5 Best Bowflex Home Gym Machines

If you’ve been shopping around for a home gym system, you’ve probably come across Bowflex machines in your research. These popular all-in-one home gym options have been around since the 1980s and have made a name for themselves as some of the most well-known, compact, and versatile options for getting a resistance workout without a gym membership.  

Bowflex machines are best-known for their Power Rod Resistance System, which uses cables and pulleys attached to rods to provide resistance for workouts. Many of them also come with other features like rowing machines and leg developers. 

The brand has grown and so have their machine options. So what is the best Bowflex home gym to buy? We’ve compiled five of the most popular options to make it easy to find the best option for your own home gym.

Product Reviews

1.Bowflex Xceed

The Xceed boasts an impressive 65 or more different workouts. You have the option of several different cable and pulley positions to switch up your routine, and the seat is comfortable, adjustable and comes with a quick-release option. This machine also comes with the option to upgrade to 310lbs or 410 lbs if you need more weight in your resistance training. 

You get different pulley accessories with this purchase, including an ab training strap, squat bar, and lat bar to increase your training diversity. The Xceed also comes at a good price, making it a good budget buy for the amount of workouts you can do on it. 

Pros

• 65+ workouts
• Adjustable seat
• Ab training strap included
• Squat bar and lat bar included
• Steel frame
• One of the cheaper options

Cons

• No rowing option

Key Takeaway

Overall, the Xceed is a solid purchase at a decent price. You can do plenty of exercises and upgrade the machine to your needs, making it the perfect selection for someone who wants to get the most out of one Bowflex gym system. 

2.Bowflex Blaze

Bowflex’s Blaze model provides you with enough angles and pulleys to perform more than 60 different exercises. The sliding bench is great for getting an aerobic row workout or for doing leg presses, and it also comes with different hand grips, ankle cuffs, and lat bars to hit many different muscle groups during your resistance training. 

This model comes standard with 210 pounds of resistance through their Power Rod pulley system, although you can upgrade to add 100 or 200 more pounds for more of a workout. The Blaze might be a good solution for those with smaller home gym areas, since it’s foldable and comes with wheels for easy storage.

Pros

• 210 lbs of Power Rod resistance
• Can upgrade to 310 or 410 pounds
• Instructional placard included
• Triple-function hand grips and ankle cuffs included
• Sliding seat
• Lat and squat bars
• Easy storage

Cons

• Bench not adjustable

Key Takeaway

The Blaze gives you plenty to do. With the different pulley angles and sliding seat, you can easily replicate many of your favorite cable machines and free weight workouts to get a full body workout at a reasonable price.

3.Bowflex PR3000

The PR3000 comes with a fixed vertical bench and several different cable angles for your workouts, allowing you to do more than fifty different workouts. One major perk that we like about the PR3000 is that it comes with a Quick Change Power Rod system, which allows you to quickly switch the Power Rods so that you don’t need to change cables between different workout sets. 

This is one of the pricier models, and it’s also important to note that the PR3000 can only be upgraded to have a total of 310 pounds of resistance, versus the other options on this list that can be upgraded to give you 410 pounds overall.

Pros

• Quick Change Power Rod System
• Multi-use hand grips and ankle cuffs included
• Over 50 different workouts
• Leg extensions and curls available on bench

Cons

• Bench not adjustable
• Pricier model
• Can only upgrade to 310 pounds of resistance
  

Key Takeaway

The real appeal of the PR3000 is the inclusion of its Quick Change Power Rod System, so it’s great for someone who anticipates needing to switch their workouts up consistently. It can’t be upgraded to give you more than 310 pounds of resistance, so it might not be the right choice for serious strength-building workouts.

4.Bowflex PR1000

The PR1000 is Bowflex’s most basic all-in-one gym on this list, but it can still give you a pretty good full body workout. It comes standard with the same 210 pounds of Power Rod resistance as the other machines and is upgradable, plus it has enough cable angles to let you target multiple muscle groups. 

Bowflex advertises that you can do 25+ workouts on it, which is less than the other more advanced machines on the list. On the plus side, it still has a rowing machine and a media rack, so it could be good for someone looking to do more cardio or follow along with a workout program. It’s also the cheapest model on this list, making it good for someone who doesn’t want to spend a ton.

Pros

• Least expensive Bowflex machine
• 210 lbs of Power Rod resistance, with upgrade options
• Media rack included
• Rowing machine included
• Vertical folding bench

Cons

• Fewer workouts than other models

Key Takeaway

If you’re on a budget and are okay with a basic all-in-one machine, you may want to go with the PR1000. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the other Bowflex machines on this list, but it still provides you with enough resistance and options to get a decent full-body workout. 

5.Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym

The Xtreme 2SE is the most premium product in this Bowflex lineup, but it packs a lot of punch for the price. It comes with plenty of accessories and attachments, including an ab training strap and squat/lat bar, allowing you to do more than 70 different exercises. This machine also includes 7 trainer-built workout plans so you can get a good feel for how to use the machine effectively. 

