Okay, fitness enthusiasts, it’s well-known that Bowflex is one of the best brands for home gym equipment. Some of their products cost way over $2500, though; still, with an average of 70 workouts on a single machine, you might as well cancel your gym membership and set yourself up for home workouts for life. Here is a review of some of the best Bowflex home gym machines for those looking to bulk up and perhaps throw some cardio in the mix for heart health.
About the Bowflex brand
Bowflex is the name for a line of fitness equipment marketed and distributed by Nautilus, Inc. the company is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and sells its products directly or through retailers worldwide. The first Bowflex product arrived in 1986. It was called the Bowflex 2000X and used polymer rods in various combinations to create constant tension and resistance. Currently, there are several products in the series, including treadmills, bikes, home gyms, and even smart activity trackers.
Bowflex home gyms
Bowflex Home Gyms are currently one of the most popular training equipment and for a great reason. These beasts of equipment come loaded with features and accessories for getting ripped up from the convenience of one’s own home. Plus, a majority of them don’t require substantial floor space, just 53″ by 50″ by 83″ on average. At competitive price ranges, trainers can set themselves up for full-body workouts for life.
Bowflex is always running different discounts and promotions, so check out their official website for the latest deals.
Is Bowflex Home Gym Worth It?
Pros:
- Support various workouts
- Power rod resistance
- Bowflex home gyms support leg workouts
- Upgradeable power rod resistance
- Rowing functions
- Value for money
- Most of them are compact and foldable
- Free workout guides
Support various workouts
When it comes to selecting gym equipment, the key factor is knowing the types of exercises it supports. Why make it rain for gym equipment that supports one type of workout only? A majority of us don’t have space and money to stock up on single-use workout tools. The best home gym equipment allows a user to work specific muscle groups and get a full-body workout. That’s where Bowflex home gyms excel; even Bowflex Body Tower, which is just a multi-station workout station, supports over 20 different workouts!
Power rod resistance
Home gyms that use weight plates will cost you. First, you’ve got to buy more plates if you want to increase the weight, and secondly, every time you need to adjust the weight, you’ve got to do it manually. I mean, come on, that’s cumbersome, isn’t it? Why not go with the weight stack option instead?
Power Rod is an advanced resistance technology that limits friction, enabling ultra-smooth and fluid movement that’s gentle on the joints. The other advantage is that the system ups the resistance throughout each workout, top push you to your limits for maximum results. The system also makes use of an adjustable cable pulley that makes it easy to customize workouts.
Bowflex home gyms support leg workouts
Unlike most home gym brands at the same price range that feature no accessories for leg workouts, Bowflex modes allow for squats, leg extensions, calf raises, and much more.
Upgradeable power rod resistance
Most Bowflex home gyms come with 210lbs resistance power rods with an option to upgrade to 310lbs and 410 lbs rods should you want to train harder. It’s only the PR3000 that allows 310lbs max; all the others can be upgraded to 410lbs resistance. And even so, 310lbs is a decent enough resistance for intermediate strength training. Also, keep in mind that these are cables, not plates; they may be heavier than you think.
Rowing functions
Some Bowflex home gyms such as the Revolution, PR1000, and Blaze have features for aerobic rowing. That way, you can throw some cardio in the mix and give your heart a workout. Aerobics is one of the most beneficial workouts, especially if you want to burn gats and build endurance. Thanks to the aerobic rowing functionality, your cardiovascular system is not forgotten; you will need to purchase a rover, though, because it’s not included in the package.
Value for money
The cheapest Bowflex Home Gym Equipment is the PR1000 which costs about $500. The most expensive is the Revolution which is priced at $3000. The others are competitively priced between the two extremes, and while this may seem like a substantial price, but you have to keep in mind that the average gym membership cost is $58/month, making it about $600 per year. And that doesn’t include commuting expenses if you live really far.
On the other hand, this equipment sets you up for life. They are durable constructions that come with decent coverage for lifetime usage. That’s why most people are saying au revoir to those gym membership costs and hassles and turning their spare bedrooms into a stellar workout studio with Bowflex.
Most of them are compact and foldable
Except for the Revolution, which requires a 10 by 7 feet workout floor space, Bowflex other home gyms are compact, just 53″ by 50″ by 83″ on average. Furthermore, most of them fold into manageable sizes for storage. Even the Revolution folds down to a space-efficient 55 × 38-inch when not in use.
