The Weider Crossbow and Bowflex line of home gyms are compact machines that utilize pulleys and resistance technology to make multiple exercises possible without the use of heavy steel weights. Though these types of machines once went head-to-head for shares of the home fitness market, the Weider Crossbow is no longer sold directly by the company.
Size
Bowflex home gyms and Weider Crossbows are relatively similar in size and design. The Bowflex Xtreme 2 measures 58 inches long by 49 inches wide by 83 inches tall and requires a workout area that measures at least 96 inches by 77 inches. A comparable model of the Crossbow, the Platinum, measures 85 inches long by 50 inches wide by 86 inches tall. Though the Crossbow requires a longer workout area, it needs less width because its resistance technology does not extend out from the machine like the Bowflex power rods when in use.
Features
Bowflex home gyms use vertical power rods that can be selected to increase or decrease the resistance of an exercise. Crossbow home gyms utilize horizontal bars that can be similarly adjusted for tension. Both the Bowflex and Crossbow have arm band, leg extension and lat tower stations to deliver a full-body workout. The Crossbow Platinum and Bowflex Xtreme 2 offer around 70 exercises each. The Platinum comes with 340 lbs. of resistance and a digital exercise guide console, while the Xtreme 2 comes with 210 lbs. of resistance that is upgradeable to 410 lbs. and is completely analog.
Function
Each machine purports to offer a full-body workout that can help you build muscle, increase flexibility, tone your body and lose weight. The owner's manual for either type of machine comes with a number of workout programs designed to meet specific fitness goals. Bowflex machines come with an additional weight loss program designed by fitness trainer and nutrition expert Dr. Ellington Darden, which has been scientifically researched and proven effective.
Considerations
Weider Crossbow gyms are consistently priced less than their Bowflex counterparts. However, some fitness equipment reviewers have stated that the Crossbow bars provide uneven resistance during a repetition. Crossbow machines come with a shorter warranty than Bowflex machines, because they are sold through discount retailers such as Wal-Mart, Sears and the Home Shopping Network.
Expert Insight
Certified fitness trainer Brett Spottke states on his website, the Exercise Equipment Expert Review Journal, that Weider Crossbows are a "cheap knockoff of the Bowflex technology" and are generally not a worthwhile home fitness purchase. The Fitness Events website, which is dedicated entirely to the sport of body building, disagrees with Spottke's assessment, stating that the Crossbow delivers a comparable workout to the Bowflex and is a better choice for home toning because of the cheaper price tag.
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