The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym is great for people with small spaces because it is compact and lightweight. One of the smallest home gym equipment on the market today. It provides hard-core muscle and strength training right in the comfort of your home.
The Bowflex Xceed keeps you in shape during life’s downtimes because you need to be stronger than ever during these times.
Confidence in your body helps to keep a confident and sound mind. In this Bowflex Xceed Review, we’re going to answer the big question, “Is the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym Worth it?”
Let’s dive in.
Bowflex Xceed Home Gym Review: Before You Buy, What is it?
Now before buying this product, there are a few things that you will have to consider. The Bowflex Blaze is the lightweight version of the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE.
By that I mean the Bowflex Xceed is smaller and provides fewer workouts at a lower price. If you are in need of a tool that provides a heavier, more strenuous workout, then buy yourself the Xtreme it will be worth your while.
Those that are simply looking to pop in their garage for a thirty-minute workout, four to five times a week will be blessed by this equipment.
Yet, if you are a college-level athlete, I am afraid this will not provide the type of workout you are in need of. People competing at this level need a workout that pushes their body beyond its upper limits.
The Bowflex blaze is for those who are on diets and looking to trim excess fat while gaining some muscle at the same time.
Also, this unit is great for those who need recreational strength some jobs require most blue-collar work.
Another thing to consider before buying this equipment: where are you going to put it?
Personally, I had one in my garage as I just started to get into shape. This was during my early teenage years, and my father had bought one to teach me the fundamentals of working out. It was in our garage was because, like most home gyms, the Bowflex ultimate Xceed takes up a lot of space.
Although the Bowflex Blaze does take up less space than other home gyms, it is not an exercise machine that you can put in an already crowded bedroom.
My experience with the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym
Whenever I first began to work out, my biggest problem was getting up and going to the gym. Early mornings or late-night workouts do not fit into most people’s schedules.
The motivation was there for me, but there are times whenever you only have an hour in the day to work out, and spending half of that time in traffic did not appeal to me.
I knew some friends of mine had home gyms, but they were:
- An incomplete gym that only focused on arms
- Didn’t have any room for the free movement required for the workouts I had in mind
- They actually had money and could afford a nice expensive gym in their home.
I didn’t want any part of this, yet I needed to work out in order to stay in shape year-round. With a work schedule that was constantly shifting, convenience was now a factor whenever it came to working out.
That’s whenever the Bowflex Xceed home gym came into my life, and it saved me time and money. There are seasons of our life that require a quick and convenient workout to keep our body in shape.
The Bowflex Xtreme keeps you in shape during life’s downtimes because you need to be stronger than ever during these times.
Confidence in your body helps to keep a confident and sound mind.
Bowflex Xceed Review, The Pros, and Cons
Now, I did say that this equipment was large, but it is not a burden in any way. You could put this in your living room, but make sure you talk to the wife before setting up while she is at work.
The Bowflex home gym has been produced by Bowflex for some years now and has been upgraded slightly with each year.
The latest version varies from the previous model in visual design and the size of the backrest, the newer model is smaller. The newer model is less rugged looking and gives an air of professionalism.
Here are some Pros and Cons of the unit.
Pros
- Assembly is easily understood. If you have ever purchased a home gym, you know the instructions are as big as a subway map and can be twice as complicated. The manual for the Bowflex Xceed shows how easy assembling can be.
- Smaller than other home gyms out on the market. There are home gyms out there that come equipped with a bench, squat rack, leg press, and cable system, but who has room for that. The The Bowflex home gym shrinks down the old school home gym into a convenient package.
- 65 workouts so you will be able to hit a variety of muscles. It provides a full-body workout, so you can hit a muscle group each day. 65 exercises are more than enough for people who are just looking to get the tone and stay healthy.
- The resistance is broken up into increments of 5 and goes up to 210 pounds of resistance. The Bowflex machine does not have a weight system but instead uses a cable that works as an opposing force. Since the gym equipment system is broken up into increments of 5, you can give yourself that extra push on days you are ready to really go at it.
Cons
- It does not offer an extreme workout in and of itself, more for healthy living and not bodybuilding. IF you are looking to have a body like Sly Stallone, you will need a lot more than the Bowflex Xceed. That is not the purpose of home gyms, they are meant for convenience.
- Assembly, while easily understood, is tedious and can take a few hours. I did say that the Xceed can be assembled by anyone, except those who are not willing to sit there and assemble it. The process can take up to three hours, but for most people, it will take you around an hour and a half.
