We've all seen Nautilus exercise equipment in the gym, right? Ever wonder what the difference is between those machines and the Bowflex exercise equipment you always see on TV commercials? Which is better?

Nautilus is the parent company for Bowflex. It carries a few types of exercise equipment, in addition to Bowflex. These include the StairMaster, Schwinn and Trimline brands.

Neither is really better or worse, they're just different. For starters, most Nautilus strength machines are geared toward commercial (gym) use. Nautilus has a different machine for each body part or group of muscles. This is not practical for use at home. All that equipment would take up way too much space.

The Bowflex Treadmill, on the other hand, is exercise equipment for use in your own home. Bowflex strength products feature two total gym systems. A total gym means that you can perform exercises for all muscle groups with just one piece of exercise equipment.

Although Nautilus does carry a total gym line, another difference is the way each strength machine works. The total gym equipment from Nautilus is based on weight stacks. Bowflex total gyms offer resistance from either rods or Spriraflex technology. Spiraflex is a technology that provides resistance by wrapping elastic bands tighter around a coil.

Both Nautilus and Bowflex brands also carry cardio exercise equipment. Because the Bowflex Sport is exercise equipment for home use, Bowflex cardio equipment is priced lower than its Nautilus counterparts.

Bowflex offers basically three types of strength and two lines of cardio exercise equipment. The most basic strength equipment is the SelectTech free weight system. This line features the SelectTech dumbbells. These dumbbells are convenient for home use because one pair can take the place of fifteen sets of weights.

The other two strength lines from the Bowflex brand are total gym lines. They include the Bowflex Home Gyms, with rod-based resistance, and the Bowflex Revolution, featuring Spiraflex technology. Both are popular options for a home-based gym.

Bowflex total gym systems are low inertia resistance machines. This promotes a safer workout than free weights. In addition, a Bowflex machine takes up much less space than the amount of free weights needed to perform the same exercises.

Both the Bowflex Revolution and Bowflex Home Gym systems offer several configurations and models. This makes it easier for you to find a total gym that meets your exact needs.

Another great thing about the Bowflex total gym systems is that they come with a six-week money back guarantee. If you are unhappy after working out with your machine for up to six weeks, Bowflex will refund the purchase price of your exercise equipment less the shipping and handling costs. This is definitely one of the best guarantees in the fitness world.

If you're looking for a piece of cardio exercise equipment for your home, Bowflex offers both treadmills and TreadClimbers. The Bowflex Treadclimber is a unique combination of a step machine and a treadmill. You step both forward, like on a treadmill, and up, like on a step machine. This machine allows for a maximum of calorie burn while maintaining a low impact workout.