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I worked in a gym for 3 years and I worked at Sears in the fitness dept. for several years, and one of our products was the Crossbow by Weider. It is a similar design to the bowflex and several other newer exercise machines. The machine approximates weight by lines attached to bars, a system called a compound resistance system (CRS).
After using it several times and getting some customer feedback, I think I can give a good review.
1) The machine does not give consistant resistance over its range of movement. At all. If you were, for example, using the wide set cables to work the chest and tricepts (bench press motion) with about 240 lbs., it would be very easy at first, probably starting at less than 35 lbs. It would only reach the 240 lb. worth at its peak. I would guess that less than 12% of the movement has the full weight worth. This is not functional for someone who wants to uild or maintain consistant muscle mass.
2) If you bend the bars, and you will pretty quickly, trying to order new ones, even under the warantee, is very hard. The customer service for Weider is notorius for being one of the worst in the fitness world. I had to call them as customers waited next to the register with broken crap on many occasions.
3) As far as other CRSs, like BowFlex, this system IS a good bargin. It offers very similar options and performance for a much better price.
Bottom line, if you need something that can work most of your body that has to fold away into a corner, it's not the worst. Personally, I think a bench with a lat pulldown and some freeweights can fold away just as well, and you won't be calling customer service to replace the iron plates. This seems like a gimmick. Just like the abdominal electric 'stimulation' (shock) belts that were so popular. They were junk. This is pretty much junk.
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