Bowflex Ultimate 2 Review

by Barry
(Sarasota, FL)

I have been a committed exercise enthusiast for four decades. I am now preparing for my personal trainer certification test.

I have always worked with free weights, with some body-weight exercises (pull-ups, chins, push-ups, dips) added for variety.

At the end of 2005 I moved to Aruba and bought a Bowflex Ultimate 2 in anticipation of limited quality workout venues on the island. I had never used a Bowflex home gym before but I "knew" that the Bowflex would be a definite downgrade from the free weight workouts I was accustomed to. Wow! How wrong I was!! The Bowflex Ultimate 2 gives a really great workout, particularly for the upper body. The range-of-motion is superb, and you don't have the fixed-track restrictions that limit the effectiveness of machines.

On the down side, the lower body capabilities look better in the infomercials than what they actually are, though they are adequately effective nonetheless.

Another quirky aspect of Boflex machines is the actual amount of resistance vs. the indicated resistance of the power rods. For instance, I can chest press 310 "pounds" on the Bowflex, but only 210 lbs with a regular barbell. So the advertised resistance isn't really what it claims. But on the plus side, once you get past the mental aspect of the weight anomaly, it's still gives a great workout.

More importantly, you see results very quickly.

In conclusion, I love my Bowflex. I've just bought the 410 pound upgrade (remember: 310 isn't really 310 pounds), and still do some free weight routines as well. But the Bowflex Ultimate 2 is the cornerstone of my resistance training program and I see no reason to make a change.