We have been in business since 1978. In that time we have never had a major safety issue with our machines…sure an occasional stubbed toe. A tripping hazard, maybe? Major and repeated recalls, never!
For the last 30 years there have only been 2 major players in the home weight lifting industry, Soloflex and Bowflex. They couldn’t be more different. The Bowflex record speaks for itself. When I got the idea to write this post, I googled the term, ‘Bowflex recalls’, and holy crap, there were pages of information! I literally saw dozens of articles on their recalls, injury hotlines, and attorneys soliciting business from injured Bowflex owners. In 2004 alone, there were 800,000 Bowflex machines recalled. It’s amazing to me that with all this damaging information about how poorly constructed and dangerous they are, people still buy them! Unbelievable.
We have never considered Bowflex to be anywhere near the same quality as a Soloflex. We feel sorry for people who have gotten duped into buying one, only to realize how cheaply made they are, BUT cheap they are not! The Bowflex costs nearly $3000 bucks! The Bowflex is made in China, I’m guessing that’s a seriously healthy mark up.
The bigger point folks, is that a Bowflex is not real weight lifting equipment! Soloflex products are made from 100% steel, always made in the USA and have a awesome reputation for being durable and ageless in design. There are 25 year old Soloflex’s bought and sold on Ebay, that speaks volumes about the quality! I think it’s a safe bet that all Bowflex machines will be in a landfill 25 years from now.
At Soloflex we get regular calls from disgruntled Bowflex customers. The problem they have is this, Bowflex likes to come up with a new fancy design every few years. The problem is that they discontinue making the parts for retired models. In some cases, if you own a Bowflex that’s only a few years old, there’s no way to buy replacement parts if something breaks. Soloflex on the other hand, is still in the business of providing excellent customer service to people who bought their Soloflex machines in 1978. We still sell all the parts for the Soloflex and every other machine we’ve ever made. We don’t believe in planned obsolescence.
All good (and bad) things must come to an end eventually. Speaking of the end, I’ve noticed that Nautilus stock is plummeting month after month. I think Bowflex’s time is just about up. Maybe they need one more recall to finally call it quits. It shouldn’t take long.
And that’s how I see it, how about you?
July 13, 2009 at 10:43 am
I see Bowflex as garbage. It is not real fitness equipment. It is pretend exercise equipment. All marketing.
I hope they become extinct and soon.
July 13, 2009 at 11:19 am
When I first saw a Bowflex in person I cold not believe how cheap it was made. The steel used is comparable to a cheap bicycle and the amount of bolts holding it together is bordering on insanity. The machine may last a year before something breaks. Way to many cables and pulleys for my taste.
Soloflex is basically an understated powercage. It can handle huge amounts of weight and/or the simple weight strap. It is to set up and go from exercise to exercise.
The steel used is better than some of the commercial stuff I have seen. I have a Soloflex, Rockit, Compound Barbell and Soloflex Dumbells and have never had a problem with any of the steel or welds crack or fatigue.
I would not have equipped my home gym with Soloflex products if they were made like Bowflex.
Chris
July 13, 2009 at 12:17 pm
When I first saw a Bowflex in person I cold not believe how cheap it was made. The steel used is comparable to a cheap bicycle and the amount of bolts holding it together is bordering on insanity. The machine may last a year before something breaks. Way to many cables and pulleys for my taste.
Soloflex is basically an understated powercage. It can handle huge amounts of weight and/or the simple weight strap. It is to set up and go from exercise to exercise.
The steel used is better than some of the commercial stuff I have seen. I have a Soloflex, Rockit, Compound Barbell and Soloflex Dumbells and have never had a problem with any of the steel or welds crack or fatigue.
I would not have equipped my home gym with Soloflex products if they were made like Bowflex.
Chris
PS: Wanted to add good post!
July 13, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I have worked out on a Bowflex twice, once while my wife was looking at a house with a real estate agent the owner, had one in his bedroom. Took it for a spin. Not much to talk about. The second time was a few years later when an employee at a Schwinn store wanted me to see if I liked it. I didn’t; I then told him I had a Soloflex and that shut him up. I have owned a Total Gym, not much different. I sold it to a lady for $100. It’s probably sitting in her bedroom with laundry on it. Although she could have used it, whatever it’s limitations are. I have stated before, I’ve had my soloflex for 22 years now. Aside from a few chips in the paint here, and there,it is perfect in its application.
