Welcome to the Soloflex Forever forum!

[bucksteelsoloflex]

Ya, I was thinking, did you give suddenly give up on both

Well that's good, such a coincidence though.

[duckhuntersfather]

Just had a line on a "Rockit" for $150.... But the internet add was old and the unit was already gone...

Would have snagged that bad boy up...

[bucksteelsoloflex]

Keep your eyes open, good deals pop up once in a while.

[bucksteelsoloflex]

I picked up a used Soloflex Muscle Machine for free today

Now I can add to my collection the old style Butterfly again on top of the new style already here.
A barbell rack for the Compound Barbell is on the way from Soloflex.

Eventually one of everything they made will be here, but until I get more room, it will be mostly in storage
With enough room there would be a Muscle Machine set up with the butterfly left and leg extension left on.

I should get around to evaluating the old and new style of butterfly side by side, if anyone has both setups, please compare and submit your findings and opinions. One thing I wonder about is if the new style stretches the bands more than the old style?

[Lycanthrope]

Hello all,

Just saying hello and giving a quick intro.

I spent the last year doing total body beginner routines on a soloflex that I found for a steal on Craig's List. I chose a soloflex primarily because of it's versatility (I used one occasionally "back in the day"), convenience, and safety (no spotter needed).

Before that, I had not weight trained with any frequency since ~1990 ... hence my year of beginner routines.

I found this site by doing a search for "soloflex hepburn routines" as I wanted to begin a strength targetted routine. My high school football strength coach believed in Doug's principles and 5 x 5 routines so these stuck in my head.. even twenty something years later. I personally made better strength gains back in the day w/ a Hepburn-ish workout so that is what I am doing now.

The "trick", I thought, was going to be tailoring a Hepburn type workout for the Soloflex. I was wrong I found one I was happy with and just made a couple of very minor changes: added back (inverted rows, which CAN be done on a Soloflex) and core (prone bridges) work. (I will be happy to share if anyone is interested).

Because of the Soloflex' nature, I know it isn't quite the same as working with freeweights (though I am using straps AND plates), so gains may be slower (though I'm not worried about translating "soloflex strength" to barbell strength) but the fact that my joints, ligaments and tendons won't be screaming at me is a compromise that I can live with.

"See" you around...

[bucksteelsoloflex]

Hi Lycanthrope,

In my experience, Doug Hepburn's training routines and principles build better lasting strength without risk of injuries, burnout, staleness, and excellent muscular endurance compared to most other methods. The injury avoidance is especially true on the Soloflex Muscle Machine with the combination of weightstraps and freeweights. The drawback I find on the Soloflex is the nature of the straps works better with higher than lower reps. Benching and squatting, you have to start in the lower position if the barbell arm is loaded up with freeweights and straps. This is more difficult than starting at the top and lowering and then going back up with freeweight barbells.

I think I've tried pretty much everything out there, I knew Doug, and wish I listened to him more, and much less to everyone else.

Looking forward to your further contributions

[sarpilot]

Just purchased my SOLOFLEX on E-Bay and had to drive 350 miles to pick it up. It was worth every mile. I've wanted one of these machines ever since watching the old infomercials back in the 80s. I'm 52 years old now and worry about using my free weights by myself. I always have to keep the weight light especially on squats and deadlifts. Only had a few workouts so far but I just love the feel of the machine. Should have got one of these 20 years ago.

[bucksteelsoloflex]

Congrats on the new Soloflex and welcome to the neighborhood.

[gwar11d2]

Another Newbie/Intro post!

Yesterday afternoon I picked up a Soloflex w/ Leg attachment and Butterfly attachments for $50 off of craigslist. Even came with some dumbell bars w/ cheap sand weights (what's cool is the ends fit in the ends of the barbell thing on the Soloflex.

This is my first Soloflex. I was a bowflex owner previously and I liked that machine a lot, but sold it on craigslist 2 years ago before moving to N.C. 2 years ago I could run a marathon... (I did...) but after a few injuries it put me on the Fat Train to Tuna Town and I just had to get back into shape. Did my first mini-workout today and loved it. Not only did it not take a rocket science degree to assemble (1 bolt vs. possibly hundreds on the bowflex), I felt like I got in a quality workout in about 20 minutes just by messing around. Weight straps are a bit worn and I need to get a few more, but overall I think I did very well for $50. This thing is built like a friggen tank... I can't believe it.

Anyway, my name is Brian and I'm glad you guys have a website for information!

Anyway I can tell when this thing was built? Serial location? I do have the curved tube base so I assume it isn't the 'retro version'.

Thanks!
Brian

[bucksteelsoloflex]

Another Newbie/Intro post!

Yesterday afternoon I picked up a Soloflex w/ Leg attachment and Butterfly attachments for $50 off of craigslist. Even came with some dumbell bars w/ cheap sand weights (what's cool is the ends fit in the ends of the barbell thing on the Soloflex.

This is my first Soloflex. I was a bowflex owner previously and I liked that machine a lot, but sold it on craigslist 2 years ago before moving to N.C. 2 years ago I could run a marathon... (I did...) but after a few injuries it put me on the Fat Train to Tuna Town and I just had to get back into shape. Did my first mini-workout today and loved it. Not only did it not take a rocket science degree to assemble (1 bolt vs. possibly hundreds on the bowflex), I felt like I got in a quality workout in about 20 minutes just by messing around. Weight straps are a bit worn and I need to get a few more, but overall I think I did very well for $50. This thing is built like a friggen tank... I can't believe it.

Anyway, my name is Brian and I'm glad you guys have a website for information!

Anyway I can tell when this thing was built? Serial location? I do have the curved tube base so I assume it isn't the 'retro version'.

Thanks!
Brian

Hi Brian, Welcome to the neighborhood!

They are sure built well, simple and effective aren't they? I get the impression that you have a great sense of humor

The age of it doesn't matter, worst case scenario is it may need repainting or replacements for the weight straps. Otherwise it will last forever.

Best,

Garett