ISO 7X Isometric Workout Bar

I''m a 5''11 guy, been going to the gym for about 8 months already, and I''m seeing results from my workouts. So I decided to buy the iso 70x to help accompany my gain on the side.

I just got this in the mail today and was about to try out the product for the first week. The biggest problem I have is the wall chart that came with it. Mind you, this is the ONLY instructional training material that you receive with the iso 7x. The company does not provide it on their website and it is too difficult to find online. Before writing this review, I spent at least an hour looking up examples of how to use iso 7x correctly. Sadly, there is not enough information out there. All the videos about this equipment is marketing and promotional. Accurate descriptions are problematic so you have to be creative with how you can interpret the instructions.

Another problem is that some exercises are not for everyone. For example, there is an exercise for your lower back (#30) which requires you to put both feet on one of the outer strap, while grasping the other outer strap with your palms facing inwards. Then you are to stand upright fully pulling on the straps with your hands. The picture shows the man standing up all the way. I can''t do that. Not because I''m weak, but because the bar already reached its limitations before my back got past a 45 degree angle (in respect to a horizontal plane). By limitations, I mean that the bar literally reads "DO NOT COMPRESS BEYOND THIS POINT." I''m guessing the guy in the picture is perhaps 3 or 4 feet tall, I dunno. So, I have to perform this exercise bent, putting strain on my lower back. Same goes for any other exercises requiring you to extend your feet all the way and to pull with your arms fully.

I also noticed that in the first exercise that the picture and the description did NOT match at all. This mismatch occurs on other exercises as well. So in some cases, you need to ignore the pictures, and mentally put into your mind what the description is telling you.

As far as using the product, the springs are very tough. In some exercises the bar will hardly move at all. When you first apply pressure, the bar seems kind of stuck or locked at first, so you have to overcome the initial resistance to get the thing to slide, like trying to push a car out of a ditch to get the thing rolling (sorry for the lack of a good metaphor).

After overcoming the initial push, you''ll notice that the spring is really hard to push against. So, if you have poor joints, or are weak in some areas of your body (not that I am of course ;) ), or recovering from an injury, I can see how people can have trouble with this product. You might not be able to strengthen parts of your body if they are too weak. So I guess a rule of thumb is, if you can actually get the bar to move, do that exercise. If not, go to the gym and work on the specified muscle and go back to the iso 70x.

Conclusion:

Well beneath the "in your face" marketing and the isometric hype, I do feel this product is worth trying. It provides a workout you normally don''t get at the gym. You can really work your muscles in unconventional ways at any time during the day. I''m hoping this product will last for a year though; it does seem tough and durable. However, I wouldn''t recommend this product to be the primary source of getting fit and lean. Just go to the gym and diet; at least that has been proven to be effective for years with millions of people all over the world showing results.

How many of you have both the Bullworker Classic and the ISO7X? Well I do and they''re both in front of me right now. So first I will tell you the similarities and the differences. Then I will tell you what I''m miffed about. To begin with the chrome tubings on both units are exactly the same. Same length, same circumference. Both fat tubes are the same. Both smaller metered tubes are the same, including the clear plastic indicator ring. First difference is the poundage number positions. Both units are standing vertically. The Bullworker reads across normally with 10 at the bottom and 260 at the top. The 7x reads with the numbers sideways when unit is not horizontal. When horizontal the number are normal. 70 at the bottom 165 at the top. Or that would be 70 at the center and 165 to the far right. Both hand grips at the ends of the tubes are the same size and shape for both units. The difference is the 7X is hollow plastic and the Bullworker seems closer to solid with a rubber coating overlay. Bullworker has rubber coated steel cables with slide into position rubber handles. The ISO 7X has nylon straps. But you know what? Those nylon straps aren''t as bad as I thought they would be. I gave it a pretty good testing and they didn''t hurt my hands. Now we come to the question of accuracy of poundage and resistance. The Bullworker says I achieve 80 to 82 lbs. on the horizontal in front of the chest compression. The 7X says about 112 to 115 lbs. doing the same exact test. SO I DON''T KNOW which one is correct. The ISO does offer less resistance. So am I achieving the higher number because of less resistance? That doesn''t make sense. Isn''t poundage force inserted equal to poundage force received? Or is the bullworker resistance too strong and not letting me know my true number? I have a mediator. Yes the infamous MACHO POWER from the late 1970s. That''s the whole reason behind me getting these two items. I will use that as deciding factor. Hold on I''ll be right back. Just hum the final jeopardy music for 30 seconds... NOPE. That''s no good either. That one says only 50 lbs. and I gave it a really good jolly effort. And THAT''S more than half way up the tube. So until a true scientific actual testing is done on which one has the true poundage resistance just do your exercises and try to get stronger as you use either one. The bullworker comes with a nice canvas sleeve bag.I think it''s canvas. Sometimes I don''t know the difference between canvas and nylon. The Iso didn''t come with any sleeve bag. And THAT''S what I''m miffed about. I just found out that a carrying case for the Iso7x exists, but no one seems to sell it. The fact that they don''t include the carrying case I think is downright scuzzy, or scummy, which ever one is worse. The only reason I gave this a four star rating is for how well built it is for the price and its functionality. But I''m still peeved about no carrying case. I''d even buy a no name one from Amazon, but I don''t know what to type with out getting camera cases, carry on luggage, cell-phone cases, or gym bags. Those are all the things that pop up no matter what I type in. One final thing, neither the bullworker or the iso come with a dvd, but they both have wall charts. The bullworker has easy to see large photos but no instructions on how to perform the exercises properly and the Iso has hard to see from a distance small photos, but at least has detailed written information of the recommended routine.