Free workout guides
When you purchase a Bowflex home gym, you get a fitness guide and Body Plan for getting ripped in just a month and two weeks. The package includes seven free trainer-built exercise regimens for building muscles, increasing energy, and losing weight. They are short 20 minutes workouts that you can do thrice every week.
Cons:
That said, there are a few issues that you may not like about the Home Gym equipment from Bowflex. Here’s a look:
- Upgrades cost a substantial amount
- 210 lbs resistance is only suitable for beginners
- Not ideal for building massive strength
Upgrades cost a substantial amount
So, one advantage of Bowflex Home Gym is that you can switch to higher resistance rods; but these don’t come for free. Some might even see this as subterfuge on the part of the brand to squeeze every penny out of consumers because the power rods cost upwards of $100.
210 lbs resistance is only suitable for beginners
The power rods that come with the equipment support weights up to 210lbs only. If you’re the kind of person that’s been pumping weights at the gym for quite some time now, that feels like child’s play. Still, at higher reps, that’s enough to tone your muscles. Plus, you can always upgrade to higher resistance power rods, albeit at an extra cost.
Not ideal for building massive strength
If you are looking for Olympic-level resistance training, you won’t have much success with Bowflex Home Gyms. On the other hand, free weights will give you want. so, get an Olympic weight rack, adjustable dumbbells, and a bench and get to work
Bowflex is always running different discounts and promotions, so check out their official website for the latest deals.
Bowflex Revolution Home Gym Review
The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is a strength training resistance machine designed for people wishing to bulk up without the inconvenience of traditional free weights. It packs a whole gym’s worth of workout alternatives for those anxious to feel some heat. It supports over 100 exercises with endless variations because it employs NASA’s SpiraFlex technology, which was intended to help the crew at the International Space Station stay fit.
It incorporates lightweight interlocking plates, independently adjustable arms, a leg press station, a vertical bench press, and sliding seat rail for leg presses and aerobic rowing.
Who is this product right for?
This equipment is for those looking to build muscle without the use of traditional weights. SpiraFlex Resistance acts in a similar fashion to the classic free-weights, where the user is lifting a preset weight for constant resistance throughout each iteration. However, unlike traditional free weights,
SpiralFlex resistance packs are weighted bundles bound together using an elastic material that wraps tightly around a coil each rep, giving the user twice the resistance from each pack. The Bowflex Revolution has a max resistance of 300 lbs for upper body training and 600 lbs for lower body workouts. It supports chest, shoulder, back, arms, abs, and legs exercises. Plus, you can throw some cardio in the mix.
Dimensions
The Bowflex Revolution may look like a massive home gym with a 10 by 7 feet workout area, yet it folds down to a manageable 55 × 38-inch equipment for storage.
Pros:
- NASA SpiraFlex resistance technology
- Heavy-duty – supports 300lbs users
- Supports over 100 workouts with unlimited variations
- Includes aerobic training functionality
- Up to 440lbs resistance
- Quiet operations – no quarrels with neighbors or waking up your kids with your workouts
- 10-year warranty
- Independently adjustable arms with 170-degree adjustments and ten positions
Cons:
- Not exactly compact – it takes up substantial floor space
- At $3000, it may be out of your budget scope
- Requires assembly on arrival
Product Warranty
The Bowflex Revolution features a 10-year warranty.
The bottom-line? The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is powerful home gym equipment for people looking to bulk up. It comes with effortlessly adjustable “freedom arms,” providing a 360-degree range of starting positions for your workouts.
Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym Review
For those looking for alternatives to the Bowflex revolution, perhaps the Xtreme 2 SE may suit your needs much better. Instead of upgradable spiral resistance, the Xtreme 2 SE uses a 210 Power Rod resistance that can be upgraded to 186kgs (410lbs). It comes with features such as a 5-way grip system and ankle cuffs that allow you to perform over 70 exercises at different angles for a full-body workout.
It also features a 2-position adaptable lat tower, 4-position pulley squat station, and a no-change pulley design allowing you to move from one exercise to another without wasting time.
Who is this product right for?
Like the Bowflex Revolution, the Xtreme 2 SE, too, is for people enthusiastic about getting tough or bulking up. It supports users weighing up to 300lbs for comfortable and effective workouts to tone the shoulder, arms. Chest, back, abs and legs. You can begin with as little as 5 lbs. and crank it up until your max weight resistance.
