What's in the Box?
Revolution FT home gym, squat harness, multi-point foot harness, instructional DVD

Manufacturer's Warranty
Ten-year warranty on all parts

The Revolution FT offers a resistance range of 10 to 200 pounds.

Customer Review: Bowflex Revolution FT Review
I just received my Bowflex Revolution FT and it is a good product. Well made and easy to assemble. Footprint in reasonably small so it can be used in smaller areas. It is very quiet during use and quick to change weights and positions. My only concern is that this equipment is made in China. I wish U.S. companies would make their products in the USA since so many Americans are out of work and need jobs.

Customer Review: excellent smooth motion but………
I bought this item as a combination with the 1090 dumbells and the 3.1 bench. Ok back to the FT itself. Putting it together was fairly easy, the nuts and bolts are all seperately marked (an excellent touch I thought). When it was just about done and ready today….comes the bombshell…..There IS NOTHING in the assembly or user manual to explain what happens if the inner cable on the pully wheels inside, and the straps for the weight “wheels” go out of sync, ir the inner cables get all tangled. 3 HOURS it took and lots of internet research to discover how to rectify this problem. Which included me taking off the sides (note also, you will need a VERY long thin philips head screwdriver to get one of the screws out as its a really deep hole in the side) and top. Having to remove the 5lb plates for the spiraflex weights, pull out the tension knob, move the inner wheel clockwise and also make sure the “bands” were straight down (not angled) and tight. AND making sure the “counter weights” were rested on the springs inside (not the red plastic) Then replacing the plates and sides…..FINALLY got it all working.

BUT CMON over 1,400 for a fitness machine that is OBVIOUSLY great once working, but has no information AT ALL on this problem????? which is a VERY common issue. Which could have been explained both on the video, or a few sentances in the assembly/user manual

Having said that, now its all working, the system is INCREDIBLY smooth (albiet a little bit of flappy noise from the plastic that protects the bands on the wheel, but doesnt deter from the workout)

It is important to follow the 4 second in 4 second out to get the most out of the system, but it really is incredibly space concious and versatile.

Would have been a definate 5 but for the problem I had during assembly and setup

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym (Refurbished)

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym (Refurbished)
Looking for a total body workout but you're on a budget? The refurbished Bowflex Ultimate 2 home gym is a total-body workout solution that delivers everything you could possibly imagine for great fitness results. It offers over 95 exercises and includes a lat tower, leg extension/leg curl station, preacher curl attachment, integrated squat station and more. Other features include 310 pounds of Power Rod resistance, a no-change cable pulley system, built-in cardio rowing machine, and 5-way hand grip/ankle cuffs. This refurbished model of the Bowflex Ultimate 2 is backed by a full 6-month warranty.

The Ultimate 2 utilizes Bowflex's patented Power Rods, which provide resistance, or weight, that feels as good as or better than free weights–but without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of your Power Rod units to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 310 pounds of resistance (can be upgraded to 410 pounds). They're precisely manufactured from a high-tech composite material under the highest quality control measures, then sheathed and tested 4 separate times to ensure quality and durability. The Power Rod units are so strong, you can flex them repeatedly but you won't be able to wear them out.

Specifications:

• Number of exercises: 95+
• Weight resistance: 310 pounds (can be upgraded to 410 pounds)
• Leg attachment: Included
• Lat tower attachment: Included
• Squat station: Included
• Preacher curl attachment: Included
• Ab crunch accessory: Optional
• Adjustable main pulley system: Included (5-position adjustable pulleys)
• No-change cable pulley system: Included
• Dimensions: 82 x 92 x 46 inches (HxLxW); a minimum of 7' 4″ of ceiling height will be required to assemble the Bowflex Ultimate 2
• Folded footprint: 44 x 46 inches
• Workout area: 9' 4″ x 6' 6″
• Maximum user weight: 300 pounds

Manufacturer's Warranty
This model of the Bowflex Revolution XP Home Gym has been refurbished to factory standards and is backed by a full 6-month warranty.

Exercises
The Bowflex Ultimate 2 home gym allows you to perform over 95 gym-quality exercises including:

Customer Review: If you are self Movitaved, This is a Dream Home Gym
As a previous reviewer stated, Yes, this comes in about 6 different boxes, (I also got more boxes because I ordered more attachments). Yes, it does take about 8-18 hours of assembly (varies depending on how good you are at putting things together). When you first open the boxes and see all of the parts the task does look daunting, but the Bowflex instruction manual does a fair job of explaining how to assemble it. I am OK at assembling things, such as Ikea and Target furniture. Although, this was definitely a step up in difficulty, it isn't impossible. It does take some patience and attention to detail. Took me 3 days working 4hrs a day to complete the machine, total 12hrs. I did feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I finished and did it alone.

