The Bowflex Xtreme 2 is a multi-station gym manufactured by Nautilus as a piece of equipment that can deliver a total-body workout comparable to an entire gym full of free weights. The compact nature of the gym is attractive to home fitness enthusiasts without the space for a gym of free weights, but a natural question is whether the Bowflex Xtreme 2 can yield the same fitness results as free weights.
Features
The Bowflex Xtreme 2 offers more than 70 exercises and is one of Bowflex's most compact systems, measuring 50 inches wide by 56 inches long by 83 inches tall. It has an inclined bench, lat tower, leg developer and squat station. As of October 2010, the Bowflex Xtreme 2 cost around $1,000. If you were to replicate the amount of exercises possible on the Bowflex Xtreme 2, you would have to purchase multiple weight stands, barbells and weights, though the cost may still be less, depending on what types of exercises you want to accomplish.
Exercising
When executing a repetition on the Bowflex Extreme 2, you are seated in a fixed position that helps you keep the form of the exercise correct throughout the routine. You change the resistance for an exercise by hooking cables to the power rods in the back of the machine. The rods provide a smooth resistance curve during the exertion and rest phases of the repetition.
Free weights allow a wider range of motion when lifting, which can be a benefit and a drawback. The benefit is that free weights require you to use stabilizing muscles in your body to balance the weights as you lift. This increases your overall muscle gain. The drawback is that it is easier to use incorrect form with free weights, which can lead to injury.
Function
According to MayoClinic.com, both exercise machines like the Bowflex Xtreme 2 and free weights can help you accomplish a number of exercise goals. For weight-loss routines, a light amount of resistance should be used and you must rapidly switch between exercises to keep your heart rate up. The close placements of the exercise stations on the Bowflex Xtreme 2 are particularly suited to this purpose. Free weights are popularly used for strength training and bodybuilding.
Considerations
The bench press on the Bowflex Xtreme 2 cannot be set completely horizontal like other Bowflex models, which may be a turn off if you want a traditional bench press to lift on. Josh Henkin of Bodybuilding.com also notes that the resistance on the Bowflex power rods increases as the peak of the repetition is reached, and this can be detrimental during some exercises.
Expert Insight
According to the fitness center at Rice University, lifting with free weights is preferable if your goal is strength training. It is noted that free weights help you train natural movements and can better target specific muscles. The university recommends weight machines if you are new to weight lifting or are recovering from an injury.
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