Bodylastics Maximum Resistance System

If you’re interested in starting a weight training program but can’t afford an expensive gym membership or lots of home equipment, a great way to get started working out at home is to invest in a set of high-quality resistance bands. Bodylastics currently sells one of the best systems on the market for home use. The videos below will give you a quick look at these resistance bands in action.

Terrell Owens Video

Five Exercises Performed with Bodylastics Bands

Some reasons to consider this resistance band system include:

• It’s affordable. For less than $100, you’ll have a quality piece of weight training equipment that allows you to perform virtually all of the exercises possible with free weights and cable machines.
• It’s durable. Expert and consumer reviews give Bodylastics products high marks for quality, saying these bands would not look out of place in a high-end gym environment. Users praise the durability and smooth handling of everything from the bands themselves to the aluminum clips, handles, and O-rings. In addition, the product includes a generous lifetime replacement warranty.
• It’s portable. The entire system fits in a carrying bag smaller than a shoebox and weights just a few pounds. You can take it with you almost anywhere.

Although Bodylastics bands are durable compared to other resistance band and tubing sets, keep in mind that they are made of latex, a biodegradable material. Over time, exposure to light, skin oils, and perspiration will cause latex to break down. To maximize the life of these resistance bands, avoid holding the latex portion of the bands in your bare hands, keep the bands clean of sweat, and store the bands in a cool, dark, dry place. Even with the most careful handling, however, the stress of regular daily use will ultimately wear out latex, so over the course of many months or years of use, most users should expect to break one or more bands. Fortunately, even if a band breaks as a result of normal use, Bodylastics has a generous lifetime replacement guarantee. If you’re concerned about the total lifetime cost of your equipment as much as the up front cost, consider whether you might be better off investing in a good set of adjustable dumbbells.

Bodylastics System Product Overview

At the core of the Bodylastics system are the elastic resistance bands themselves. These bands are manufactured from surgical-grade latex using a continuous dip process that Bodylastics claims gives the bands their unique durability and superior feel during use. Each band is four feet long and ends with an aluminum carabiner clip to connect to the handles or ankle straps to perform exercises.

Each Bodylastics system includes a pair of handles and a pair of ankle straps. Each handle has a 5.5 inch wide hard plastic grip bar wrapped in soft foam and ends in a heavy gauge O-ring. The ankle straps are 8 inch long padded straps with velcro closures and also end in a heavy gauge O-ring. You can clip up to 7 resistance bands at a time to the O-rings to create a wide range of equivalent weights, similar to using a good set of adjustable dumbbells. The effective weight range depends on the number of bands included in the system you purchase, with a maximum weight equivalence of 254 pounds (127 pounds per side) possible with the largest system, the Terrell Owens Super Strong Man System.

Some of the exercises you can perform with the Bodylastics system require an external anchor point (i.e. an anchor point other than your feet or another part of your body). To help you perform these exercises, you can use the included foam door anchor, which allows you to turn any closing door into a sturdy anchor point for your bands.

The entire Bodylastics system will fit in the included storage bag, which, when fully packed, is about the size of a pair of shoes. Since the system is so lightweight (3.7 pounds for the Maximum Tension System), it’s easy to carry along in luggage or to and from the office.

To help you learn how to use the resistance bands, each system also includes a printed 76-page visual guide to 126 exercises, as well as membership to the Strength Band University website. An optional circuit training DVD can be added to any system you purchase. The DVD provides a guided instruction through a combination cardio/strength training workout using the resistance bands.

All Bodylastics systems include the following guarantees:

• 90-day money back guarantee: You can return the product any time within 90 days of purchase for a full refund, no questions asked.
• 90-day free parts replacement: If any component in the system breaks within the first 90 days, Bodylastics promises to replace it at no charge to you.
• Lifetime replacement guarantee: From 90 days after purchase until forever, Bodylastics guarantees that they will replace any broken or defective component for $5.95 (US customers) or $8.95 (international customers), including all shipping and handling.

Product Lines

There are six different band thicknesses in the Bodylastics system, with the weight equivalence of each band indicated both by the band’s color and an imprinted number on the aluminum clips. The band weight equivalences are as follows:

• Yellow band: 5 pounds
• Green band: 7 pounds
• Red band: 13 pounds
• Blue band: 19 pounds
• Black band: 23 pounds
• Orange band: 30 pounds

The three main Bodylastics products lines are differentiated based on the bands included.