I used it for a month and a half straight and after 4 weeks there were obvious results. Unfortunately I fell off the workout wagon and began to use it less and less because I just got busy with life. But if you use it it does work!

One negative, I guess, is that it is BIG, about L8'xW4'xH7' so you must have room for it. Even folded up it takes up about L5'xW4xH7'(for the exercises that you get the size makes sense)I had it in our bedroom because it was the biggest room in our old apt, besides the living room. Now we have a garage and I keep it there. It is a much better spot for it. Now that I have my own workout room, I plan on getting back on the wagon and working out with it regularly. It is a great machine that is fun to use. (For me, it is even more fun to workout with a partner).

Keep in mind that it is different from using free weights. Where free weights tend to get easier when you get to the top of your contraction, the Bowflex power rods on the other hand start off easier and get tougher towards the top of your contraction. It takes some getting used to but as you use it you will get used to it.

There are so many exercises that you can have a different workout every week. It is Well constructed, very durable, and most importantly it is effective. I payed about $3,500 for it with the ab crunch attachment and I still feel that it was money well spent. I will make my money back on this the longer I have it as compared to a gym membership for 5yrs.

So if you have the space are self motivated and want a home gym, this is the product for you. Save yourself the trouble and get the Ultimate 2 Accessory rack as well. At first I Thought I wouldn't need one but I am probably gonna get one in the next few months because the accessories are everywhere and with it they will be a lot more organized and easier to access when needed as well as store when not in use.

Customer Review: Great Workout, Easy to Use, Helpfull Company
This is a very easy to use product. The weight does not really reach 400 lbs if you want heavy weights but it is relatively close. There are a large variety of workouts for all bodyparts. Mine came with a grip missing(not really a problem because there were three others) and the company replaced it right away. The boxes were beat up when they came but nothing was damaged. The rope attachment is virtually useless with this machine but can be used with the chain included if you really want to use it. I love doing my squats, lunges, leg curls and extensions on this machine because I have torn cartilage and feel no pain. It is a very low impact way to lift legs. I am not very good at doing rows and feel like it is awkward and that I cant take advantage of all the weight when I am doing it. Some may like it though. Changing lifts is easy because you don't have to switch cables on this machine but switching to squats, leg curls and extensions or bicep curls takes a little adding of parts but it isn't hard(They are my favorite use for this machine so it must not be too hard). Putting the machine together is not hard if you follow the directions. I put it together in one afternoon despite its multiple shipping boxes. I recommend this machine fully and think it is a great option for lifters out there who want a full gym without being away from home, the family, and paying for a gym membership.

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Instructional DVD

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Instructional DVD
Ultimate 2 Instructional DVD

Customer Review: if you dont know what to do…
This DVD gives a good idea of all the exercises you can do with your Bowflex besides just the basics. Purvis is a little annoying to listen to, but Im in the fitness industry and have survived his lectures before and they are always informative. This will help people not turn their Bowflex into an expensive clothing rack!

Bowflex Revolution Home Gym

Bowflex Revolution Home Gym
You are looking at the Bowflex Revolution FT home gym. It is a smooth, versatile, and compact piece of equipment in the Bowflex arsenal. The Revolution is distinguished by the company's SpiraFlex resistance technology, which provides a polished, consistent resistance through the entire range of motion–a principal ingredient in developing lean, strong muscles. The versatility of these lightweight interlocking plates lets you quickly and easily adjust the resistance on the Revolution from 10 to 200 pounds for upper body workouts (which can be upgraded to 280 pounds). The machine duplicates virtually every exercise from your local gym, with Freedom Arms that adjust 170 degrees to work muscles from various angles.

The machine also includes a leg press plate for your lower body, along with a five-position foot harness. All told, the Revolution supports more than 90 exercises, including a comprehensive core and abs workout. Other details include comfortable hand grips and a DVD workout video. The Revolution measures 65 by 38 by 73 inches (L x W x H).

Customer Review: A decent machine, but not a free ticket
This review may sound a little negative, but . .well, I'll explain. I do use this machine pretty regularly and enjoy working out on it. But it ain't cheap, and it ain't perfect, either, especially if you're a complete novice to weightlifting.

