Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym Review

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Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym Review

If you are looking for a good mid range home gym option, the Bowflex PR1000 is a pretty good option to consider. While it is one of the less expensive mid range home gym models out there, it does still manage to provide you with a good number of features that you will be able to appreciate. It is a really good option for anybody of a beginner or intermediate fitness level looking to get a great workout.

Overview

If you would like to watch a little video overview of the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym, you can check out the video below.

Main Features

The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym does have quite a few features you will want to know about, so let’s just mention the most important ones.

  • Over 30 possible exercises
  • 210 pounds of power rod resistance
  • Lat pull down bar
  • Horizontal bench press
  • Leg extender and leg curl station
  • Low pulleys with grips for more exercises
  • Gliding seat and rail for rowing exercises
  • Seat with vinyl padding
  • Folds down for compact storage
  • 300-pound weight capacity

Dimensions & Weight

While the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym is not all that heavy considering what it comes with, it is quite big. Now, the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym does fold down for easier storage when necessary, which is good for people with small homes. However, it does require a whole lot of available space while in use, which is mostly because of the power rods which provide you with resistance.

  • Length: 84 inches
  • Width: 38 inches
  • Height: 81 inches
  • Weight: 131 pounds

Assembly

Assembling the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym is not all that difficult. It is possible for 1 person to assemble it solo, but it will take quite a while. It is recommended that you work with somebody else to assemble it, in which case it should be doable in under 2 hours. All in all, everything is included in the packaging. Tools and instructions are all provided and easy to use. Keep in mind, this is a pretty big item, so having a helping hand never hurts.

Warranty

The Bowflex PR1000 comes with a 5-year warranty on the rods, a 1-year warranty on the frame, and a 60-day warranty on the parts.

What We Like About The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

There are a few things which we really like about the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym. So, what are the very best aspects of it?

We do really like how the Bowflex PR1000 Homy Gym uses power rod technology to provide you with up to 210 pounds of resistance. The fact that you get so much resistance without all of the added weight of weight stacks or free weights is definitely a big bonus. Power rods are really strong and built to last for a very long time. This makes the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym ideal for any beginner or intermediate workout enthusiast.

Another thing we like about the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym is that it features over 30 possible exercises for you to do. It comes with a leg extender and curling station for leg strengthening. The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym also comes with a lat bar for your arms and upper body, a low pulley station for other upper and lower body exercises, and more.

You will also like the fact that the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym comes with a gliding seat for rowing exercises. The seat can actually convert into a totally horizontal bench for bench press exercises too. Even though this item is meant primarily for weight training, it does allow for a bit of cardio exercise too.

Something else that we like about the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym is that it is fairly durable and stable. It comes with an extra wide base that makes it very stable and well balanced. Also, the steel frame is excellent in terms of durability. This is also true for the power rods, which are proven to be extremely long lasting. All in all, this is a very tough item no doubt.

The other thing that really stands out about the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym is that it can fold down. While it is quite big while in use, at least it can fold down into a smaller package for easy storage. Anybody with a smaller home will be able to appreciate this.

What We Don’t Like About The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

There are one or two things which are not exactly ideal about the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym, so let’s quickly talk about those.

The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym requires a whole lot of space while in use. There is just no denying that. Using the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym will pull the power rods down and to the sides, requiring several feet of space. Anybody with a limited workout room will find this to be a challenge.

While the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym does allow for over 30 different exercises, there are other mid range models out there which allow for over 50, 60, or even 70 exercises. The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym is not ideal for really serious weightlifters because of this.

Alternatives To The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

To put things into perspective a little bit, let’s compare the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym to some of the other mid range home gym options out there.

Bowflex Blaze Home Gym

The Bowflex Blaze Home Gym is like the upgraded version of the PR1000. It has over twice as many different exercise options, it has a better warranty, and is said to be a little more durable too. On the other hand, the Bowflex PR1000 is going to cost you a few hundred bucks less than the Bowflex Blaze, but the workout options are just not nearly as comprehensive as with the Blaze.

Marcy MKM-81010 Home Gym

Marcy MKM-81010 200 lb Stack Home Gym Review

The Marcy MKM-81010 Home Gym is a little more expensive than the Bowflex PR1000, which is not a huge deal. In fact, both machines are kind of similar. The Marcy has a 200-pound weight stack, whereas the Bowflex PR1000 has 210 pounds of power rod resistance. Some people like stacks or rods more than the other, but the preference is up to you. Both machines provide you with over 30 exercises, but the Bowflex PR1000 does feature a gliding seat for some cardio. The Marcy is much heavier than the PR1000, but it does take up less room, so there is a certain tradeoff to consider in terms of the footprint.

Final Thoughts On The Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

The Bowflex PR1000 is a pretty good option to go with no doubt. It is not the most expensive mid range home gym out there, but it definitely does the trick. Over 30 exercise options, the ability to do some cardio, durable power rods, and comfortable padding all make this an excellent choice. While it does not have as many exercise options as some of the other mid range models out there, it will help you train virtually your whole body either way.