Buy ISO 7X Isometric Workout Bar Now

I came across this selling for a pittance on Yugster, and figured I needed to exercise anyway, so why not? When it arrived I immediately noticed the good build quality; the metal is nicely chromed and it has high quality plastic hand grips. The flat nylon straps are not too thin or narrow so they should last for a while, but I am guessing that those straps are the weak point as they will eventually fray through use. It also has a usable sliding strength meter. While examining it I did notice a bit of ''stiction'' at the beginning of compressions, but when using it to exercise I barely noticed the stiction, it had very little impact on actually performing the exercises.

My complaints have to do with the instruction sheet/exercise chart and the strap configuration. One reviewer states the instructions are not for this device; they ARE for this device, but the instructions can be confusing and contradictory here and there. For example, the very first exercise shows a person SEATED IN A CHAIR using this execise bar, but the written instructions state: "Stand with you feet on top of one of the outer straps...". And, the statement: "By the end of the third week you should be doing all 24 exercises." But no matter how I count the exercises shown, I can only end up doing a maximum of 20 exercises, since the sheet does not show more than 20 for that time period. All-in-all, the exercise chart is usable, but needs a major rewrite.

-> -> MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS DETAILED HERE, TO SOME DEPTH: Some exercises mention inner or outer straps, but this is mentioned so matter-of-factly that it went over my head. The instructions for using this device make no mention that this has 4 straps, 2 on each side, as inner and outer straps that fit flat together. If I pull on the left and right straps, I will not get enough compression (I will call it ''travel'' of the straps) to stand up for some of the exercises with my feet on one side of straps and my hands pulling the other side. BUT...IF I REALISE THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR STRAPS, an inner and outer strap on each side, and pull one side''s INNER strap with my hands while stepping on the other side''s OUTER strap I will find the straps will travel much further, almost as if there are pulley mechanisms in each end taking up the slack of the straps that aren''t being pulled, ALLOWING ME TO STAND AS THE INSTRUCTIONS STATE (actually partially stand, leaning forward). AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, I think an idiot engineered that strap routing since I must pull an outer strap and an inner strap to keep all the straps taut. Why aren''t the straps routed so that I just have to pull the outer straps to keep the inner straps taut? It would be simple and it would keep the inner strap from having to be pulled and binding against the outer strap where they both enter the handles. Sheesh! I can even picture in my own mind how to route the straps in the handles to fix it! And I don''t have some kind of college degree that the designer of this thing surely had. Excuse me for ranting, but that strap configuration IS REALLY STUPID!

OK, back to the instruction/exercise sheet: It is divided into six parts. They are ''warm up-warm down'' to be done before and after using this device; an area to document your exercises and measurements of neck, shoulders, chest, biceps, etc.; how to achieve maximum results (how to actually use this thing properly); instructions for exercises to be done during week 1,; instructions for exercises to be done during weeks 2,3,&4; and instructions for exercises for advanced training. I am still working on the first set of exercises since I have had this less than a week.

Don''t be fooled into thinking you can use this for "7 seconds" a day and get anything out of it. Each exercise lasts for 7 seconds, but there are repetitions of the exercises, and there is more than one exercise to be done during a session. For example, the first week shows 7 exercises, all to be done for 5 days, and one states: "Practice this movement until you feel the exertion working your upper back." That means repetitions! And once you get past week 1, the number of exercises per session steadily increase each day.

I gave it 2 stars because of the problems with the instruction sheet/exercise chart and the poorly thought out straps. But all things considered, once I figured out the straps, it is a usable device at a low price; it should do as it claims if one is committed to using it and not give up. It gives my muscles quite a workout, and I''ve just started! But as much as I am tempted to do so, I cannot honestly give it a higher rating.

ADDED -WEEK TWO: I am into my second week and am doing the expanded list of exercises, as instructed for week two. I am now finding the photos and the printed instructions disagree even more than I had originally thought. In some cases I have to GUESS what I am supposed to do, usually disregarding the photo and following the printed instructions (which may or may not be right). And that strap routing is becoming a real pita since I am doing more exercises. This ISO 7X thing makes me NOT WANT TO EXERCISE! The rating has been downgraded to 1 star. Pay more and get a genuine Bullworker, rather than scrimping on this Bullworker wannabe. I will TRY to keep using this thing until I get my Bullworker. I''m glad I only spent $15 total to get this, but I wasted $15! I wonder how many of the good reviews were written by paid reviewers?

Read Best Reviews of ISO 7X Isometric Workout Bar Here

I love this product! It does what it says! You just have to be dedicated to it to see results. I''m dedicated and I see results. It''s also great as a tension reliever!

Want ISO 7X Isometric Workout Bar Discount?

Due to work, I live out of my truck for the most part and cannot carry around any heavy weights/equipment. I was looking for something small and compact that I could just work my basic muscle groups with so I wasn''t sitting around doing nothing all day on a job site at work. It''s small, fairly durable, and with discipline and creative interpretation of the instructions, does what it should. You''re not going to get ripped with it, but it will at least give your muscles more resistance than stretching.

I paid 8 dollars for mine in a closeout online, I wouldn''t pay more than 10, but for that cost, it''s perfect for my needs. At the very least, it will make an effective 10 dollar club for home defense.