
Cons: Have to turn to grab the rods while sitting.
The Bottom Line: This is a decent machine at a great price.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Weider Max Resistance System Gym |
I have been asked to review the Max by Weider. Weider is an ICON company. I want to attempt to clear up some confusion in the very confusing world of fitness equipment. You will see the this machine called the Advantage Max or the Max Advantage. This is the Max by Weider. You may see it with XP400 after it. That's the same machine but with the model number on the machine. When Weider makes their machines for particular stores they sometimes use a different version of the name thus the name Advantage and thus the reason why you won’t see the Max Advantage on their website: www.weiderfitness.com.
Other than that question what people particularly want to know is why should they buy the Max for $600 over the Bowflex Sport for $800 or vice versa. Bowflex makes other models but the Sport is the least expensive which is the reason I think people are comparing these two. I will do the same and come up with a conclusion. You might also want to take a look at the very similar Weider Crossbow Home Gym. This is a very similar older model which you might be able to get used.
Comparing the details:
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.
The Max and Bowflex Sport use the bow technology known by Weider as resistance bars; known by Bowflex as power rods. Having really taken a look at these rods over a couple of years I am fairly confident that the rods on the Bowflex are slightly stronger than those made by Weider. Both companies offer lifetime warranties on the resistance bars. I have heard a lot of complaint over the years but as of yet I have not heard of a bow breaking.
The Max comes with 240 pounds of resistance. Pounds are not a reason to make a decision. Most likely if you can move the 210 pounds the Sport offers you can move more than 240 pounds and would have to upgrade anyway. Both machines offer upgrades. The Max offers a 200 pound upgrade for $150.00 so you would have 440 pounds. You can upgrade to 310 or 410 pounds with the Sport for $99.00 each. For $200 you’ll have 410 pounds versus 440 pounds for $150.00. Considering the Max is less expensive to begin with you are now saving $50 more dollars and getting more money with the Max. The way the rods work is that they are hooked to a cable pulley system. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of the Power Rods to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 240 or the upgraded resistance.
One difference between the two is the way they look. The Max’s bows go across making a T shape. The Sport’s bows stand up looking like a fan. This also makes a difference in usage. One negative to the T shape of the Max is that I have to twist a bit in order to change resistances. For people like myself who are prone to shoulder problems I don’t find this a comfortable way to change resistances. I have gotten e-mails from people who have totally agreed with me on this point.
The Bowflex Sport works like the other Bowflex models which is much more to my liking. I have to stand up to change resistances. I don’t reach around. Remember that the bows run up and down, north to south rather than east to west. This has its pros and cons. On the one hand I think it is a safer machine for anyone over 40 years old who may be more prone to injury. On the other hand it takes longer than any machine I have seen to change resistance weights. If you are young and/or have no shoulder problems then the Max should be fine for you and changing the rods is quicker.
What you get:
Both machines are designed similarly. You will get an adjustable seat with Polyurethane cushion. The seat has a rail that slid easily to use the Max as a rower. The seat back has to be removed to use the rower but you will be removing and putting on equipment on both machines. I have also gotten e-mails from people who have one of these machines or similar with the rowing capacity. It is true that this rower is great for the beginner but if you want a really great cardio workout you will have to buy a stand alone piece of equipment. Still this is a good place to start.
I also use this seat to do the leg press. Both machines gave me only a fair leg press workout further leading me to recommend the Max for the beginner. Leg presses work my quadriceps (upper thighs) and hamstrings. The way they are done is by first putting on the amount of resistance I want. I then put on a hip strap. I then stretch my legs out and slide back and forth. The hip strap comes with the Max. It does not come with the Sport.
The Max has a 6-roll leg developer also known as the leg extension and hamstring curl attachment. There is foam on the rolls making this comfortable to use. The attachment is easy to take on and off with pins. The Sport comes with the leg attachment as well. Watch for this on any machine. In my opinion it is an essential piece to have. On some machines you will have to buy this.
The bows are quite flexible. Other than the placement they are really so similar in the way they are used that the bows themselves are not a reason to buy either one.
They both have a lat tower. The lat tower works the latissimus dorsi muscles in the back and in my opinion is a must have piece. Neither machine comes with a lat bar so you will have to buy one.
They both come with workout handles which I use for my biceps, chest, triceps and my legs. They both have a lower pulley/squat station which is also a great feature for an inexpensive machine. This allows me to do low rows for my back and work my entire leg doing squats. The Max has separate ankle straps which are great to work my legs. This is an exercise that 99.9% of the time I only see women do. The Sport uses the handles as all purpose. I hold them with my hands and put them around my ankles.
The both have a 5-year limited warranty.
The Max measures 86 inches high by 66 inches wide by 72 inches long. The Sport is a couple of inches shorter, wider and longer than the Max so if space is an issue you might want to think of the Max. They both fold but realize that the base does not fold so it doesn’t fit under a bed. The Max weights 205 pounds with a maximum user weight of 300.
My Final Thoughts:
With the Max’s high and low pulley systems you can do exercises such as flyes for your chest, bicep curls, tricep pushdowns, lat pull downs and seated rows. You can work all body parts with the Max.
You will get two 10 pound bars, one 20 pound bar, one 40 pound bar, and two 80 pound bars. I have found this configuration to work really well for me. Each bar features a lifetime replacement guarantee.
I like the bench because it adjusts into various positions so I can do incline flyes and incline dumbbells.
The bow technology is different than what you might be used to so if you are used to using stacks or cables it will take you a bit of time to get used to these.
I haven’t told you my recommendation. Well let’s put it this way. I really like Weider products though I don’t like twisting for the rods when I’m seated with my back against them. Many people complain about Weider’s parent company, ICON, which is a mammoth corporation. I haven’t heard as many complaints about Bowflex. I would spend the extra money on the Sport and buy separate ankle straps. However if you have no shoulder problems I would save the money and remember that the bows have a lifetime warranty if something goes wrong.
One more important point: I have received e-mails from shorter people who have trouble using many of the fitness pieces I review. That is true of these machine as well. Since women's bodies are different from men's there are many pieces of equipment that are not comfortable. To name one it is the abdominal crunch in the gym. The upper pad hits my chest at an uncomfortable place. The point of this is that I do know these machines are not going to be comfortable for some people. We will have to make adjustments until some company comes up with equipment designed for women or you join a gym for women only.
Feel free to leave me a question or comment.
All my fitness equipment reviews can be found here.
Recommended:
Yes
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