Looking to get in shape? If you’re either just starting on your fitness journey or you’re already exactly where you want to be, maybe this article can help guide you.
In this article we’ll be reviewing the Bowflex PR1000, and highlighting its strengths and weaknesses so that you can decide if it’s the right fit for you. So without further ado let’s begin.
An introduction to Bowflex
Bowflex is a company you’re probably familiar with even if you’ve never used a gym in your life.In fact if you’ve ever watched TV in your life then you’ll know who Bowflex are.
They have made fitness training equipment for the home since 1986 and have since then continued to use their trademarked ‘power rod’ resistance system instead of standard weights.
This of course has carried over into the PR1000, but we’ll talk more about that later. Over the years Bowflex has continued time and again to make products that are highly rated by the public and the Bowflex PR1000 is certainly no exception to this reputation.
Being one of their flagship products, it’s marketed as an affordable way to train at home and aims to not lose anything from being at home. The PR1000 aims to be a full package, for as cheap as possible.
Functionality
Being the most affordable of all the Bowflex home gym kits, you’d imagine there may be some shortcomings of the PR1000. Instead this really couldn’t be further from the truth, as Bowflex seemingly crammed every little thing they could into the PR1000 using the best materials possible to back that up.
What results is a multipurpose stay at home gym that allows for an almost infinite variety of exercises that you can perform on it.
Bowflex really didn’t drop the ball when designing this home gym. There are up to 25 different full body workouts, and every single feature on this home gym really has a clear purpose.
It’s made from steel and coated in an anti corrosive and scratch resistant paint that really boosts the longevity of the whole system, and whilst the PR1000 is technically an indoor gym, you could easily keep it outside, just note that you will see the lifespan of the machine fade faster.
There’s even a built in media rack that serves as a functional training platform for you to put your phone or tablet on so that you can watch Bowflex’s free workout videos (or browse social media)
It’s a relatively small machine too, with its dimensions measuring 84L x 38W x 84H inches it can fit in the corner of a room quite easily,especially due to the fact that once you’re done with your workout you can fold the bench bar up, saving you valuable space.
Remember though that using the rowing machine will take up more space and so will using the resistant rods on the side of the machine. Always allocate more space for safety when working out.
Bench
The bench is fully adjustable allowing the backrest to sit at a 45 or 180 degree angle, it’s covered in a black and red leather with a small added amount of cushioning for comfort underneath which is as durable as it is stylish.
The backrest can detach from the rest of the bench bar, allowing you to make full use of the roller system in place on the bench bar and use the rowing machine. You can also lock yourself in place using a pin in order to perform other kinds of exercises on the bench.
Overall, it’s a simple yet effective system that looks great and feels really comfortable to use. Heavier users may see the rolling system on the bench bar degrade faster, but otherwise it’s a system that’ll fully support you during your workout.
Other Features
As well as the bench, there’s also a leg bar attached to the end of the bench with simple (but effective!) roller cushions for comfort during leg workouts, this is durable and works great for your basic leg workouts, but won’t be able to be used for leg curls due to the weight only working in one way.
There’s loads of pulleys on the PR1000 which can usually be a cause for concern for a skeptical consumer, but as with all Bowflex machines, these are made with a high grade heavy duty urethane material that’s going to stand up to whatever you throw at it.
There’s multiple different types of grips to hold onto that are available too, including a foot grip and your regular standard cuff, and of course all are clad in rubber for maximum comfort whilst working out.
Then there’s the cables that connect the resistant rods to everything else, these are also extremely durable as they’re made from steel, and then wrapped in plastic for both aesthetics and practicality.
The steel doesn’t end there though- it’s continued with the hooks at the ends of the cables and grips, the same anti corrosion finish on the frame is painted on here as you’re never gonna have to worry about these snapping. (they can hold up to 90kg of force!)
Overall, you can really see how the durability of these different features all add to the longevity of the machine as a whole.
Flexible Rod System
The PR1000 features a flexible rod system that is excellent for weight training, you can attach the cables to whichever rods you like and as you pull them they’ll generate resistance for your workout.
Unlike everything else in this machine, Bowflex doesn’t disclose what is is that these rods are made from, but it’s safe to assume that they’re a composite material wrapped in rubber that’s not going to give you any worries on durability.
They’re incredibly sturdy and can withstand a lot of punishment, so get pumping! The rods go up in increments of 5,10,10,30,50 lbs. Which equals up to 105 lbs on each arm, meaning you can be pulling 210 lbs at once.
Setup
Since the machine is heavy and has no wheels, your best bet is going to be to set it up directly where you want to be using it. Fortunately though setup is really easy and straightforward once you read the manual that comes with the kit.
Unfortunately the tools to put it all aren’t included, so you’re going to need a phillips screwdriver and a wrench, and a good hour or so to get it all together.
Pros/Cons of the PR1000
Now that we’ve gone into details about many of the different features of the PR1000, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of the stay at home gym:
Pros
- Durable steel frame
- Folded Bench allows for a small surface area when not using the machine.
- Upholstery looks stylish and feels great to work out on.
- Handles suit many different types of grip.
- So many different workout options to choose from.
- Bench can fold to offer 40 and 180 degrees to cater your needs.
- Innovative design allows for up to 105 lbs of resistance per arm, 210 lbs together.
- Smooth gliding seat.
- Leather seats provide comfort to keep you there whilst you’re working out.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Setup can be a pain due to lack of wheels and no tools provided.
- No upgrades possible, due to a lack of standard weights.
- Whilst affordable, the machine is still expensive if you’re on the fence about beginning to work out from home.
- The machine doesn’t come with the motivation to use it!
- Clearly as you can see, the pros list really outweighs the cons, which is a perfect way to showcase the PR1000 just before our final thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Overall the PR1000 is a fantastic stay at home gym machine for those of us that are just getting started, or you’re a gym veteran looking to get working out at home. The weights offer more than enough variety that you can be challenged whatever your goal is.
The cushioning allows for a comfortable workout with the grips,to give you the comfort to keep going whatever it is that you’re doing.
There’s a huge focus on durability here, and so whatever it is that you do with this machine you can be rest assured that it’ll withstand whatever you throw at it.
When all’s said and done though, it’s a durable and effective machine that shows that you don’t need to break the bank to get a high quality machine to work out at home. I’d fully recommend it to anyone interested in working out from home.
And once you’ve got the tool to work out, you just need the motivation!
