In this review, I’m going to take a closer look at the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym to see how it compares to other home gyms, and whether or not it meets the standards of a serious fitness enthusiast. As a former bodybuilder, I can tell you that this exercise machine surprised me, and after reading my review below I think you’ll see why I really liked this home gym.
If you’re serious about your workouts and you’re looking to build lean muscle and lose fat, then the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym with over 50 different exercise movements has everything you need. While researching this home gym I discovered that on-line reviews by owners were overwhelmingly positive. Earning this gym a top spot as one of Amazon’s best sellers and a 4 ½ out of 5 star rating.
Bowflex Gyms use their patented “Power Rod Technology” as resistance instead of standard free weights. Using power rods instead of the more traditional weight stack makes this home gym much lighter then it’s “free weight” counterparts which makes it easier to move around, and much easier on your floors. Another nice feature of the Power Rod technology is that even with the most advanced workout routines you don’t need a spotter, every exercise can be done by yourself… and when you’re done you can fold it up and easily move it wherever you’d like.
The Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym can be upgraded to accommodate up to 310 pounds of resistance (it comes with 210 pounds), and it has a no-change cable pulley system when you want to increase or decrease the resistance for each exercise. Customers that were critical of the machine were quick to point out that the 210 pounds of resistance that comes as standard with the equipment was inadequate for a good leg work out.
This model has a full bench, slanted bench and lat pull down grips for building and toning your arms, shoulders, chest and back muscles with multiple variations. Your legs and lower body can be strengthened and toned quite easily with leg curls, leg extensions, and calf raises… to name just a few. Throw in some cardio with it’s built-in rowing station… and now you can really put together an intense customized routine that will build lean muscle and burn fat… all with one machine.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym
“I just got the PR3000 home gym; Installed the extra 100lb flex bars last night. And have been really enjoying the range of motion this gym gives to the standard exercises. Amazon did a great job in every way, as usual. Delivering to the door and inside, so I didn’t have to contend with the 174lb box! The box was nicely packed and the instructions were good enough. Thanks Bowflex and Amazon, and keep up the good work!”
Peter W
This Bowflex model is a serious machine with over 50 exercises. If your fitness goals are less demanding, or if you are looking for a home gym that’s more affordable, you might want to look at the Bowflex PR1000 as an alternative. It’s an excellent gym as well, at almost half the price.
The best pricing that I could find for all of the Bowflex gyms was at Amazon. Currently, this model is on sale at almost 40% discounted price, and it qualifies for Amazon’s free shipping and super saver discount. I strongly recommend this home gym, especially at these prices. The Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym offers a lot for the money and will get you in shape in no time.
The majority of online Bowflex Reviews show high ratings for the Bowflex Pr3000 and it’s slightly scaled down version, the Bowflex PR1000. If you are into hardcore bodybuilding, then you probably want to look at the Bowflex PR3000 instead. But, if you are looking to build strength, tone your body and lose body fat then the Bowflex PR1000 has more then enough built in exercises to give just about anyone an excellent total body workout. In these Bowflex reviews, I’m going to take a closer look at how this gym measures up, and whether or not the benefits of stronger muscles and a reduction of body fat can be reasonably expected from this home gym.
While researching this particular model I wanted to hear what people had to say after purchasing it and working out on it. On average, this Bowflex gym received great reviews by it’s owners. In fact, it is one of Amazon’s most popular home gyms and as of this writing, it has a 4 ½ out of 5 star rating by Amazon’s customers. Critical on-line reviews for this model were very similar… pointing out that the Bowflex PR1000 is not upgradeable. In other words you cannot add additional power rods for resistance beyond the 210 pounds the machine comes with. The other complaint was that the resistance was inadequate for leg exercises.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Bowflex PR1000…
“This product is well worth the money. It is only about $100 more than a one year membership at a club and you can work out whenever you want. For the semi-serious to the serious workout type this is the product for you. Well done Bowflex.I always say that if you train hard, you will train alone, and this product makes it easy.”
