Total Gym Vs. Bowflex [Read Before You Buy!]

Contents

About the Companies and Machines
Unique Features
Pros and Cons
PC or Mac?

Two of the most popular and widespread complete home gym packages on the market today are the Bowflex and the Total Gym . These companies put out various models, but at their core, they are systems designed to give you a wealth of options when doing a home workout.

However, despite their similar goals the Bowflexand Total Gym achieve them in very different ways with their own unique features.

Let’s take a look at a rundown of Bowflex vs Total Gym home gym systems .

About the Companies and Machines

If you are into home gyms, then you have probably already heard of these companies and the products they make. But for the uninitiated let’s inspect each one and see what they make and what they are about.

Bowflex

Bowflex is a name trusted by many. It is owned by parent company Nautilus, one of the first manufacturers of weightlifting and fitness machines and widely considered to be one of the founders of the modern commercial gym.

Their machines are built from top of the line materials and scientifically engineered to be effective. Some might say they are over-engineered, however. Every iteration of their machines give more customization but also increased complexity.

Total Gym

You might recognize Total Gym from their infomercials. Christie Brinkley and Chuck Norris rave about the machine and show users how it’s done. The Total Gym workout system has grown huge in the past couple of decades and is one of the nation’s top-selling home gyms.

Total Gym’s machines are exponentially less complex than other home gyms, Bowflex especially. Their machines rely mostly on the user’s body weight for resistance and utilize it with help from gravity . Instead of picking up heavy pieces of metal or bending and rebending flexible materials, you pull your own weight. See all our Reviews for the Total Gym here.

Unique Features

As they are so different, the Bowflex and Total Gym have a wealth of unique features and capabilities. Let’s take a look at just how different these two popular home gym systems are.

Bowflex: Resistance Is Not Futile

Bowflex’s most striking feature is in the way it trains you. The Bowflex systems use a series of “power rods” to offer an alternative to traditional weights . You pull the cables, and the rods bend down and exert resistance on your muscles. To adjust the resistance, you simply hook up more or thicker rods that don’t bend as easily. No more clanking or dropping of heavy weights.

This system has several benefits. The first being that there is continuous resistance on your muscles while you are doing the exercises. It is much easier to maintain constant tension when gravity isn’t giving you help. As with most machines, the nature of the Bowflex allows you to target muscle groups with laser precision, but at the cost of neglecting stabilizer muscles and “functional strength.” If your main goal is to lose weight or you know how to work around those deficiencies, then there is no need to worry.

Other unique features include:

5 lbs. To 210 lbs. of resistance rising in small increments
Over 30 possible exercises as well as cardio rowing
Folding bench to save space
Warranty: frame 1 year, parts 60 days, Rods 5 years

Total Gym: Keep It Simple

Like we talked about, the Total Gym systems differ from the Bowflex and most other home gym systems in that they utilize your body weight to offer resistance. This reduces some of the customization of workouts available, but it also cuts down on equipment needed, assembly time, space needed and maintenance. Still, Total Gym claims that you can perform over 80 unique exercises on their machines.

To address the resistance drawback, you angle the machine to adjust just how much of your body weight you are pulling. To lighten the load, the bench can be lowered. To increase the resistance for a harder workout, you just increase the angle, so you are fighting gravity more. It’s a simple and elegant way to do away with all of the weights and rods and bands.

Other Unique Features Include

Five included workout DVDs
Workout chart and nutrition plan included
Several accessories and attachments to perform different exercises.
Warranty: 6 months on parts, lifetime on frame.

Pros and Cons

These systems are unique, and not all of the innovations and features pay off. Here are some the pros as well as the cons you might experience when using these home gyms.

Bowflex Pros

Dozens of gym-quality exercises possible
Resistance rod system good for isolating muscles
Solid construction and easy to use design
Relatively affordable for a home gym and is occasionally on sale

Cons

Difficult to assemble and move around alone
Takes up a lot of space
Most machines cap out at 210 lbs. Some but not all models can be upgraded with kits sold separately
Some models are missing preferred accessories such as a lat pulldown bar, research carefully

Total Gym Pros

Easy to assemble, fold up and store
Takes up little space when stowed
Large number of exercises possible
Simple construction, body weight system not complex
Many included extras such as DVDs, literature and exercise accessories
Higher user weight capacity than most home gyms

Cons

Not much control over levels of resistance
Somewhat expensive for how simple it is
Switching exercises can be time-consuming because of the need to remove and attach different accessories
Narrow board may not be big enough for some particularly tall or wide users

PC or Mac?

The Bowflex is a big, unwieldy beast, but it will do exactly what you want it to do. You can also upgrade it if you want but even in its most basic form, you can get a workout very similar to one that you can get with dozens of gym machines. The Total Gym is much more straightforward when you get the hang of it, and comes with everything you need to get fit and nothing you don’t. If space is also an issue, the Total Gym’s bodyweight only system means it folds up and tucks away nicely to get out of your way.