The Utah-based company Weider Health and Fitness dates back to the 1930s. Since 1994, the Weider fitness brand has been managed by ICON Health and Fitness, a global leader in fitness equipment manufacturing. ICON owns several other popular fitness brands such as ProForm, NordicTrack, and HealthRider. While many of these brands emphasize treadmills and elliptical trainers, the Weider brand is especially focused on home gyms and free weights.
Special Features of Weider Fitness Equipment
» Solid Home Gyms – Weider customers generally report that the home gyms are easy to set up, yet sturdy enough to handle heavy training.
» All-in-One Space Savers – Many Weider products are truly all-in-one home gyms, so nothing else is needed. With just one machine, users can perform dozens of exercises and tone themselves from head to toe. Weider weights are also designed to be space-saving; the adjustable kettle bells store weights in a neat stack to keep workout areas free of clutter.
Weider Equipment Lines
The X Factor – The X Factor is one of Weider’s most popular products, partly because it’s gained exposure through TV commercials. It’s an inexpensive, X-shaped device that can be strapped to a door. With two arm grips and two ankle bands, this simple yet brilliant system provides up to 210 pounds of resistance. It’s sold with 3 DVDs that show customers how to get challenging full-body workouts. This product is a good buy if it fits a doorway that’s convenient for exercise.
Another option is the X Factor Home Gym, which offers essentially the same workout but is freestanding. This responds to the problem of people (especially renters) being unable to adjust door jambs for the original X Factor. It also lets people set up the gym equipment in a place that’s convenient for watching exercise DVDs.
Other Home Gyms – Weider sells three main home gym systems: the two X Factor gyms described above, and the Club 8980 W System. The Club 8980 has 150 pounds of vinyl weights, a leg developer, and high and low arm pulleys — each of which can be used for many different exercises.
Several items in the brand’s “body weight equipment” line could also be considered home gyms.
Body Weight Equipment
Weider’s line of body weight equipment includes six products ranging from the very simple Chrome Chin-Up Bar to the Total Body Works 500, which permits more than 50 exercises for a full-body workout. Here are some highlights:
Kettle Bells – Kettle bells are free weights that deliver exceptional workouts. They’re distinguished by their unique and somewhat bell-like design: circular weights attach to a curved handle. In a study of kettle bell use at the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse, participants burned up to 400 calories in just 20 minutes!
Another advantage of kettle bells is that they require relatively little storage space. Weider’s kettle bell set includes seven weights ranging from 5 to 20 pounds each, and these all stack together for efficient storage. Single kettle bells are also sold separately.
Customers are split when reviewing these weights. Some are very satisfied, but others complain that the weights are noisy. The 40-pound kettle bell isn’t advisable; many customers have reported that its handle becomes loose.
Dumbbells – In addition to its kettle bells, Weider sells a variety of traditional free weights that get consistently positive reviews. These include cast iron dumbbells with hexagonal heads, soft neoprene dumbbells with rounded heads, and round vinyl weights with a hollow bar.
Benches – The company currently offers four adjustable benches. The Pro 220 and 230 are the simpler options. These include 4-roll leg developers and exercise charts. The Club Sidekick bench includes these features plus two 50-pound hand weights, a weight stand, and greater bench adjustability. Finally, the Weider 200 Olympic Weight Bench fits Olympic specifications and has a safety spotter.
Inversion System – Inversion systems are used to help counteract the negative effects of gravity, such as back pain and compressed cartilage. They may also be used to stimulate blood flow above the heart (e.g., to the brain and hair follicles on the scalp). The Weider Club Inversion System is an inversion table with ankle lockdown, arm grips, and an adjustable center of gravity.
Drawbacks of Weider Fitness Equipment
Variable quality – The home gyms get mostly positive reviews, but customers sometimes point out cheap components such as shoddy plastic wheels. Also, Weider brand kettle bells have frequently been criticized as noisy and not so durable.
Short warranties – Many Weider products have just 90-day parts warranties. The company’s main assurance is a 30-day free trial period. Equipment can be returned within 30 days of purchase, minus the shipping cost and a 10% restocking fee.
Poor customer service – Buyers have complained that customer support is slow and unhelpful.