This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click to view our full disclosure.
What's inside
This is our Bowflex Revolution review.
Over my ten years of experience in the fitness industry, I’ve reviewed a lot of exercise and home gym products. In that time I feel that I’ve developed a pretty good sense of whether or not a machine is a good value for the average person.
I spent a week reviewing the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym, and I found it to be a well-rounded home gym option that offers a full-body workout comparable to what you’d get using multiple machines at the gym.
In this review of the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym, we’ll breakdown all the details giving you all the information you need to decide if a Bowflex Revolution Home Gym is right for you. We’ll also walk you through our top all-in-one home gym alternatives, so you can be confident in your choice and excited to workout from home.
Ready? Let’s get started!
What is the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym?
The Bowflex Home Revolution Gym is an all-in-one home exercise machine, designed to bring the experience of the gym to your home in a single compact device.
The machine is designed for over 100 different exercises, providing a full-body cardio and strength workout for users of all fitness levels.
The machine is the most versatile Bowflex on the market right now, including a sliding seat rail for rowing and leg presses, a leg press station with a resistance level of 210 lbs on the base model (upgradable to 600 lbs), a squat bar, and free-moving adjustable arms with ten different working positions and an adjustment range of 170 degrees.
Top Features of The Bowflex Revolution
If you are considering the Bowflex Revolution as a potential solution for your home gym needs, you’ll need to know what it has to offer. Here are the top features of the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym.
Diversity of Exercise
With the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym, users can enjoy a variety of more than 100 unique exercises with as many as 400 variations offering a well-rounded full-body workout experience.
The variety not only allows for better, and targeted workouts, it also makes the device a great option for people of all fitness levels and abilities, as the workouts are truly customizable.
Having a variety of exercises available also helps keep your workouts fresh and engaging, making it a lot easier to stick to your fitness goals.
Folds for Easy Storage
Buying an exercise machine is more than just a mental and financial commitment.
Most full-sized exercise machines and home gyms take up a LOT of space.
While the Bowflex Home Revolution Gym is by no means a small device, the bench easily folds into a vertical position when not in use for more compact storage.
Quick Change System
The Quick Change System is a feature available on a few of the higher-end Bowflex models, including the Bowflex Revolution.
The Quick Change System allows users to quickly transition between exercises without needing to adjust the machine’s pulley positions.
This was one of the biggest pain points on many of the older Bowflex models, and it’s a great inclusion.
Easy to Maintain
Some exercise machines require a fair amount of regular maintenance from oiling parts to retightening screws.
The Bowflex Revolution is not one of those machines, a regular wipe down after use is all you need to keep it clean and functional.
Covered by a 10-Year Warranty on Parts
You have 10 years of using your Bowflex before you need to worry about the cost of replacing any of its parts.
Even after your warranty is over, additional parts and accessories are also available to order on the companies website and a quick glance puts them at a range of $2.40 for the simplest accessories and up to $199.99 for the top-of-the-line upgrades.
The pros/cons of the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym
I’ve listed out the positive benefits and the drawbacks of the Bowflex Revolution so you can make an informed decision before you buy.
Pros
Full Body Work Out, One Machine
Unlike when you go to the gym, you won’t need to use multiple machines and spend time switching up your workout just to make sure you get your cardio and strength training in.
The Bowflex Revolution Home gym offers a well-rounded full-body workout in a single machine.
Accessible For All Fitness Levels
The Bowflex Revolution might be intimidating at first glance, but it’s actually quite easy and safe to use regardless of your abilities or current fitness level.
The wide range of exercises you can do with the machine also makes it suitable for anyone with mobility limitations or who may be recovering from an injury.
A Name You Can Trust
Bowflex is one of the biggest, and most trusted names in the home fitness industry.
When you buy a Bowflex product, you can rest easy knowing you are getting a high-quality machine backed up with a solid warranty
No Tune-Ups Required
After you set up your Bowflex Revolution Home Gym, you are good to go.
