Under the spotlight today is the Bowflex PR1000. Designed as a complete home workout system for beginners looking to strengthen and tone their body.
Costing just under $500, the PR1000 is cheaper than the majority of other units on the market while also being one of the most popular.
Features
- Dimensions 84” (L) x 38”(W) x 81” (H)
- Over 200lbs of resistance
- 30+ exercises
- Incline/ flat/ decline
- Sliding seat rail for rowing movement.
- Maximum user weight: 210lbs
Shipping and Assembly
First things first, the PR1000 arrives in one large box which is heavy weighing in at just under 150lbs.
Despite its heavy weight shipping can often be acquired for free through sellers like amazon or directly from Bowlfex.
As the box is so heavy, we would recommend you get some help moving the box to wherever you intend on using the system.
Bear in mind that although the unit is 38” wide once assembled it will need atleast 100” of space to allow for the movement of the power rods.
Bowflex recommend that assembly is done by 2 people. But if you are confident at doing DIY then this shouldn’t be too challenging on your own. At any rate, an extra pair of hands is always useful with the heavier and more awkward sections.
In total, it took approximately an hour and a half to have the system unboxed and fully assembled.
Resistance
In total, there are 10 polymer “power rods” (5 each side) which can produce over 200lbs of resistance. This is plenty of resistance for strength/ muscle building for beginners. However, if you are a more experienced or strength-based user then you might want a little bit more resistance for certain exercises.
Initially we were concerned that the resistance wouldn’t feel consistent as the rods will produce less force when unflexed. Nonetheless, as the rods are under tension throughout the range of motion of all exercises this isn’t an issue.
One downside to the power rods is that we have seen a few complaints about the rods lose their spring over time. While the rods can be replaced, general wear and tear isn’t covered by their 5-year warranty.
Versatility
To convert the power rods power into useful movement there are a total 5 different pulleys. There are 2 upper pulleys, 2 middle pulleys and one for the leg attachment.
The middle pulleys are great for targeting the chest, arms, back, shoulders, abs and legs muscle groups.
In addition, the upper pulleys can be used from more back, shoulder and arm exercises such as lat pulldown, face pulls and tricep pushdowns. They connect to the power rods through the middle pulleys using a clip and cable extension.
On the front of the bench is the leg attachment that has 1 pulley which is connected to both middle pulleys. This means that your legs will be pulling both lots of power rods.
This gives you the extra resistance you will need to train the strongest muscle group in your body.
The leg attachment can be used for seated leg extensions (quads) and standing leg curls (hamstrings). In addition, you can use the provided straps to perform a variety of kick backs to target your glutes.
Not only-but also, the benches angle can be adjusted to add even more variety to your workouts able to go flat, decline and incline.
Furthermore, the backrest can be removed completely leaving just the seat which is fitted with rollers. This allows you to use the system as a rowing machine. Therefore, you will also be able to perform a cardiovascular workout with this setup giving you extra bang for your buck.
Quality and Design
The bench looks very similar to the Bowflex 5.1 weight bench which we reviewed previously and was one of top-rated models.
As we expected from Bowflex the quality of materials and workmanship is second to none. This explains why the system weighs 130lbs once assembled and can support a maximum capacity of 210lbs.
The PR1000 was recently improved with its upholstery updated and media rack added. This allows users to fix a smart device in place so that it is easily visible allowing you to follow workouts conveniently.
Warranty
When buying any fitness equipment, a good warranty can help give you the confidence that you are getting a worthwhile investment.
With that in mind, this unit comes with a 1-year warranty on the machine, 5 years on the rods and 60 days on parts.
The warranty excludes any defects that arise from general wear and tear. Therefore, we would have liked to see the 60-day warranty on parts increased to a 1-year warranty on the whole system.
Nonetheless, Bowflex are a reputable brand that is well-known for its good customer service.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Bowflex PR1000 is the perfect all-round workout system for beginners. It will help you strengthen and tone your body thanks to the wide range of exercises that it offers.
Despite its few minor drawbacks such as the the rods becoming weaker over time and a slightly too short warranty. The PR1000 is still great value for money costing under $500.
We have had the privilege of reviwing a number of Bowflex products and they never disappoint, it is easy to see why they are so popular.