About Bowflex
Back in 1986, when jazzercise and aerobics instructors occupied the screens of many North Americans, Bowflex had different ideas about what at-home workouts should look like.
In fact, at-home exercise was about to be revolutionized by the brand’s innovative home gym systems that were designed to sculpt every major body zone.
Then came the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym, a futuristic universal machine that allows you to perform over 100 different exercises to support every kind of workout routine, strength level, and fitness goal.
Thirty five years later and Bowflex still represents the industry standard for quality home fitness equipment, from cardio contraptions to adjustable dumbbells and weights.
For those who are still weary about working out in public or investing in a gym membership, Bowflex offers you a way to achieve real results from the comfort of your own home.
But in this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the machine that started it all.
What We Love About the Bowflex Revolution
With a quick and easy in-home assembly guide, flexible financing options, and fast shipping methods, it’s no wonder why the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym still reigns supreme in a market that swings with the latest health and fitness trends.
Here a few highlights before going into the details:
- Most advanced Bowflex at-home gym machine
- Provides a total body cardio and strength training workout
- Designed to be suitable for all ages and fitness types
- Countless number of exercise options available
- Uses innovative SpiraFlex and Power Rod mechanizations to make more effective workouts
- Able to do 170-degree adjustments with 10 position settings
- Contains a DVD that guides you through workouts
- Maximum resistance up to 300 pounds for upper body and 600 pounds for lower body routines
- Has a 10 year warranty
- Built with highest quality materials for long lasting durability
- Offers financing through Paybright
Let’s take a deep dive into this Bowflex Revolution Home Gym Review together.
Bowflex Revolution Home Gym Overview
The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is the most popular model in Bowflex’s home gym system lineup. Both of Bowflex’s home gym setups – the Revolution and the Xtreme 2 SE – use trailblazing resistance technologies that do not rely on gravity (more on that in a moment).
Its $2,899 price tag accounts for the fact that the Revolution Home Gym allows you to perform 30 more exercises than the Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym.
With advanced plate technology, adjustable arms, a leg press attachment, curl attachment, and vertical bench press, you can execute many of variations of your favorite movements.
In short, there are so many great features that this machine hosts, and this Bowflex Revolution Home Gym Review will take an in-depth look at its best qualities to help you decide whether or not it’s worth the buy.
Bowflex Revolution Home Gym Highlights
To say that this home gym makes it easy to complete safe and efficient workouts would be an understatement, since Bowflex made it their utmost priority to reduce the strain that heavy lifting puts on your joints.
In fact, Bowflex’s special plate technology was designed for NASA and works self-sufficiently to provide resistance without inertia.
As a result, the brand’s patented SpiraFlex and Power Rod mechanizations make it virtually impossible to ‘cheat’ yourself through the most beneficial movements for your body, as well as those exercises that you dread performing most. (Hello, squats!)
Plus, the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym functions as an aerobic rowing machine so that you can have access to total-body cardio and strength training workouts even if you don’t have the room for an actual rowing machine.
Simply remove the long portion of the workout bench and unlock the small seat so that it can slide back and forth with ease.
Next, adjust the tension by sliding the hooks into the lightest resistance rod on the machine. Finally, attach both handles to the pulleys located near the head of the bench and row away.
Technical Specifications
To comfortably use this machine, you’ll need to clear a workout area of 10′ by 7′. When it’s fully set up, it measures at 9′ 4″ long, 3′ 2″ wide, and 6′ 1″ tall.
It’s no wonder why the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is so hefty, as the entire frame is crafted from heavy duty steel.
The Spiraflex Resistance Packs are made out of metal and elastic which also adds a few extra pounds to the overall weight, especially if you upgrade the Resistance Packs themselves.
The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym weighs in at 336.2 lbs (152.5 kg) while the Spiraflex Resistance Packs contribute another 220 lbs, which produces 440 lbs of resistance.
Upgraded to 300 lbs, the Resistance Packs can turn out 600 lbs of resistance total.
Features
Whether or not you’re into training your arms, legs, glutes, shoulders or back, this home gym allows you to isolate the parts of your body that you want to tone and strengthen.
Even better, you can do so without worrying about putting too much pressure on singular muscle groups, particularly ones that are prone to injury.
The following list provides details on the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym attachments and features that can be used to execute isolated movements.
- The Freedom Arms move independently of the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym and they can be positioned 10 different ways. They can also be adjusted to 170 degrees.
