My Bowflex Ultimate 2 Story

by Tyler
(St. Paul)

Last May I decided to purchase a Bowflex Ultimate 2. It is by far the best investment I have ever made to improve my body. Being a college athlete, I always need to be at the top of my game and the Bowflex has pushed me to my limit. I have no complaints at all with my Ultimate 2. It really is an all in one work out machine.

The most unique thing I noticed about my Bowflex is that it comes with a squat attachment. That has always been the exercise that other machines skip over. Another characteristic that I was a big fan of was the weight limit. In other machines I was able to max out the weight after a couple weeks of working out, but this one I cannot. The only exception to that is the squat machine, but at the same time 310 lbs. is quite a bit of weight.

Another bonus of the Bowflex Ultimate 2 is the variety of exercises. I'm not sure on the exact number, but if you are a person that likes to rotate workouts, like me, then you will love it.
On average, I use around 40 different exercises a week.

Overall, I rank the Ultimate 2 at the top of its class. Bowflex really went above and beyond on this one. It made me one happy customer.

My Bowflex Ultimate 2 - the Ultimate Experience

by Tyler
(NY, NY)

Bowflex is an interesting idea, in theory; why go to a gym when you can have a single machine that can do everything. I think that this is a genius idea; I was spending more than a hundred dollars a month on my gym membership before I bought my bowflex machine (the Bowflex Ultimate 2.)

Considering how much money I've saved over the last few years, I could probably buy a car. I really don't think that there is anything that I used to go to the gym for that I can't do using my bowflex machine - the only thing it can't do is be a treadmill, and I now go running outside to get my cardio exercise.

I can't imagine what my life would be like, or what my health would be like today if I hadn't been using my bowflex ultimate 2 so regularly. I think that when most people see me today, they assume that I'm the type of person who goes to the gym each and every day. I suppose that this isn't so far from the truth - I do go to the gym every day, I just do it all in my living room now. It's an extremely well made machine that lived up to its promises.

My Bowflex Ultimate 2 saves me time and money - by Vladimir

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Review

by Barry
(Sarasota, FL)

My Bowflex Ultimate 2 story: 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 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 home gym. 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 Ultimate 2 is the cornerstone of my resistance training program and I see no reason to make a change.

My Bowflex Ultimate 2 Review

by nancy
(london)

Is the Bowflex Ultimate 2 as good as they claim?
In our humble opinion the answer is yes and no!

My Bowflex review:

First, let's look at the positives...
The traditional 'power rod' Bowflex is a well-thought-out home gym that can work all the major muscle groups. Using 'power rods' rather than a conventional weight stack, the unit is much lighter than some home gyms which is a real advantage in shipping costs and in moving it around your house. The fact that it is relatively light and folds up means you don't have to dedicate a room, or part of one to a permanent installation.

As with any good home gym, it can be used safely by yourself . You won't need a spotter.
The Ultimate 2 Home Gym, which is the top-of-the-line power rod model with all the optional attachments, comes fully loaded with a Lat Pulldown Attachment to build upper-body strength, a Low Pulley/Squat Station for your glutes and core muscles, Leg Extension/Leg Curl Attachment for leg muscles and a built-in Adjustable Pulley System to vary how you target your muscle groups. The power rod resistance is 310 lbs. (upgradable to 410 lbs.) and this unit has something I haven't seen on many other multi-station home gyms and that is a built-in rowing machine. There are 95 different exercises that can be performed on the Bowflex Ultimate 2.

All that and the convenience of foldup storage, and there is no question that this is a quality, versatile machine. The 6 week money-back trial period lets you check it out at no risk. They even have an online financing plan allowing you to buy it for as low a $38 per month, which is convenient because the price tag is a bit of a shocker. It certainly meets all the criteria that make for a recommended buy.

But... ny only beef is the steep price tag. The model described above with all the bells and whistles comes in at over $2000 plus tax plus shipping directly from the Bowflex website. (Have a look at Amazon.com for Bowflex and you will find some much friendlier pricing. Amazon also gives the option of purchasing some used equipment at much reduced prices.) I don't really understand how a retailer can give better prices than the manufacturer, but it is certainly worth shopping around.

Who needs a gym when the Bowflex Ultimate 2 is here!

by Steve
(Manhattan,NY,USA)

I am a working man and rarely do get time for my body. I was all so stuck in the official work for a big span of time that I completely forgot about my body until one day while I was watching myself in the mirror; saw the flab the body had accumulated over time. I felt a lot of guilt.

I talked about it to a colleague of mine and got a recommendation for a Bowflex Ultimate 2 home gym. I must say that this piece of machinery has changed the way I was. This versatile machine lets you off the hassle of going to the gym and managing the hefty monthly charges. The Bowflex Home Gym takes up only a little real estate and is really easy to set up. This machine includes all of what one would like to have to get a complete workout. I went for the Bowflex Ultimate 2 Gym which has all the options to modify the machine to suit your workout needs.

I do a variety of chest exercises like Decline Bench Press, Incline Bench Press, Resisted Punch. Some shoulder exercises like rows and depressions and also some back, arm and abdominal exercises.

The best part with this machine is that I can use it whenever I like unlike going to the gym. I have also started to get the results which are indeed very motivating, thanks to Bowflex. The one time investment was a very good decision.