Powertec Leverage Equipment

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NewGenSTi

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Ok, so I am looking into this Powertec Equipment because as of right now I have a standard olympic sized bench that I lift with, but no spotter. So I dont really push myself to the limits with fear of hurting myself. so anyways I like hte looks of the leverage units they sell and I was just wondering how much potential loss I would have over the regular bench because of not working motor muscles and such. I am not just lifting to look like Im big. I want to feel good too so I want to work every part of my body I could to its fullest. I am just afraid that if I convert over I might get great gains in target areas but have lack everywhere else?

Take your time in answering as I dont have money for the system yet anyways. lol :D
 
One word...Drop Sets...OK that is two words, but two words sounds more cliched :D

Here is the idea...Max out on what ever weight you are working out with for that set (or pne rep before)...Immediately drop the weight by 10-20%...Max out on the new weight...repeat one more time.

Universal machines and Cybex-type machines are great for drop setting because it only evolves switching the pin location, but you can do this on a bench too once you get to know your stregths better. I would rather do a drop set than ask someone to spot for me. People are too trigger happy for spotting…they always lift the weights too quickly for me.

I know this doesn’t answer your immediate question, but it gives you a solution for the time being.
 
Go with the Powertec, it will do a great job on power and size re: presses and training to failure beyond what can easily be done with a bar.

For flexbility and stabilizer muscles, also get a pair of dumbbells with lots of weight and use the Powertec flat/incline/decline bench to do presses and flyes.

The dumbbells will enlist more stabilizer muscles than a barbell, and unlike a barbell, provides the ability to drop them at the failure point.

The other option of course, is simply a multi-level, multi-pin rack that can be used to do benches with safely.
 
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Yeah, I have been doing drop sets lately, but I would still like to go for the glory and not have to be dropping weight. lol I am going to the powertec dealer today to check out the equipment and to see what i think about it. I already have dumbells from 10lb - 50lb in 5lb increments. I am going to be picking up some 55s and 60s when I get some more cash. and I need to build a rack for these babys because I am running out of floor space. lol

Any more feedback would be great I would like to get as many opinions as I can on this. Thanks everyone!!
 
You'll get more feedback if you're specific as to what you're looking for and what the other options considered are.
 
Well I am just looking for a do it all system. I found out that Powertec is actually located about 30 min from where I live so I took a ride down to the warehouse and checked this stuff out. Everything seems to be built great, and I really like the looks of it. I am going to pick up the Lat pulley machine for now just so that I can get some of my cable exercises in here, and I am going to but the full workbench multi system this summer. Really like the idea of not needing a spotter on these exercises as I like to lift without a partner. I just seem to stay more focused without my friends goofin around. So I will be adding onto my home gym. Thanks for the quick replys
 
I got the WB-LS bench. It's bigger than it looks, and requires more space to move around it, adjusting weights, and for the travel of the leg extension, and for the weights to travel on the pulley system. Just guessing, I would suspect their multi-sytem would require a 12 x 12 space.

Cons
1st it's 82" tall instead 86" listed on the specs. I could have assembled it in my 1st room of choice, if I had known. Actually this is a PRO, but just wish I had know before assembling it.

I'm 6'-0" with 35" arm sleeve length. The cable doesn't have enough travel in it for some exercises like lat pull downs.

I needed a LOT more weights than I originally thought. I do leg extensions on a cable system with 80#s. I need 140#s on the powertec. I can bench 40-50 more lbs on the powertec than free weights. The reason is you're not lifting the entire weight, until the weight becomes horizontal near the end of the rep. At the beginning of the travel, you're just pivoting the weight instead.

The weight plate collars should have the hole for the thumbscrew offset more. You can't slide the collar tightly against the plates because the thumbscrew will hit the plates when tightening it.

I spend a lot of time changing plates, and setting up. If I have been doing bench presses, then switch to lat pull downs, I have to unload all the plates on the bench press arm, in order to lift the arm, and pull out the holding pin, to lower the bench press arm out of the way for the lat pull downs.

The foot rest bar for the lat pulls isn't wide enough for me to comfortably place my feet on. EDIT: I assumed this bar was a foot rest, but I guess its a hand rest when laying on your stomach, doing leg curls.