- The Leg Press Station can operate with up to 600 lbs of resistance, a range of power that’s unparalleled by most home gyms.
- The Preacher Curl Attachment allows you to rest your elbows on a platform while grasping the inner handles of the ab/leg attachment with an underhand grip.
- The Vertical Bench Press helps you complete a wide range of exercises and up to 400 variations on the 100 performable exercises.
- The Leg Extension can be used to carry out strengthening and toning exercises that chisel your thighs and calves.
Price
Now, you’re probably wondering just how much a versatile machine like the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym costs, as we would be too after reading about its many different qualities and benefits. While the average cost for a home gym settles around $3,000, the Revolution Home Gym comes in at $2,899.
Fortunately, Bowflex offers workable financing through PayBright for as low as $320.75 per month with a 0% annual percentage rate (APR).
So, if you can’t fork over the cash all at once, no need to worry – you can have your home gym at basically no extra cost (since you won’t be paying any interest on it).
Considering the priceless interest rate and how multifaceted this model is, we believe the Revolution Home Gym is worth the buy.
Why? Many home gyms that are comparable in price come with far less features, lesser quality materials, and less approachable financing options.
Plus, purchasing a Revolution Home Gym is quite accessible through Bowflex’s retail partners, Amazon and the Fitness Superstore.
Shipping & Assembly
Impressively, the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is expected to ship within a week of placing your order.
If you’ve already started thinking about how you’re going to assemble the heavy, awkward parts, Bowflex has got you covered with in-home assembly for only $299.
The in-home assembly could realistically save you a whole lot of heartache and pain if you don’t have someone to help you set it up. As Bowflex’s most loyal customers have put it, it’s “definitely a two-person job to set up the beginning steps of installation”.
The 19-step assembly process requires an allen wrench for top cover screws (provided), as well as a wrench, Phillips head screwdriver, and utility knife or scissors (not provided).
For a worry-free set up and workout space, be sure to clear an area of at least 120” long by 84” wide. You’ll want plenty of room to open the five boxes that the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym comes in, which you can read the details about below:
- Box 1: Shipping weight of 33.85 lbs. Includes pre-stretch pack and pre-stretch hardware pack documentation kit.
- Box 2: Shipping weight of 133.34 lbs. Includes main frame assembly and Bowflex Revolution®/Revolution® XP/FT common hardware card.
- Box 3: Shipping weight of 70.96 lbs. Includes 3 D-ring strap platform preacher curl frame, preacher curl pad, small seat back assembly, handle kit, foot harness kit, and Bowflex Revolution® main assembly hardware card.
- Box 4: Shipping weight of 81.54 lbs. Includes low row foot plate, front stabilizer leg press plate, four bar assembly, roller pads, end caps, preacher curl bar, and leg extension assembly.
- Box 5: Shipping weight of 94.77 lbs. Shaft/bumper assembly, lower rail with slider seat, rail with seat roller, and assembly bench assembly.
Build Quality
Luckily, Bowflex customers have provided tons of enthusiastic commentary on the build quality of the Revolution Home Gym, which is no surprise considering the solid materials and detailed assembly process that ensures the stability of the machine.
Better yet, the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym folds to a relatively compact size of 55″ long by 38″ wide, so it’s easily movable even for the modestly sized person.
‘Sturdy’ is a word that is commonly used in the reviews section on Bowflex’s website, but customers seem to be most impressed with the variety of workouts that the Revolution Home Gym can help you perform without straining your joints.
Apparently, “you feel the quality” of the materials used.
“I now own the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells, Bowflex SelectTech 5-1 Bench, Bowflex Bodytower, Bowflex Revolution and many other pieces of exercise equipment. Out of ALL the pieces we own, nothing compares to the overall quality you get from Bowflex,” said one reviewer.
“This machine was everything I expected and more. Sturdy design and TONS of options for working ALL muscle groups,” another Bowflex customer said.
“I can’t say much more than that this machine was perfect for me and my wife. My wife is disabled and this machine is great for people with injuries or that require physical therapy.” said one happy reviewer.
Comfort
As mentioned above, the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym has a good reputation for being accessible to people with different body types and abilities, but it has also built up an amazing track record with people of all ages, too.
Interestingly, many of the Revolution Home Gym’s most positive reviews come from customers in older age brackets who were once in need of safe and efficient workout equipment.
Today, they swear by the Revolution Home Gym, which has garnered high ratings for how comfortable it truly is.
