Comments on: Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym

By: C. Maples

C. Maples — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:41:17 +0000

BOWFLEX PR3000
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this item last week from a local store for $847.00. It has been nothing but, wonderful. I will definetly need to upgrade to 310lbs later but, for now it is just great.

PROS- Easy to put together, a perfect machine for me even at 6’3″ tall. Felt a little awkward at first doing kickbacks but, got used to it quickly.

CON – It states it has over 50 plus exercises but only lists 27 in the book. I called Bowflex and they told me to go to their site and look up the exercise manual for the Extreme 2. I did and it shows ALOT more exercises because both machines are very similar except for the lat pulldown bar on the Extreme 2.

Everything else is perfect. I will definetly be using this machine for a long time. The fact that the weight is upgradeable to 310lbs and the no pulley change system are huge differences in the workout saving valuable amounts of time to focus on lifting.

By: Carole

Carole — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:18:11 +0000

Nice gym but if breaks, the guarantee is not good
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
After using this Bowflex gym for a few months on a regular basis, the 30 lb rod snapped/shattered. And this was done by a woman who is a senior. I’ve attempted to have it replaced but with NO luck. I called Bowflex as well as emailed in the receipt twice with a message…all to no avail. The gym is now collecting dust. Based on their inability to back up their guarantee, I don’t recommend this gym.

By: Barbara Eriksen

Barbara Eriksen — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:26:55 +0000

A great system for building your body up.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I saw improvements in just a couple of weeks at 3 sessions/week. What I really appreciate is that the varied “bow” weights let you really evaluate how you are doing. Just following someone who demonstrates the moves doesn’t give you anything like the feed-back this Home Gym does, and I’ve had a lot of experience trying different approaches. I’m a senior citizen (female) who was a tennis whiz in my youth and I’ve always tried to keep fit.

By: RASCalif

RASCalif — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:10:03 +0000

More of a Supplemental Machine
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I tried this out at a local sporting goods store before buying it. If you are an experienced weight lifter, you will find that this machine is not for advanced workouts (as evidenced by the included workout poster, which only has Beginning and Intermediate programs). The resistance will feel easy and the range of motion limited. However, it is good as a supplement to your other equipment (my home gym includes a Smith Machine, 2-stack weight tower and free weights). To get any muscle gains, it is absolutely critical that you vary your routine to introduce muscle confusion. By adding the Bowflex exercises to your daily regimen, you will achieve this. The flyes, curls, rows and pulldowns on the Bowflex feel very different from my other machines. Also, forget about staying with the base 210 lbs.--this only provides a challenge with bicep curls, but with every other exercise there is not enough resistance. You will absolutely need a 310 or 410 lb upgrade.

Overall, a good piece of equipment to vary your weight lifting routines. But definitely not meant to be the primary machine in your weight lifting arsenal.

By: Tim Checkley

Tim Checkley — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:34:39 +0000

Great workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this product for a about 2 weeks now and have noticed a huge difference in the way I feel. I have lost 12 lbs. and am getting more toned everyday. I went to the gym several years ago, I feel like I did when I left the gym after each 20to 30 minute workout. I need to lose about 50 more lbs and am confident this product will get these results.

I am glad I spent the extra money on the pr3000 instead of the pr1000. I think changing the cables between exercises would take alot more time. I highly recoment this product to anyone wanting to get in shape.

By: N. J. Sarkioglu

N. J. Sarkioglu — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:29:07 +0000

Mostly Satisfied
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have spent a lot of time in many different gyms using various types of equipment in my life (30 years old). Its not always easy to get away from the family (especially young kids) to go and workout 4-5 times a week. So I purchased the PR3000. For the most part this machine does what its supposed to do.....so far. First my disappointments: I expected better. When I assembled the machine (I should add at this point that assembly took about 2 hours)and tried it for the first time, I was surprised that with all of the power rods attached to the pulleys that I was able to do almost any exercise with almost no problem. Now that I've used it for 3 weeks, the exercises have become even easier and I have to do more sets and more reps.

Now, the things I like about this machine: It really is easy to use. The cable changes are quick and easy keeping you going right to the next exercise.

