Bowflex

The Bowflex Machine is an exercise machine used for strength training. It is marketed and sold under the Bowflex brand by Nautilus, Inc. It is primarily sold through infomercials and the web.

Bowflex grew out of a patent that was first conceived by an Ethiopian immigrant named Tessema Dosho Shifferaw. That patent has now expired. Bowflex of America, Inc. began marketing its first product -- The Bowflex 200X -- in 1986. The company's name has changed a few times and finally settled at Nautilus, Inc. This company markets the Bowflex along wtih Nautilus, Schwinn Exercise, Stairmaster, and Pearl Izumi. These are some of the best brand names in fitness equipment.

The original Bowflex machine used a combination of graphite rods to create a constant resistance or tension. This is a new idea that takes up less space than a complete set of weights or a machine that uses conventional weights or pulley systems.

The new Bowflex Revolution is an update of the 2004 edition, which was repaired under a voluntary recall which provided every user with a free safety repair kid. The new system is easier to use and safer than the previous system, and works quite well.

For more information, please see the Wikipedia topic on Bowflex.