It seems there aren't enough adjustments for incline, decline bench positions, and for the bench press arm pin. The bench press arm feels like it's either too low, or too high, at the beginning the exercise.

When doing flat bench presses, the bar feels like it's pivoting out too much toward my feet, feeling a little unnatural. I have to incline the bench quite a bit to get the feel of a flat bench press.

The end caps on the foam pads constantly fall off during leg extensions, if I brush against them.

Had a couple of places where the paint was chipped off.

PROS
Solid, well built, doesn't require a spotter.
Feels safe to use.
Not as difficult as I thought to assemble it, a lot of it it was pre-assembled.
Probably as good or better than any other home gym for the price.
 
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That's a lot of complaints. Anyone that persnickety should know oneself sufficiently well to spend quality time trying out whatever's being considered at a store, prior to purchase. My experience the thing provides a high-quality gym workout in a small apartment friendly package; there's virtually nothing else that small with so many options on the market. Virtually all of the complaints are fairly minor and aren't things i've experienced. It's just a little bigger than a Bowflex, is big only in the sense that it's solidly built and can be used in most apartments, especially given the fact that both the bench and leg extension can be separated from the frame.

It's probably the best value in terms of effectiveness and price; a barbell, bench and rack with lat pulley would be another possibility, though different and bigger. Things like changing the weights are quite obvious considerations. A faster alternative might be a similar machine with a weight stack and multiple pulleys, but that costs more. Changing the weights in between different exercises is quick if the right sized plates are bought using a little foresight, and clearly not all plates have to be removed in order to transition from one exercise to another.
 
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Thanks for the replies guys. I really dont like the weight stacks as you are very limited on certain exercises on how far you can go. I would hate to spend money on a machine to grow out of it and need something bigger down the road. My father has a cable machine and I used to max out the stack on a few exercises so I try to get away from them. the leverage system takes standard weights and I have lots of those. I doubt I would ever grow out of this machine. I am going to be getting the bug workbench multi system #WB-MS and I am also going to pick up The lat machine and prob a chin/dip. I am more or less building a home gym and I do not want to have very many restrictions on exercises as I like to change up the routine every 4-6 weeks to keep my body guessing. I have gone and checked this machine out and even tried it out in the store and it loks and feels solid to me. I also have an olympic bench at my house that will stay up too so my options are well almost limitless. I am building an addition on my house this summer when I will probably be getting a cross cable machine too, or a hottub (havent decided yet lol ) I will write up a review once I get the system to tell my likes and dislikes as I have only tested it on the store floor so I cant pick at everything untill i have used it for a month or two. I was also looking at the bowflex system, but there is just something with it that doesnt feel right. I like the fee lof traditional weights, but I like the freedom of no spotter. so I guess this may be the system for me. now my only problem is choosing a color. black, yellow, or red. man this is tough. kinda partial to the yellow. heh

Keep the feedback going would love to hear what others think about the machine. its very hard to go by salesman because they are just trying to sell it. they just tell you what you want to hear. lol
 
-Agreed on weight stacks. You'll not outgrow one of the Powertecs.

-A good alternative to getting the bigger Powertec system is to get the smaller Powertec WB-LS and/or separate Powertec stations. The advantage is greater control of choice of stations and use of space.


-If you do go with the bigger system, also physically try out the competiting Body Solid Powerlift-similar but with a few more exercise options including high, mid and low pulley and slightly better build quality that includes a lifetime warranty, though the Powertecs are fine. Price around $1000-1,100; sometimes cheaper on Ebay. Click on dealer locator:



(prices in Canadian dollars)

-All of these machines take olympic plates.

-Bowflex is excellent, I have one as well as a Powertec. I'd go with the Powertec by a hair but both are great.
 
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Powerlift includes those pulleys plus crossover pulleys for flyes. The bench completely separates from the rest of the unit.

$1,400 new including shipping and 400 lb. of plates:
 
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Spend the extra money and buy plates, with grip holes, so that you can grab them easily to slide off and on. You'll be glad you did.
 
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