At-home training can be an incredibly attractive prospect, especially for those with a long work commute or tight schedules. Though the overall prospect of spending thousands to furnish a home gym may be daunting, Bowflex gyms are a versatile and incredibly worthwhile addition, as they serve multiple muscle groups in one compact home exercise station. Because of their compact build, you can use Bowflex gyms to work your arms, core, and legs using resistance technology instead of bulkier weights.
Bowflex’s name recognition in the fitness industry is second to none, and for good reason: With many types of home gyms available at varying price points, Bowflex offers something for just about everyone looking to get their sweat on without leaving the house. That said, it can be especially difficult to discern which option is right for you. We’ve broken down the pros and cons of many popular Bowflex gyms to help you find your match.
Best Bowflex Gyms
- Best Bowflex Gym Overall: Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
- Best Bowflex Gym for the Money: Bowflex Blaze
- Best Bowflex Gym for Small Spaces: Bowflex PR3000
- Best Bowflex Gym for Calisthenics: Bowflex BodyTower
- Best Bowflex Gym for Beginners: Bowflex PR1000
- Best Bowflex Gym for Exercise Selection: Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
Best Bowflex Gym Overall
When designing a home gym, ergonomic value comes first. Buyers want to get the most functionality out of their purchase, which is where the Xtreme 2SE shines brighter than other Bowflex offerings.
Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
The Xtreme 2SE earns its price point with its versatility. It stores vertically, saving space in the room, scores points for convenience by having a Quick Change System for adjusting resistance, and perhaps most importantly, includes options for leg exercises, which many pieces of home equipment eschew. For all of the features this piece of equipment offers, however, you can expect a pretty hefty price tag.
The Bowflex Xtreme 2SE is an impressively versatile home exercise station, perfect for anyone who wants to train hard in their own space without taking up a ton of square footage.
Who Should Buy the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
- Those who want to be able to train their entire body with one piece of equipment.
- Anyone with limited space in their home or garage.
- Consumers that prioritize efficiency of use.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
- Buyers with a limited budget or other financial constraints.
- Those only seeking to train a specific movement or muscle group.
While the price is steep, we think the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE justifies its cost and then some by providing a broad swath of movement options and convenient loading systems.
Read our full review of the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
Best Bowflex Gym for the Money
For many, budget is a prime concern when shopping for home fitness equipment. As such, the question for many consumers is simple: What will give me the most bang for my buck? We think the Bowflex Blaze takes the gold in this category.
Bowflex Blaze
At a modest price point of roughly a thousand dollars, the Blaze provides enough exercise utility to more than justify the cost. With over 60 exercise options for both the upper and lower body, buyers can experience full-body or individual muscle group workouts on a single machine. In addition, the machine comes with a 20-minute Bowflex workout DVD, and an in-depth user manual on how to perform each exercise.
The Bowflex Blaze is a stellar option for the money. It offers a high number of exercise options without costing an arm and a leg.
Who Should Buy the Bowflex Blaze
- Consumers whose primary concern is getting the most for their dollar.
- Buyers who want to make sure they can train their entire body with one piece of equipment.
- New athletes who want to learn and build their strength without breaking the bank.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Bowflex Blaze
- Those looking for a station that offers every exercise option under the sun.
- Anyone with limited space.
- People who want to change exercises or loading systems quickly.
While not the most compact piece of equipment, the Blaze more than makes up for it by being a financial home-run.
Read our full review of the Bowflex Blaze
Best Bowflex Gym for Small Spaces
One of the biggest appeals of a commercial gym is their space, allowing them to host equipment for almost every fitness need. Of course, when the gym is packed, a commercial gym might not be as appealing. At home, you can have your workout space all to yourself, but we’re willing to bet you don’t have 15,000 square feet to furnish a bunch of smith machines and weight storage. Trying to exercise in a cramped space can be a nightmare, but a compact home gym like the ones Bowflex offers solves many of these issues.
Bowflex PR3000
The vertical structuring of the PR3000 is the real key to its space-saving economy. Users are able to perform a variety of exercises either standing or sitting without the machine itself requiring a two-car garage’s worth of floor space to use. Obviously, a more compact station lacks some bells and whistles — in this case, there’s no lat pull-down bar — but for those who need to get a session done in a single room, we think this one fits the bill. .
