Soloflex as a Chin/Dip station

[Viking Dan]

I often see these cheap on craigslist. Are they good for a chin/dip unit? I hear they're very sturdy.

[John Peterson]

Hey Viking Dan,


A friend of mine had one of those and it wasn't very well made as far as chins and dips go.

---John Peterson

[Viking Dan]

Thanks for the tip, John.

This (http://hotgym.co.uk/) looks awesome, but there's no U.S. distributor. :(

I don't suppose a chin up unit for small apartments is amongst your top secret exercise products in development.

[kelbiz]

Dan;

I have used a Soloflex for a few years and never really did much as far as tricep dips or pullups. I basically used the resistance straps. It definitely takes up a bit of space and cannot be moved easily. The job of reconfiguring the machine for different exercises may cause some to become disheartened.
Some of its good points are that you don't need a spotter, no heavy weights to drop and you do your whole body on one machine.
I had good results from it, but I have also enjoyed good results from weightlifting and every other type of training I have done. As long as you stick with it, you'll see results.
It's another option that's out there, although an expensive one.
The transformetric method requires little expense, equipment and space.
Dedication and education can make any workout a success.

Jack

[Viking Dan]

I have no plans to abandon Transformetrics for rubber bands ;)

Was just curious about its suitabillity as a dirt cheap dip/chin stand. Sounds like I need tokeep looking.

Thanks, all.

[MikeNY]

Dan a Total Gym or one of it's many copies makes for a good chin-up & pull-up machine, very easy to change settings, just pull out the rod and push it to the highest setting. Your not getting 100% of your weight but maybe 90% to 95% of your body weight at that setting, I never figured it out. But you need the model with the bars on the top of the unit for pull-ups and chin-ups. You can hook your feet in the bars and do a sit-up too.

Mine is the British model that bowlex just added thier name too originally, and doesn't have the name plate but the same unit.

[gruntbrain]

Mount a couple of screw eyes in the header board of a doorway to serve as anchors for adjustable webbing handles( and more). Such a setup is ideal for the space crunched & renters can easily remove & patch the holes when they say sayonara. In any case, the handles can be adjusted to accommodate body rows, dips, pushups, ....

[Viking Dan]

I should mention I already have a doorway chin up bar, but the height is too low. I also have a pullup/dip station, but the way the handles are angled makes chinups agonizing.

[MikeNY]

Rubberbus I've seen the new Total Trainers, look just like the current Total Gym. Mine is the older model Total Trainer, the Vertical Beam (Post) is much higher that the than a total gym, so you can raise the incline rail higher. I'd say that it gives about 90% to 95% your body weight; it has the double bars on the top to hook your feet in for situps or pullups and chins ups. To be honest I like the Total Trainer better than the Total Gym and it cost less when I bought lol. You can do pilates on a Total trainer too.

[Viking Dan]

I had this Weider Total Gym knock-off many moons ago:

http://www.mercantila-images2.com/1257/weider-total-body-works-5000-home-gym/weider-total-body-works-5000-home-gym_0_0.jpg

I thought the chin ups on it were awful and felt nothing like the real deal. Uncomfortable on the shoulders, too.

This is kind of nice, but again, I don't have the room: http://bodyrail.com/

[gruntbrain]

Some Total Gym models accommodate the use of weight plates

[MikeNY]

If you get a Total Gym or Total Trainer make sure you get one with the foot board on the bottom and the double rails on the top; one for pull ups amd the other for inclined situps. Target was selling a Total Gym copy too, looked nice and good price. Total Trainer was a lot cheaper than total Gym, I think they might come out of the same factory they look that close.

You need the foot board for many exercises and the rails at the top for others.

After I broke my leg and ankle I needed mine to rehab and do the exercises i was assigned by my Physical Therapist. Then that foot board became invaluable.

[MikeNY]

If anyone needs a Total Gym type home gym, shop around. The Total Gyms are $1500 and $1000 used and refurbished. I've seen good examples from other makers for $150 on Amazon, and Total Trainer is a lot cheaper than Total Gym. Make sure you shop around and compare prices. A lot of these look exactly the same, just the price difference sometimes makes them different. The cheaper ones don't have expensive TV commericals. Some have an attchement for weights and some use resistance bands attached to the bench.

[MikeNY]

Bob mine is an older model, nine differnt height positions; the highest setting is 43" (that setting is just for pullups, chinups and situps; the next setting is 42" for all exercise) & the Total Gyms can only be elevated to 24". The double handles at the top are not removeable and the footboard (steel tubes & covered) is hard to remove. It is better made than the Total Gyms; but thought it was because it is an older model. I bought mine in 2001; made in the EU; and Total Gym is made in Taiwan. Mine can be folded up & locked shut; which I never do. If I had to guess it is about 80%, 85% to 90% of your body weight. It is great for pullups and chinups. My memory is I paid under $200 with delivery charge included and it came assembled, just open and set it up after unlocking.

I can believe that the Total Trainers is still better, you don't always get what you pay for. I thought it was the same as a Total Gym, it came with both the Total Gym and Total Trainer Manuals. You can also do pilates on it like a pilates preformer.