Daniel L.
Bowflex designed this model for customers who’s fitness goals were to lose fat, develop lean muscle, and stay fit with a home gym design that was a slightly scaled down and very affordable version of their more expensive exercise machines. And…. if you combine that with its built in rowing station for aerobic health you now have the ability to build muscle and lose fat from one piece of equipment. It has a full flat bench and a slanted bench to strengthen your chest, shoulders and tri-ceps. It also has a Lat pulldown feature for strengthening your upper back and biceps.
Bowflex’s patented Power Rod Technology as a replacement for real weights might seem a little different at first if you are used to working out with free weights. But after a couple of sets, you should be quite comfortable with its “feel” and you’ll love the smoothness of each rep and the increased range of motion that you just can’t get with most free weight movements. The rowing station is a solid benefit to your workouts because you can use it as a warm-up, or as a cool down or as a “stand-alone” aerobic workout. No matter how you customize your workouts, throwing some cardio into the mix will really accelerate your fat loss while toning and building new muscle. Bowflex reviews from current owners are excellent when discussing this feature.
BOWFLEX PR1000 HOME GYM FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS:
Sliding Seat Rail adds aerobic rowing training for calorie-burning, cardiovascular warm-up
Multi-use Hand-Grip/Ankle Cuffs designed to add flexibility and performance to any workout
Workout Placard displays workout descriptions for easy reference while you’re exercising
Number of available exercises: 30+
210 pounds of Power Rod resistance
Four-inch upholstered roller cushions for leg extension and leg curl
Unless you are looking to become the next Mr or Ms Olympia, the Bowflex PR1000 offers tremendous value at an affordable price. This model also qualifies for Amazon’s free super saver shipping and is currently on sale at 40% off. Assembly is simple and straightforward but will take you about 2 hours according to the Bowflex reviews we’ve looked at. This home gym is compact, requiring very little space and it looks good no matter what room you put it in! For the price, I highly recommend the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym. It’s a great value and once you start using it you’ll get a great work out and you’ll love the way you look and feel.
Newly designed, this innovative pair of Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells is a smart accessory to the Bowflex PR3000. It combines 15 sets of weights into one using a unique dial system. Because the dial system makes this weight set so flexible, it’s the only set of weights you’ll ever need, making it a great choice for the small workout area.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells have taken weight training at home to the next level. If you want to get a good strength workout at home, but don’t have much space, the Bowflex 552 SelectTech Dumbbells are an ideal solution.
What I like most about these weights is that they are a great space saver, and it is very convenient to change the weight quickly when you need it. Simply put, the Bowflex Selecttech 552 dumbells are convenient, functional, affordable, and compact. If you’re looking for an effective, affordable, and space saving set of high quality dumbbells, definitely purchase this item.
Product Features
Each dumbbell adjusts from 5 to 52.5 pounds
Lets you rapidly switch from one exercise to the next
Combines 15 sets of weights into one, using a unique dial system
Eliminates the need for multiple dumbbells cluttering your workout space
Five-year warranty on weight plates, two-year warranty on parts
The Bowflex Selecttech 552 dumbbells are a perfect compliment to any Bowflex home gym. Because of their ability to provide you with incremental changes in weight, you don’t need to fill up an entire wall with two levels of dumbbells to have what you need. From warm ups to full on heavy resistance you’ve got what you need with the switch of a dial, and than easily stored in an area that can be measured in inches, not feet.
From a work out perspective, adding these to your arsenal opens up a lot more exercises and movements as well. Combining dumbbells with any strength training routine allows for a more diverse set of muscle groups to target, with different movements and range of motions. For the serious fitness enthusiast who wants an affordable but fully functional home gym set up with very little space required… I highly recommend these adjustable dumbbells.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about Bowflex Selecttech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
“These dumbbells allow me to have all the weights I need in a small workout area. You do need to treat them more gently than gym weights” but that’s a good habit to get into anyway. I highly recommend these weights. Stronger lifters may also need the set that goes higher in weight.”
