- Joined
- Jun 28, 2018
- Messages
- 1,437
Interesting. I actually don't think machines are much better, if they're better at all. In fact, I'd put the Flex Hack Squat and the old Nautilus Pullover machines against any machines that are similar in existence today. I actually believe the golden years of resistance equipment (at least ones mostly used by bodybuilders) was the late 70's (innovation) and 80's (execution). A lot of the old Nautilus stuff was excellent. A lot of Flex's equipment was amazing IMO. Bodymasters made some good stuff too.The equipment is mostly the same. Barbells, DB, cables. Machines are better but nothing groundbreaking. Some of the older ones are my preferences. Powders taste better. Training techniques are similar just repackaged. Drugs are mostly the same. GH and insulin have changed thins some. Mostly it is still eat big, train big and sleep big.
Flex got hurt badly by a lawsuit in the 90's as did Icarian (another great company). Quite a few of these companies got sued by some dumbass who got hurt. Most then went on to be absorbed by bigger companies (Icarian by Precor, Flex by Startrac). Who's making great stuff today? Prime? That's really Strive who made AMAZING stuff in the early 90's. Many love Hammer but most of their stuff hasn't changed much since the 90's and some of their pieces are basically plate-loaded adaptations of old Nautilus pieces. What i'm getting at is that i don't believe there are many unique, or better for that matter, machines being produced today.
One company who i believe is making great strides is Panatta Sport. Arsenal is also great (they're actually the newly branded incarnation of Nebula who made wonderful pieces in the early 2000s). It's also important to note that aren't nearly as many companies even making resistance equipment like there were in the 80's when the fitness boom was happening. The big money is in the cardio pieces. The thing that changed IMO is the free weight stuff (bars, racks, plates) from companies like Rogue and them and all of the companies who are producing mostly those three items have Crossfit to thank for their success and popularity.