Best Bowflex Home Gym Guide: Top 8 Picks

Finding the time in your daily schedule to go to the gym can be difficult, especially if you have to commute to the gym and back.

Some of the best Bowflex home gym models can be an alternative solution to workouts in crowded gyms, as they enable you to exercise every day from the comfort of your home.

However, deciding which Bowflex home gym model is the right choice for you can get tricky if you haven’t used these machines before.

Is the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym Worth it? | Bowflex

After testing for a 6+ months, I have to say that this is money well spent. There are OTHER options, but most are trying to knock off what Bowflex has pioneered. This is a well-tested, proven, and easy to use machine for home use.

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Contents

At a glance: Our top 3 picks for best Bowflex home gyms:

In this guide, we are going to take you through all of the most important aspects you need to consider while choosing your new Bowflex home gym and take a closer look at some of the best Bowflex home gyms on the market.

Hopefully, by the end of this guide, you will find the Bowflex home gym that both fits your budget and workout needs.

How to Choose the Best Bowflex Home Gym?

bowflex pr1000 gym

Most of Bowflex home gyms are designed for full-body workouts, allowing you to perform a broad range of exercises that strengthen all major muscle groups.

However, the result you will be able to achieve depends on the amount of time and effort you dedicate to exercising. Each of the Bowflex home gym models you can find on the market can help you get in shape but only if you are persistent enough to stick to your program.

Knowing which exercises you want to include in your program might help you while you are selecting a new Bowflex home gym since there is no need to get a machine that enables you to do cardio if you have no intention of doing cardio exercises.

The Differences Between Spiraflex vs Power Rod technologies

At the moment, all Bowflex models rely on either Power Rod or Spiraflex technologies to generate varying levels of muscle tension during resistance exercises. The Power Rod technology generates resistance through rods that enable the machine to add more resistance throughout the movement.

This means that the machine is going to generate almost no resistance at the beginning of the movement, but more resistance is going to be added as the movement continues.

Bowflex Spriaflex technology, on the other hand, generates an equal amount of resistance throughout the entire movement. Opting for a home gym that is based on the Spiraflex technology is a better option if you want to use the machine to grow your muscles, while the Power Rod technology enables you to adjust the resistance level to your needs.

Check the number of available exercises

Bowflex home gyms can offer anywhere between twenty-five and a hundred exercises, depending on the model. However, all Bowflex home gym machines can be used to perform upper body exercises such as triceps pushdown or shoulder press.

In addition, home gyms enable you to perform lower body exercises like leg extension or calf raise, but you must make sure that the Bowflex home gym offers the option to perform all exercises in your program. Moreover, you should check if the machine’s maximum resistance can be upgraded since some models don’t offer this option.

Consider the dimensions of a Bowflex machine

You must make sure that you have enough space for a Bowflex home gym before you purchase it since most models require a relatively large workout area and a storage space.

Placing a Boxflex machine into your garage is probably the best solution if you are already using that space for your daily exercises. You can also opt for a smaller sized model like Boxflex Revolution if you are struggling to find sufficient room for your home gym.

Even though Boxflex machines vary in size, all models are bulky which makes them somewhat difficult to store.

Search for the most budget-friendly option

The amount of money you will have to spend on a Bowflex home gym depends on the model you’re interested in. The least expensive models can be purchased for a little over $600, while you have to spend over $2000 to get some of the Bowflex’s priciest home gyms.

Consequently, lower-priced models allow you to perform only a moderate number of exercises, which is why they are only a good option for recreational use.

Bowflex home gym models that allow their users to perform sixty or more exercises are more expensive than models like Bowflex PR1000, but they are a better choice for athletes that want to add some versatility to their workouts.

The 8 Best Bowflex Home Gyms

The Bowflex home gyms can be used by both professional athletes and newcomers to the world of fitness. Even the least expensive models we featured in this guide can help you grow muscles and stay in shape.

Let’s take a closer look at what Bowflex home gyms have to offer.

#1 Bowflex Blaze – The best overall home gym

bowflex home gym series

With more than sixty available exercises and seven trainer built workout regiments, Bowflex Blaze is easily our top recommendation. This home gym can be equally effective for recreational users and professional athletes that want to have the comfort of working out from their homes.