Jon
July 13, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I would never buy a Bowflex. I really believe many people get duped into buying a Bowflex due to the excessive eye candy the machine offers. I think customers associate such with quality and durability. Can you do an inverted situp on a Bowflex? Don’t think so. You can on a Soloflex, and much more that the Bowflex cannot offer. The Soloflex is so simple and elegant. I think this can be deceiving to potential customers, because some often associate more with being better.
This will invariably change as more are exposed to the durability and overall quality of the Soloflex via the net. People will begin to see the Bowflex for what it is. That is, a mass produced piece of junk. Their gym is junk, and most certainly their dumbbells are extreme junk. I really believe Bowflex cares more about profit than their customers….
July 13, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I’ve had my Soloflex for 25 years.Still looks good and works great. As I said in my 5-star review on Epinions, it’s a simple machine that works. That’s why I think it was/is sad for a lot of us fans of Soloflex to see them sold for practically nothing on Craigs list or Ebay while Bowflex sold so many. But, on the bright side, at least the machines are going to people who will use them and become fans of Soloflex. And because I believe in SHORT but INTENSE workouts,(as ironically Arthur Jones,the inventor of NAUTILUS equipment) espoused, I may buy 2-3 more used Soloflex Classics so I can pre-set several exercises and go from one exercise to another even quicker. Like many, the price/warranty ratio on the straps are my only concern.
July 14, 2009 at 3:15 am
Agreed, the Bowflex isn’t a very good piece of gear… but not to be a jackass, but people would buy a Bowflex because, well, you can’t buy a Soloflex anymore.
Hope that’ll change soon, but that’s kind of the answer to the question.
July 15, 2009 at 9:11 am
Soloflex is weight lifting pure and simple. That is what weight lifting is all about. It takes strong equipment to with stand the stress and loads put on it by someone trying to add strength to themselves and Soloflex offers that in one simple easy to use beautiful to look at piece of equipment. Thank you Soloflex for making the best safest equipment for us to use.
July 16, 2009 at 3:26 am
Can’t help but wonder. If Soloflex is such a superior machine, why are they no longer made? Didn’t Bowflex drive the Soloflex to extinction?
July 19, 2009 at 1:49 pm
No Greg, it was not Bowflex that drove Soloflex to retire production (I hope temporarily). The Soloflex was built to last a life time; therefore the machines don’t break down like the Bowflex. Therefore you’ll find a surplus of Soloflex muscle machines in the used market. Most people never stick to a life time of health and fitness. In the gap in-between not working out they sell their exercise equipment on EBay or craigslist.
We hope that Soloflex Inc decides to relaunch the original machine to market to the new generation of young people who are not familiar with Soloflex. I’m sure they would love it like we did. .
February 19, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Anybody know what the actual weight of the Soloflex handle (for bench press) actually weighs? Looking to convert to free weights and would be nice to know how much the handle alone weighs – - for bench press and curls. Thanks!
February 23, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Hi Northspoon1
The barbell alone weighs approx. 15lbs. When using on the Soloflex it would be approx. 10lbs.
Connie
Soloflex,Inc.
February 24, 2010 at 2:50 am
Well to sum up this blog post.
Why would anyone buy a Bowflex, marketing pure and simple. Also because the Soloflex isn’t sold anymore. Allot of people think that the Bowflex drove the Soloflex into extinction. Insufficient marketing did.
If you sold the original Soloflex again, the black one with all the attachments, not the retro. And marketed it to the new generation with all the points made in your blog post, it would sell like hot cakes. There was nothing wrong with the original soloflex, nothing. Why change it or come out with the lift?
The last Soloflex you sold on the market was a fine machine, just like all the Soloflexs sold before it were fine machines. It could handle 500lbs of free weights in addition to 400lbs or ‘band weight resistance’ that is 900lbs of weight.That is enough for anybody, but did it get marketed like that?
