| Total Gym 1000 review The Charges: "The Total Gym 1000 is the ideal home training system for all your exercise needs. Lightweight and versatile, it challenges all three components of physical fitness: strength, flexibility and aerobic conditioning, at a price you can afford! Typically, a workout encompassing the three fitness components requires multiple weight machines, free weights, stretching devices, and cardiovascular equipment; Total Gym 1000 does it all on one machine." The Evidence: The Total Gym series of exercise machines are a unique piece of equipment. Using your own body weight for resistance the Total Gym allows you to use 6 - 50% of your total weight depending on how much incline you use. The handle/pulley system is simple to use and moves smoothly. Mounted on swivels, the handles move freely enough to enable you to change positions quickly to perform different exercises. The supplied stationary handles switch position quickly from the head to the foot of the machine for pull ups, push ups and crunches. An extra cable is supplied for leg pulls/curls etc., but doesn't hook up quickly which throws you off your rhythm. One drawback to the body resistance method of the Total Gym is it maxes out at 50% of your body weight. For a guy like me that comes out to about 110 pounds, which is plenty for upper body but so-so for legs. So if you're into heavy body building it might not be enough weight. A mark against the Total Gym 1000 is it's size. Yes, you can fold it up and put it in a closet, but it has no wheels and is a tad heavy to be man or woman handling around the house. Also at it's full working extension, it measures almost 7 1/2 feet long, making it prime toe-stubbing fodder. So unless you have a place to set it up permanently, I predict consumers will quickly tire of moving it about. But then again, it's no Bowflex, what with it's menagerie of spikes flailing around. I can't help thinking that if Hercules confronted a Bowflex, he would mistake it for a Hydra and attempt to kill it. Another, slightly bothersome, complaint is the length of the seat. It's a tad too short for tall persons. If you want to perform the full extension arm pulls, you have to sit low on the bench, barely enough room to rest your heals. Not painful or anything, I just wished for maybe another 6 inches so my feet aren't quite so up my butt. The Verdict: Subtracting a gavel for size, otherwise the Total Gym 1000 does perform pretty much as advertised. The price isn't outrageous, under $200 (unlike the Bowflex again) and it provides a quick, convenient workout without the cumbersomeness of free-weight machines. A recent safety recall on certain Total Gyms increases their value, replacing the plastic handles and pulleys with steel ones found on the more expensive Total Gym models. |
TV Gadget Judge: Total Gym Review
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