Parabody: Bodysmith vs Serious Steel?

[rlundregan]

Hi,

I am wondering if there is much difference in quality between Parabody's Bodysmith and Serious Steel product lines. I have assumed that Bodysmith was the old line, before Parabody was bought out by Life Fitness, and that Serious Steel was the product line since the buyout. Am I correct in thinking that? Is there any real difference between the two? I have had several pieces under both names, and never had any complaints about any of it. I am just curious after picking up a Serious Steel Power Tower in good shape last night for $30......

[AttyGuy]

Hi,

I am wondering if there is much difference in quality between Parabody's Bodysmith and Serious Steel product lines. I have assumed that Bodysmith was the old line, before Parabody was bought out by Life Fitness, and that Serious Steel was the product line since the buyout. Am I correct in thinking that? Is there any real difference between the two? I have had several pieces under both names, and never had any complaints about any of it. I am just curious after picking up a Serious Steel rPower Tower in good shape last night for $30......

I am reviving this post because rlundregan never got an answer and I have been wondering the same thing myself. Anyone?

[matrix563]

the difference is in the padding. body smith used alot firmer padding, while the serious steel used good padding it wasn't nearly as firm. so personal preference for the type of padding i suppose?

[AttyGuy]

Was there a difference between the two based on ownership? Parabody was a stand alone company until Life Fitness bought it.

[justinluck]

I still have a Parabody Serious Steel 350 Home Gym from 1997. Today, it remains looking like new except for a bit of discoloration on the iron plates. I wish Parabody could have stuck around as their equipment exemplifies superb quality craftsmanship and design for the home gym.

[rlundregan]

I am reviving this post because rlundregan never got an answer and I have been wondering the same thing myself. Anyone?

Hehehe....I think this was my first post here. I assumed that I didn't get an answer mostly because I was new!

I sold that power tower a few months ago for $100 to the guy who owns the local PIAS. When I went to his shop a couple of weeks later, he had it for $269.

[irongrandpa]

Parabody made the Bodysmith line, I'm not sure of the differences between the two. All the Bodysmith I've had or seen was good quality and the labels said " Bodysmith made by Parabody". Equipment sold under the Parabody name for a long time before selling to Lifefitness and then Lifefitness phased it out completely over about a two year period.

[rlundregan]

Parabody made the Bodysmith line, I'm not sure of the differences between the two. All the Bodysmith I've had or seen was good quality and the labels said " Bodysmith made by Parabody". Equipment sold under the Parabody name for a long time before selling to Lifefitness and then Lifefitness phased it out completely over about a two year period.

Do you have any idea whether the Serious Steel line was under Life Fitness? Or was Parabody making both lines before they were bought?

[Stasher1]

Interesting thread. I've seen a bunch of the Bodysmith stuff listed on the Atlanta CL, but I had always assumed the Bodysmith/Serious Steel lines were like the Powerline/Body Solid lines, with the Bodysmith equipment being a more "budget friendly" option than the Serious Steel equipment.

[irongrandpa]

Do you have any idea whether the Serious Steel line was under Life Fitness? Or was Parabody making both lines before they were bought?

The Parabody "serious steel" was before LF took over, all LF did was phase Parabody out.

[irongrandpa]

Interesting thread. I've seen a bunch of the Bodysmith stuff listed on the Atlanta CL, but I had always assumed the Bodysmith/Serious Steel lines were like the Powerline/Body Solid lines, with the Bodysmith equipment being a more "budget friendly" option than the Serious Steel equipment.

All the Bodysmith I've seen was built well, I'm not familiar with what Parabody sold under the their own name while they also sold Bodysmith. Everything I've seen that's Parabody is made since the Bodysmith was discontinued.

[rlundregan]

Interesting thread. I've seen a bunch of the Bodysmith stuff listed on the Atlanta CL, but I had always assumed the Bodysmith/Serious Steel lines were like the Powerline/Body Solid lines, with the Bodysmith equipment being a more "budget friendly" option than the Serious Steel equipment.

Interesting....I had not considered the possibility that there may have been "budget" and "premium" lines being sold simultaneously....I have liked the look of the Serious Steel racks better than the Bodysmith racks, although I have never used either one.....

[aloosecannon]

Interesting....I had not considered the possibility that there may have been "budget" and "premium" lines being sold simultaneously....I have liked the look of the Serious Steel racks better than the Bodysmith racks, although I have never used either one.....

If I remember correctly, that was the case. The Bodysmith line was more budget friendly.

[AttyGuy]

If I remember correctly, that was the case. The Bodysmith line was more budget friendly.

All of the Bodysmith stuff I've seen was grey, which I prefer to the white "Serious Steel" line.

I resurrected my bb.com buddy's thread because I picked up a Parabody 827 lat pulldown machine last night for a friend. I also picked up a Parabody ab-board. I've seen a lot of Bodysmith gear over the last two years but the Serious Steel stuff is new to me. BTW, my buddy is getting the lat pulldown for $75. I'm estimating $100 to $150 if I were flipping. Am I off-base?

[Stasher1]

All of the Bodysmith stuff I've seen was grey, which I prefer to the white "Serious Steel" line.

I resurrected my bb.com buddy's thread because I picked up a Parabody 827 lat pulldown machine last night for a friend. I also picked up a Parabody ab-board. I've seen a lot of Bodysmith gear over the last two years but the Serious Steel stuff is new to me. BTW, my buddy is getting the lat pulldown for $75. I'm estimating $100 to $150 if I were flipping. Am I off-base?

FWIW, some of the "Serious Steel" stuff was grey. I've seen the 843 rack in both colors.

[Skidmarx]

I've owned 2 bodysmith pieces.

Seated calf = total turd
Leg press/hack squat = turd jr

[AttyGuy]

I've owned 2 bodysmith pieces.

Seated calf = total turd
Leg press/hack squat = turd jr

Dude, I saw those infomercials, "The Total Turd, and if you buy now you get the Turd Jr.! But wait, there's more!"

[irongrandpa]

All of the Bodysmith stuff I've seen was grey, which I prefer to the white "Serious Steel" line.

I resurrected my bb.com buddy's thread because I picked up a Parabody 827 lat pulldown machine last night for a friend. I also picked up a Parabody ab-board. I've seen a lot of Bodysmith gear over the last two years but the Serious Steel stuff is new to me. BTW, my buddy is getting the lat pulldown for $75. I'm estimating $100 to $150 if I were flipping. Am I off-base?

You should be able to get $150 -$175, I got $150 for and old lat p/d that's not nearly as nice.

FWIW, some of the "Serious Steel" stuff was grey. I've seen the 843 rack in both colors.

The newer equipment was in the grey or bronze color. They switched from white around 2004 or 05.

[rlundregan]

I agree that you could ask for $175 for the lat pulldown, and probably get $125-150 for it easily.

Interesting information on the color scheme, I always thought the grey was older. Then again, I have only ever seen Serious Steel in white, and Bodysmith in grey. Good to know!

[AttyGuy]

I agree that you could ask for $175 for the lat pulldown, and probably get $125-150 for it easily.

Interesting information on the color scheme, I always thought the grey was older. Then again, I have only ever seen Serious Steel in white, and Bodysmith in grey. Good to know!

Funny how an unanswered thread from a year ago suddenly took off. Great information for future searches!