The workouts target muscle regions such as the triceps, wrists, biceps, hips, lower back, and calves. It also features an ab crunch harness for abdominal exercises. Plus, if that isn’t enough, take advantage of the lat tower with a sloped lat bar and four-position lower squat station. Whew! It’s like cramming a complete gym into one home machine.
Dimensions
The machine measures 53″ long by 49″ wide and stands at 83.25″. it requires a
Pros:
- Patented
- Power resistance system
- upgradable resistance – from 210lbs to 410lbs
- supports over 70 workouts with several variations
- Contoured bench seat that adapts to a user’s preferences
- Power Rods are covered for life, and the machine itself for seven years.
- Included is a Bowflex fitness guide and Body Plan
- Easy to change pulley cable position
- no-change cable pulley design to limit time wastage and help keep your heart rate up as you transition between exercises.
Cons:
- assembly is not easy
Product Warranty
The Power Rods are covered for life, and the machine itself for seven years. Warranty applies exclusively to material and manufacturing flaws for the purchaser only. Not for typical wear and tear.
The bottom-line? Are you looking for a resistance rod home gym? The Xtreme 2 SE is a well-built machine for smooth fluid reps without any cable changeovers. It provides over 70 workouts in many variations to train different parts of your body. Try it out today, and feel free to leave comments about your experiences.
Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym Review
Another great alternative to the Revolution is the Bowflex PR1000 machine. An earlier model from the same manufacturer. It also runs on a Power Rod system, rather than SpiraFlex Resistance, and still offers aerobic rowing features, albeit at a much lower price. Sadly, this discounted price also means the number of workouts is pretty much lower than what the Revolution and Xtreme 2 SE provide.
The Bowflex PR1000 home gym includes lat pull down, horizontal bench press and uses Power Rods in combination with pulleys and cables to put your muscles at constant pressure all through a workout. You can load it with weights starting from 5lbs to 210lbs.
Who is this product right for?
This machine is for those looking for total body training with an affordable home gym. It supports users weighing up to 300 pounds, and with four different Power, Rod components and a variety of attachments supplied, you can perform over 30 diverse exercises without any hassle. You can use it to build strength, mix in a bit of cardio with the built-in rowing machine rail, and all without the worry of inertia or joint pain common with traditional weight training. If you are worried about space, too, this machine is foldable and easy to move.
Dimension
The PR1000 measures 84″ by 38″ by 82″ and only weighs 125 pounds. It requires a 100-inch by 78-inch floor area and is completely foldable for storage.
Pros:
- Patented resistance system
- 310 pounds upgradable Power Rod resistance system
- Foldable design for space-efficient storage
- Supports strength training as well as cardiovascular workouts
- Easy to move as it weighs only 126 pounds
- Affordable
- Includes Bowflex Body Plan
- 5-year coverage on Power Rods
Cons:
- Only 30+ workouts
- Only 12 months coverage on the frame
- Not upgradable 310lb Power Rod is available
Product Warranty
The manufacture provides 5-year coverage on Power Rods, 60 days on parts, and 12 months on the frame. The Bottom-line? If you are looking for versatile home gym equipment that supports strength training and cardiovascular workouts and won’t blow a hole into your financial pocket, this is it. It uses Power Rod technology for old-school weight training but without inertia and the risk of joint pain. It also features a bench press and a rowing rail to boot.
Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym Review
The Bowflex PR3000 is a home gym equipment that utilizes upgradable Power Rod system too. It features a no-change cable pulley design and comes with a bench, built-in rowing station, cables, and multi-use ankle/handgrip cuffs to boot. These features allow up to 50 different workouts with up to 210lbs resistance generated by the cables.
Plus, you can throw some cardio in the mi to get your heart pounding for better cardiovascular health. If you are concerned that it’s only 210lbs resistance, keep in mind that it’s a cable system, not weights, it might be heavier than you think. Plus, you can always upgrade to a 310lbs Power Rod system.
Who is the PR3000 for?
Anyone looking to get ripped and throw some cardio in the mix will love this equipment. It’s an all-encamping beast for training your upper body, abs, lower body, and heart muscle. You can perform over 50 exercises and all without change in pulley cable.
That means you get to maintain your heart rate up as you transition from one exercise to the next. The exercises supported include bench presses, leg extensions, standing calf raises, squats, standing low back extension, seated ab crunches, and many others. It supports users weighing up to 300lbs and features a heavy-duty steel frame construction with a bench seat that supports people of all sizes.
