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Bowflex
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	Tessema Dosho Shifferaw
Designed	1986
Manufacturer	Bowflex
Produced	1986-present

Bowflex is the brand name for a series of exercise machines used for strength training and cardio training, marketed and sold by Nautilus, Inc.. They are primarily sold through the use of infomercials.

Design and history

The Bowflex grew out of a now expired patent first conceived by an Ethiopian engineering student in San Francisco, Tessema Dosho Shifferaw. Bowflex of America, Inc. began marketing the first product, The Bowflex 2000X in 1986. Bowflex of America changed its name to Bowflex, Inc, and became a public company on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In 1999 the company changed its name to Direct Focus, Inc. and initiated an IPO on Nasdaq. With the success of Bowflex, the company bought the Nautilus Corporation, Schwinn Fitness, and Stairmaster Fitness. In 2002 the company moved to the NYSE and renamed itself The Nautilus Group and is now Nautilus, Inc. which owns and markets the Bowflex along with Nautilus, Schwinn Excercise, Stairmaster and Pearl Izumi lines among other brands. ^[1]

Instead of conventional weights or pulley machines, the original Bowflex machine used a combination of polymer rods to create constant resistance or tension. The machines are marketed as taking up much less space than a complete set of weights and machines. The company held a patent (U.S. Patent 4,620,704) on this "power rod" design which expired in April 2004.^[2][3]

2003 TreadClimber line introduced

In 2003 Bowflex released the TreadClimber, a cardio machine similar to a treadmill but with two independent walking surfaces, called "treadles". Bowflex claims the unique design of the TreadClimber allows for twice the calories burned compared to a flat treadmill usedat the same speed.

2004 Recall

In January 2004, about 420,000 Bowflex machines were recalled due to mechanical problems. In November 2004, there was a recall of nearly 800,000 (680,000 Power Pro units and 102,000 Ultimate units) Bowflex machines after reports that several models had broken unexpectedly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the seats could unexpectedly break, and that the backboard bench could collapse when in the incline position on the Power Pro model. This recall was voluntary and the company offered every purchaser a free safety repair kit.^[4]

2006 Revolution line introduced

In 2006, Nautilus released the Bowflex Revolution with a completely new design and new resistance technology. The new model uses circular plates containing coiled straps around a cam which can interlock in place of the polymer rods. Nautilus claims that the new system makes the machine easier to use than its predecessor. It has more adjustments to accommodate different sized users and provides a larger variety of exercise variations.

Bowflex home gym models

• Bowflex Power Pro (1990s)
  • 35 exercises
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance, upgradeable to 310 or 410 lb
  • Base model can be upgraded with Lat Tower and Leg Extension (XTL Model includes these)

• Bowflex Motivator 2 Home Gym (2005)
  • 55 exercises
  • Never sold directly from Bowflex- marketed through other vendors
  • No adjustable pulleys
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance – NOT Upgradeable
  • 7' x 3'3 1/2" x 6'11 1/2" x 3'2"

• Bowflex Sport Home Gym (2006)
  • 60 exercises
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance, upgradeable to 310 or 410 lb
  • 83" H x 84" L x 40" W

• Bowflex Xtreme Home Gym(2006)
• Bowflex Xtreme SE Home Gym (2007)
  • No Bench, Seat only
  • 65 exercises
  • 4 position adjustable pulleys (built-in)
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance – upgradeable to 310 or 410 lb
  • 6' 10" (208 cm) H x 4' 5" (135 cm) L x 4' 1" (125 cm) W

• Bowflex Revolution Home Gym (2006)
  • 90 exercises
  • Spiraflex plate resistance – No Power Rods
  • 170 degree adjustable arms
  • 220 lb weight resistance – upgradeable to 300 pounds

• Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym (2007)
  • 70 exercises
  • 4 position adjustable pulleys
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance, upgradeable to 310 or 410 lb
  • 6' 10" (208 cm) H x 4' 5" (135 cm) L x 4' 1" (125 cm) W

• Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym (2007)
  • 95 exercises
  • 5 position adjustable pulleys
  • 310 lb (140 kg) weight resistance, upgradeable to 410 lb
  • 6' 10" (208 cm) H x 7'8" (234 cm) L x 3' 10" (117 cm) W

• Bowflex Ultimate XTLU (2007)
  • 90 exercises
  • 2 position adjustable pulleys
  • 310 lb (140 kg) weight resistance, upgradeable to 410 lb
  • 6' 11" (211 cm) H x 8' 2" (249 cm) L x 4' 2" (127 cm) W

• Bowflex Blaze Home Gym (2007)
  • 60 exercises
  • No adjustable pulleys
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance, upgradeable to 310 or 410 lb
  • 7' 0.5" (215 cm) H x 6' 10½" (210 cm) L x 3' 2" (97 cm) W

• Bowflex Revolution XP Home Gym (2007) – Sold by Nautilus
• Bowflex Revolution FT Home Gym (2007) – Sold by Other Retailers
  • 90 exercises
  • Spiraflex plate resistance – No Power Rods
  • 170 degree adjustable arms
  • 220 lb weight resistance – upgradeable to 300 pounds
  • Includes Leg Press Plate and 5 position foot harness

• Bowflex Xceed Home Gym (2008)
  • No Bench, Seat only
  • 65 exercises
  • 310 lb weight resistance, upgradeable to 310 or 410 lb
  • Dimensions: 82.7 by 55.1 by 51.2 inches (HxLxW)

• Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym (2008)
  • 35 exercises
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance, not upgradeable
  • 81” H x 84” L x 38” W

• Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym (2008)
  • No Bench, Seat only
  • 35 exercises
  • 210 lb (95 kg) weight resistance, upgradeable to 310 lb
  • 81” H x 64” L x 41” W

Bowflex TreadClimber models

• TC1000 (2003-current)
  • 0.5 - 3.8 mph (0 - 6.1 kph)
  • 3 Functions: Speed, Distance and Time

• TC3000 (2003-current)
  • 0.7 - 4.0 mph (1.1 - 6.4 kph)
  • 6 Functions: Speed, Distance, Time, Calories per Minute, Total Calories and Total Steps

• TC5000 (2003-current)
  • 0.7 - 4.0 mph (1.1 - 6.4 kph)
  • 8 Functions: Speed, Distance, Total Steps, Time, Calories per Minute, Total Calories, Climb Indicator and Heart Rate

• TC5500 (2009-current)
  • .5 - 4.5 mph (.8 - 7.2 kph)
  • 15 Functions: Time / Distance / Custom / Calorie Count / HR workout / 9 Landmark Challenges

• TC5300 (2005-2008)
  • Discontinued model

• TC6000 (2008)
  • Discontinued model

See also

• Soloflex
• NordicTrack

References

External links

• Bowflex.com
• Nautilus, Inc.