Much like the Bowflex PR3000, the Bowflex Blaze is similar to having a whole resistance training gym tucked right into your den. Bowflex Power Rods give you resistance, or weight, that feels as good as or better than free weight lifting — but without the inertia or risk of joint pain that is almost always associated with free weight strength training.
Why does strength training work better than aerobics for getting fit and losing fat? Because the more muscles you have on your body, the higher your metabolism rate, and the more calories you burn. With the Bowflex Blaze you can shape and sculpt your muscles to make your body look the way you want. It just takes persistence and dedication.
I wanted to be more consistent with my workouts so I wanted the flexibility of having something at home to be able to workout when going to gym just wasn’t convenient.
I looked at some other home gyms, but I felt like the Bowflex Blaze offered the opportunity of a more complete workout. I recommend that you go through the manual and identify and lay out all of the parts. The instructions really are very good. I don’t know of any other machine as versatile and complete as a bowflex for the money and space.
Product Features
Home gym with more than 60 gym-quality exercises for all muscle groups
Lower pulley/squat station for working glutes, hamstrings, and quads
Lat tower with angled lat bar helps build back and shoulder muscles
210 pounds of Power Rod Technology resistance (upgradable to 310 or 410 pounds)
Leg extension/leg curl attachment; measures 90 by 83 by 38 inches (W x H x D)
The Bowflex Blaze offers lots of great features like triple function handgrips and ankle cuffs for better range of motion with different movements. The patented Power Rod technology for resistance provides a smooth, safer alternative to free weights while reducing the over all weight of the machine and the size of the area required for set up. Bowflex and their engineers have built these power rods to very precise manufacturing specifications and have placed them under rigorous testing.
Bowflex is so confident in this technology that they offer a no time limit, lifetime replacement should anything go wrong with the power rods on your machine. When you combine this with the cardio benefits of this machine, it’s compact size and light weight… the Blaze has proven itself to be an excellent personal fitness machine.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Bowflex Blaze
I used to work as a personal trainer and thought I would never be able to find one single machine that gave me the kind of work out I got at the gym. I would absolutely recommend the Bowflex Blaze to anyone looking for a home alternative for a gym membership.
If the Bowflex PR3000 is a Cadillac, then the Bowflex Revolution is the Rolls Royce! This gym is a versatile, functional and compact piece of equipment with a very smooth range of motion for each exercise. Due primarily to it’s patented Spira-Flex technology, this home gym provides consistent resistance ranging from 10lbs to 200lbs, offering even the advanced fitness enthusiast an excellent workout.
The Bowflex Revolution duplicates virtually every exercise from your local gym, with Freedom Arms that adjust 170 degrees to work muscles from various angles. The machine also includes a leg press plate for your lower body, along with a five-position foot harness. Even NFL star quarterback Brett Favre endorses the Bowflex Revolution, and has for years.
The Bowflex Revolution’s full range of motion requires a little getting used to, but after a week or so you get the hang of it. The workouts are harder because you truly are getting an even constant resistance both positive and negative making exercises that may have been easier on other machines or free weights feel much harder on this machine. The Revolution makes you use all those extra muscles that you would not ordinarily use. The machine has over 100 exercises with 400 variations, along with a CD-ROM personal trainer and DVD that shows you how to properly use this machine and perform each exercise.
The Revolution has received plenty of endorsements from fitness experts and publications. Men’s Health magazine ranked the Bowflexs Revolution as one of its Top 100 products in 2005 and they continue write favorable reviews on this gym even today. Popular Mechanics endorsed this gym as well, despite their anti-infomercial policy for most products, stating that the Revolution was one of the few products they tested that lived up to the hype.
With over 100 exercises and an instructional DVD, you will be able to begin an almost limitless, customized work out regimen at any level from beginner to advanced body builder. This is an expensive machine, and won’t fit into everyones budget… but if you can afford this model by Bowflex you’ll be very happy with your purchase and the results it will give you.