Basic Tension System

• Bands included: 1 yellow (5 lbs), 1 green (7 lbs), 1 red (13 lbs), 1 blue (19 lbs)
• Effective weight range possible: 88 lbs (44 lbs per side)
• Other components: 1 pair handles, 1 pair ankle straps, 1 door anchor, 1 bag, 1 manual, 1-year Strength Band University website membership
• Optional component: Circuit training DVD

Maximum Tension System

• Bands included: 1 yellow (5 lbs), 1 green (7 lbs), 1 red (13 lbs), 1 blue (19 lbs), 1 black (23 lbs)
• Effective weight range possible: 134 lbs (67 lbs per side)
• Other components: 1 pair handles, 1 pair ankle straps, 1 door anchor, 1 bag, 1 manual, 1-year Strength Band University website membership
• Optional component: Circuit training DVD

Terrell Owens Super Strong Man System

• Bands included: 1 yellow (5 lbs), 1 green (7 lbs), 1 red (13 lbs), 1 blue (19 lbs), 1 black (23 lbs), 2 orange (30 lbs)
• Effective weight range possible: 254 lbs (127 lbs per side)
• Other components: 2 pairs handles, 2 pairs ankle straps, 2 door anchors, 1 bag, 1 manual, lifetime Strength Band University website membership
• Optional component: Circuit training DVD

Powertec WB-LS Workbench Leverage Gym

If you’re looking for a home gym that gives you the benefits of free weight training and the ability to do a full range of power exercises, you need to consider the Powertec WB-LS Workbench Leverage Gym. This home gym receives high marks from consumer and expert reviewers as a result of its low price point, patented seat pivoting mechanism, and good safety features for those who work out alone. Read on to learn why this home gym might be a good fit for you.

System Overview

The Powertech WB-LS uses a standard bench and an adjustable-height leverage arm instead of a barbell. This leverage system lets you push weight in a controlled motion so you can safely perform over 20 of the best free weight exercises without a spotter, including rows, bench presses, full squats and dead lifts. Users love the sturdy pivoting mechanism that allows you to easily adjust the seat position or simply move it out of the way for different exercises. Once you move the bench out of the way, a high and low cable system combined with leg extension and leg curl stations allow you to perform shoulder, back, triceps, hamstrings, and quads exercises. You can add an optional arm curl attachment to the system, as well.

Weights Sold Separately

The Powertec WB-LS does not include weight plates, so you’ll need to buy your own set of Olympic weights. Keep in mind as you consider the price of this home gym that you need to supply your own weight plates. Depending on the set you choose, this will add about another $200 to $500 to the total price of the system, but even with that additional cost the Powertec is a relative steal for home gyms that allow you to perform these power workouts.

Safety without a Spotter

The Powertec WB-LS’s fixed true arc leverage arm allows you to push weight in a controlled manner. You can choose the lift off point and lock out point for each motion, enabling you to push the maximum weight safely.

High Weight Load Capacity

The Powertec WB-LS has a weight load capacity that’s much higher than the 200 pound limit on most home gyms. You can push up to 500 pounds on the press arm, 350 pounds on the lat machine, 300 pounds on the squat bar, 250 pounds on the leg lift, and 250 pounds on the optional arm curl machine.

Built to Last

Reviewers noted the sturdy feel of the linkages in the seat section, which is mounted on an axis that allows it to pivot out of the way of the main lever for power exercises like squats and rows. The gym frame uses three inch heavy gauge tubular steel, and the seating surface has durable, dense foam padding.

Powertec WB-LS Workbench Leverage System Gym Model Specifications

• Dimensions: 56 inches (4′ 8″) wide x 82 (6′ 10″) inches high x 101 inches (8′ 10″) long
• Weight: 290 pounds
• Manufacturer’s Warranty: Lifetime frame, two years component parts (such bearings and spring pins), one year pads and grips

Mistake #10: Believing extravagent claims

Don’t let a salesperson or marketing materials seduce you with claims that a home gym provides “targeted fat burn” or “a complete body workout in just 4 minutes a day.” The truth is that no exercise can burn fat from a specific part of your body, and no one can get a full-body workout without a real time commitment. Remember that the hardest part of getting fit is not selecting your equipment, but selecting a well-rounded exercise and diet plan and sticking to it over the long term.

Mistake #9: Ignoring your workout preferences

If your workout routine focuses on large muscle groups, you don’t need a home gym that provides an infinite variety of small muscle group workouts. If you hate riding a bike, you don’t need a home gym with a cycling station. Think through the exercises you actually plan to perform, and make sure the home gym you’re purchasing does a good job supporting those exercises. Don’t pay extra for stations you won’t ever use.

Mistake #8: Passing up installation help

The more elaborate the home gym, the more difficult it may be to set up. Remember that weight training equipment is heavy, and don’t skimp on purchasing installation help to move the equipment into your space an set it up. The last thing you need before you start using your new equipment is to throw your back out!

Mistake #7: Forgetting the other users in your home

If you have a roommate, spouse, significant other, or kids who will be using your home gym, you may want to consider equipment that supports multiple users working out at the same time. Multiple users usually require multiple weight stacks, which will increase the price and weight of the equipment and may increase its overall footprint as well.

