Techrod, Crossbow, Bowflex?

[wannabestud]

I was wondering which of these "home gyms" would be best to use since I can't go to the gym. I have worked out at home with free weights, but I can't do all the exercises that I want to, and my parents don't want to pay membership fees for the gym...so I was thinking about getting one of the listed above. Here is the Techrod http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3205702&cat=49040&type=21&dept=4125&path=0%3A4125%3A4134%3A49040 I'm not sure how good it is or anything...just want everyones opinion on what would be good to use. I know that probably all the guys that use Bowflex on the commercials DID NOT get that way using Bowflex...they probably got that way using good ol' iron...but, since I guess there is still a good resistance and whatnot, it wouldn't hurt. So...any help would be appreciated greatly. Thanks guys!

[raprazant]

lol, "Tech Rod"... a wal-mart knockoff of an already ****ty design.

dude, don't you have a gym at your high school?

[C Man]

Instead of getting that thing why not spend the money on more free weight gear so you can do the additional exercises you can't do now?

[pumpster]

It's a knock-off of a very successful machine that works. It looks like it will work, though it would be better to try it in person and see how the quality is. If it seems reasonably durable it would be a nice alternative to weights and would allow some exercises free weights wouldn't.

[wannabestud]

I meant I can't do rows or lat pulldowns or anything. All I have is a barbell and dumbbell handles. I was just wanting to have something to do lat exercises, etc. I will just try and work up some money to go to a gym. Oh, and about the gym at school comment...I don't go to school.

[koolaid71]

My roomate has a Crossbow Advantage that I have been using for the last year on & off...got lazy last summer, but I did go from a soft 185 to a solid 165 without any injuries ...unlike my experiences with free weights, and I have used free weights in the past a lot. It has stood up well so I think quality is pretty darn good. Price is way...way cheaper than Bowflex so that's cool.

When the roomie moves out this summer I will be getting the Crossbar Max as I am totally satisfied with this machine, but want just a bit more. I do suggest staying away from the Platinum as the digital thing seems like a bad idea just waiting to break down. I will also be adding a set of Dumbells so I can have a bit of the free weight workout as well.

Good luck :)

[smokeater]

Bowflex is the best of the 3.

[pumpster]

Tech Rod's better in extremely small spaces, depends on the context.

[JEG]

Try this from Sam's Club. I have an older model I bought 3 years ago, and I love it. Just add dumbells.


http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?coe=0&oidPath=0%3a-23542%3a-24845%3a-41628%3a-41634%3a-41682%3a877753&mt=a&n=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_0924035520.1113635100_CS_&BV_EngineID=ccchaddegihlimlcfkfcfkjdgoodfkf.0

[wannabestud]

Try this from Sam's Club. I have an older model I bought 3 years ago, and I love it. Just add dumbells.


http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?coe=0&oidPath=0%3a-23542%3a-24845%3a-41628%3a-41634%3a-41682%3a877753&mt=a&n=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_0924035520.1113635100_CS_&BV_EngineID=ccchaddegihlimlcfkfcfkjdgoodfkf.0


It gives me this:




Sorry, your session has expired.



To maximize the security of your account, you will be logged off if you are inactive for an extended period of time.

You will also get this message if you bookmark a page inside samsclub.com.

You can begin a new session by going to our home page. If you had items in your cart you will need to re-add them.

[JEG]

Go to samsclub.com then in the product search type in (Weider Club C650 Squat Rack ).


www.samsclub.com


Weider Club C650 Squat Rack

[wannabestud]

I see it now.

[PainfulPleasure]

I know this is an old thread but I have a techrod, I only got it so I could do lat pull downs and leg extensions, works pretty well for that, it does a lot of other exercises but I only use it mainly for those exercises and I use free weights and a bench for the rest of my set up. I also hang my heavy bag from the techrod. so it's useful, plus i got mine on clearance for like $100. you can also do some killer curls on that damn thing.

[Bigdolf]

my gf bought me a extreme 2 to use on days when the gym is closed. It's pretty damn good

[michaelnel]

I have a Weider Max Ultra (basically a re-named and slightly tarted-up Crossbow). I added the lat pulldown bar and an additional 200lbs of resistance bars to it. It's been working well since I got it about a month ago, standing up to 3 days a week of pretty good workouts. The quality seems fine to me.

It's working on me, too. I am definitely getting stronger.

That being said, I'm in process of switching over to free weights with a power rack. The weight ratings are wildly inaccurate compared to free weights, and I don't like the way the resistance starts off really easy and gets harder and harder the farther you pull. Weights don't act like that.

If I hadn't discovered this board and read so much of the discussions, I'd probably be perfectly happy with the Max Ultra.

But I did, and I'm not. ;-)

[PainfulPleasure]

On those machines I can curl twice as much as I actually can with free weights.

[michaelnel]

On those machines I can curl twice as much as I actually can with free weights.

2:1 is about the ratio I see, too.