Over the years, I've worked out in gyms and I've worked out at home both with older Bowflex power-rod models and with this one. I'm about the furthest thing there is from a walking mile of muscle, but I try to at least maintain a basic fitness level. Overall, I prefer lifting in a gym with a friend as a spotter, for a lot of reasons — working out with a friend helps educate you about proper lifting technique, the buddy system works as motivator, and many of the most efficient excercises for muscle gain — deadlifts, military press, squats — require either free weights or a dedicated Smith machine, and can't be performed on this machine.

But if you don't have any friends to lift with you and there aren't any gyms nearby, or if (like me) you simply don't have the time to make it to the gym regularly, you can get a decent workout with a bowflex system. I've had this machine for about three years now, and I use it fairly consistently (usually in six month on/ six month off cycles, as I watch my belly fat expand and retract). If you do choose to get a home gym system, this one is a good choice. It does let you fit a lot of exercises into a small space, and it's great for working out at home safely without a spotter. You can do a lot of basic excercises on it — incline and decline bench; leg presses, extensions, and curls; preacher curl, resisted crunches; chest and shoulder flies; it doubles effectively as a weighted rowing machine. Overall, you can hit pretty much any individual muscle group in the body with this thing.

As to durability and construction, this machine has also stood up reasonably well over time, despite several moves and long periods of daily use; the “power rods” on my old bowflex lost a fair bit of their elasticity over time, but the the resistance plates on this machine are (as far as I can tell) just as tough now as they were when I purchased the thing. You will probably need at least two people to put the thing together (unless you're fit enough already to make it redundant). You'll have to do some partial disassembly when moving it through a doorway, too — the horizontal rod on which the plates fit sticks out too much to fit through a standard doorway — but all that takes is ten minutes or so with the included allen wrenches (make sure to keep all the tools it ships with in a bag somewhere, so you can disassemble it later if you need to move). It does creak a little on some exercises, but overall the construction has held up pretty well (so far). [Edit: shortly after I wrote this review, i.e., after using the machine on and off for about three years, one of the plastic parts snapped while I was changing out plates. I contacted the company and was shipped a replacement part within the week, no charge or question].

The main problem with this machine is that it's hard to hit groups of muscles at once, and that's the best way to build overall strength. You can't do squats or deadlifts on it or a number of other compound excercises — they've got an isolation excercise for every muscle, but it's harder to do whole-body workouts on them. (You can *try* to mimic deadlift and press on it, but you end up straining at odd angles that beg for injury). I've had to buy a chin-up bar to do pullups, and I generally have to do dips between my kitchen counters. As soon as I get room, I'll probably need to buy a smith machine, too. The difficulty of doing many compound excercises on this machine leads to a second problem that shows up after you've been using this for a few months. If you don't plan your workout carefully, you can overdevelop your strength in one area and underdevelop another, which can create a risk of injury — to explain, I've strained my arms once or twice on this machine because I'd let my bench press get so far out in front of my chest fly that it became difficult to pull the strap handles in to position for the press. So you have to pay attention and plan your excercises carefully, for even muscular development. That's something you have to do with any workout plan, of course, and in some ways is a problem general to any machine-based excercise program, but you'll want to pay especial attention to it with the Bowflex machines.

The chief advantage of this “revolution' model over the more standard “power rod” bowflex model is that the “power rod” basic model has an additional flaw that's kinda hard to explain — the tension on the rod increases slowly as you do each excercise, so if you pick, say, the two “fifty pound” rods, you're only getting 100 pounds of resistance at the peak of the curve, and a lot less at the start and finish. The Revolution solves that by using, basically, plastic plates filled with rubber bands, that you twist as you do the motion, providing constant resistance. Of the two, the “revolution” style machine is a lot closer to providing a “weight-like” workout, and the power rod model is a lot closer to total crap (but also a lot cheaper).

Finally, the “resistance plates” have an additional shortcoming: the smallest increment is five pounds per side. A lot of weight training programs (Starting Strength, etc.) try to have you increase resistance in five-pound increments from session to session — so you need 2.5-lb weights to do that (2.5 on each side), and you can't do that with this machine. Again, you can compensate for it by just working out longer with lighter weights before making the ten-pound jump, but again, it's something you have to compensate for, and it could end up slowing down your training a bit relative to the rate of gain you'd have with free weights in a gym.

