When you say dumbells with interchangable weights do you mean these: [www.rakebreakers.com]
or these:
[oklahomafitnessequipment.com]

I've got both at my apt. (the latter to replace the former) and would have to say the former can be exactly that, dangerous. Once those binding clips stretch out the weights can fall right in your lap.. or on your foot.

You could also add that solid dumbells run about a buck a pound. 2x 30 lb dumbells will set you back 60 bucks give or take. So, once you start getting heavier than the feather weights, solid dumbells can get expensive. The Bow Flex 'interlocking' dumbell set is amazing. Well worth the price. They are space saving miracles and are perfect for a prerun warm up on those days you don't need to trek all the way to the gym.

I also realize that this being a gadget blog diet was not mentioned but realize all that diet matters most. Diet is the only real advancement in health and weight training in the past half century. A ten pound weight in 1960 still weighs ten pounds now but that lunch you just had probably does not have the same ingredients as it would have had 50 years ago.

Somethings to keep in mind.

Terrific article btw.

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I had a cheep version of the bowflex before my last move, and it really made it easy to work out when you don't get home until 8pm and then have a child to feed and house to clean.

I don't know, I love those machines.

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I've also been bad and gone a week without my situps or pushups. Nevertheless - all of this is free stuff to do.

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Was it expensive? Oh, yes.

Has it gotten much use? Um... not really.

Has it made back its worth in gym membership that I wouldn't have used either? Possibly.

Do I think it works? Absolutely.

On certain exercises, you literally can feel the burn. Additionally, it is no gimmicky "fat burner" like those old school vibrating belts. It's purely a strength builder, and for that, it performs well. The pulley system is better and safer, in my opinion, than dumbells; I'll take a little risk of "whip-back" from the pulleys versus losing an eye, tooth, or toe to a 40 lb hunk of iron. Not to mention my Bowflex model has up to 210 lbs of potential resistance. You would need a LOT of dumbells to reach that. Besides, you can't do leg or much back-strengthening exercises with 'bells.

Just because I'm lazy and get bored easily doesn't mean I regret the purchase. As far as I am concerned, a Bowflex is an effective, smart addition to any workout.

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I also bought a pull up bar from Walmart for $12 which can be mounted in two positions in a doorway and can be used for pull ups, push ups, and sit ups. The also had the Perfect Pullup Ap Straps for $20.

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