Did you tell people that they are still being used by their original owners for over 20 years? That the bowflex is not made as well? That the Bowflex cost twice as much? That they don’t support discontinued models? That it is made in China and not the USA?
The general public saw the bowflex as superior because of the marketing, thats it. We here know that it’s a piece of crap, but who else does?
It is nice to have the retro Soloflex for us that love it and know what it is, but how about the new generation? Why not bring it back all the way and not only sell refurbished? Is it any wonder why the refurbished are always sold out? Sell both side by side and market it heavily and put the Bowflex out of business for all our sakes.
February 26, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Chris,
You are dead on the money, brother. This has been my point for years. Jerry was the first marketing visionary the home fitness industry ever saw, and as a consequence, the birth of the home equipment market segment was born through innovation meeting functionality. The innovators always take the arrows, but when they quit pushing the envelope of continued innovation due to whatever litany of reasons, the message gets compromised by others trying to cash in themselves. Bowflex fooled many people out of their hard earned money. The Soloflex concept is more relevant now than it was back in 1978. I believe it could make a resurgence a second time around if it was met with new energy, new passion, and a new vision for innovation. Capital is not necessarily the answer here, but it helps. Sustained and innovative marketing could conceivably launch a new product by itself, but the Lift was never the answer. It wasn’t innovative. I’ve been touting the “Solorow” for some time now — a rowing machine utilizing the weight straps and the Soloflex trademarked configurant of a curved metal mainframe. This innovation doesn’t exist yet in the open market, but would serve as the catalyst to relaunch the Soloflex brand back into the mainstream consensus. I’m surprised it hasn’t been thought of or designed before. The Rockit was innovation phase two. The Handweights were innovation phase three. The Solorow would be innovation phase four. And suddenly, Molly has the catalyst she needs to resurrect the Soloflex brand before the Lift died the death it did. Just my thoughts here; Solflex will always have a cult following. Innovation always does.
March 2, 2010 at 4:30 am
Dave
Quality sells itself. You just got to let people that your product has it, promote what it is. Mercedes Benz is known for their quality, and they let people know it. The first time I saw a Soloflex I was floored at the thick steel that was used. Even more floored when I bought one carrying each part into my house. This thing is heavy I thought to myself, this is a well made machine. In form and function. It is almost perfect. Fits in the corner of your home, works well and lasts forever, what more could a customer want?
They are so well made that they just don’t break. Ever. The bands may wear out, but the machine will last literally forever. My next door neighbor picked one up for free that was left outside in the snow for two months, sanded it down,replaced some parts , bolts,bench,logos,weight bands etc and painted it and still uses it. That was five years ago.
Name me one fitness machine commercial or otherwise that can do that? Can a bowflex do that, heck no. They are so well made that I think that they(used ones) started to cut into Soloflex’s business. This is just my opinion, maybe Molly can speak on this or Jerry.
There are not many people cross shopping a kia although a fine car and gets the job done with a Mercedes. The Soloflex is the Mercedes or Rolls Royce of the home fitness industry. They are made as well or most likely better than most Gym equipment found in most gyms today. I have been in and out of gyms for over 20 years, and I have yet to see a comercial machine made better than a Soloflex. As good maybe some, better no.
They don’t need a new or innovative new product. They already have a “old’ and innovative product. Did you see those ‘hybrid’ videos. When watching them, I said to myself what is so ‘hybrid’ about this soloflex? I can put up to 500lbs of free weights already, heck Soloflex sells the adapters. The Soloflex is and was a machine ahead of it’s time.
Add to the fact that Soloflex has the best people running the company and the best owners that actually care about this country and the people in it that use their products. A product is only as good as the people behind it, and the Soloflex is a testiment to that.
March 2, 2010 at 4:51 am
What is or was the ‘lift’. Was that their new product? I saw a commercial on this website for a product that looked like a squat rack, was that it?
I am confused, why sell a lift product when the Soloflex is a lift product? It can hold 500lbs of free weights, I know I used it already with that much weight on it dead lifting. Just promote the free weight aspect of the Soloflex more and make the free weight adapters standard and olympic sleeve adapters optional.
