Customer Reviews

Weider Max Ultra Home Gym System

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I purchased this product about three years ago, and I have to say it's one of the best purchases I have made in this time frame.

Assembling was tedious and took time, but it was not too difficult, and I found the instructions clear enough.

The price is fantastic, and after three year of use, the system is still in great shape. The bows are curving more than they used to, but not that much, and resistance is still considerable.

I do not use this machine as often as I would like/should, but I do use it once/twice a week, and I can assure you that, even if I am still essentially an overweight semi-slob, my body is in much better shape that it was three years ago, or at any time before, for that sake. Well, legs excluded, I guess. I do not run any longer, and this machine is not that great for leg exercises, in my opinion, but otherwise it's fantastic.

One problem is that after a few months of using this, you may find the max resistance becoming insufficient for some muscle groups, especially the back. But, at least in my case, this process took years, and I still have to put effort in. But this also means that, if you are really serious about body building, this product may become too "light" somewhat soon. For someone like me who can/want to devote no more than a couple of hours per week to this form of exercise, I can hardly believe you will find a better product for this price.

So, I can certainly say that if I could go back, I would buy this product again. Highly recommended!

This item was purchased as an entry-level system based upon both the price and the overall weight which was important for both the current location as well as any potential relocation or moving.

Other reviewers have provided accurate and helpful descriptions and details so I won't repeat here. Have used the Weider Max Ultra WESY3924.2 model for over a month and have not had any problems so the product works as advertised. One note - if used on a carpeted floor an exercise mat is needed but a standard six-foot length is over one inch too short to cover the entire distance between the front and back feet. The included DVD isn't of much help in designing a program or showing how to operate the system. Swapping the cables and attachments around is a minor inconvenience especially when compared to the price of competing products. The leg extensions are a little too short but still workable.

Set up was easier than advertised and contrary to the manual suitable grease was provided. The packaging is very poor although part of that can be attributed to keeping the shipping weight below 150 pounds to permit UPS delivery which for me took only two working days and was via standard shipping. The UPS driver handed me a few nuts and bolts which had fallen out but several were still missing. Weider did send replacements but it takes a bit of time on hold and the first time they sent lock washers instead of the required bolts. This set me back two weeks as these are sent regular USPS mail.

As advertised and previously reviewed; arrived in good shape and faster than expected. Unit is quality constructed and operated perfectly without further adjustment after about 4 leisurely hours of solo assembly. A huge financial saving over Bowflex.

I noticed there is a new model of the machine being offered that does not appear to include the rowing component. I think this unfortunate as the row is a great workout aerobically, abs, legs, shoulders, arms and especially thighs, achieved all at once.

I started a fairly aggressive diet and using the Max alternate days on New Years Day. My sessions started with a 5 min. row but am now up to 12 min. I do a basic set of 8 other exercises to balance out the workout. I'm counting on the strength training to balance out the catabolic effect from dieting. Started out at 315lbs. This morning, 18 days later I'm 298lbs. So far, so good. Friends and family already notice a difference, as do I.

Improvements? The machine came with a DVD and poster to illustrate the workouts. They are both comprehensive and well done but I wish they had suggested a beginners workout plan because with 65 exercises to choose from and no expertise in the matter it was a challenge to figure out just which to do and in what order (for effect and ease of setting the machine up from exercise to exercise) when I started. And they could have included the lat bar as it's referred to in a lot of the exercises and not a particularly sophisticated or expensive looking chunk of pipe. That's the only reason for not giving this machine 5 stars.

Definitely recommend!

I bought the Weider Max after researching multiple online sites. It was the lowest price for a full at home gym. It also did not involve heavy weights which was a requirement as I did not want to stress the floor of the upstairs bedroom where I put it. It takes a few sessions to get used to the resistance but I have found it to be great. I used to be a powerlifter/bodybuilder and have taken too much time off (4 years!) While I don't think you can get those kinds of results with this machine, I am sore after every use and that is what's needed to see growth in muscles. I have also not maxed out on the resistanceas some others have said and I am starting off in decent shape. Great leg, chest, back, arm workout machine for the money. (I would still rate it as great if I had paid twice as much)

I can't believe how nice this thing is for no more than it costs. It wasn't that bad to put together and there were not any parts missing in mine. I took my time and it took me about 4 hours. If you have a socket/ratchet set, it will go a lot faster.

As for the workout, it is not as good as the weight room at the gym but it darn good for such a compact and inexpensive piece of equipment. It covers all the major muscle groups pretty well and it is really easy to switch between exercises.

This product is exactly what I expected. It does take about 3-5 hours to setup if your mostly doing it as a 1-man job (which you definitely can). I use this in conjunction with a standard Olympic bench and adjustable dumbbells. With it I am able to do many exercises that would otherwise be difficult to do. It also saves time as it adjusts quickly.

For any leg exercises (besides calf raises) you will definitely need the weight upgrade which I will be ordering soon. The construction is solid and I expect it to last for a long time.

The product has made improvements since the last time I purchased a similar unit. Time for assembly was lengthy (3 hours start to finish), but ease of use once assembled was flawless. I like the ability to change from one exercise to another in a relatively short amount of time, and there are no heavy weight plates! Some small fastener parts were missing due to shipping via UPS, box was heavily damaged but product inside was not.