Bowflex PR1000 Review:
Our Verdict
Bowflex is a home gym that delivers amazing results for fitness enthusiasts. The Bowflex bench allows you to tone your core, back and chest muscles with exercise routines such as curling, press-down, pullover or triceps extension work out. In addition the power rod technology of this machine provides an intense upper body workout using only minimal weight; perfect for those who need targeted strength training without getting bulky like some other machines offer!
It’s easy to make resolutions. It is easy to tell yourself that you’re turning over a new leaf and getting fit. It is easy to pay for a gym membership – it is much harder to consistently stick to all those plans. Maybe it’s not a matter of commitment and more of just not having the time to go to the gym. That’s when having home gym equipment becomes an absolute gamechanger.
To Buy or Not to Buy: PR1000
Bowflex, the company, has established itself as one of the go-to brands for home gyms. They have a number of offerings that cater to different people with different workout requirements and different budgets.
Today’s feature is the Bowflex PR1000 – a budget friendly and beginner-friendly home gym that does not skimp on versatility. It is popular, but is it the home gym for you? You should be able to answer this question by the end of this thorough review.
Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 84L x 38W x 81H inches (213L x 97W x 205H cm)
- Workout Area: 100L x 78W
- Assembled weight: 131 lbs (59.4 kg)
- Max. user weight: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Seat: Adjustable Bench
- Resistance system: Power Rods
- Standard weight resistance: 210 lbs (95 kg)
- Maximum weight resistance: 310 lbs (Rod Upgrade)
- Possible exercises: 30+
- Accessories: Bowflex Body Plan
- Warranty: Frame 1 year / Power Rods 5 years / Parts 60 days
Features and Benefits
- Simple design that appeals to beginners.
- Competitive price. Good choice for a first home gym.
- Includes seven trainer-built workouts.
- Comes with two training videos to watch along on the media rack, which can also be used to stream your favorite movies, shows, or other training videos.
- Space-saving, folding design.
- Versatile home gym with 30+ available exercise, including aerobic exercises, for your workout routine.
- Includes Bowflex’s Power Rod resistance mechanism that improves safety by eliminating weight plates. It has smooth resistance that is just as good as free weights with minimized risk of joint pain.
- The base weight resistance is upgradeable to 310 lbs as you advance in your training routines.
- Includes the Bowflex Body Plan to maximize what you get out of your routines.
- The extra strenuous exercises are aided by the availability of multi-use grips and cuffs.
- The Bowflex PR1000 is easy to move, making it easy to put away once your daily routine is done.
Special Features [Pros]
Full Body Workout:
With a possibility of over 30 workouts, the PR1000 enables any ser to perform a full-body workout. It is all down to how creative you can get with the equipment, and what your routine targets are.
Versatility and Flexibility:
Not to keep bringing up the 30+ exercise, but it only emphasizes the versatility of the PR1000. The home gym has multi-use hand-grips and ankle cuffs, upholstery roller cushions and, of course, the horizontal bench press. Your exercises can be custom to you and your targets.
If you are a beginner, going through the manual or any instructional videos you prefer will get you on your way to properly using the equipment. After that, your creativity can take over.
Power Rod vs Weights:
Bowflex’s Power Rod resistance system is on full display here, and it comes with its advantages over regular weight plates. The impact on the body is significantly less even as it provides over 200 lbs of resistance. If you are a beginner, both these things are huge advantages, because you will not experience joint aches and you will get a proper workout in regardless.
The PR1000 is quality and durable, and the lack of weight plates also makes the home gym easier to move around.
Small Space? No Problem:
The PR1000 has a foldable design that allows it to take up even less space than it normally does for storage. That is a win in anyone’s book.
Drawbacks [Cons]
The PR100 is a beginner’s best friend, but the same cannot be said for advanced lifters. It can be a bit limiting for users who are more advanced with their exercise routines.
Similarly, the standard 210 lbs resistance may not be enough for some users to begin with.
Setup
The PR1000 measures 84L x 38W x 81H inches (213L x 97W x 205H cm) when assembled. [Yes, it requires assembling]. This gives a workout Area of 100L x 78W and a total assembled weight: 131 lbs (59.4 kg). It is a bit tall at an equivalent of 7 feet, but that should not be a problem for most homes or workout areas. The PR1000 has a complete weight bench and roller cushions which add to its length. It also has a lateral pulldown bar and a bench press bar.
It arrives in a relatively heavy box. Bowflex recommend that you have one other person to help with the assembly as per the instructions, but it can definitely be assembled by one person. Speaking of the instructions, they are clear with large illustrations to go along with them. Tools are included, but you will most probably end up using your own anyway.