Dimension
The PR3000 is 64 inches long by 41 inches wide by 83 inches tall and requires 96 inches by 78 inches by 83 inches workout area.
Pros:
- Utilizes excellent Power Rod technology
- You can perform workouts without the need to realign machine and cable movements
- Supports over 50 workouts
- A 100 inch by 78-inch expansive workout area
- Adjustable bench seat for people of all sizes
- Allows upgrades to a 310lbs power rod
- Heavy-duty steel frame design for durability
- 7-year coverage on power rods
- Built-in rowing rail
Cons:
- Only one-year coverage on frame and 60 days on parts
- No pull-down lat bar
Warranty
The Bowflex PR3000 home gym comes with a 7-year coverage on power rods, one-year coverage on frame, and 60 days coverage on parts. The bottom-line? If you are looking for a no-change cable pulley-system alternative to the Pr1000, this is it. Plus, it supports over 50 workouts making it an incredible mid-range gym equipment for your home.
Bowflex Blaze Home Gym Review
You can get this superior Bowflex Blaze home gym equipment For about the same price as the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym. It features a sliding bench for leg presses and aerobic rowing. It also features a 210lbs resistance system and comes with a lat bar, squat bar, triple-function ankle/handgrip cuffs, and allows for multiple cable pulley positions for custom workouts.
You can perform more than 60 workouts on this equipment; that’s more than the PR1000 or PR3000 supports. Another superior feature is that, unlike the PR3000 that is upgradable to 310 resistances only, you can use a 410lbs power rod on this one. However, the warranty is a bit inferior to what’s included with the PR3000 and PR1000.
Who is the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym for?
Anyone looking for a traditional weight training style but without the inertia or risk of joint aches will find this equipment beneficial. It utilizes superior Power Rod technology that’s characteristic of Bowflex products allowing for sleek and fluid movements that are gentle on the joints. It supports users weighing up to 300lbs and provides 60+ workouts.
Use the mid-level pulleys for chest workouts, the sliding seat for aerobic rows, the upper pulleys for shoulders and back exercises, and the leg extension for training your hamstrings and quads. You can also use the mid-level pulleys for squats.
Dimension
The Bowflex blaze measures 90 inches long, 38 inches wide, and 83 inches tall.
Pros:
- Signature Bowflex Power Rod technology for fluid movement
- Supports over 60 workouts
- Sliding bench for aerobic rowing
- Adjustable bench seat for people of all sizes and shapes
- Ample workout area
- 5-year coverage on Power Rods
Cons:
- No way to work ab muscles
- Warranty doesn’t cover typical wear and tear
- Takes up substantial floor pace
Warranty
So, at the time of this review, the warranty is 5-year coverage on power rods, 1-year on the frame, and 60 days on parts. While not as great as the Xtreme 2 SE lifetime coverage on Power Rods, it’s still one of the best warranties, on the market, for products at the same price range. The bottom-line? If you are looking for an upgrade from the PR1000 or PR3000, this is it. Though it does not allow for ab workouts, it still comes with several attachments that support over 60 workouts taking out the need to pay for a gym membership.
Bowflex Body Tower Review
The Bowflex Body Tower is a lower-priced version of the above home gym equipment. It’s a seven levels adjustment system for doing over 20 workouts. It features a commercial-grade steel frame design, adjustable horizontal bars, a non-absorbent foam back pad, sling straps, and handgrips. It does not include a bench or pulley-cable resistance system. It’s basically a pull-up bar!
Who is the Body Tower home gym for?
The equipment is an entry-level multi-station workout tower with adjustable horizontal bars that makes it easy to increase and vary workouts will find this equipment useful. It supports users weighing up to 300lbs. However, it may not support users over 6 feet tall due to its short height. It’s easy to assemble and use and utilizes a simple locking pin mechanism to secure horizontal bars in place.
You can use it for over 20 workouts, including pull-ups and chin-ups for your lats, biceps, abs, and deltoids. You can also use the dip station for tricep dips. Hook your arms using the attached slings for vertical knee raises to work your abs. for a six-pack workout position, dip bars on the lowest rung, and slip your feet underneath the padded section.
Other workouts you can perform include:
- Decline pushups.
- Squats,
- Legs and knee raise
- Planks
- Raised bridge
Dimension
The Body Tower stands 77 inches tall and sits on a 50 by 50 inches floor space.