The Bowflex PR3000 is great for anyone with limited space. It fits nicely into the corner of just about any room in the house.
Who Should Buy the Bowflex PR3000
- People with limited space to exercise in their home.
- Users with disabilities or impairments who require seated exercise options.
- Trainees in need of a box that is easy to move around.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Bowflex PR3000
- Those in the market for the most comprehensive station possible.
- Buyers with financial limitations.
The convenient size of the PR3000 makes it ideal for anyone without a large garage, but this does come with the drawback of fewer exercise options than some of the other models.
Read our full review of the Bowflex PR3000
Best Bowflex Gym for Calisthenics
Bodyweight training can make for an effective replacement to traditional resistance training without requiring large, cumbersome equipment. For anyone who solely wants to work with their hands, a good calisthenics station is a godsend.
Bowflex BodyTower
The BodyTower is Bowflex’s answer to consumers who are bored of cable curls. The lack of complex pulley systems or plate-loaded resistance make the BodyTower a lightweight, highly convenient exercise station for general calisthenics or circuit training. The machine allows for 18 different exercises, including pull ups, push ups, tricep dips, crunches, and more — though, it does fall prey to one of the major limitations of bodyweight training: a lack of meaningful options for the lower body.
The Bowflex BodyTower is the perfect at-home jungle gym. It comes with handles and attachments for just about every killer calisthenic workout under the sun.
Who Should Buy the Bowflex BodyTower
- People who want to get a good workout without relying on heavy equipment.
- Beginners who may be intimidated by complicated resistance-based exercises.
- Those looking for a station that lets them get a session in quickly and efficiently.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Bowflex BodyTower
- Advanced trainees who need higher resistance to make progress.
- Buyers looking for a station that allows comprehensive leg training.
A unique offering in the Bowflex lineup, the BodyTower is a fantastic tool for those looking to master bodyweight training. The ability to do multiple types of pull-ups, dips, and rows is great, but the lack of leg utility does not go unnoticed.
Best Bowflex Gym for Beginners
The prospect of training in a crowded facility can be intimidating, especially for those new to exercise. An at-home station can be a comfortable, judgement-free alternative for people looking to take their first steps in their fitness journey.
Bowflex PR1000
The PR1000 is by far the most attractive offering from Bowflex for fitness neophytes. The construction of the station is more intuitive than some of the more comprehensive stations, allowing newcomers to easily move from exercise to exercise without getting lost in the weeds of setup or execution. Though this machine does allow users to perform upwards of 30 different exercises, a beginner-friendly station does mean that it lacks access to certain additional exercises that other machines may provide.
The Bowflex PR1000 is a fantastic first-time at home exercise station. It’s lean, intuitive, and easy to use.
Who Should Buy the Bowflex PR1000
- Beginners who are on simple, straightforward exercise plans.
- Anyone who only has time to perform a few movements per session.
- Trainees looking for a station that allows for cardio exercise.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Bowflex PR1000
- Buyers with experience training who want to hit their muscles in multiple ways.
- People with limited space in their homes.
Designed for the newcomer, the PR1000 is a great first buy if you’re looking to cut your teeth in the home exercise arena. The streamlined, modest exercise station removes the paralysis of choice that often plagues first-time exercisers — though the flip side is that comprehensive training options are limited.
Read our full review of the Bowflex PR1000
Best Bowflex Gym for Exercise Selection
Whether you want to pack an entire weight room into your bedroom or just enjoy doing something different on a daily basis, an exercise station with a wide breadth of possible uses is critical, which is where this pick takes the cake.
Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
The Xtreme 2SE pushes the envelope when it comes to variation among the Bowflex lineup. For those looking to sample the highest number of unique exercises possible, this machine offers over 70 movements to choose from, and though the resistance caps off at 210 pounds, the Xtreme 2SE boasts enough options that you’ll never get bored of training at home.
The Bowflex Xtreme 2SE is an impressively versatile home exercise station, perfect for anyone who wants to train hard in their own space without taking up a ton of square footage.