“My wife and I are trying to reinvent ourselves in our 60’s and we wanted quality equipment that would be safe as well. So far we love our new system,” one five-star reviewer said.
“Also the setup was nowhere near as difficult as we expected. Even the boxes were marked as to which was first. The system operates very smoothly, so we have less fear of pulling or tearing something.”
Needless to say, if you’re looking for a home gym system that’s as easy to operate as it is on your body, the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym has proven itself to be an excellent option.
Bonus: this at-home workout machine comes with a handy DVD that shows you how to perform a variety of exercises in ways that will support your joints instead of burden them.
Capacity
One of the Revolution Home Gym’s most accommodating features is that it can be used by people of all ages and sizes since the amount of weight and resistance is fully customizable.
Men and women of lighter and heavier weights can use this machine and adjust the difficulty level of their workout accordingly.
For example, the Bowflex Revolution has a maximum resistance level up to 300 pounds for upper body workouts and 600 pounds for lower body routines, which is perfect for heavy lifters.
Realistically though, not everyone will want to push the maximum resistance levels during their workouts, and that’s perfectly fine.
Warranty
Similar to many other companies that manufacture exercise equipment, especially exercise equipment that could pose the risk of injury, Bowflex offers a warranty – a written statement that promises to repair or replace a machine if necessary within a specified period of time – on the Revolution Home Gym.
This is important to know when purchasing any pricey workout equipment, given the fact that a serious injury could cost you more than a machine.
If you are unhappy with your Bowflex home gym for any reason, you can return your merchandise and with the company’s six-week satisfaction guarantee, receive a refund of the full purchase price, minus shipping and handling.
There is also a 10-year warranty on the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym machine and SpiraFlex Resistance Packs. Although warranty terms may differ outside of the US, you must fill out the provided warranty registration card within 30 days of purchase and return it to the specified address in order to activate it.
During your 10-year warranty coverage period, Nautilus – Bowflex’s manufacturer – will repair any Bowflex that proves to be defective in materials or workmanship.
If a repair is not possible, Nautilus will either replace your equipment or refund the full purchase price, minus shipping and handling.
All that said, Nautilus will not repair any damage caused by the following incidences:
- Damage due to use by persons who weigh more than 300 pounds (136 kg)
- Damage due to normal wear and tear
- Damage due to abuse, accident, failure to follow instructions or warnings in the owner’s manual, misuse, mishandling, accident or acts of God (such as floods, tornadoes, power surges, etc.)
- Use in any institutional or commercial settings such as health clubs, schools, or recreation centers
- Consequential or incidental damage
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym seems to outperform user expectations, not to mention, outperform the competition on the market in its category of machinery.
Often mentioned in roundups that juxtapose the Bowflex Revolution against cheaper alternatives, this home gym remains at the top of our list of best at-home workout equipment.
The Revolution Home Gym does offer one of the smartest and safest strength training solutions out there. It combines harm-reducing, progressive resistance that replicates the feel of weights that you would pick up in a gym, no membership needed.
So, you can save money and gain muscle – what more could you ask for?
FAQ
Where can I purchase the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym?
Pending stock shortages, the Revolution Home Gym is available on Amazon and the Fitness Superstore. It is always readily available on Bowflex’s website as well.
Does the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym fold?
Luckily, the Revolution Home Gym does fold to approximately 55″ long by 38″ wide. This feature can be useful in smaller spaces when you want to make some extra room for company.
Who is the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym for?
As we mentioned before, everyone, really! Whether you’re a workout novice or a seasoned pro, it’s not hard to learn how to use the Revolution Home Gym. Plus, the workout DVD shows you how to perform exercises properly.
Can you build muscle with the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym?
Absolutely. With 400 variations to perform on 100 exercises, the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym gives you numerous ways to build muscle. Users will tell you themselves!
“I use my Bowflex Revolution 6 times a week in three different workouts. It is easy to use, understand, and more effective than any free weight system I’ve ever used,” another five-star reviewer said. “I can see and feel the results already, and it’s only been 4 weeks!!”
How to contact Bowflex?
To get into contact with Bowflex, you can start a live chat with a customer service representative on the company’s homepage.
For instant customer care, you can reach Bowflex at (800) 605-3369 from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. (PST), as well as Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. (PST).
If your service request does not require immediate attention, you can send Bowflex an email through this contact form on their website.
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