I'd advise going to the gym with a partner first — a knowledgeable friend or a personal trainer — before buying this machine. It's the best way to learn excercises, learn how to structure your own workout plan, etc. If you don't know proper form, there's a fair chance all you'll do when you get the home gym machine is flail around for a while and try unsuccessfully to ape the guy in the videos, because you won't know what you're doing. Because this system lets you do so many different excercises, it's really easy to do silly or unbalanced workout programs on it, and even easier to do the right excercises in the wrong way (and doing things with improper form can get you injured, which generally derails newbie lifters). You can get this knowledge on your own if you're willing to put in the research time, but it's generally more effective to learn with a coach (just like it's better to learn a martial art from an instructor than from a DVD).

That said, the main thing is just working out consistently, every other day. If having a home gym system in your house (or spending over a grand on an excercise machine) means you'll work out more consistently, it might be worth getting. If you're not self-motivated to work out every day, I'd find a partner and go to the gym with him or her every other day instead.

If, on the other hand, despite all the caveats above, you like working out at home instead of in a gym (I do), you can get a decent workout on this machine. There are a lot of benefits to working out at home, too — you don't have to compete for the machines, you can work out at any time at all, you can work out without having to find a lifting partner for safety, you don't have to waste time travelling to and from the gym, and so forth.

All in all — if you're a novice to weightlifting, the best thing you can do is get a friend and go to the gym regularly together. If that isn't an option for whatever reason, or if you aren't a novice and/or know you would just prefer to work out at home, period; and if you're strongly self-motivated to work out regularly; then you can get a very good workout on this machine. You'll only get out what you put in, but if you have the dedication to consistently push yourself, you can get decent results with this thing.

Customer Review: Great machine with 10 years of piece of mind
I really do enjoy this machine. I prefer it over the older bowflex models with the power rods. The thing that sold me on this was when I tried it out at a sports store I liked the way the resistance felt. It really made my muscles work hard, but yet had a low impact. I don't know why some people are complaining about this being made of cheap plastic parts, I mean you get a 10 year warrenty on this entire machine. If any of the parts give out your covered. You can't get that kind of warrenty on most other fitness machines even those that don't have plastic parts. I think this machine is great and recommend it because of it's excellent workouts and 10 year piece of mind warrenty.

Bowflex Revolution 80-Pound Upgrade

Bowflex Revolution 80-Pound Upgrade
Revolution 80-Pound Weight Upgrade

Bowflex Ultimate XTLU Home Gym

Bowflex Ultimate XTLU Home Gym
Get serious about your strength training at home with the Bowflex Ultimate XTLU home gym, which includes everything you need to keep fit and build up muscles in your own home. It comes standard with 310 pounds of real Power Rod resistance (which can be upgraded to 410 pounds with optional additional Power Rods). The Ultimate includes a lat tower with an angled bar to help you build back and shoulder muscles, a low pulley/squat station for building glutes, hamstrings, and quads, and a leg extension/curl station for developing muscular legs. The adjustable pulley system is designed to change your angle of resistance to help increase the effectiveness of many upper body exercises. It also offers a smooth, built-in rowing machine. When you're done with the workout, the Ultimate folds down and can be rolled away via its integrated wheels.

The Ultimate utilizes Bowflex's patented Power Rods, which provide resistance, or weight, that feels as good as or better than free weights–but without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of your Power Rod units to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 310 pounds of resistance. The Rods are precisely manufactured from a high-tech composite material under the highest quality control measures, then sheathed and tested 4 separate times to ensure quality and durability. The Power Rod units are so strong, you can flex them repeatedly but you won't be able to wear them out. In fact, they're so strong, Bowflex backs them with its No-Time-Limit Warranty free replacement offer.

Specifications:

The Ultimate XTLU folds to 27 by 49 inches for easy storage.

Key Features:

• 310 pounds of Power Rod Resistance: Bowflex Power Rod units give you resistance, or weight, that feels as good as or better than free weights but without the inertia or risk of joint pain usually associated with free weights
• Lat Tower with Angled Lat Bar: Build back and shoulder muscles quickly with this integrated tower
• Built-In Rowing Machine: Ultra smooth built-in rowing machine for calorie-burning, cardiovascular warm-up and cool-down
• Leg extension/leg curl attachment: Use for exercises to develop strong, muscular legs.
• 5-Way Hand-Grip/Ankle Cuffs: Unique handgrip is designed to add flexibility and performance to any workout; functions include a regular grip, non-grip cuff, ankle cuff, foot cuff, and a shoulder cuff
• Built-in Adjustable Pulley System: Adjust the pulleys for challenging bench-press and chest-fly exercises
• T-Bar: Adds intensity to your rowing workout
• Leg-Press Belt: Perfect for leg press and seated hamstring curl exercises