Regardless of how intense your workout is or how often you use the machine, the Bowflex is designed to not need regular tune-ups, leaving you to focus on your workouts instead.
Professional Assembly Available
If the idea of setting up a machine as heavy and complex as the Bowflex Revolution by yourself is too much for you, you’re in luck!
If you purchase your machine through the Bowflex Website, you can also request in-home assembly for a small additional cost.
Cons
Weight Limit of 300 lbs
Despite having the highest weight capacity of any Bowflex machine, the Bowflex Revolution can only support weights of 300 lbs or less.
Requires Assembly
At-home assembly is pretty common for exercise machines, but some are more complicated to set up than others.
According to Bowflex, the Revolution Home Gym will take between one to three hours to put together. While this isn’t a crazy time commitment, it might be difficult for some to assemble which is worth considering.
Resistance Increases in 10 lb Intervals
The Bowflex Revolution allows users to increase the resistance level of their workouts, making it a versatile machine for all kinds of fitness levels, however, resistance can only be increased in 10 lb increments.
This kind of increase will be too much for some, and it’s difficult to work with when you’re exercising smaller groups of muscles, like during lateral raises for delts.
Heavy and Large
You have to factor in the size and weight of the Bowflex Revolution if you are considering getting one for yourself.
Not only does the machine require a room with at least seven feet of vertical clearance, but it also weighs in at 336 lbs.
While that is the full weight of the machine and not the parts you’ll have to assemble, it still might be too much for a lot of people to manage, especially if you have to move the machine.
The shipping weight of the product is even higher, coming in at 414.64 lbs, so make sure you have help getting it into your home and where you want to workout.
Expensive
While you can’t put a price on your health, $2899 is not a small expense for most people, especially when the average gym membership only costs $696 a year.
Of course, you have to consider that a gym membership is an ongoing cost and doesn’t include the convenience of working out at home, but there are other home gyms, including other Bowflexes, to be had for a fraction of the price.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 4′ 5″ L x 4′ 1″ W x 6′ 11.25″ H
- Folded Dimensions: 8′ x 6′ 5″
Assembled Weight: 336 lbs - Shipping Weight: 414.64 lbs
- Maximum Capacity: 300 lbs
What’s Included?
The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym comes with several workout accessories as part of the machine, including the articulating Freedom Arms, the Leg Press Station with up to 600 lbs of resistance, the Preacher Curl Attachment, Handles And Ankle Harnesses, and a 50-page comprehensive exercise and workout guide included in the users manual.
Alternatives to the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym
There are some noteable alternatives to the Bowflex Revolution Home Gym that I thought should be included in the review as you may not be aware of the similar home gym equipment.
Total Gym APEX G5
The Total Gym APEX G5 is a great option for anyone looking for a lower price point to enter the home gym market, wants a lighter and more compact home gym, or needs an exercise machine that supports more than 300 lbs.
The Total Gym APEX G5 is a great option for anyone looking for a lower price point to enter the home gym market, wants a lighter and more compact home gym, or needs an exercise machine that supports more than 300 lbs.
The machine offers 10 levels of resistance and can be used to perform more than 80 exercises.
Accessories included in the box are a wing attachment, squat stand, leg pull, dip bars, training deck with holder, and 2 stability mats. Users will also receive Total Gym TV access, exercise & nutrition guides, and an instructional DVD.
- Dimensions: 93” L x 15.5 W x 43.25 H
- Weight: 87 lbs
Maximum User Weight: 375 lbs
NordicTrack Fusion CST
If you’re looking for something like the Bowflex Revolution, but you prefer a more tech-savvy workout, the NordicTrack Fusion CST might be for you!
The machine offers a unique 2-in-1 workout that blends cardio and strength training into a single workout with over 20 levels of resistance.
The resistance levels can be set to automatically adjust while you watch the on-demand workout videos led by certified personal trainers on the built-in Portal 10i HD Touchscreen tablet, so you are guaranteed to always get the best workout.