Bowflex Blaze relies on the Power Rod technology to generate the resistance, but the base model cannot produce more than 210lbs of resistance. However, you can upgrade the machine’s resistance capacity up to 410lbs.

Like the lower-priced PR1000 model, Bowflex Blaze is equipped with the aerobic rower, while it also features a squat bar, just like the more expensive Xtreme 2SE model. A horizontal bench press, the leg extension, or triple function handgrip are also among the reasons why Bowflex Blaze is the home gym you can get in 2021.

Follow this link if you want to read the full review of the Bowflex Blaze home gym or click here to find out how it compares to the Bowflex PR3000 model.

Is the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym Worth it? | Bowflex

After testing for a 6+ months, I have to say that this is money well spent. There are OTHER options, but most are trying to knock off what Bowflex has pioneered. This is a well-tested, proven, and easy to use machine for home use.

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Features

  • Weighs 207 pounds, and its dimensions are 130 x 42 x 35 inches
  • Multiple cable positions allow for customized exercises
  • Based on the Power Rod technology
  • Maximum resistance capacity can be upgraded to 410lbs

Pros

  • The bench can be converted into a rower
  • Offers more than sixty exercises

Cons

  • You must change cables in order to change exercises

#2 Bowflex PR1000 – The most affordable Bowflex home gym

bowflex pr1000

Despite being the least expensive Bowflex home gym model, PR1000 still has a lot to offer. In addition to 25 different exercises, this Boxflex machine also comes with four-inch upholstered roller cushions that can be used for leg curl exercises.

The home gym’s resistance can vary between just 5 lbs and 210 lbs, but the machine’s maximum resistance capacity cannot be upgraded. Moreover, the PR1000 can be easily converted to a rower which makes it a perfect option for users who want to focus on cardio exercises.

You can also use this Bowflex home gym to do some weight lifting although 210lbs of resistance may limit your options in the long run. The machine also features a media rack where you can place your Smartphone or iPod in case you want to listen to music during workouts. Read our full PR1000 Review.

Most Affordable
Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym | Bowflex

Get a total body strength workout with affordable home gym, includes rowing machine rail.

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Features:

  • The bench can be converted into a rolling seat for rowing
  • Weighs just 144 pounds
  • Features the leg extension
  • 210lb of resistance

Pros

  • More affordable than other Bowflex home gyms
  • Offers the aerobic rowing option

Cons

  • No squat bar

#3 Bowflex Revolution – The most versatile Bowflex home gym

bowflex revolution

Unlike the Bowflex home gym models that are based on the Power Rod technology, the Bowflex Revolution uses the Spiraflex technology that provides the same amount of resistance throughout the movement.

However, the machine’s maximum resistance capacity is limited to just 210lbs, but you can upgrade it 300lbs and 600lbs for the leg press station. What’s more, the Bowflex Revolution features the Quick Change System that is also included in PR3000 and Xtreme 2SE models.

The Bowflex Revolution home gym enables you to perform more than a hundred exercises that activate almost every muscle in your body. The machine is foldable which makes it easier to store when you are not using it.

The home gym is also equipped with a vertical bench press that ensures that you can perform a broad range of exercises. This is by far the priciest Bowflex home gym on the market, but the features it offers justify the cost.

Read More: Bowflex Revolution Home Gym Review

Top Choice
Bowflex Revolution Home Gym | Bowflex

It's a sizable chunk of change to drop on a gym, but does NOT suffer from reliability concerns (like the many knock offs). Good if you use it regularly, not if it's going to sit and collect dust.

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Features:

  • The machine has 38.2 x 65 x 72.8 inches and it weighs 230 pounds
  • Allows users to perform over a hundred exercises
  • Features the Quick Change System
  • Leg press station has the maximum resistance capacity of 600lbs

Pros

  • Offers versatility during workouts
  • The home gym doesn’t require a lot of storage space

Cons

  • More expensive than most home gyms on the market

#4 Bowflex Xtreme 2SE

bowflex xtreme 2se

A vertical bench press, leg curl, or squat bar are just a few features that characterize the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE model. This home gym model enables you to perform over seventy exercises, which is more than Bowflex Xceed and Bowflex Blaze models can offer.