Here’s what one owner had to say about the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym…
“I really do enjoy this machine. I prefer it over the older bowflex models with the power rods. The thing that sold me on this was when I tried it out at a sports store I liked the way the resistance felt. I think the Bowflex Revolution is great and recommend it because of it’s excellent workouts and 10 year piece of mind warranty.”
For the money, the Bowflex PR3000 power rods are hard to beat for its overall value. But if your budget allows you to move into the realm of an elite home gym than the Bowflex Revolution is worth checking out. Endorsed by numerous athletes, including Superbowl MVP Brett Favre, the Revolution is a fitness machine that has everything you could want in a compact home gym. Most of the home gyms in the Bowflex product line use power rods for the machines resistance. However, the Revolution uses a different type of technology called Spira-Flex.
Spira-Flex is where an elastic strap is wrapped around a coil which controls the amount of resistance required to move it. The engineering behind this concept is innovative to be sure… with the end result being a feel that is exactly the same as a cabled movement from any other piece of equipment. The resistance throughout the entire range of motion allows you to reach failure for the muscle group you are exercising if that’s what you want. The bottom line is that this will provide you with a more focused isolation of muscle fibers resulting in greater intensity for your workouts.
The Bowflex Revolution allows for over 100 different exercises with over 400 variations of each movement. This large selection includes upper body, lower body, abdominals and low back movements . This machine is top shelf for the fitness enthusiast with more of a budget and is exactly why I included it as one of our top rated home gyms here at Bowflex PR3000.
admin on April 23, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off
A comparison of the Bowflex PR3000 vs Bowflex PR1000…
The PR1000 model is the slightly scaled down version of the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym. I consider the PR1000 to be more of an entry level home gym for those just starting out with weight lifting, or it can also work very well for a fitness enthusiast who wants to focus more on staying tone and fit versus building serious muscle. And for under $500.00 you will be hard pressed to find another machine in that price range that offers what the PR1000 does. In the video below, you’ll find a short demo and real life testimony of a PR1000 owner. Wanting to lose weight and tone her muscles, the PR1000 worked great for her.
Compact, portable and stylish, the Bowflex product line with it exclusive Power Rod technology is perfect for anyone looking to put a quality gym in their home without breaking the bank. The Bowflex PR1000 is light and doesn’t require much space. But it looks impressive no matter where you put it in your home. One drawback is that it cannot be upgraded beyond it’s 210 pound capacity and if you are a large person, over six feet tall you may encounter some problems, especially with the rowing station and some lower body movements. If these are problems for you, you should consider the PR3000 or the Blaze instead.
admin on April 23, 2012 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off
Hello! My name is John Allen and I have a 30 year background in fitness training, bodybuilding and nutrition. I have organized and run many sporting events over the years and have volunteered my services on the committees for both professional and amateur sporting events. I love the Bowflex product line and decided to start this website to share my opinions and comparisons of each model by providing objective, detailed reviews of personal fitness equipment that I can endorse and recommend. Thanks for stopping by!
DISCLAIMER: Bowflex PR3000 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
In this review, I’m going to take a closer look at the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym to see how it compares to other home gyms, and whether or not it meets the standards of a serious fitness enthusiast. As a former bodybuilder, I can tell you that this exercise machine surprised me, and after reading my review below I think you’ll see why I really liked this home gym.
at even with the most advanced workout routines you don’t need a spotter, every exercise can be done by yourself… and when you’re done you can fold it up and easily move it wherever you’d like.
develop lean muscle, and stay fit with a home gym design that was a slightly scaled down and very affordable version of their more expensive exercise machines. And…. if you combine that with its built in rowing station for aerobic health you now have the ability to build muscle and lose fat from one piece of equipment. It has a full flat bench and a slanted bench to strengthen your chest, shoulders and tri-ceps. It also has a Lat pulldown feature for strengthening your upper back and biceps.
