The Revolution is different from most other home gyms sold by the Bowflex company. Instead of the standard power-rod technology, the Revolution features the company's patented SpiraFlex technology. These high-tech weight plates are designed to mimic the resistance force of free weights. Although the Revolution might be more like free weights than other Bowflex home gyms, it still is not the same as using free weights.
Bowflex Revolution
The Bowflex Revolution comes with 220 lbs. of resistance in 40-lb., 20-lb., 10-lb. and 5-lb. resistance packs that resemble Olympic weight plates. You slide the weight pack on the gym apparatus just as you would slide a weight plate on a barbell. The SpiraFlex plates provide consistent resistance throughout the entire range of motion of an exercise, similar to free weights. According to the company website, cable pulleys attach to the weight source, allowing you to do more than 100 upper- and lower-body exercises.
Free Weights
Dumbbells, barbells and weight plates make up the free-weight family. Barbells are long, 5- to 7-foot bars. Use a barbell for bilateral exercises that work two limbs together, such as a squat or barbell chest press. Dumbbells are short, 12- to 15-inch bars. Use them to do unilateral exercises that work each limb individually, such as a dumbbell chest press. You need to have weight plates to load onto a barbell. Fixed dumbbells have a set weight, but adjustable dumbbells are like small barbells. You can do an almost unlimited number of different exercises with free weights.
Function
The Revolution gym and free weights provide a wide range of motion and many movement patterns. The cable arms on the Revolution have 10 positions and rotate 170 degrees. However, you are still limited by the angle and position of the pulleys. Free weights, particularly dumbbells, mimic real-life movements better given their complete freedom of motion. However, this also makes free weights more dangerous, because you might drop them and injure yourself. If you lose control of the weight on the Revolution, the cable will bounce back, but the weight will not fall on you.
Features
Free weights are easier to maintain than the Revolution machine. You do not have to worry about greasing or adjusting the cables or pulleys. Although you can perform bilateral exercises, such as the chest press, on the Revolution gym, it is more like a unilateral exercise because each arm has its own resistance source. You cannot do Olympic power exercises, such as a clean-and-press or snatch, on the Revolution.
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