This home gym utilizes the Power Rod technology that provides the standard 210lbs of resistance, although you can upgrade the machine’s resistance capacity to 410 pounds.

The Quick Change System allows you to switch between cable and pulley positions effortlessly, but you should keep in mind that this model doesn’t offer the aerobic rowing option.

The steel construction frame ensures that the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE home gym can endure the frequent usage, and you also get a 3-year warranty for the machine’s frame and the 10-year warranty for the rods.

Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE | Bowflex

The Bowflex Xtreme® 2 SE lets you change exercises more quickly and easily with no cable changes needed between exercises. Now includes ergonomically designed adjustable seat and Ab Crunch Shoulder Harness.

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Features

  • 5-way handgrips and ankle cuffs
  • Upgradable resistance capacity
  • Features an ergonomic seat that has a polyurethane high-density cushion
  • Sturdy frame

Pros

  • Allows users to perform more than 70 exercises
  • Includes an ab training strap

Cons

  • No aerobic rowing option

#5 Bowflex PR3000

bowflex pr3000

Bowflex PR300 is an improved version of the PR1000 model, as it allows you to perform over fifty different exercises. Although two home gyms use the same Power Rod technology that provides 210lbs of resistance, the Bowflex PR300 resistance capacity can be upgraded to 310lbs.

Furthermore, the PR3000 model has the Quick Change System that is designed to make switching between different positions as smooth as possible.

Unlike the PR1000 home gym, the PR3000 machine cannot be folded and you cannot use it for aerobic rowing exercises. In addition, the machine doesn’t have a squat bar or a media rack.

Despite these shortcomings, the PR3000 model is significantly more expensive than the PR1000 model, which only makes it a suitable option for homeowners that want a home gym that allows them to perform a larger number of exercises.

Read More: Bowflex Blaze vs PR3000: Which is Best for You?

Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym Series | Bowflex

Looking for a space and time-saving workout, all at a great value? The Bowflex PR3000 is a total-body home gym with more than 50 strength exercises and no cable changes needed between sets - all in a compact space-saving design.

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Features

  • Equipped with a vertical bench press
  • Maximum resistance can be upgraded to 310lbs
  • Various cable pulley positions
  • Allows users to perform more than 50 exercises

Pros

  • More affordable than high-end Bowflex home gym models
  • Ships with the 7-year guaranty for the rods and one-year guaranty for the frame

Cons

  • No media rack or the squat bar

#6 Bowflex Xceed

bowflex xceed

Like all other Bowflex home gym models, Bowflex Xceed has the 210lbs resistance capacity that can be extended to 310lbs or 410lbs. Moreover, each of the machine’s parts can be easily adjusted to your workout program.

The squat bar and the leg extension are also included in the list of features this home gym offers, but Bowflex Xceed doesn’t have the Quick Change System. Furthermore, this Bowflex model isn’t foldable and you cannot use it for aerobic rowing exercises.

Bowflex Xceed has an adjustable, quick-release seat with the polyurethane cushion and a durable powder-coated steel frame. You can use this home gym model to perform more than 65 exercises so that you can do both upper and lower body workouts.

The best part is that you don’t have to spend a small fortune on this home gym, as it is only moderately priced.

Bowflex Xceed Home Gym | Amazon

Compact home gym for full body workout from over 65 gym quality exercises. Provides as little as 5 or as much as 310 pounds of resistance via Bowflex Power Rods. Integrated lat tower with angled lat bar helps to build back and shoulder muscles quickly.

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Features:

  • Vertical bench press
  • Utilizes the Bowflex’s Power Rod technology
  • The X-shaped base provides additional stability
  • Weighs 157lbs

Pros

  • Doesn’t require a large workout area
  • Offers a large number of exercises at an affordable price

Cons

  • Upgrading the resistance capacity can be time-consuming

#7 Bowflex BodyTower

bowflex body tower

Unlike the other home gym models, Bowflex BodyTower can just be used for upper body exercises. What’s more, this model doesn’t generate any resistance, since all the resistance is produced by the body.

