#1 Bowflex Xtreme Home Gym Review

The Bowflex Xtreme is great when it comes to versatility in strength training. With an array of stations, including adjustable pulleys, a squat station, and a lat tower, you can focus on various muscle groups. There's even an optional leg extension attachment you can get to unlock even more workouts.

Is the Bowflex Xtreme Home Gym best for you?

The Bowflex Xtreme home gym allows for over 60 different workouts. With a range of exercises focusing on your arms, shoulders, back, legs, and more, you can get a full-body regimen from the comfort of your home. No matter what lifting you're doing, you can be confident in smooth motions at all times with high-quality power rod resistance going up to 210 pounds.

Unlike other machines, you're in control with 4 position cable pulley adjustments that allow for custom workouts. Not only that, but you stay comfortable the entire time with an adjustable seat featuring a polyurethane cushion.

Consider Bowflex Xtreme if...

• You need a gym-quality workout. You may be able to cancel your gym membership with this machine. It offers over 60 different exercises for you to try.
• You want room for growth. On its own, the Bowflex Xtreme comes with 210 pounds of resistance. However, you can get upgrades to go up to 310 or even 410 pounds.
• You like a fitness guide. Even if you're new to an exercise regimen, you can still learn the ropes quickly, courtesy of the fitness guide.

Avoid Bowflex Xtreme if...

• You need something a bit more high-tech. In the event you need something more modern, you're better off with the Bowflex Xtreme 2. It offers even more workouts for you to try.
• You prefer free weights. This machine utilizes power rod technology. It may not feel as natural as using free weights, but it places less stress on your joints.
• You like a longer warranty. Don't expect lengthy coverage for this device. You only get one year of protection on parts and labor.

Bowflex Xtreme pros & cons

Pros

• Hand-grip and ankle cuffs
• Squat station
• Lat tower
• Leg curl/leg extension attachment

Cons

• Short warranty
• Outdated

What areas of the body does Bowflex Xtreme target?

• Arms: Bulk up with the various pulleys to work out your biceps, triceps, and more.
• Legs: The leg extension attachment provides you with an array of exercises to tone your lower muscles.
• Chest: Various exercises are designed to help your pectoral muscles.
• Back: You can build your back muscles with the lat tower and angled lat bar.
• Shoulders: The lat tower also comes in handy when it comes to beefing up your shoulders.

Is the Bowflex Xtreme easy to use?

The Bowflex Xtreme is about as easy to put together as any other home gym. It takes a couple hours, but it's not the worst option out there. Once it's operational, you can move from one workout to the next, even if it's between entirely different muscle groups.

Key Bowflex Xtreme Specs

Reasons to buy Bowflex Xtreme?

1. You live somewhere small. The Bowflex Xtreme is fairly compact. You should be able to fit it in small houses and apartments.
2. You want something stable. A problem with a lot of cheaper home gyms is that there's a risk of tipping over. This model features an X-shaped base for maximum stability.
3. You're recovering from an injury. The smooth motion of the power rod technology means there's less downtime between sessions. It's the preferred way to lift weights if you're older or recovering from surgery.

Reasons to avoid Bowflex Xtreme?

1. You don't want a used home gym. It's tough to come by the Bowflex Xtreme these days. It's been replaced with newer models. You can still find some used, but you never quite know what kind of quality you're getting.

What real Bowflex Xtreme reviews say

We spent 18 hours scouring the web (reading over 253 customer reviews). Our conclusion? Bowflex Xtreme receives high praise! Our average consolidated user rating sits around a 4.6 - 4.8 (across several hundred reviews). Bowflex Xtreme scored higher, on average, compared to their closest competitors.

What reviewers like

1. "This thing is a fantastic machine!"
2. "I was expecting it to be rather difficult to switch set-ups, but it's not at all."
3. "I plan on enjoying this bowflex for years to come and am happy that is is upgradable."
4. "I wish got this last year. I have more energy and stamina every day."
5. "The 310lb upgrade rods are highly recommended with your initial order, especially if you are doing squats!"

What reviewers dislike

1. "Overall a bit pricey."
2. "The DVD does not help someone unfamiliar with the machine."
3. "What annoys me the most is that the cables constantly get twisted."
4. "The refurbished machine saves you money, but it might not be completely worth it."
5. "I had expected a bit more."

Our verdict

The Bowflex Xtreme was good back in the day. Since that time, it's been outpaced by newer models. Still, if you can manage to find one at a good price, it may still be worth it.

With 60 exercises and weight resistances that can go up to 410 pounds, there's a ton of room for growth. Even if you stick with the basic 210-pound resistance, you still manage to get in a good workout. After all, unless you plan on getting into bodybuilding, you aren't going to need much more than that.

Where to buy Bowflex Xtreme

You can still sometimes find the Bowflex Xtreme on Amazon. Even if you can't, Amazon offers a huge variety of Bowflex machines at the best prices, plus they ship free!