FreeForm Hideaway Home Gym
- Patented quick change resistance bands
- Perform perfect core body building movements to build strength and burn fat
- Folds flat for easy storage when not in use
- Comes fully assembled
- Exercise chart included
Product DescriptionThe FreeForm Hideaway Gym is the most efficient core body building exercise machine that is on the market today. Use it to build strength and burn fat. The patented quick change resistance bands allow the user from beginner through serious weight trainer to easily perform a complete strength training workout. It comes completely assembled, and easily folds flat for storage. It comes with an effective and professionally produced workout chart that shows the gym position for each body part workout. The user can perform the same exercises as much more expensive TV promoted home gyms without the need for complicated cable changes. This will allow the user to perform a complete body workout in less time, and then stow the gym away in a closet or easily fits under most beds. This gym can also be used by seniors for a more gentle muscle exercise and stretching. It is great for rehab as well. . . . More >>
Monday, 18. January 2010 13:51
I spent some time looking around on the internet for a compact home gym. We’ve all seen the advertisements for all kinds of stuff in this field including Bowflex, etc. Well, I came across this gym on Amazon here and decided for the price (Yay Amazon! You were the best deal anywhere and free second day shipping to boot!) it was a worthy gamble.
The video that the inventor of the product produced, is only a few minutes, but was interesting. The guy, Jim Deola is a former bodybuilder and a mechanical engineer. I like cool inventions and this seemed pretty cool. Watch the video here on Amazon or the official website and decide for yourself.
About the FreeForm: This gym fold very compact as the inventor states. Its great for someone who lives in a small apartment or just doesn’t have much room for gym stuff. Its very easy to setup and take back down. You basically only have 2 pins to deal with. Moving from one exercise to the next is very easy. The resistance bands do as they advertise. You’ll find you had muscles you never knew you had. The resistance bands supposedly will last for 10 years under normal household use. The gym itself is fairly heavy, and I recommend you get help getting it in your home initially. Once you have the wheels attached to the front, it is easy to move around(the wheel assembly doesn’t come attached, you have to do that when you get it out of the box. Its easy, with just two bolts and the supplied allen wrench). The gym can slide under beds out of the way, but only if you have a full size or bigger bed. Its to big for twin size beds. I prop mine against the wall, and it seems to do fine. All the weight of the machine in is in the center and towards the bottom, so it won’t slide away from the wall on the wheels there. The whole thing feels solid enough. There are some annoying things about it though. The resistance bands are made of rubber, and therefore have a strong odor, that hopefully will wear off. Some people may not be bother by such odors, but I am. Also the vinyl seat covers have a bit of odor as well. I use FaBreeze on them which seemed to help out a bit. You also will have to lubricate the contact points between the resistance bands and where they connect to prevent squeaking. Another thing I noticed was that the bars aren’t even in their motion. When facing the forward on the seat, the right bar makes a bit of a rough sound when moving it, because the lubrication isn’t quite enough, and so it is harder to move than the left one, which feels looser and lubricated properly, so you may have to get some grease, remove the arms (which is easy; the whole thing can be taken apart very easily), if you have that problem. Otherwise, its a great machine for the price.
You can do a lot of upper body exercises. Lower body exercises are more limited though. If you watch the product video, you will know what I am talking about. That might be a draw back. Its to bad they couldn’t incorporate a leg extension on the machine somehow, while retaining the compactness of it. Oh well. You have to make sacrifices to get something this compact. The alternative is a big, clunky thing like a Bowflex, which cost 2 to 3 times as much. Another thing you won’t get is training videos or anything else, like you do with Bowflex or probably some of the other home gyms out there. You will pretty much have to figure out your own routine and what works for you. For some reason, the manufacturer states there are “advanced workout videos available online” at their website, but I haven’t found anything. The website is very plain, and really doesn’t have much information on it. They really need to revamp it, and put out those videos they claim to have made (correct me if I am wrong about the workout videos).
What you get in the box: The machine with parts to finish assembly, a large chart with pictures and descriptions of some of the exercises you can do, a warranty paper you fill out and mail in or do online (you get a 5 year warranty) and assembly instructions. That’s it. No instructional videos or tips or anything else. But if you don’t care about any of that, then this for you. Its easy to use, safe and will at the very least give you a good cardio workout, and with time, build up your strength.
I hope this review was helpful. I like this product and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a compact gym. I doubt there is anything more compact, or at the very least that I am aware of.
Rating: 4 / 5
Monday, 18. January 2010 14:07
Review: I have had to exercise most of my 59-year-old life because of scoliosis in my spine. I have been able to maintain flexibility in back in this way. I look constantly for the “ultimate home gym”. Of course, it isn’t out there yet. I have had two Bowflex, numerous free weight and body weight gyms. I have used elastic cord machines and rubber band machines as well. I usually never give a review, but the FreeForm Hideaway Gym is one of the best, most efficient pieces of equipment I have ever owned. The FreeForm squat exercise is unique and probably the safest I’ve seen. I can move through eleven exercises within minutes and experience probably the best, real “cardio-strength” workout I have ever had on a home gym. I love the FreeForm Hideaway Gym. Is it the “ultimate home gym”? All I know is that I will never need to buy another home gym.
There is one caveat. “Never dismount the FreeForm when you have tension on the bands. ” The machine will slide. That should be a warning that comes with the gym.
Rating: 5 / 5