After more than 10 years we’re back at it. We’ve come up with a simplified whole body workout machine that’s more functional and easier to use than any machine on the market! Which means it’s easier to get that beautiful, healthy body you’ve always wanted. This machine focuses on the most important weight lifting techniques… free body exercises and squats. It looks basic because it is! This is the piece of equipment you need to get into the best shape of your life – in the least amount of time. Soloflex understands you’re busy and we know after 30 years in the fitness business how to get you toned and feeling great with the fewest amount of exercises in the least amount of time.
With this history in mind, we are proud to introduce the Soloflex Functional Gym. This machine focuses on the best weight lifting exercises ever invented…the squat and the pull up. Just those 2 exercises alone work every muscle in your body, but that’s just the beginning because there’s an almost unlimited number of exercises you can do with this machine. The barbell is tried and true, a classic weight lifting standard because of it’s versatility! Designed to blend into your living room, with this elegant machine you can get a full body workout efficiently, and safely, right at home. You have the pull up bar with a variety of hand grips, squats and limitless barbell exercises too.
There aren’t any pulleys, cables, flexy bars or extensions on this machine because it’s built for real functional training. Designed to be rigid enough for a 250 lb man do do his pull ups without any flex in the machine. The barbell is thick steel tubing for heavy duty squats that you can do in the convenience of your own home. Soloflex has always considered safety the first priority so we fully intend to have a durable and dependable safety strap so you don’t need a spotter. We have several good ideas for how to incorporate a safety strap for your heavy squats and bench presses and are still developing and testing ideas. Let us know if you have any.
This home gym is not going to cost you a small fortune either, unlike our competition, we want to offer the functional gym with barbell and starter weight plates for as little investment as possible! Hopefully less than half of what most home gyms cost today!
This machine is the height and width of your standard door frame (3′ wide x 6′8” tall) and the depth of a typical book shelf or cabinet (18” deep). Constructed out of tough steel, because that’s how we’ve always done it! It’s a sturdy, high quality machine made right here in the US, because that’s how we’ve always done it!
This is the real deal. This machine is for the serious lifter, perfect for doing your CrossFit exercises at home or P90x. It’s also perfect for the novice lifter too. There are numerous ways to modify a pull up, and did we mention that pull ups are the best upper body exercise you can do, and easy to modify! Use just the barbell if you are starting out, you don’t need to add any weight. If you’ve been lifting for years, go ahead, load it up! It’s sturdy enough to use with TRX Straps, resistance bands, rings and a barbell that’s fits standard plates …you name it. You can use all kinds of accessories with this gym.
The Soloflex Functional Gym is easy to assemble unlike those other home gyms that have 16,000 parts ( ok, that’s a slight exaggeration ;) The original Soloflex machine had 3 main pieces. It’s our belief that if a machine is well designed, it’s simple!
We would love to get your feedback as we go. We just built the first macine this week and we love it! Stayed tuned for more photos and updates.
May 3, 2009 at 8:32 am
Your prototype looks alot like Jeff Martone’s Tactical Athlete Pull-Up System. Jeff and his wife Maureen not only created this quality system but are experts in Kettlebell Training. I have spoken with them…great people…like the family who created Soloflex! Check their website…Your new Soloflex Prototype has some similarities.
http://h2hkettlebell.com/tapsbar.htm
Another product that has similar traits…SOLOSTRENGTH, out of Canada.
http://www.solostrength.com/
As I’ve mentioned previously,I have another cost effective strategy for Soloflex that has a social and sustainable conprehensive marketing strategy that will bring a new generation of Soloflex customers and reenergize the Soloflex faithful customer base. However,it looks like you’re moving in a different direction…I look forward to seeing the finished product. Based on your history, I trust it will be groundbreaking!
Best,
Rob Giovino
May 3, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I am happy to see that SoloFlex is still offering a product to work out with to take the place of the classic machine that revolutionized the home gym. I look forward to seeing this new product and what is has to offer…
May 4, 2009 at 12:12 pm
How about better drawings and pictures? I have a Shermworks Free Spotter in my basement, it looks like it could be adapted to your new frame. My other house has no basement but a garage which this could work. Where’s the bench?
May 4, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I am really excited to see the final version of the New Soloflex Functional Gym. It certainly has a minimalist footprint…with the primary focus being pull-ups and squats.
It seems to have a similar design approach used by Jeff & Maureen Martone–THE TAPS SYSTEM. both Crossfit Kettlebell Trainers. http://www.tacticalathlete.com/tapsbar.htm
They have been selling it now for about 3 years. Since their unit is also made in the USA, it appears the primary difference in your prototype machine, you are adding a barbell option which I know would be helpful to me when doing barbell squats…much better than purchasing a Smith Rack. If you build it to also handle an Olympic Bar, you will be getting alot of Crossfit folks since Olympic weight lifting is a big part of their exercise regimine. To John above, a Soloflex Bench and Soloflex Dumbells can always be purchased as a complimentary to this New Frame. Thus, you can keep the price point reasonable. When will the new machine be available?
May 4, 2009 at 4:33 pm
John
More pictures are coming. We put the machine together last Friday and we’re psyched about how it came out but needs a little tweaking. We are going to try a slightly thicker steel tubing for the base and going to add an additional brace in the back, which will also be a step for modifying pull ups. The machine also needs some weight in the front so we’re going to play around with some plate holders in the front. Overall, we are very encouraged by how stable it is, and it only weighs about 60 lbs. Of course, that doesn’t include the barbell or weight plates that would come with it. Not sure what a Shermworks is? We do sell a bench with legs and great, high quality dumbells. Those items would be included in a separate package or sold separately. All of our equipment will be interchangeable and meant to work together. If you already have a standard weight bench, that’ll work just fine too.