Included Attachments and Accessories:

• Leg Attachment
• Lat Tower Attachment
• Aerobic Rower
• Squat Station
• Adjustable Main Pulley System

Exercises:

Bench Press Chest Fly Incline Bench Press Decline Bench Press Resisted Punch Lying Cable Crossover Flat Barbell Bench Press Seated Shoulder Press Front Shoulder Press Rear Deltoid Rows Standing Lateral Shoulder Raise Seated Lateral Shoulder Raise Scapular Protraction Scapular Depression Shoulder Rotator Cuff Internal Rotation Shoulder Rotator Cuff External Rotation Shoulder Extension Shoulder Shrug Barbell Shoulder Shrug Lying Front Shoulder Raise Reverse Fly Military Press Standing Rear Deltoid Row Standing Cable Cross Rear Deltoid Row Standing Shoulder Extension Standing Shoulder Internal Rotation Standing Shoulder External Rotation Lying Shoulder Pullover Wide Pulldowns Narrow Pulldowns

Lying Lat Pulldowns Lying Narrow Lat Pulldowns Low Back Extensions Seated Lat Rows Lying Lat Fly Reverse Grip Pulldowns Scapular Retraction Stiff Arm Pulldown Barbell Bent Over Row Standing Lat Row Alternating Motion Low Pulley Standing Single Arm Lat Row Low Pulley Standing Low Back Extension French Press Lying Triceps Extension Lying 45-Degree Tricep Extension Triceps Pushdown Rope Pushdowns Single-Arm Pushdown Cross Triceps Extension Triceps Kickback Seated Triceps Extension Standing Biceps Curl Seated Biceps Curl Seated Wrist Extension Standing Wrist Extension Seated Wrist Curl Standing Wrist Curl Reverse Curl Lying Biceps Curl

Reverse Grip Barbell Curls Barbell Curls Seated (resisted) Abdominal Crunch Seated (resisted) Oblique Crunch Reverse Crunch Resisted Reverse Crunch Trunk Rotation Abdominal Crunch Leg Extension Leg Curl The Squat Leg Press Lying (Prone) Leg Curl Standing Hip Extension Standing Hip Flexion Seated Leg Curl Lying Leg Extension Seated (straight Leg) Calf Raise Standing Leg Kickback Kneeling Leg Kickback Standing Hip Abduction Seated Hip Adduction Seated Hip Abduction Ankle Inversion Ankle Eversion Deadlift Stiff-Leg Deadlift Standing Hip Flexion Standing Hip Internal Rotation Standing Hip External Rotation

Manufacturer's Warranty
10-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship

About Home Gyms
While offering the convenience of working out in the comfort and privacy of your own home, home gyms also allow you to focus on specific routines without having to wait in line or switch between a complex array of machines. In addition to improving strength, power, coordination, and muscular endurance, weight training can enhance weight reduction, enhance the immune and cardiovascular systems, and help prevent injuries. In general, home gym machines are compact units designed to strengthen and exercise many parts of the body. While no single home gym can provide a complete strength training solution, they are a convenient way to combine many exercises into a single unit. Some home gyms focus exclusively on upper-body workouts, while other, more advanced units focus on upper- and lower-body conditioning.

Customer Review: Bowflex
I purchased the Bowflex for my husband for a gift. We spent 31/2 hours putting it together. (not to hard if you have assistance). The exercises are easy and effective. Once you get the hang of which parts to connect to where, because there are many attatchments. Good product.

Customer Review: Excellent home gym
After doing a fair amount of research on home gym equipment, I settled on Bowflex. They appeared to have a good, versatile product and good customer service. Our Bowflex arrived in less than a week in six large boxes. Be prepared to spend some good quality time putting your home gym together. It is not difficult to assemble, just time consuming. (It took two of us 3 hours to put this model together and we both are mechanically inclined.) The final product feels very solid and sturdy.

Most importantly, we love our Bowflex. I am tiny (4'10″), my husband is not (6'1″), but we are able to work out together easily with this machine and both of us feel as though we get a great workout. I have lifted free weights for 20+ years and am very happy with the weightlifting workouts I am getting now. The system is very versatile, allowing for dozens of different exercises.

Bowflex Revolution FT Home Gym