Mistake #6: Getting a lightweight weight stack

At a minimum, most home gyms should include a 200-pound weight stack. If you are just starting out but have goals to lift substantially more than 200 pounds for any exercise, make sure that the equipment you’re purchasing can expand for additional weight, and find out where you can purchase the additional weights beforehand.

Mistake #5: Overlooking shoddy building materials

High quality weight training equipment will typically be built from 11- or 12-gauge steel, use framing that’s a minimum of two inches square, have welded joints, and have a chrome or enamel frame finish. Weight stack systems should use nylon-reinforced fiberglass pulleys and aircraft-quality nylon-coated cable. Plastic parts or surfaces, joints that you bolt together yourself, or any other sign of cheap construction are warning signs that the equipment will not hold up to the wear and tear of regular use. The manufacturer’s warranty for a high-quality piece of equipment should include a lifetime warranty for the frame, a minimum 3-year warranty for bench padding and upholstery, and a minimum 1-year warranty for moving parts.

Mistake #4: Ignoring the space limitations in your home

If you don’t have the space to set up your home gym properly and perform all the exercises on the equipment, you shouldn’t buy that equipment. Period. Get out your measuring tape and see how much room you actually have to spare to set up the equipment. As you look at machine dimensions, make sure there will be a buffer around the footprint of the machine when it’s fully set up so you can safely get to each station and perform the full range of motion without hitting a wall, a ceiling, or a ceiling fan. Consider protecting your floors with foam, rubber, or other synthetic mats.

Mistake #3: Blowing your budget

You don’t need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on machines to be able to perform a full-body workout program at home. If you’re on a tight budget, consider whether a simple set of resistance bands or free weights combined with some other basic accessories (like a bench or exercise ball) may be enough for you to perform your workouts. The majority of the benefits of a home fitness routine can be achieved on a small budget, so figure out what your cash flow situation is and start with an equipment investment you can really afford.

Mistake #2: Compromising on comfort or form

The fastest way to lose your motivation for working out is to pick a home gym that is uncomfortable to use or, even worse, causes injury. Make sure the equipment you’re considering provides adequate space to perform each exercise and that the grips, benches, and other contact points with your body are comfortable, suitably padded, and easy to wipe down and keep clean. Home gyms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of them folding up to small footprint in order to live in tight apartment quarters or home basements, but the more compact the footprint, the higher the risk that some compromises have been made to the machine ergonomics.

Mistake #1: Buying before trying

Even if you plan to buy your equipment online, no amount of online research will give you the complete picture of a piece of equipment. Find out what local retailers carry the equipment you’re interested in, and ask if they have floor models set up that you can use in the store. Bring your towel and water bottle and perform a complete set of exercises from your workout on the machine you’re considering.

Now that you know the top ten mistakes to avoid when purchasing a home gym, you’re ready to start looking at the many equipment options out there. A good place to start your search is our equipment guide section, where you can read about the best weight training equipment to achieve your specific training goals, work in your space, or fit your budget.

What do buyers love about Selecttech dumbbells? Positive reviews tended to note the following:

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells (2009 Model)

• They’re affordable: Buying a single pair of these adjustable dumbbells is less expensive than buying a complete set of fixed-weight dumbbells to cover the same weight range in 5-pound intervals.
• They’re compact: Rather than filling your workout space with free weights at each weight you need, you can have a single pair of dumbbells that provides every weight you need. This is a great way to save space if you use a wide range of weights during your workouts or plan to share dumbbells with a partner or family member who uses a different weight range than you do.
• They’re easy-to-use: The adjustable dial on the side of each dumbbell allows you to change weight up or down quickly during your workout. Many buyers also highly recommended dumbbell stand, which makes lifting, moving, and storing the dumbbells a breeze.

So what’s the downside? Some buyers of the Selecttech dumbbells experienced the following problems:

• When working out using a weight at the lower end of the range, some users thought the Selecttech dumbbells felt bulky.
• Some users found changing the weight between exercises to be more time consuming than simply dropping the weight and picking up the next desired weight, as is possible with fixed-weight free weights.
• Some users complained that the weight plates don’t always fully lock onto the handle after adjusting the weight, leading to a safety issue where the weight may slip off the handle.

If you don’t need a full 50- or 90-pound dumbbell, several manufacturers offer lighter-weight adjustable dumbbells. The Stamina Versa-Bell II dumbbells cover the 2.5- to 25-range in 2.5-pound increments, while the Reebok Speed Pac dumbbells range from 2.5 to 12.5 pounds in 2.5 pound increments.

Once you purchase a set and learn a number of exercises with adjustable dumbbells, you’ll be able to perform high-quality free weights exercises from home!