Workouts
The Bowflex PR1000 is a true all-in-one home gym. It helps in toning, and sculpting the body muscles. It makes use of the Bowflex Power Rod system to provide resistance. When the cables are pulled, the rubberized rods bend. This differs from the weight plates system that would require you to move them up and down.
The PR1000 home gym is capable of over 30 exercises with resistance levels between 5 and 210 lbs for the standard configuration. With this large number of possible exercises, a full body workout is possible.
Possible exercises and target areas include:
- Lower Body [Legs]: kickbacks, leg extensions, and hamstring curls.
- Upper Body [Chest]: decline press, flyes, and flats.
- Back: rows, lower back extensions, and lat pulldowns.
- Shoulders: shrugs, overhead presses, and lateral raise.
- Arms: bicep curls, forearm flexion, and tricep pushdowns.
- Core: obliques, trunk rotation, and abdominal crunches.
This home gym has:
- An adjustable bench for the bench press and incline/decline
- A lower pulley for the bicep curls
- An upper pulley for the pulldowns
- A leg developer attachment for leg extensions
- A sliding seat for cardio rowing
Bowflex The PR1000 home gym alternatives
1. Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Home gym
This machine is one of our favorite machines with less than 1000 pounds in resistance. It's compact and offers 30 different exercises that should be on top of considerations for newbie home gym setups-especially if you're looking to take up little space! This machine has a compact design and comes with 30 different exercises. It offers power rod resistance up to 210 pounds, so it is great for beginners or those who are new at home gym setups! see full review
2. Bowflex Blaze Home gym
The Bowflex Blaze is here to start your transformation into a toned, defined you! Workouts are more engaging and intense with 60 plus exercises for complete body workouts. 210 pounds of Power Rods allows you to graduate up in weight as easy as ABC- no equipment has ever been so flexible. Cushioned hand grips arm cuff attachments allow for precise weight placement to target the muscles precisely, and make sure that this 30 minute workout becomes your best one yet!
3. Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym
The Bowflex PR3000 doesn't just provide you with a wide range of exercises for your body, it is also the most versatile machine available. You can find fitness tutorials for this machine on YouTube or use a heart rate monitor to help undo the fat around your body and get lean muscles! Unlike other traditional strength products, such as dumbbells, barbells, and machines—the PR3000 will never be outdated because of its capability to upgrade resistance by simply replacing Power Rods (upgrade only).
4. Bowflex Xceed Home Gym
The Bowflex Xceed is built to last and designed for maximum workout efficiency. With 210 pounds of power rod resistance standard, upgradable up to 310 or 410 pounds, the Bowflex Xceed makes sure every muscle group in your body gets a workout you’ll feel tomorrow. Not only does this machine offer multiple cable positions and exercises, but it also comes with an ab training strap, squat bar, and lat bar. see full review
5. Bowflex BodyTower Home Gym
The Bowflex BodyTower is the simple, easy-to-use machine you've been waiting for. It delivers a full range of exercises, with 7 adjust levels and nonabsorbent foam cushioned back pad. We put this baby on an industrial strength steel frame that can hold up to 350lbs, so it's stable and strong enough to push your limits - even if you're all the way up (or down) at level 7!
Bottom Line
The Bowlflex PR1000 more than delivers on what it sets out to do. Offer a solid home gym at an affordable price, and easy enough for beginners to start their fitness journeys. Its versatility will see you come up with creative workouts that suit you and your goals. While not the best for users who are advanced, it is great for the casual user who just needs to get some exercise hours in from the comfort of their home.
It has all the tools to help in physiotherapy, burning those pesky calories that you may have consumed (accidentally of course), and to help you stay in shape without having to leave the house. Bowflex’s fantastic Power Rod system gives you the resistance without the drawbacks of a weight plates system. The 210 lb resistance will give anyone a proper workout without causing any joint aches and completely inertia-free. Every muscle in your body is properly taken care of.
It is worth mentioning that the PR1000 comes at a fraction of the price of other home gyms, including Bowflex’s own PR3000, with which it shares a lot of similarities. This affordable price makes it a great value for money and a great home gym to get if you’re just starting out and you don’t want to commit a huge sum just yet. It takes up little space, yet offers a lot in terms of your workouts.
To answer the question asked at the beginning of this review, the Bowflex PR1000 is for you if you want a home gym that will go easy on your joints, that will take up minimal space, and that will offer 200 lbs of resistance. The PR1000 is not for you if you need more than 200 lbs resistance, or you just are not a fan of the Power Rod resistance system.