The combination of free weights and band weights is the best type of resistance in the world. All the positives and none of the negatives.
Free weights have the most advantage on the pushing or pulling motion of the exercise better than anything else. Machines have not as good pulling or pushing motions but is better than free weights on the “negative’ aspect of the exercise.
The band weights provide even more force on the negative than cable machines. Combined with free weights you have a lift that is good on the pulling and pushing aspects in the positive and negative parts of the movement.
I would market that heavily. That is one of the most important aspects of the benefits of the Soloflex.
Their “lift’ product does not have this benefit as far as I could tell.
March 18, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Hello all. I’ve been visiting this site lately just to see what soloflex is up to these days, because last year I bought some replacement weight bands for my soloflex and was surprised and kind of saddened to see they were no longer selling soloflex machines. After redaing these blogs, I have to join in and say that soloflex definately needs to be re-marketed and manufactured new again! The bowflex commercials have always got my attention, and I was convinced I needed one for like three years, but never even mae an attempt because they’re so expensive. The alternative? My mom’s soloflex, which she bought brand new in 1989 or 1990. I started using it and have been consistently for about a year now, and I have to say nothing could be as good. I am glad that they are selling refurbished ones, but new marketing could do so much better than the 80′s and 90′s with this generation! Think about our current situation- This is a recession, everyone is poor. The soloflex is probably the most inexpensive piece of home gym equipment anyone could buy! And it is so versatile! The simplicity needs to be stressed- Nothing to break! Every soloflex owner can and I’m sure would be excited to attest on a soloflex commercial their own testemonials on how they’ve been using this machine for years, gotten good results, and maybe less a few weight straps, never had any issue or repair made! America as a whole is probably more health conciences than ever before, making it the perfect time to re-vamp the soloflex as well. Stress the safety over free weights, the indestructible durability, long-time customer’s testemonials, and the over quality and inexpensive price of a perfect piece of equipment, and how could you not sell a million of these again?
August 15, 2010 at 8:33 am
The Soloflex machine is an industry standard and constant because of its simple and effective design. It does not rely on an assembly of complicated parts that must function nearly perfectly to be effective. A multiplicity of mechanical parts combined with lower quality and thinner, less tensile steel make the bowflex an acceptable machine for now but not for years down the road. I have used my Soloflex since the 80′s and it remains as strong and functional and useful as the day I enthusiastically pulled it out of the box. The only thing I have replaced is the load-pin which became grooved as a result of use- an indicator of success in my view.
I
September 3, 2010 at 2:42 am
I don’t know why you are selling both the original and the retro models.
I would incorporate the strengths of both into a single machine. And market it heavily with one informational about the strengths of the machine vs the competition and tout it strengths over the competition. Now is the time. The economy is horrible and gym memberships are at a all time low. People still need to work out and the recalls on the Bowflex machines are not helping them. Which is a good thing.
State the obvious advantages in quality. Thicker steel used. And compare the two. Use statements by owners who have had their machines for over 25 years or more. And are still supported and can still get parts for them. Tell them how you can add up to 540lbs of free weights on the machine plus 400lbs of weight bands for a total of 900lbs. Tell them no one ever got injured on one of your machines or your machines never had a recall.
Or how it is built in the USA of heavy gauge steel. How it is a all green product.
Promote the free weight aspects of the machine. Make the weight adapters standard. Get rid of the butterfly machine attachment. Make the leg developer standard but make it a free weight attachment. As in free weights that can be used on it. It would work for the original since the original design would not lend it to tipping as the bent version has a tendency to do.
The weight adapters have to be made better. I use the free weight adapters with the olympic attachments. I used a liquid plastic that you would find in lowes that is use to cover handles for tools. I covered the attachment part that fits in the barbell arm in this plastic so it would fit better in the barbell arm and not come out when taking the free weights off and on but slides out easily with no weight on them. Maybe a screw on part?
Make the free weight easier to load and unload. You can use 45′s on each side but the barbell arm leans too far one way and if you don’t use rubber coated plates the plates can fall off. Make the weight variance more stable. Redesign the barbell arm or add a attachment for more stability.
