Introduction:

As more people are becoming aware of the health benefits of staying physically fit, a variety of fitness products have been created since the conventional free weight system. Infomercials advertising new home gyms all claim to be the best buy. Thus, making purchasing decisions increasingly complex for the mass market.

Many consumer reviews posted on Internet discussion forums reported on their positive experience with Bowflex Power Pro XT®. However, the majority of these consumers commented on the expense to own a Bowflex. The standard Power Pro series begins at $1000, but upgrading with attachments can cost up to $2000 or more.

Although Bowflex has proven craftsmanship and design, alternative home gyms are on the rise and more cost-effective. Consumers looking to upgrade from free weights, without spending over a $1000, have many options to choose from. The Weider Crossbow, and the Stamina Bandflex® are inexpensive and the most popular versions of the Bowflex. Therefore, further examination of the Power Pro XT, Crossbow, and Bandflex will be discussed. An in-depth comparison of the three home gyms resistance design, features, cost, consumer reviews, and product advantages and disadvantages will be presented in the following to better evaluate the most economizing buy to suit individual fitness goals.


System Design

These home gym machines are designed with an innovative resistance system. The new resistance design provides the user weight resistance and allows for a wide range of motion without using free weights. The design used is an improved safety feature from the conventional free weight system which requires a spotter. Also, weight is simply adjusted to the desired weight without interrupting the workout routine. The images shown are the actual product with descriptions of the design used for each machine.


Bowflex Power Pro XT®

This is an upgraded version of the standard model for the Power Pro series. Similar to the standard model, the Power Pro XT model has upgrade capacity as well.

Resistance is provided by the power rod design, and as the user gains momentum during the workout the resistance or weight amount increases.

As shown in the illustration, the power rods are labeled indicating the weight value.


The Crossbow

The Crossbow made by Weider is designed with CRS or Compound Resistance System. This design resembles that of a crossbow weapon. The bows are made of a special metal alloy covered in protective foam. The bows give weight resistance in this design, which is similar to the power rods used on the Bowflex products.



The Bandflex

The Bandflex uses resistance bands much like bungee cables. There are 6 resistance bands total (3 on each side).To change weight resistance, the bands are adjusted with snap clips. Adjusting the bands only takes 10 seconds on average, which is an improvement from the free weight system.


Product Features: Standard Accessories


Table 1-Standard Accessories
Standard Attachments Power Pro XT Crossbow Bandflex
Leg Developer
Seated Row Handles
Preacher Curl Bar
Lat Bar Attachment
Sliding Seat Rail
Adjustable Position Bench
Specialized Hand Grips
Ankle Strap/Hip Strap
Double-Padded Bench
Vinyl Bench
Polyurethane Bench
Fold-Up For Storage
Quick-Snap Adjustments
Pin Adjustments
This chart illustrates the standard accessories and attachments only. Source: Product information gathered from (The Nautilus Group Inc., 2003), (Icon Health and Fitness, 2003), and (Mega Fitness Equipment, 2003)

While not all of these models allow for upgrades (The Bandflex), some models are upgradable for an additional cost. As shown in Table 1, the Power Pro XT does not include upper-body attachments, which means upgrading would be necessary to provide a complete workout. Also, the Power Pro series offers a comparable model, Power Pro XL (not shown), with upper-body attachments but without the lower-body attachments for the same price as the Power Pro XT.

The Crossbow offers a complete workout without the need to purchase additional attachments. The only additional purchase to consider with this home gym is resistance bows for added weight.

The Bandflex home gym also gives a complete workout without attachment upgrades. Table 1 shows some features not included with the Crossbow and Bandflex, but these features are not necessary for exercises performed. (i.e. The polyurethane bench and specialized hand grips provided in the Bowflex series are for durability and comfort.)

Specifications/Warranty

The specifications for the home gyms mentioned are shown in Table 2 for easier comparison. In Table 3, the warranty information provided shows the time limit allowed for frame, parts and workmanship, and resistance design parts.

Table 2-Product Specifications
Bowflex Power Pro XT Weider Crossbow Stamina Bandflex
Weight 85 lbs. Weight 130 lbs. Weight 130 lbs.
Height 74 Height 82 Height 76
Length 64 Length 80 Length 84.5
Width 23 Width 40 Width 21.5
Storage Size 29 X 39 Storage Size 32 Storage Size 21.5X 27.5
Resistance 210 lbs. Resistance 240 lbs. Resistance 260 lbs.
Upgrade Max.* 410 lbs.* Upgrade Max.* 440 lbs.* Upgrade Max.* None
Table 3-Manufacturers Warranty
Bowflex Power Pro XT Weider Crossbow Stamina Bandflex
Frames 5 years Frames 5 years Frames 5 years
Parts 2 year Limited Parts 5 years Parts 90 days
Power Rods Lifetime Flex Rods Lifetime** Bands None
Return Policy 45 days Return Policy 45 days Return Policy 30 days
*Upgrade maximum is the total amount of weight resistance allowed on machine **Lifetime warranty is guaranteed to original purchaser only but void if not purchased from manufacturer .Sources: Specifications and warranty information gathered from (The Nautilus Group Inc., 2003), (Icon Health and Fitness, 2003), and (Mega Fitness Equipment, 2003)

Cost-Total Price Comparison

Retailers and manufacturers set prices according to the value of the product. Products with more features or a better brand reputation can ask for higher selling prices. For example, companies that are able to create an established brand name allow the customer to buy with assurance of quality products. However, the final decision to purchase relies on the consumers expectations of the desired product and cost.

Consumers have an idea of how much they are willing to spend to get the product they want. However, all too often, the actual price consumers pay for an item is different from what is advertised leaving the customer with buyers remorse. Therefore, consumers should calculate all add-on expenses before making high-end purchases.