Pros:
- Hand grips, sling straps, and commercial-grade steel limits unwanted movement during workouts
- Short enough for comfortable use in rooms with low ceilings
- Corrosion-resistant frame
- 5-year coverage on the frame
- Supports over 20 workouts
- Easy to assemble using supplied manual
- Padded backrest for comfort
- Competitively priced -$499 at the time of this review
Cons:
- It doesn’t support people over 6 feet tall
Warranty
The coverage is five years on the frame and 1-year on the parts.
The bottom-line? If you are looking for a competitively multi-station entry-level workout tower, this is it. The only con is its height; otherwise, it’s an incredible body resistance training equipment.
Bowflex Xceed Home Gym Review
The Bowflex Xceed home gym is a 210lbs Power Rod resistance system for over 65 workouts for the abs, back, chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. Like the Blaze that came before it, this one too allows hassle-free upgrades to 310lbs or 410lbs power rod resistance. It’s heavy-duty steel construction with an adjustable quick-release seat, multiple pulley/cable positions, squat bar, lat bar, and ab workout straps. Bottom of Form
Who is it for?
The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym equipment supports users weighing up to 300lbs and includes an adjustable seat for people of different shapes and sizes.
It comes with features that support over 65 workouts, including:
- seated crunches, trunk rotation, seated oblique crunches,
- squats, leg extensions, calf raises,
- reverse fly, shoulder shrug, lateral shoulder raise,
- pull-downs, reverse grip pull-downs, bent rear delt row, seated lat rows,
- chest fly, bench press,
- reverse bicep, triceps kickback, hammer bicep curl
Dimension
The equipment is 53″ long, 82″ tall by 49″ wide, and fits into 7-foot-tall ceilings.
Pros:
- high-quality grade steel frame
- signature power rod technology
- upgradable to310lbs and 410lbs resistance
- includes ab workouts straps
- supports over 65 workouts
- adjustable seat with polyurethane foam
- multiple pulley/cable system
Cons:
- no aerobic rowing
- requires changes to be made in the pulley system before further exercises
- no ankle cuffs
- the seat is not foldable
Product warranty
The Bowflex Xceed home gym arrives with a 5-year coverage on the Power Rod and one year on the parts. The bottom-line? The Xceed is exclusively a resistance training home gym equipment; it doesn’t include features to throw cardio workouts in the mix. That said, it’s competitively priced and comes with a comprehensive warranty to boot!
Hopefully, you found this helpful and have made up your mind about the series of Home Gyms from Bowflex. If you need further chat or want to share your experience, please feel free to hit the comment section. Always a pleasure to hear from fellow fitness buffs. Let’s get ripped!
History of the Bowflex brand
The name Bowflex evolved from a patent originally conceived by Tessema Dosho Shifferaw, a foreign engineering student in the U.S. the company was known as Bowflex of America Inc and begun marketing its first product in 1986. in the same year, the company entered the Toronto Stock Exchange, and after great success, it rebranded itself as Direct Focus, Inc and made an IPO on Nasdaq. Later the company acquired brands like Schwinn Fitness, and Stairmaster Fitness, and Nautilus Corporation. The last name is the one the company rebranded itself as and joined the NYSE.
Where are Bowflex home gyms made?
Bowflex Home Gyms are an American brand made in China and marketed worldwide by Nautilus Inc.; however, just because the machines are made in China doesn’t mean they are inferior. Expect premium quality parts such as commercial-grade steel frame that’s resistant to corrosion, non-absorbent padded seats, etc., plus they are all backed by substantial warranties.
Are Bowflex home gyms any good?
The Bowflex Home Gyms are fantastic equipment for people who want to build strength and a nice body shape without the hassles of traditional free weights. At competitive prices, you can get any of this entry-level equipment for full-body workouts. Some even have functionalities for aerobics training. However, if you are looking for Olympics-level workouts, you might be disappointed.
Can you get ripped using a Bowflex?
Yes, you can totally get ripped using Bowflex Home Gyms. Most of the machines in the series feature the standard 210lbs pulley/cable system only. But at higher reps, this is enough to make the user feel the burn. Plus, the multiple pulley/cable position and extra accessories allow the user to vary workouts and target specific muscle groups. Whether you want to work your chest, shoulder, back, abs, lats, arms, and legs, it’s possible with most Bowflex home gyms. Here is a look at some of the products in the line: