When you get any kind of gym equipment from a reputable brand, you’re not simply getting a product, you’re delving into a platform, and if you want your home gym to be harmonic, you ought to get all of your machines from one manufacturer.
Although there are hundreds of brands on the market, we can only recommend a handful of them, and in the case of Bowflex, we can confidently say that it’s quite the reliable brand – one that checks pretty much all the boxes when it comes to quality, durability, and affordability. If you’re sold on Bowflex but can’t decide which products you should get, here’s our list of the best Bowflex machines that you can get today, along with a detailed buying guide that will help you with your final choice.
Best Bowflex Machines for The Money: Comparison table
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1. Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Home Gym
The Xtreme 2SE is definitely Bowflex’s most popular home gym machine, and for good reason. The price of this fine piece of equipment is hefty, but for the versatility it offers, it remains one of the best investments that you can make for the sake of your health and body. Furthermore, the frame of Bowflex’s Xtreme 2SE is made of heavy-duty steel, which means that the durability in this machine is second to none. In other words, you won’t have to worry about replacing it anytime soon as soon as you install it in your house.
- 70+ exercises that cover the entire body
- The home gym comes standard with 210 lbs., upgradeable up to 310 lbs. or 410 lbs.
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Although it doesn’t feature a bench, like most home gym machines out there, the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE does come with an adjustable seat with polyurethane high-density foam cushion, which means that it’s both comfy and ergonomic.
Speaking of ergonomics, you can easily switch positions in the Xtreme 2SE to try different cable or pulley exercises (over 70 possibilities here) without even having to remove the cable thanks to the Quick-Change Power Rod system, which is a nice feature that would really save you loads of time in the long run and make your workouts more effective. Add that to the fact that it offers 210 pounds of power rod resistance (which can be upgraded to 310 or 410 pounds as you progress), and you’ve got yourself a machine that’s worth of any home gym.
The only downside to the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE (besides the fact that it doesn’t have a bench) is that it’s so versatile and ergonomic that you won’t be able to use any excuse to stop training and grinding. Sorry, not sorry.
Pros
- Ergonomic Quick-Change Power Rod system
- Heavy-duty steel construction
- Leg extension cables included
Cons
- No long bench
2. Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
Although it doesn’t offer the same versatility as the Xtreme 2SE reviewed above, the PR1000 from Bowflex is still a pretty customizable home gym, especially that it does come with a weight bench. Besides, it’s around half the price of the Xtreme 2SE, which explains the difference in versatility.
- 25plus exercises that cover the entire body
- Over 200 lb. Power Rod resistance
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Thanks to the ergonomic design of this home gym, you can easily choose any of the four positions of the lower pulley/squat station to perform over 25 exercises that cover the entire body. Given that the machine offers 210 pounds of power rod resistance, you can rest assured as you’ll be able to smash every workout with the PR1000.
Cardio enthusiasts will like the fact that the bench can be converted into a rolling seat that can be used for aerobic rowing. Talk about a full home gym, huh?
The built-in media rack is just the cherry on top, as you can use it to keep your smartphone or tablet nearby without affecting your workout. If you’re one to change the music frequently during your training sessions, that will come in handy all the time.
If you’re looking for a home gym that can be used to perform weight lifting as well as cardio, then we highly recommend the PR1000 as the best Bowflex machine that you can get today.
Pros
- Excellent for cardio
- Reasonable price tag
- The bench converts to an aerobic rower
Cons
- Not suitable for moderate to heavy lifters
3. Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
If you find the Xtreme 2SE to be overkill and the PR1000 to be not enough for your goals, then you might want to check the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym, which offers the versatility and resistance of the first and the cardio capabilities of the latter.
- 60 plus exercises for a full body workout. Workout Area-100L x 78W inches. Folded footprint-52L x 38W x 83H inches
- 210 lbs of Power Rod resistance, upgradable to 310 lbs or 410 lbs
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Thanks to the included lateral and squat bars and a multitude of cable/pulley positions that you can choose from, the Bowflex Blaze can be used to perform more than 60 exercises that cover the entire body.
Just like the Xtreme 2SE, the Blaze offers 210 pounds of power rod resistance, which can be upgraded to 310 pounds or 410 pounds as you keep adding new gains to your guns. Also, similarly to the PR1000, the bench can be converted into an aerobic rower for cardio, thus giving you the best of both worlds.
Another thing that we truly like in the Bowflex Blaze is the foldable bench and included wheels, which make storing this home gym away while not in use a breeze. If you’re planning to keep the best Bowflex machine in your garage, that will come in handy when you need to get your car inside. That’s convenience at its finest, folks!
Unfortunately, this machine isn’t on the same level of convenience as the Xtreme home gym, as you do need to change the cables as you switch exercises.
All in all, Bowflex’s Blaze is one of the best Bowflex machines that you can get today in terms of convenience and ergonomics, especially that it has a price tag that sits in the middle ground.