Who Should Buy the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
- Trainees who enjoy switching their workouts up regularly.
- Consumers who want to get the most variety for their dollar.
- Those who enjoy circuit training or supersets.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
- Anyone on a restrictive budget.
- People on minimalist training programs that rely on the same few exercises.
While no individual piece of machinery will ever fully replace the offerings of a well-outfitted public facility (unfortunately, the Xtreme 2SE doesn’t come with a sauna!), we think its utility is impressive enough to satisfy most exercise regimens.
Read our full review of the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE
What to Consider Before Buying a Bowflex Gym
While all of these stations come with strong selling points, there’s more to consider than just the price tag before purchasing any home gym equipment.
Motivation and Discipline
Possibly the biggest stereotype of the home exercise station is that it sometimes ends up seeing more use as a clothing rack than an exercise tool. The motivation to actually get your sessions in and the discipline to do so regularly are what make or break home routines — it can be all too tempting to just forego the workout in lieu of staying on the couch. After all, sometimes both take place in the same room. Before making a big purchase, ensure you’re fully committed to actually utilizing the piece of equipment you’re buying.
“Remember to focus on machines that facilitate movements you enjoy,” explains Alex Polish, certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial team member. “You’re going to have a lot of choices, but don’t be tempted to go with the fanciest, most expensive machine just because it seems best. Choose the machine that feels most like you’ll actually use it, which may be the one that least intimidates you and most excites you.”
Your Budget
High pricing is a facet of just about all exercise equipment, especially for resistance training tools that are extremely heavy and expensive to ship and/or install. The cost adds some proverbial weight to the decision, so consider how often you’ll be using your equipment to make sure it’s worth every penny you spend.
If you’re only going to use your machine a couple times a month, don’t drop over $2,000 on it. And on the other hand, if you plan to use your station daily, that $2,000 will be totally worthwhile.
Space
This applies less to an individual exercise station like a Bowflex machine and more to your entire home exercise facility, but it is still worth mentioning. Physical labor of any kind will eventually take a toll on whatever environment you’re working in. Whether that comes in the form of cracks in the floor or dents in the wall, make sure your chosen exercise space is suitable for the bumps and scrapes that will inevitably happen along your workout journey.
How Many People Are Using The Equipment
Unlike your personal gym membership, a home gym station can be freely used by anyone who has access to it. This is obviously a fantastic perk for buyers with roommates, spouses, or even children, since it can help everyone get in good shape without having to manage multiple subscriptions to different facilities.
However, keep in mind that this comes with its own drawbacks. Extra users may reduce the longevity of the equipment, possibly requiring repair or even a new purchase sooner than you would otherwise need. Perhaps more importantly, exercise equipment can be a safety hazard for small children or pets. Ensure that anyone in the home understands the potential risks involved beforehand to avoid any accidents.
Final Word
While Bowflex Gyms offer lots of options to appeal to many buyers, it is always worth mentioning that no piece of equipment will do the work for you. The sooner you start familiarizing yourself with the application and functionality, the more likely you are to stick with it long-term, which means getting better, more consistent results from your workouts.
Any home exercise station is only worth what you put into your workouts. Some of these stations offer truly fantastic exercise possibilities — once you’ve decided which one is right for you, don’t let the potential go to waste.
FAQs
Where is the best place to keep a Bowflex Gym?
While a Bowflex Gym can be stored in any room in the home (provided there’s enough physical space), the likely best place for it is in the garage. If you don’t have a garage, consider any room that doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic (so sessions aren’t interrupted) and, if possible, has thick walls to help keep noise levels down.
Can I still get an effective leg workout with a home gym?
Yes and no. Some of the Bowflex offerings do contain attachments to perform squats, leg extensions, and even some lower-body-friendly calisthenics like rowing, but nothing will replace the intensity and value gained from a squat rack or Olympic platform.
What do I do with my exercise station if I have to move?
While some of these machines are large and quite heavy, Bowflex makes it easy to disassemble them down to be easily transported and reassembled elsewhere. While not an effortless task, it shouldn’t be impossible to relocate your home gym equipment elsewhere if the need arises.