It will be lighter and cost less to ship. Incorporate the original design of the original with the 90 degree angle. Not 93 degrees as in the bent version. The original was more stable and lighter. Cost less to ship and is more stable. The slightly rounded barbell of the new version is less obtrusive and allows a better range of motion than the original.
The load pin on the new model is better than the old one, and looks better two. Get rid of the bench pin. Use a bench arm that is stainless steel for the bench also.
Get rid of the wood bench, the newer one is better for handling free weights such as bench presses. The flat black looks good, but the semi-gloss looks much better. If your not going to use the bent angle which is good, at least give it a semi-gloss paint job. I painted mine with high-gloss enamel. Not because it is high gloss, but because it is stronger than either power coat or flat black. It holds up better. Does not chip as easy. And frankly looks better in the process.
Get rid of the shock rings. Once someone that is not familiar with the original Soloflex and it’s history it will not sell. Use the current bands but use a better manufacturer.
The original weight bands were produced by the Gates LearJet Company? Is this right? In my opinion they felt the best. They had a less Variable nature. They had what felt like the same resistance on the return as they did on the stretch. Even better than the shock rings.
The OilState Company engineers the new ones? They don’t last near
as long, or feel as good. Although good, just not as good.
Who are you guy’s using now?
So to sum up.
1.Promote free weight use. Make better adapters. Make the changing of weights less cumbersome.
2.Use the 90 degree angle of the original.
3.Use a stainless steel pin like for the barbell arm also for the bench.Get rid of the painted bench pin. Looks better too.
4.Get rid of the fly attachment.
5.Make the leg attachment free weight only.
6.Use stronger paint, keep semi-gloss or get high gloss black enamel. Get rid of flat black.
7.Use newer barbell arm. Better range of motion.
Come on Soloflex. What are you waiting for? A few modifications to the existing machines. Combine the two into a single product with a few modifications.
Make a new informational. Stop telling us about Bananas or how good the wave platform is. If it wasn’t for the original Soloflex you wouldn’t even have a wave platform to sell.
This blog has been dead for months. Let’s go already. Why are you letting Bowflex outsell you with a inferior product? You have the better machine, by far.
Now start selling it. Let’s go. For all our sakes.
December 2, 2011 at 8:50 pm
I’ve had the original Soloflex since 1988. A friend had the one with the shock cords and the wood bench, one of the first issues as it was built in 1979. After trying it out, I kind of forgot about it for a few years. I then saw the infomercial and decided it was time to get one.
I still after all these years, use it often and it keeps me in the best of shape. I’ve met old school friends who I could not recognize as they look old and out of shape. So many have had severe health problems after years of being a couch potato and not taking care of their bodies. Not exercising and eating wrong.
With my Soloflex, I’ve been able to maintain my weight and have noticed that I’ve gotten stronger as the years go by. My body has the look of a 25 year old and I’ve gotten comments from people who wonder how such an old head can be on such a good looking body!
Anyone who says it is not a good piece of equipment is crazy. They have not had the long term experience with one as I have. The best investment I’ve made for good health by far. No joint damage and I feel fantastic for being 55 years old. My family has a history of arthritis and it can be a problem on some days. But working out with the Soloflex is so easy on joints that I can even work out on days that are really bad when arthritis rears its head.
I have all the options like butterfly and leg extension. Some say they don’t use them. That is a shame. They work fantastic!
I’m now in the process of buying a Soloflex Rockit. I found it on Craigslist and for a price of $75. It is such a good deal, I cannot pass it up. It even came with 8 brand new straps. So many people buy them and don’t use them. What a shame. Nothing feels as good as a body that can do what you want it to do.
December 16, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. These letters are so important to us as we realize by simply using your Soloflex machine you can maintain a very healthy lifestyle. We are so glad to hear yours. We hope you enjoy your Rockit as much. It too is a great piece of equipment. Keep up the great work and we are here if you ever have questions or need help. Take car.
January 29, 2012 at 6:17 pm
I purchased my Soloflex machine in 1983,it has been a great investment .I think it’s still hard to beat.Thank you for such an all around quality product!
I Love SOLOFLEX