The number of exercises you can do with Bowflex BodyTower is limited to just twenty, while the horizontal bars that have seven levels of adjustments allow you to choose the intensity of your workouts.

Bowflex BodyTower features a non-absorbent back pad and it ships with handgrips and sling straps. The cardio row is not included in this home gym, which means that you won’t be able to use it for the cardio exercises.

The steel base keeps you stable during workouts so that you can focus on getting each exercise in your program right. This is the least expensive home gym we featured in this article, although it has less to offer than other Bowflex models.

Bowflex BodyTower | Bowflex

Increase the variety and intensity of your workouts with the Bowflex BodyTowerâ„¢. Unique, EZ-Adjust arms provide a greater range of options than most towers, allowing you to perform over 18 exercises.

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Features

  • Bodyweight resistance
  • Weighs 113 pounds
  • E-Z Adjustable bars
  • Foam cushioned back pad

Pros

  • Allows users to perform over twenty upper body exercises
  • The frame has a 5-year warranty

Cons

  • No options for cardio workouts

#8 Bowflex Ultimate 2

bowflex ultimate 2 home gym

The Bowflex’s Power Rod technology this home gym utilizes allows you to adjust the resistance from just 5lbs to 310lbs. What’s more, you can also upgrade the machine’s maximum resistance capacity to 410lbs.

Bowflex Ultimate 2 is equipped with the squat station, lat tower and leg attachments as well as an adjustable main pulley system that features five-position adjustable pulleys. The home gym also features the no-change cable pulley system.

There are 95 exercises to choose from so that you can perform full-body workouts or focus on different muscle groups in every session. Reverse crunch, wide pull downs or incline bench press are just a few of the exercises this home gym enables you to do.

Even though Bowflex Ultimate 2 can be folded it still requires a relatively large workout area, as the machine has the 44 X 46 folded footprint. This Boflex’s home gym model is much more expensive than PR1000 or PR3000 models.

Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym | Amazon

Refurbished home gym provides a total body workout with over 95 exercises. Provides 310 pounds of resistance via Bowflex Power Rods-upgradable to 410 pounds. Includes a lat tower, leg extension/leg curl station, preacher curl attachment, integrated squat station and built-in rowing machine.

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Features

  • Includes adjustable main pulley system as well as the no-change cable pulley system
  • Equipped with the preacher curl attachment
  • Maximum weight resistance can be extended to 410 pounds
  • Allows users to perform more than 95 exercises

Pros

  • Designed for full-body workouts
  • Features a built-in cardio rowing machine

Cons

  • Requires a large workout area

FAQs About Bowflex Home Gyms

How effective are Bowflex home gyms?

The answer to this question depends on the machine and the amount of time you spend exercising. The results you will be able to achieve are going to get better as the amount of effort you put in increases.

Which types of exercises can I do with a Bowflex home gym?

Most Bowflex home gym models allow you to do both upper and lower body exercises, although the number of exercises you can do varies from model to model.

Do I need a large workout area for a Bowflex home gym?

The workout area needs to be larger than the Bowflex home gym so that you have sufficient space to move freely during the workout.

Do all Bowflex home gyms have aerobic rowing functionality?

No, they don’t, and you need to check if the model you’re interested in features this function in case you would like to use it for cardio workouts.

Conclusion: Which is the Best Bowflex Gym?

Having the luxury to exercise at home can save you a lot of time and money you spend on gym memberships. Bowflex home gyms enable you to get in shape without ever having to leave your home.

Even the lower-end models like Bowflex PR1000 or PR3000 allow you to do a wide range of exercises that activate all major groups of muscles in your body.

Bowflex Ultimate 2 or Bowflex Revolution offers the possibility to do a hundred different exercises, which make them a great investment if you are planning on using them for years.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you find a Bowflex home gym that meets all your needs. Which of the best Bowflex home gyms are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.

Is the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym Worth it? | Bowflex

After testing for a 6+ months, I have to say that this is money well spent. There are OTHER options, but most are trying to knock off what Bowflex has pioneered. This is a well-tested, proven, and easy to use machine for home use.

Check Price Buy at Amazon.com
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

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