- You have to purchase an upgrade kit if you want more weight than the standard 210 pounds of resistance. The upgraded version goes up to 410 pounds of resistance. The upgrade kit switches out the bands for ones that are more durable and can undergo more strain.
Bowflex Xceed workout videos and Exercises you can do
Both the Bowflex Xceed and Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE home gyms allow you to perform over 60 gym-quality exercises including:
Arm Exercises
- Triceps Pushdown w/ Hand Grips
- Triceps Hammer Pushdown
- Triceps Pushdown w/ Lat Pulldown Bar
- Single Arm Pushdown
- Triceps Extension
- Cross Triceps Extension
- Hammer Triceps Extension
- “Rope” Pushdowns
- Seated Biceps Curl
- Standing Biceps Curl
- Concentration Biceps Curl
- Hammer Biceps Curl
- Barbell Biceps Curl
- Reverse Barbell Biceps Curl
- Seated Hammer Biceps Curl
- Reverse Curl
- Triceps Kickback
- Hammer Triceps Kickback
- Arm Opposition Push-pull
- Upper Body Opposition Push-pull
- Wrist Extension
- Wrist Curl
- Resisted Dip
Shoulder Exercises
- Crossover Rear Delt Rows
- Crossover High Rear Delt Rows
- Reverse Fly
- Crossover Reverse Fly
- Seated Shoulder Press
- Front Shoulder Raise
- Shoulder Extension
- Shoulder Shrug
- Scapular Protraction
- Scapular Depression
- Lateral Shoulder Raise
- Seated Forearm Lateral Shoulder Raise
- Shoulder Rotator Cuff (internal)
- Shoulder Rotator Cuff (external)
- Crossover Seated Rear Delt Rows
- Scapular Retraction
Leg Exercises
- Leg Extension
- Squat
- Calf Raise
- Single-Leg Calf Raise
- Standing Hip Extension (knee bent)
- Standing Hip Extension (knee extended)
- Standing Hip Abduction
- Standing Hip Adduction
- Leg Kickback
- Hip Flexion
- Dead Lift
- Stiff Leg Dead Lift
Back Exercises
- Standing Low Back Extension
- Bent Rear Delt Row
- Crossover Bent Rear Delt Row
- Seated Wide Lat Pulldowns
- Narrow Pulldowns w/ Lat Pulldown Bar
- Narrow Pulldowns w/ Hand Grips
- Reverse Grip Pulldowns
- Crossover Wide Pulldowns
- Crossover Narrow Pulldowns
- Pulldowns
- Stiff Arm Pulldowns
- Standing Shoulder Pullover w/ Hand Grips
- Crossover Seated Lat Rows
- Seated Lat Rows
- Reverse Grip Pulldown with Lat Bar
Abdominal Exercises
- Seated (resisted) Abdominal Crunch
- Seated (resisted) Oblique Abdominal Crunch
- Trunk Rotation
Chest Exercises
- Bench Press
- Chest Fly
- Decline Bench Press
- Incline Bench Press
- Decline Chest Fly
- Incline Chest Fly
Bowflex Home Gym Features
Vertical Bench
The seat is meant for basic workouts you will see in the gym. This includes the leg and chess press. The seat does not turn horizontally for any workouts the require you to be on your back.
The Cushion allows for both fluid movement and comfort when working out. Some vertical benches are made of a rough material that does not give you comfort when working out and can further injure people with pre-existing back problems. The cushioned seat provides comfort for all body types.
One con of this, no flat bench limits workouts that are readily available. Yet there are still plenty of exercises that can be done with the vertical bench, and you won’t miss any key muscle groups.
Steel Frame
Powder Coated steel gives it a constantly fresh look. You see in gyms that all the machinery has this gloss to them, that is powdered steel. Powdered steel keeps the equipment clean and resistant to erosion.
·The Steel is rust-resistant. Powdered steel coats the steel frame, making it resistant to rust; this means the equipment will last longer.
The machine is extremely durable. Life gets bumpy at times, especially around the house, the last thing you want is your home gym breaking. So long as you do not intentionally hit your Bowflex Xceed with a sledgehammer, dents will never be a problem
Compact size
The Bowflex pr3000 can fit anywhere in your home, really it is quite small. Of course, as I mentioned before, this is not an exercise bike . If it is going to be in the house make sure you have the room before buying the equipment.
If you have a separate room in your home just for working out, the small size will allow you to fit other tools for success without your workout area is too cramped.
