My brother and I were wondering which workout machine was the best from first-hand experience. I've seen many (ie Bow-Flex, Total Gym etc)and I want to know which is the best to get. Any advice would help, thanks.

I depends what you want to work on.

I can tell you from first hand experience that the total gym just does not seem to do much, even with additional weights.

I actually just decided to go with plain free weights. A bar, weights, and a weight bench can be used to work out just about everything those other machines advertise to for about 60-80$ depending on the quality of said products. Those workout machines are quite expensive.

I bought my weight bench, weights, and bar for a total price of about $75 including tax.

This is just me though.

Free weights are incredibly superior to machines.

I'd definitly agree with Palo, but usually bench pressing is great for upper body. Also, it depends if you want to tone (i heard bow flex is good for that) or acutally build mass.

workout machines do nothing but make the regular exercises (biking, walking, running, weight lifting, stuff like that) easier. personally, i just like doing some good old pushups and sit ups and im fine. But, like i said, workout machines make it more convenient, for a price, so think about it before you act

[This message has been edited by SenorJesucristo (edited 10-21-2002).]

As unlikely as it may seem the best work out machine is your body and some open space. You can get a far superior workout just running, jumping, pushups, etc.
The downside is it will take a lot more time this way as you have to increase number of reps instead of just slapping on extra weight; that and you may never get freaky pro wrestler like buff. If you got the time and the willpower all you need to do is study up on your exercises.

Next to that, free weights would have to be the best, the less control you have over the weight the better the workout, because your body is forced to balance out all the weight. From what I can see the Bowflex/TotalGym etc. use the same idea, they just spiff it up and throw it into one expensive package. I personally can't afford such things. Some weights, a couple dumbell bars, a benchpress bar, and maybe a some kind of bench should do everything you need. If you got enough money laying around to buy a Bowflex your probably better off spending it on a membership to one of those fancy gyms or TownClubs.

Push-ups supplemented with pull-up bar.

[This message has been edited by SATURNROCKETX (edited 10-22-2002).]