May 5, 2009 at 6:34 am
Will there be an adjustable bench to come with new machine to do inclines, decline bench presses as well as single arm row?
May 5, 2009 at 7:02 am
In addition to the above comment, will there be a manufacturer of higher weight plates like 15 or 20 lbs plates? Many people who have the original soloflex loved the rubber plates that you offered and continue to offer but wished you guys made weight plates higher than 10 lb plates
May 5, 2009 at 10:17 am
Nice to see this new product under development.
I hope that the chinning apparatus will be much stronger than a 250 pound rating. I weigh more than that, and I often add weight to my body on chins and dips. I hope that dips will be possible on this system.
The chinup bar could be adjustable in height, this would allow for people of different heights easier use. If the bar can be firmly secured it could be used for stretching and other exercises as well.
Link for the Shermworks self spotter system: http://www.shermworks.com/
Maybe have an optional vertical post to allow the use of parts from the Muscle Machine on the new machine, the bar, bench, butterfly, and somehow use the leg attachment? Then those that already have the Muscle Machine might feel more inclined to purchase the new setup if it could do everything the Muscle Machine could do plus allow freeweights. It would keep weightstraps in demand.
As it is now, I have limited workout room in my exercise space. I have a full power cage, and keep the Soloflex inside it. I was tempted to hire a welding shop to rig up an attachment to cut and connect the vertical post of the mainframe to the power rack to give me the versatility of both. I wanted to be able to use the Soloflex detachable bench with the setup, so I wouldn’t need a freeweight bench. This would have requires the creation of a detachable floor piece for the bench legs to connect and on vertical pressing exercises with weightstraps on the barbell arm to prevent lifting the whole thing off the ground.
A cable attachment could also be made which would allow the use of both freeweights and weightstraps.
I also request larger Soloflex weight plates! They are fantastic, but 20 to 25 pound plates would be appreciated. Also, longer dumbbell handles to go beyond 60 pounds on the dumbbell set.
I do hope that the Freeweight Organizer will be brought back into production, I had one and made a big mistake when I sold it. I was not happy when I couldn’t order another one. If the Compound Barbell becomes available again, that would be good too.
A platform metal plate with the WBV attachment to keep the vibration on the feet would be beneficial on squats. and standing exercises. Is there a way to make the WBV smaller and attach it to a free barbell?
I wish that I could be there with you guys developing this project!
I have the Soloflex Forever! page on Facebook.
Have a great day everyone!
:)
May 5, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Hi,Your new soloflex looks like a good product. I bought the classic soloflex so I could also do some of the body weight exercises. I have thought about building a special bar to replace the barbell arm when doing the body weight exercises. It might be nice if you offered such a bar so your loyal classic soloflex users could upgrade their equipment. I would be happy to send a sketch of my idea. Best wishes, Will Rennick
May 5, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Rob,
Thank you for the links. I had seen the pull up bar before but not the SoloStrength machine. They both have a similar looking frames but our machine will be more versatile and more easily accessorized. Our barbell will work with olympic plates, we are also looking into making a 25lb rubber coated plate. The frame and barbell dimensions are such that you should have no problem using the weight plates or bench you already own.
We are making some modifications to the machine this Saturday. I will post several pictures when it’s done.
Thank you so much for your interest!
May 5, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Sage
We do not make a bench with an option for incline or decline but the new machine would work well with another one of these benches if you choose to buy one.
We are looking into heavier plates, if we do offer those down the road, there are many high quality rubber coated plates on the market that you can buy.
May 6, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Is there anyway you can bring in the inverted situp as you did in the original muscle machine soloflex? I think it was a great feature to work the abdominals.
May 6, 2009 at 4:33 pm
When I say inverted situp, I mean the inverted hanging situp. I think that was a good feature on the original soloflex and would go nice with the concept of a free body exercises.
May 6, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Where are the pics of the prototype? Sorry if I am missing something….
May 8, 2009 at 10:52 am
Back in the mid 1960s Joe Weider had a similar unit for sale. Tt was constructed of round pipe in an inverted u-shape attached to round plates for stability. On the left and right upright was an outside sleeve that was welded to a horizontal barbell that slid up and down. Along the length of each upright were holes and a clevis pin that was used to adjust the level at which you wanted to go down as in squatting and leg presses. You could also do inverted rows and with the barbell loaded with plates and resting on the floor for stability you could do chins, pull ups, leg raises, etc. And with a bench you could do presses for chest, shoulders. I have toyed with the idea of making one but never got around to doing so. Not enough time, after all it was made from black iron pipe used by plumbers, how difficult could it be. Every now and then I look at the catalog and think about doing it. Maybe Jerry can do it for me with his new machine.
May 20, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Nice website:D will visit once more
June 3, 2009 at 8:19 am
Looking forward to the new machine. Any idea what the price would be?
July 25, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Gorgeous!
I had a Soloflex machine as a teenager, and ended up selling it when I went away to college. Eventually I got into free weight training but I never, ever, found a home gym that was as solid and comfortable as the old Soloflex. The thick, powder-coated steel, the sturdy bench, the firm rubber pad… I’ve really missed it. If you incorporate those qualities into this set-up, I think I’d do just about anything to get one.
It sounds like you’ve got the height just about right, too. Remember that a lot of us want to keep it in the basement and still be able to do pull-ups (my cielings are 7′, I think).
The other thing I loved about the original Soloflex was the ability to do inverted hanging situps. I haven’t seen any other machine that made it easy to do those. Does the prototype have that feature?