If guided workouts aren’t your thing, the tablet can also be used to visually track your workout stats, including session time, calories burned, total reps, and more!
The machine comes with an iFit Bluetooth® Chest Strap to monitor your heart rate to help you hit your workout targets, 2 Squat Pulleys, 2 Ankle Strap Accessories, and a One-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership that supports up to four unique user profiles.
- Dimensions: 73.5 H x 60.5 W x 41.5 D
- Weight: 378 lbs (In Box)
Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE
If you have your heart set on a Bowflex, the Bowflex Xtreme SE 2 is another great option. It has the same 300 lb weight limit as the Bowflex Revolution, but it comes in at about half the weight and costs more than $1000 less than the higher-end model.
Saving money doesn’t mean missing out though, the machine still offers more than 70 unique exercises and uses the same Quick Change System, allowing you to quickly transition between exercises without having to adjust the machine.
Accessories include a Squat Bar, Ab Crunch Shoulder Harness, a Lats Tower with Angled Lat Bar, and 7 complimentary workouts designed by certified personal trainers.
- Dimensions: 53” L x 49” W x 83.25” H
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Maximum User Weight: 300 lbs
What is the difference between Bowflex Revolution and Revolution XP?
Function
When it comes to function and features, the Bowflex Revolution and the Bowflex Revolution XP are very similar.
Both machines allow you to complete the same exercises and variations, with the major difference being that the Revolution XP also includes a lat tower to perform lat pulldowns.
Even that isn’t a big deal though, as you can use the Freedom Arms system of the Revolution to get similar results.
Cost
The Bowflex Revolution XP is slightly more affordable than the Revolution home gym, available at a price range of $2,200 to $3,000, compared to $2,899 to $3,400.
Size
The biggest difference is probably in the size of the machines, with the Revolution XP coming in at 73 inches and the Revolution at a height of 83 inches when in use.
Bowflex says that the Revolution requires a ceiling clearance of 7 feet for safe operating, making the Revolution XP a better option for smaller spaces.
Bowflex Revolution Reviews
The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym has a 3.2 star rating on Amazon, but the rating is being pulled down by people reviewing the quality of third party sellers, not the product.
Looking at the lowest reviews, a significant portion of them have selected their low rating as a result of issues when buying the machine or warranty from a third party seller. The reviews of the actual machine are much more positive, with only a few users highlighting issues that we covered in the cons section of this review.
The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym was also endorsed by NFL Veteran Brett Favre, who has been a spokesperson for the company for years and continues to stand by the machines.
Frequently asked questions
How Heavy is the Bowflex Revolution?
The Bowflex Revolution is a large machine, weighing in at 336.2 pounds when assembled.
Can you really build muscle with Bowflex?
Yes! Even those in good physical shape can build muscle and tone up with the Bowflex Revolution.
The wide variety of exercises and the adjustable resistance levels allow users to target every muscle at a level that’s challenging to them, with upgrades available up to 600 lbs for the Leg Press Station and adjustable resistance and positioning on the Freedom Arms.
What is better Bowflex or free weights?
Both the Bowflex and free weights have their advantages. A small or mid-sized set of free weights can be purchased for considerably less than a full exercise machine like the Bowflex Revolution, and they won’t take as much space to store.
The exercise experience is not really comparable though, as the Bowflex is designed for a full-body workout and facilitates exercises that are impossible with free weights alone.
The Bowflex also provides resistance with low inertia, meaning you don’t need to lift a heavyweight to get the same results, offering a safer and more manageable workout without compromising your results.
Final Verdict
If you don’t have the time or motivation for a traditional gym, The Bowflex Revolution Home Gym might be for you.
It brings the total gym experience to your door in a relatively compact and affordable price range, and it provides a great full-body workout to users of all fitness levels and abilities.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, The Bowflex Revolution home gym can be purchased from Amazon or the Bowflex official website.