This price table shows a subtotal purchase price including attachment extras and shipping costs added to the advertised cost.

TABLE 4-COST COMPARISON
CATEGORIES POWER PRO XT CROSSBOW BANDFLEX
Retail Price $1199 $599 $299
Resistance Upgrade $198 $150 ----
Leg Attachment Standard Standard Standard
Lat Attachment $239.00 Standard Standard
Add Shipping $129.00 $95.00 $50.00
Total Upgrades* $1765.00 $844.00 $349
Total (No Extras) $1328 $694 $349
*Total Upgrades = reflects the total dollar amount to upgrade machine to a full-body workout. (Tax varies from state to state, and is not added to the total in this table).Sources: Pricing information gathered from (The Nautilus Group Inc., 2003), (Icon Health and Fitness, 2003), and (Mega Fitness Equipment, 2003)

The purchase price for these machines differ greatly, but the cost is not the only factor to consider in evaluation of a good buy. A higher priced product is not necessarily of the highest quality and vice-versa.

Customer Reviews

Justin Leonards Infomercial Review is a website that provides an unbiased discussion forum for consumers to express their views regarding certain products on the market. The Crossbow by Weider and the Power Pro XT by Bowflex are two of the products reviewed on the website. Also, other discussion forum reviews and websites with testimonials are used as well to include all three home gyms.

Bowflex Power Pro XT® Reviews

Pat of Ohio, USA writes: The Bowflex was the best investment I ever made in home gym equipment. [] I have had mine for about 6 months and have had no problems with it. [] it cost about 1300 bucks if you include the shipping and handling. (Fitness Infomercial Review, 2001)

Steve of Florida, USA writes: []Without the attachment, the bowflex is completely useless for lower body work. Too expensive.[]. (Fitness Infomercial Review, 2001)

Kim of Massachusetts, USA writes: My boyfriend and I decided to purchase the bowflex a few months ago. Even though $1300.00 is a lot of money we don't regret buying it for one minute.[]. (Fitness Infomercial Review, 2001)


Weider Crossbow Reviews

Cale of Florida, USA writes: This machine would be much better if they had spent more time on working out the "bugs" as opposed to rushing it to market. I have had multiple problems with my machine and have had it less than 6 months. (Fitness Infomercial Review, 2001)


Kelly of New Hampshire, USA writes: I would not recommend this machine to anyone who would like to actually use it []. (Fitness Infomercial Review, 2001)

I've seen the "Crossbow" ads on TV [] I think it may be less durable than the Bowflex. The good news is that it appears to be just as versatile. Customer reviews indicate that it's a good
value. The major complaint is that it's difficult to assemble. Your call... [] And remember, it's not WHAT you use, it's how you USE what you use! Best, Michael (Board, 2003)

Seems to be mad very cheap. i was messing w/ one and when i put on like 120lbs it made the hole machine move.[]get what u pay for[]. (Workout, 2000)

Vicki of Washington, USA writes: [] All in all, a good deal, especially when compared to the bowflex. (Fitness Infomercial Review, 2001)

Jan of Missouri, USA writes: After reading the reviews on this site, I decided to go try out a Wieder Crossbow at a local department store. The unit looked and felt pretty flimsy and wobbly for the price[] (Fitness Infomercial Review, 2001)

I see crossbow and I think of the weapon that you load bolts into. ~ Pagronith (The Fellowship, 2002)


Stamina Bandflex Reviews

Overall, there seems to be little difference between the three gyms except branding. All three are a great alternative to conventional home gyms and free weights because of the space they save, the range of movement they feature and the safety they provide. Only
the Bandflex however, can be considered an affordable alternative. (Exercise Equipment Review, 2003)

The bungee cords provide adequate and safe resistance for a variety of exercises. (e-golf-club.com, 2003)



Conclusion: Recommendation

With so many fitness products on the market, shopping for the best buy can get confusing. Consumers looking to purchase a home gym that is suitable should examine all of the details before making a costly purchase. A good fitness machine has plenty of functional features for a complete workout, but a best buy is a product that offers functional features at a reasonable price.

A few points to consider when buying a weight system are:

1. Decide what workout features are most important to get desired results.

2. Know what parts are included and what is extra. (Accessories, attachments, shipping etc.)

3. Know what type of warranty, return policy, or guarantee is offered.

4. Calculate the total cost of sale before a purchasing decision is made.

5. Ask experienced users of the product for opinions.

Briefly comparing these weight systems, the products seem similar. After evaluating the details of each machine, the home gyms are obviously not comparable. The standard features are unbalanced between the compared models. The prices, as mentioned earlier, differ by several hundreds of dollars. There are not many differences in the specifications and warranty information between the machines. Although the Power Pro XT and Crossbow do offer a lifetime warranty on resistance rods and Bandflex does not. With all of these differences in mind, which machine is the most economical for a weight trainer to achieve expected fitness goals?


Although customers seem satisfied, the Bowflex Power Pro XT requires additional purchases to compete with the standard features of the other two machines. The Power Pro XT is a quality home gym, but the expense of adding attachments to obtain a complete workout is more than the average person expects to pay. The Weider Crossbow does have plenty of features at a reasonable price; however, this gym has had several complaints from its buyers as evidenced in customer reviews. My recommendation of the three products is the Stamina Bandflex. This product offers a complete workout with no evidence of customer complaints and priced reasonably. Consumer comments as mentioned earlier have proven customer satisfaction with the Bowflex machine. However, the Crossbow users have found several faulty areas to this home gym. Even though the cost is reasonable, the Crossbows long-term durability may not make this machine an acceptable alternative to the Bowflex.