Pros
- Can be used to perform more than 60 exercises
- 210 pounds of resistance, which you can upgrade to either 310 pounds or 410 pounds
- The long bench can be converted into an aerobic rower for cardio
Cons
- You need to change the cables when changing exercises
4. Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym
Just like the Xtreme 2SE, the price of the PR3000 is hefty, and just like the Xtreme 2SE, it’s totally justified considering the versatility, convenience, and ease of use this home gym from Bowflex offers.
- Offers over 50 gym quality exercises to work out your entire body
- Provides as little as 5 or as many as 210 pounds of power rod resistance
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Although you can perform over 50 exercises using the PR3000 thanks to the Quick-Change Power Rod system, we especially like how easy it is to do squats on this machine, as all you have to do is remove the seat and leg extension and voila! Your squat rack is ready!
The number of exercises that can be done using the PR3000 is lower than that offered by the Blaze, but considering that you have to remove the cables when using the latter, the PR3000 may seem like the better option for many people. Also, the resistance may not look like much at 210 pounds, but it can be upgraded to 310 pounds as you progress and keep adding new gains.
Unfortunately, the assembly is not as easy as the use as the instruction sheet isn’t as detailed as you would expect. Other than that, this is still one of the best Bowflex machines that you can get today.
Pros
- 210 pounds of resistance that’s upgradable to 310 pounds
- You don’t need to change cables when switching exercises
- You can perform over 50 exercises using this home gym
Cons
- Challenging assembly
5. Bowflex Revolution Home Gym
The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is the priciest product on our list, and it provides resistance in a different manner than the usual power rod system used in the other home gyms from Bowflex.
- 100 exercises for a full body workout
- SpiraFlex technology works independently of gravity to provide resistance without inertia
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Using the SpiraFlex technology and SpiraFlex plates, the machine provides consistent resistance throughout the entire exercise or lift, as opposed to the power rod system, which increases the resistance as you go. That results in much higher resistance of 210 pounds that can be upgraded to 600 pounds, making the Bowflex home gym ideal for heavy lifters.
Add that resistance to the 10 positions that you can try and over 100 exercises that you can perform using this home gym, and you’ve got yourself a true beast when it comes to raw power and versatility. If you want to get your workouts to the next level, this is the best Bowflex machine that you can get.
Not only can this machine be used to lift, but it’s also suitable for cardio as you can use the sliding seat rail to perform aerobic rowing and leg presses, which means that this Bowflex home gym is perfect for both moderate and heavy lifters and those looking for an authentic all-in-one experience that can substitute their gym membership.
Pros
- Folds upright to save space
- 600-pound maximum resistance
- Can be used to perform over 100 exercises
Cons
- Expensive
Choosing the Best Bowflex Machine – Buying Guide
Now that you’ve taken a look at our picks for the best Bowflex machine, it’s time for you to choose the ideal home gym for you. To do that, simply check our buying guide.
Why You Should Get a Bowflex Machine
Bowflex is one of the most known home gym manufacturers in the world, which may raise the question: is getting the best Bowflex machine worth it, or is all of the home workout and training stuff just hype?
Well, let’s call a spade a spade: if you want to get fit and rock that beach body you’ve always craved, you must put in the work and give your best when training.
Getting the best Bowflex machine is an excellent investment, as it will help you save a great deal of money that you would otherwise spend on a gym membership that you may or may not use. It’s also a great way to stay motivated as blood will start pumping in your veins every time you see your home gym machine.
Having said that, getting the best Bowflex machine is only the first step of the journey, as you still need to do the actual workout.
So, in short, purchasing the best Bowflex machine is worth it, but be prepared to five your best when working out if you want to see real results.
What to Look for in the Best Bowflex Machine
When looking for the best Bowflex machine, there are certain features that you must consider above everything else, including:
- Resistance
The first thing that you need to consider is the resistance that the Bowflex home gym can provide. Depending on your fitness level, you can either go with a machine that offers enough resistance for light lifters, say 210 pounds for example, such as the Bowflex PR1000, or one that can put your gains under pressure and help you pump up your workouts for real, like the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE, in which the resistance can be upgraded to 410 pounds, or the Revolution Home Gym, which offers up to 600 pounds of muscle building resistance thanks to the SpiraFlex technology.
- Size
Since you’re (probably) looking for the Bowflex machine for your home gym, it’s critical that you get a model that can fit inside your house. Some Bowflex machines, such as the Max Trainer and Revolution, can fold up to save on space while not in use, while others cannot be adjusted and will take up too much room all the time.
- Available Exercises
Different Bowflex machines offer various positions, positions, and possible exercises. This is another factor that depends on your fitness level and how well you know your way around gym equipment. Some models, such as the PR1000, can be used to perform a low number of exercises, which isn’t a bad thing if you’re a beginner. Others, such as the Bowflex Revolution, have over 100 built-in exercises, making them ideal for advanced users and heavy lifters.
Verdict
Not only would the best Bowflex machine help you get in shape, but it would also make fitness more accessible, especially that the people at Bowflex really focus on the user experience and include training routines with all of the home gyms.
Keep in mind that as we mentioned above, the best Bowflex machine is only one step of your fitness journey, and you still need to give your best when training to improve and see more gains as you push forward.