One of the main perks of the Xtreme 2SE is that it comes with the Quick Change Power Rod System, making it easy and efficient to change cable positions during your workout. This machine also comes with the option to be upgraded to provide up to 410 lbs of resistance, making it ideal for more heavy-duty workouts.

Pros

• More than 70 exercises available
• Quick Change Power Rod System
• Ab training strap included
• Squat and lat bar included
• Includes 7 workout programs

Cons

• Most expensive option

Key Takeaway

The Xtreme 2SE is the most advanced Bowflex gym on this list, coming with several options to get a thorough workout. If you have a complicated workout program and want to hit as many different exercises as possible, this is your best bet.

Our Top Pick, And Why!

The best bowflex home gym is the Bowflex Xceed. It gives you the most workout options at a  very competitive price, making it our top pick for the best Bowflex home gym to buy. With the Xceed, you can do the work of several different machines and customize it to your needs without spending a ton of money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Bowflex home gyms any good?

Bowflex home gym systems are a solid option for those looking to add resistance training to their home workout routine. It is one of the most well-known names in home fitness for a good reason – these machines are compact and made of high-quality steel for better durability. 

The Power Rod system also allows you to do several different workouts on one machine. 

Overall, Bowflex home gyms are a good complement to add in addition to other free weight and home gym systems, as they are pretty high-quality and durable. However, you probably don’t want to rely on them alone for building muscle and strength, since they may not provide enough resistance for those purposes.

How effective are Bowflex home gyms?

Bowflex home gyms are a good option for people who are just starting out with resistance training or for those who like to work with lighter weights. Their Power Rod Resistance system lets you work out your muscles in different exercises without putting as much stress on them as free weights, which generally results in less sore muscles. This can also make them a good option for rehabilitation exercises. 

Because they don’t put as much stress on the muscles as free weights or other kinds of workout machines, they aren’t a great option for building strength and muscle, so they may not be the best solo fit for more advanced workouts. Of course, they can be used effectively in conjunction with other workout equipment for muscle conditioning.

Which type of exercises can I do with a Bowflex home gyms?

Bowflex home gyms offer several different workout options via their cable and pulley system. The capabilities vary from machine to machine, but some common exercises you can do with a Bowflex include: 

• Curls 
• Lat pulldowns 
• Squats 
• Chest presses 
• Leg extensions 
• Rows (some machines) 

The only limitation for Bowflex workouts are the cable and pulley angles, so the exercise capabilities widen as you look at the more advanced models.

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

One of the greatest things about Bowflex machines is that they are made to be used at home, so compactness is a key part of most designs. 

Sizes vary from machine to machine, but they can generally be placed in smaller areas. For example, the Xtreme 2SE requires a workout area of just 8’x6’5”. In addition, many of the machines include folding and wheeled elements to make them smaller when not in use.  

Are Bowflex home gyms easy to assemble?

Assembly is required for most Bowflex home gyms, but the process shouldn’t be too time-consuming. The Bowflex website reports that their machines generally take about 1 to 3 hours to put together, though that can vary from person to person. 

The process itself is also fairly easy and uncomplicated, and you can find instructional videos to follow along with from Bowflex’s own YouTube channel.

How long do Bowflex machines typically last?

Bowflex machines are durable and made to last for years, with some research showing that the Power Rods almost never break!  

If some aspects do begin to wear out, you can purchase replacement parts. The frame, parts, and rods also come with various manufacturer’s warranties if the machine is purchased in the US to back up the quality of the machines.

How to choose the best Bowflex All-In-One home gym

Because all of these home gyms come from the same reputable manufacturer, the decision of which Bowflex to buy generally comes down to how you intend to use it in your workout routine and how much space you have to dedicate to the machine.

Resistance

The level of resistance is key to making sure that your Bowflex workout is effective. 

All Bowflex home gyms come standard with 310 pounds, but you have the option to upgrade several of them to either 310 or 410 pounds. Depending on how intense you want your workouts to be, you might consider upgrading to one of the heavier packages.

Size

One of the first things to look for when buying a Bowflex home gym is whether or not they will actually fit in your workout area. 

Bowflex machines are generally pretty compact, since they’re created for home workouts, but you’ll still need to be sure you can dedicate enough space to fit them in comfortably. They are heavier pieces of equipment and so can’t be easily moved, although some machine come with folding benches and wheeled parts to make storage easier when the machines are not in use. 

Be sure to check the dimensions of the machine you’re interested in and set aside enough space to fit it in before purchasing.

Cable and pulley positions

The amount of workouts you can do with your Bowflex depends on how the pulleys are angled and how many different ways you can adjust them. Some of the more advanced Bowflex options will come with a wider variety of cable positions for a more diverse workout. 

Each machine will also list how many different workouts you can do on them, so it’s worth looking into each to decipher whether you’ll actually be able to do the workouts and target the muscle groups that you want to during your resistance training.

Bench

One of the biggest ways that Bowflexes vary from machine to machine is the kind of bench they have. For example, some benches are not adjustable, decreasing your workout diversity. Other machines have benches that can be converted to a sliding seat to allow for aerobic rows and leg presses.  

The type of bench will determine the angle of your exercises as well. Some benches are vertical while others are horizontal, which can change up the angle of your bench press and other workouts.