This machine has many features, but these are what make it unique. A home gym is a narrow term, so most of them are more or less the same.
Yet, these features put the machine in its own category that allows the convenience and a long term warranty.
Bowflex Xceed Home Gym: Buyer’s Guide
Now for the specifics, some things need to be considered whenever browsing through the many brands and types of total gym .
The Bowflex Xceed has some specifics that may cater to your specific needs.
1. Price
The price is relatively cheap in comparison to other home gyms; they range from 400 to 600 dollars depending on where you buy them from. Comparing this to other Bowflex home gyms , such as the Xtreme and Bowflex Revolution, you are getting the Xceed for half the price.
2. Assembly
As I said before, assembly is simple to understand, but with the process taking so long, there are some potential road bumps you could run into.
There are a lot of moving parts in order to give you the best workout, and that means assembly will be tedious. The Bowflex pr3000 will most likely take up one to three hours to assemble.
You can make use of the Bowflex User Manual here . This can be very useful and helpful.
3. Build/Construction
The Bowflex brand is durable and small. This bulldog of a compact home gym can fit in the corner of your bedroom, or out on the back porch.
This unit is built to be your best friend for years to come. The material allows you to forget about possible rust.
It will look just like it was the day you bought it so long as you take care of the machine.
4. Power Rod Resistance
The standard-issue Bowflex pr3000 goes up to 210 pounds of resistance. More weight is available for those who want to push to the next level in their workout equipment.
The power rods can be upgraded to 410 pounds of resistance. If you want to go higher, go outside and start benching your car because a home gym is no longer for you.
5. Workout Programs
The Bow Flex Xceed comes with a workout manual that gives you the 65+ workouts that are available to the user. The manual breaks down the workouts into different sections of the body, and you will be happy to hear that this piece of equipment provides a full-body workout.
You can follow the program provided or go on your own if you know what you are doing in your regular fitness regime. Someone who is just starting can learn how to use most machines in normal gyms by working out with the Xceed, and that familiarization will give you a better understanding of working out altogether.
6. Warranty
The warranty for the Bowflex Xceed is one year. Do not worry though, this thing will last much longer than that. The Xceed was made to last, and so long as you do not use the machine improperly it will last a long time.
If any parts are broken on your Bowflex, parts can be found online at a very modest price.
7. Bowflex Xceed parts, accessories and attachments
First, some Bowflex Xceed accessories include a straight squat bar, bent lat bar and foam rollers for leg extensions and standing leg curls.
Second, most of the base and handles of this unit are rubberized to improve grip on the floor and with your hand when exercising. Similar to what you see on most home gyms.
The Xceed features a lat tower, squat station, leg attachment, and adjustable pulley system for over 65 gym-quality exercises.
Bowflex Xceed Alternatives Review
Now, the competition is heavy, there are other brands such as the;
These home gyms, I found, are larger and will take up more space. While they do have a longer warranty and sometimes more workouts, they are not as convenient as the Bowflex Xceed. Bowflex makes the best home gyms, and they have a few different home gyms you can choose from.
The Revolution and Xtreme give more workouts but at a much higher price. If you go online, you will find that there are cheaper home gyms, but they do not give as many workouts as the complex pulley system Bowflex gym provides.
This all, of course, depends on your preferences, working out is for you and if other home gyms are preferred by all means go and get those home gyms. At the same time, if you look towards pricing and range of workout, this unit is the best bang for your buck to create a multi gym.
Conclusion
The Bowflex Xceed provides a great workout and gives you the benefit of convenience. The pulley system works off of increments of five, this means you can take the small and necessary steps whenever you are working out.
On those days when you want to push yourself a step farther, you will be glad for the ability to change the weight without the risk of hurting yourself.
The cable machine in and of itself is very durable, you are going to keep this for a while. Although, I would suggest getting one only if you know you are going to be settled down for a while.
This applies to all home gyms; it is a pain to take it apart and put it back together if you are moving every four to five months as some professions require.
Yet, that is just my personal advice. It is time to start working out on those busy days. The days where the only time you have is in between the baby’s naps, the days when you only have an hour window, and the days that you just can’t get up in the morning.
I keep repeating one word: convenience. This is because the convenience will shock you and the results will make you wonder why you did not get one earlier.
The Xceed comes from a trusted brand that makes great modern-day fitness equipment. The modern touch of this piece of home exercise machine makes working out easier. This Bowflex Xceed review is simply one of the hundreds out there, and it is about time you join the party.