home gym equipment

farmgirlsuz

I am considering buying a piece of home gym equipment. Anyone have one that they absolutely love? (Under $2000 please)

I am thinking about a stack weight machine with pulleys to hopefully take up the least amount of space but offer the maximum variety of exercises. Only problem is, the ones I see in the stores seem pretty cheap. Anyone else have one at home that has stood the test of time?

Thanks!

jhardenbergh

I am getting a bowflex for free from a friend of mine, but I looked online and their base model goes for $750, I checked it out just to see how much of a deal i'm getting. I have never used one before so I can't really give you review, but it says you can do about 30 different exercises on it.

smkcx♥

my dad used to have a bowflex, and that puppy was fun! I loved playing on it because you could do so much! (never mind that I was actually excercising, I liked to just play with it lol!)

I'd believe it about the 30 exercises. I can think of 10 that I used to do and that was me just goofin' around.

*EDIT*
I think it'd be worth it, if you have the extra money & the room for it (because it is pretty big) it all comes down to if yoru actually gunna use it or not. My dad has his for years until he had to get rid of it because my mom wanted to turn the spare room that it was in into an office.

darlilama

We have Hoist equipment. At one time, we did have one of the "all in one" machines, but we sold it and bought a linear smith with a weight stack, low/high pulleys, and a butterfly attachment. We rounded it out with an adjustable bench that has a leg attachment and a rack of dumbbells. All of the Hoist equipment has held up very well. My only regret is not using it as much as I should have over the years.

I believe the "multi-functional" gym we had was definitely under $2000… probably under $1000 at the time, but that was maybe 15 yrs ago.

If I was starting all over again, though, with limited space and money, I'd definitely be looking the Bowflex over. I also love our elliptical and if I had to get another treadmill, I'd be trying out some of the newer step/treadmill combo machines.

Even if you do get a multi-functional home gym, I really suggest getting a good set of dumbbells, as well. You have to do a lot more to control the dumbbells and thus it works more of your body… smaller muscles and even your core. If I could only have one… a gym or a rack of dumbbells… I'd probably go for the dumbbells. You don't have to have a bench, but it is helpful.

BEST OF LUCK!!!

jhardenbergh

I just looked again and it's actually $650, for the Classic Model

Sidesteal

Power rack (with barbell+plates), adjustable bench, DB's if possible. That alone will get you very far.

Jfearn64

I have bowflex xtreme 2. I changed my profile pic so you can see what it looks like. It has a small footprint and is very versatile. I bought it used two years ago and still use it nearly every day. I have the one with 410 lbs of bands which I would recommend. 310 is not enough for squats and some other exercises. You can pick one up used for <$500, I paid $350 for mine. Mine has dramatically changed the way my body looks and continues to do so.

It is quick and easy to go from one exercise to the next and it has MANY exercises to choose from to keep your muscles confused. I love having it in my home so I can just hop on it and get my routine done without having to drive somewhere. I would highly recommend you consider it.

If you click on my name you can see the full picture.

Rae6503

We have a bow flex and a cheapy elliptical. The bow flex is okay but sucks for heavy lower body things like squats and deadlifts.

RunLiftEat

I would suggest just buying some Bowflex selecttech 552's and a quality incline/decline bench. It's all you really need for a good full work out. With dumbbells you also work stabilizer muscles.

farmgirlsuz

Thanks for the pic...the b/f is leaning towards a bowflex, but I thought you needed a huge space for the "bows" obviously not! $350 used?!?!? THAT would be a deal maker right there!

Jfearn64

We have a bow flex and a cheapy elliptical. The bow flex is okay but sucks for heavy lower body things like squats and deadlifts.

I have the one with 410 lbs bands and It is good for squats and deadlifts. I agree that as it comes with 310 lbs it is inadequate.

Jfearn64

Thanks for the pic...the b/f is leaning towards a bowflex, but I thought you needed a huge space for the "bows" obviously not! $350 used?!?!? THAT would be a deal maker right there!

I have mine in the corner of our spare room. Its small footprint is the reason I bought this model. Some of their models do take up a fair amount of space. Look at their website and take a look at models like mine which are without a bench. You still can get a very good upper body workout without a bench.

chrisdavey

Power rack (with barbell+plates), adjustable bench, DB's if possible. That alone will get you very far.

Agreed

jenniejengin

http://s1170.photobucket.com/albums/r528/jenniejengin/

jenniejengin

ooops

Punktorian

Power rack with a separate bench and a pulldown station added onto one side will give you access to near everything. Adjustable dumbells are also good. I'm sure you could get a good one with a lot of weight for half the price you asked if you were to buy it used from someone. Plus there are multiple addons and cable attachments you can add in the future, very versatile piece of equipment.
I know people who have bought systems like bowflex and none of them are happy with it. Actually most of them come over to lift with me and all I have is a power rack and free weights. A lot harder to add resistance to or anything else compared to going to a story and picking up a few plates. Nothing replaces free weights. Unless space is a huge issue, I would stay away from anything like that or smith machines.
And just to add, I have had my generic power rack for over 12 years and it still works just as well as it did the day I got it.