Weider Max Ultra Home Gym System

by Weider

Product Features

• 240 lbs crs compound resistance system, the most advanced resistance source ever designed
• High and low pulleys perform dozens of exercises with this powerful system
• Rowing seat add aerobic exercise to your weight training and add aerobic exercise to your weight training.
• Space saving design the comfortable bench folds up for compact, convenient storage
• Six resistance bars, padded leg developer, quick-change resistance, multi-position padded bench, multiple straps, full range of motion

Product Description

One word describes the Max by Weider--better. Better than free weights...better than other weight machines...and way better than fad diets or pills.You'll get over 65 club quality exercises with a full 240 lbs. of resistance (upgrades to 440 lbs.). And the best part is--the Max comes complete with everything you'll need to get a total-body workout, including a lat tower, leg developer and rowing seat.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 150 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000I78ZCU
• Item model number: WESY3924
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,320 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

161 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crossbow's plusses significantly outweigh minuses, December 19, 2006

By 

NYA Joe "Regular guy" (Mass) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weider Max Ultra Home Gym System (Sports)

The Max by Weider aims to provide a lower-cost alternative to the market leading Bowflex. It must be enough of a threat for Bowflex to force a name change from the Crossbow to the Crossbar, and now Max. My background: I am an out-of-shape almost-40yr old exec. I used to lift weights in high school, like most guys back then (vinyl weight set, pre-GNC era). I played sports in high school and college. Afterwards, I've had membership in 3 different health clubs on and off. They always make money off my membership. I haven't done much in the past few years and decided that this must change. I narrowed down the obstacles to exercise down to the #1 reason for procrastination: proximity and convenience of exercising. It's just a 3 minute drive to the health club, and parking is easy, hours are OK, facilities are passable, etc. But nothing beats a gym in the house, where there is zero commute, 24/7 hours, zero competition for equipment, your choice of TV station to distract you while the muscles burn, easy shower/change of clothing. So, I bought this Max and I think it is the best purchase I've made in a while. Here's why:

Plusses:
1. Cheap - it does most of what every other exercise system does, at a huge discount in price.
2. Construction - well-made enough
3. Nifty resistance system - the bows work better than I thought. They give a good, if unusual, resistance that can give you a workout.
4. Flexible - Pulleys work very well for giving you all sorts of exercises
5. (YMMV) Slightly Compact - This is a little shorter than the Bowflex, which made THE difference in bringing it into my basement...by one inch!

Minuses
1. Resistance system - I'm still not sure if this resistance system, which begins easy but gets tough by the end of the motion, is better or not. This is a similar minus suffered by Bowflex. I am comparing it to free weights or Universal types of machines.
2. Construction - I wonder if those bars will snap some day...they do bow over time, surely affecting how resistance is given.
3. Not for serious bodybuilders, pro athletes, etc. This is clearly something not for hardcore-anybody.

So, why do I give it a full 5 stars? I am rating this machine based on what I think is "comparable" competition. I don't think it's fair to compare it to everything on precor's website. In fact, even against the Bowflex, I would have to ask myself whether I would pay the difference. I am comparing it against every $300 piece of exercise equipment I can think of. So, who should buy this Weider? People who identify with the following:

1. I need to get off the couch and start doing something to work out.
2. I need to watch the finances, so cheaper is better.
3. Before I upgrade to a massive exercise system, let me just start.
4. I am not working out for any specific sport or activity, so I am not obssessed with the nature of the resistance motion, I just need to start moving my arms and legs for non-eating related activity.
5. I would like to avoid hauling in real weights, because they really weigh a lot.
6. I get irritated switching weight stacks and it deters me.
7. I know myself - I'm never going to be going to the health club regularly.

Hope this info helps someone kick off their workouts!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good machine, May 8, 2007

By 

T. Erickson (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Weider Max Ultra Home Gym System (Sports)

This is a great machine for the price. It's well built and solid. I have had mine for several years and use it regularly. It's good for beginner to intermediate users. There are several exercises I have maxed out on, but between the machine and my dumbbells/barbells I get a great workout. They do have a 100 or 200 pound upgrade, but I don't have it. The rods do sag over time and loose some resistance. I recommend keeping tension off of them while not in use.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for the price, but not on par with Bowflex, September 17, 2007

By 

F. Poulos "Smitty Werbenyagermanjensen" (Mount Olympus) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Weider Max Ultra Home Gym System (Sports)

I owned an equivalent machine, the Bowflex Ultimate XLTU, for several years prior to moving.
After moving and reading the reviews, I thought I'd save some money and buy this machine as a replacement.
The action of the Weider Max (Crossbow) resistance rods just isn't as smooth as the Bowflex. Some of the exercises are more ackward to perform on the Weider than the Bowflex. The leg extension is too small for the average man, but okay for a smaller woman.
However, you will probably be able to find enough exercises you like on this machine to get a decent total body workout.
The Weider machine is definetly inferior to the higher end bowflex models. However, you have to remember that it costs less than half. I can't speak to the lower end
Bowflex models like the motivator because I've never owned one.
Bottom line: The higher end Bowflex models are the better machine, but you'll have to decide if it's worth paying 2 to 3 times as much.