I have been researching the Weider Crossbar and came across the Weider Max resistance sold at places like Sports Authority for $299. If you look at the pictures of them next to each other they are basiclly identical. I have heard good things about the crossbar but have not seen anything about the Max Resistance. Does anyone have any info?


http://www.crossbarfitness.com/crossbar/designed_succeed.html
http://www.thesportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1848515&cp&searchId=0&brandId=90056&parentPage=search

Ok, I didn't see this thread till now (sorry...)

I just bought the platinum : http://www.platinumcrossbar.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/pl/index.d2w/report

I chose it because what I used to have was a Weider stack set - double seater against the wall. I REALLY liked it, but I was maxed out on almost ALL the leg exercises (presses, extentions, calf raises, etc) and several of the upperbody as well. (It only went to about 300 lbs of resistance and then I was stacking free weights on top of the stacks trying to add more resistance. Not a good thing) The platinum offered a LOT more exercises to help challenge me again.

The platinum goes to 340 lbs of resistance. The crossbows (electronic) can only go to that, and can increase by as little as one pound incriments. But the crossbar max's you found - those can go up to 440lbs of resistance (but you have to buy an extra attachment or two) but their increases are bigger jumps.

It looks like the models you have chosen are very similar to each other, you might try and call weider to ask what the differences are in their design (one could simply be an older model).

As far as the machines go - they are very different from working with stacks. Free weights offer the resistance all the way through. The crossbar/crossbows don't. They are a little disapointing on the negative resistance. They are easier in the begining of the movement, and let off on the way down as well. It's literally like pulling a bow to shoot an arrow - how it becomes harder, the further back you pull, and easier when you let off. It's a unique feeling and I think it's better if you try it for yourself to see what you think. Sears carries them on their floor and you can sit on one and give it a go.

I would reccomend trying whatever it is you are considering (or some similar model) in person before purchase. And then look for the best price online (I got mine for less than half of what they advertised it for.)

Hope that helps!

What's your opinion on the Platinum? I, and a few other members in here have had Crossbows for going on a couple years now. We've never been able to get any acurate feedback on the machine. As far as the progressive resistance of the rods on the Crossbow, and we might as well bring the Bowflex into the conversation too...it has it's place. It's not free weights, but it is still resistance. I don't hardly use my Crossbow at all anymore, except for some calve work. But I'm at a point in my training knowledge, that I recognise it as a useful piece of equipment enough that I'm in no hurry to be getting rid of it. Though clearing the space that it takes up in my weight room, would free up some floor space for a nice hip sled/leg press. :nod:

What's your opinion on the Platinum? I, and a few other members in here have had Crossbows for going on a couple years now. We've never been able to get any acurate feedback on the machine. As far as the progressive resistance of the rods on the Crossbow, and we might as well bring the Bowflex into the conversation too...it has it's place. It's not free weights, but it is still resistance. I don't hardly use my Crossbow at all anymore, except for some calve work. But I'm at a point in my training knowledge, that I recognise it as a useful piece of equipment enough that I'm in no hurry to be getting rid of it. Though clearing the space that it takes up in my weight room, would free up some floor space for a nice hip sled/leg press. :nod:


Well, I don't know if yours folds up, but the platinum does, clearing the floor space quite a bit. I am able to put my pilates reformer out or use my free weights in the remaining space.

It took a little getting used to - the squats were a little awkward (you feel a like you are slightly tipped backwards, and you are) but once I figured out where they were going with it, I really like it. The leg press exercise I'm still maxed out on. 340 lbs isn't enough for me on the leg press, so for me that's a useless one. Since 340 lbs is all the machine is capable of and it can't be upgraded...well....

The leg extention and the laying hamstring hit me in some bad spots. The extention tends to press into the sensitive area on the top of my foot - but wearing shoes helps alleviate this mostly (I'm a barefoot PJ's lifter :o ) The laying hamstring hits the sensitive area right above my kneecaps. There seems to be no help for this and it is also slightly raised (a couple inches) verses the level of the bench. For me, this seemed a bit awkward - especially to get in and out of. However, my husband liked it because it...erm... helped avoid an "awkward" area for men. :d_redface

The cardio row is interesting. I think I would much prefer an actual rowing machine - but it'll do in a pinch. Once I got used to the multiple cable changes, I liked the variety of the exercises, and moving the bench around was no problem. I like that I can go up a little at a time, my old stack system used to be in 12 lbs or more incriments and it was too much in one go. This is as little as 1 lbs, but I tend to increase by 5's instead. The electronics are fine and respond immediately, and it's nice to have a readout of the sets and reps, also - my friend who owns this noted that she was too short to trip the marker on some exercises (like the squats) I believe she is around 5'4. (I'm over 5'10 and I have had no problems)

I haven't used the personal trainer yet, but the feedback I have gotten from friends who have this is that it's useless really for serious training. But that the other 2 modes are good. One is a more cardio "circuit" training, the other a more hard core one. I haven't done either of these either, as I am doing some specific things right now. But I plan on playing with those probably over the next week or two. I like the inclined exercises with the bench (I didn't have a normal weight bench, so it's nice to not only use it with the machine, but also my freeweights) and in general overall I like it. It has definetly provided a challenge for my muscles again, which I stopped getting from my old stack set. I am really enjoying the variety of exercises I have to choose from.

overall, I think a thumbs up :tu: I'm not going for the beach "bulked" ripped man look, ;) granted, but my husband also feels that this machine hits everything very well and he likes having it all in a compact package.

I should probably add that we only paid $600 for it, so for the money it was the best deal we could find (costco sells it for that.)

I bought the crossbow a year ago and I regret my purchase to a certain extent. The leg workouts are horrorible and the resistance is not enough. Bench press, and squats are just as bad. So, I found myself having to buy more equipment. I wasn't happy about that. I am just now, this Thursday, assembling my new equipment. A cage, and bench. I picked up a 300lb. oylmbic weight set for $107 after tax last night. This is the third time in a year I have had to upgrade (since January 2004)...I'm not really angry at this point. It was my faught for being gullable enough to buy the crossbow. I like a few excerises I can do on the crossbow though. Well, I think it's only two at this point. That is chest flys and reverse flys. I have paralysis on my right side so, I have to use cables for certain things. As for as I can tell, after I get my new eqipment up, those are the only two things I'll be using my crossbow for. The bottom line is, I would advise to go a free weight route if you plan on working out for years to come.

good luck.

Thanks for your comments everyone. I went ahead and bought the Crossbar Max. My first impressions have been pretty good. I like the feel of the resistance bars more than I expected. Im sure I will have to get the 200 lb weight upgrade down the road but I think that for the money ($299) I got a pretty good deal. Now I just need to put together a workout to do on it and im set.