Finally a few things that I have learned from my experience with this machine. If you are thinking of buying a bowflex, keep in my that the machine is a HOME gym. If you expect the same quality as the stuff you use at your regular gym, then you will be disappointed. Also, purchase the 100lb upgrade. I don't know how the resistance of 210lb power rods equates into real weight but I know for a fact that I can't shoulder press 210lbs in the gym! When you assemble your machine, it speeds things up if you have 2 socket sets and an adjustable wrench.

Good luck.

By: Richard Klamann

Richard Klamann — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:04:58 +0000

well engineered
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
You always hear how Bowflex machines are overpriced because of all of their expensive marketing. Perhaps, but the added sales volume does offset their fixed engineering costs, and this machine (PR3000) is one very-well engineered machine. It comes in one box, with all the pieces well cushioned in their allocated cubbyholes. 2 of us built it in 3 hours -- again due to good product engineering. The finished product looks like it will last forever; certainly nothing cheap about the structural steel, cables, etc. My end cost (with shipping) was $899; I don't see how Nautilus/Amazon makes money on this.

I'm not a gym guy, so can't comment on the effectiveness of this kind of machine for strength training. I am 6'6", and for many exercises I can barely fit the machine and get adequate cable travel. But I do fit, and after a month I am discernibly fitter.

I wouldn't waste money for a mat; my tile floor shows no wear at all (rubber feet keep the metal off the floor) and it is nice to be able to yank the machine around for fine-tuning its placement.

Cons: The manual has many silly mistakes, a very limited pallet of exercises, and is not much help for designing a workout plan. The bows themselves stay somewhat bent after exercises, giving the impression that they will lose their effectiveness or break over time (no doubt that the reason Nautilus gives 7 years on this particular part is to reassure the end user). The resistance number on the bows are not only larger than free-weight equivalents, but not even self-consistent -- each side has a 50 lbs rod that has more resistance than the sum of all the other rods on that side, nominally 55 lbs.

But all of the above quibbles are just that, quibbles. The machine is beautiful, takes little room (but you'll want plenty around it for leg exercises), and has motivated me to exercise regularly. For the price, a real steel.

By: Brad J. Horton

Brad J. Horton — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:13:18 +0000

Nice product!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a perfect product for the price. The revolution seems to be a better machine, but at a huge premium. This one has lots of exercises and looks really good in my gym.

By: Brian Tokarcik

Brian Tokarcik — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:51:56 +0000

Bowflex PR3000
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been using the Bowflex PR3000 for 3 1/2 weeks as of this writing. I’m very over weight and I had read reviews of different exercise machines and the Bowflex was always at the top. I decided to give it a try. So far in 3 1/2 weeks I’ve lost 17 pounds and have put on a nice amount of muscle. I’ve followed the diet plan in the manual as closely as I can and I’ve found that I’m not as hungry as I used to be. I can also fit into some old pants that have been extremely tight and uncomfortable for several years. It’s a satisfying feeling to stand on the scale and see the weight gradually coming off, to be able to fit in pants I had lost hope for fitting into again and feeling like I have some real muscle power now. I could not be happier with this machine! I must say though that I work out at least once a day, and most times twice a day: once in the morning before work and once when I get home after dinner. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I do the recommended advanced weight loss workout in the Bowflex manual, and every other day plus weekends I just do crunches, curls, bench presses and calf raises.

By: Shane M. Schartz

Shane M. Schartz — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:15:35 +0000

It’s awesome.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars

I normally don’t review products but this time I am. The box it comes in is extremely heavy so don’t have it dropped off if you have stairs, etc. As for the machine, it’s just simply amazing. The assembly is pretty easy – just make sure you measure the parts so you put the right bolts in the right spot. The hardest part honestly was running the cables and it’s not even hard at all. As for operation, the machine doesn’t take up much space and is EXTREMELY quiet. You can easily work out next to someone reading and not even bother them. Also, the workouts will make you sore, but not so sore you can’t move around the next day. My only recommendation is to order 1 extra set of handles so you can have handles at all three locations. The leg extension does take up some of the workout room and is slightly hard to detach/attach. However, you can just remove it and put the foot/handle straps on the bottom and do all the workout you could with the leg extension on. Anyways, if your looking for a quiet, attractive, effective workout machine for your home this is it.