Bowflex PR3000 Reviewed and Rated

The PR3000 is 63 inches long when not in use, and 96 inches when in use. It pays to find and read the user's manual (look on the Nautilus website), because some users may not realize that the footprint is effectively 96 inches because you need that extra clearance in order to get a full arc of motion with each exercise. The machine weighs 157 pounds and has a user weight capacity of 300 pounds. Cables are high-quality wire ropes made of flexible steel, coated in thin PVC for safety and with chrome-plated d-rings for the grip attachments. Pulleys turn smoothly at 360 degrees, giving you reliable repetitions each time over the life of the unit. You will not need to do much by way of maintenance, and Bowflex does offer its standard warranty.

You do get a leg developer with this machine, Bowflex multi-gyms do not always offer that. You can do leg extensions with the sturdy padded foam rollers, or take the whole leg attachment off if it gets in the way of your upper body workouts.

One of the advantages of a multi-gym is that you can use it almost every day if you learn about the different muscle groups and rotate them out. For example, you could do leg extensions one day and then use the ab attachment the next day. That way both large muscle groups are getting a workout, and you are giving yourself time to rest and recover between strenuous sessions. The helpful manual suggests 20 minutes 3 times a week as a starting benchmark. It may not sound like much, but that hour a week on the PR3000 will start to make a difference.

If you are already advanced, of course, you can do more right away or use the machine to supplement your more intense lifting or endurance workouts. The manual is full of workout plans that you can use as starting points or guides, though more seasoned athletes will be able to invent their own. And as much as Bowflex praises and wants you to use their product, even Bowflex mentions getting in cardio work, away from the PR3000, at least a few times a week.

This puts us in the mind of what is, perhaps, the real benefit of multi-gyms like those made by Bowflex, Total Gym, and others. That benefit is in cross-training. If you are not physically active, the PR3000 can be your only regular activity. It will keep you moving and, with consistent use and a healthy eating plan, give you a better quality of life. It may also encourage you to get out and do other athletic pursuits, perhaps taking up a sport like running. If you have been working out for a long time, and you know your way around the gym, then the PR3000 will most likely not be your only regular activity. Either way, the Bowflex is a convenient cross-training tool that will support whatever else you decide to do for your body. And with the PR3000, you can spend a bit less money and have something that will not take up excess space in your home gym.

We poked around in the owner's manual as well as the assembly manual. Yes, that is right--putting the PR3000 together is complicated enough that Nautilus decided it needed a whole separate book. Besides assembly, here are some of the features we uncovered that are not immediately obvious and that may help you make a purchase decision.

At the very top of the tower, you will find a lat pulldown handle. It is curved to match the palms of your hands. There are a front one and a rear one, designed to strengthen different muscle groups in your back, arms, and shoulders. Sitting and facing the tower, too, will get your trunk and core muscles in on the exercise. Most machines and free weight exercises, including those offered by multi-gyms, will work out more muscles than even the descriptions say they will. But if you want to isolate just your shoulders, biceps, calves, or other muscle pair, the PR3000 offers you isolation exercises as well.

On the bottom, you have the squat platform. It is made of sheet steel, with grooves and a powder coating for traction and safety. To do a squat, you grab two pulleys on either side of the platform. They act like resistance bands, with the resistance coming from the power rods connected to them. It is an adjustment if you are used to doing squats with a rack and the loaded Olympic bar sitting on your shoulders. But it is still an effective workout, using no more space than you would if you did bodyweight squats. And the squat stand is standard, not an attachment you have to pay extra for.

To do the squats, though, there are several pieces you have to remove. That includes the bench. So while the six cables/pulley pairs and easy change hand grips are conveniences, the need to take off equipment may be an inconvenience to consider.

The power rods each correspond to different resistances. To get to 210 pounds, the rods break down like this (each one is marked with the number, though not color-coded):

(2) 5-pound rods
(4) 10-pound rods
(2) 30-pound rods
(2) 50-pound rods

If you want to upgrade to the 310 pounds total resistance, of course, the breakdown will be different. Some Bowflex machines can upgrade all the way up to 410. It is not clear why the PR3000 won't do this. It is also a bit annoying that Bowflex will not sell individual pairs of power rods. What if you'd just like to add 20 pounds? What we do like, though, is that you can use the lower increments to make fractional progress. Lifting an extra 10 pounds for a half an 8-rep set may not seem like much, but progress is progress and you will get a mental boost from the tiniest of gains. Making that possible seems to be part of the Bowflex DNA.

The assembly manual is 24 pages long and does not contain any photos. There are drawings, diagrams, and exploded views with lists of hardware. You do have to build the whole assembly from the ground up. The only tools you will need are adjustable wrenches and a screwdriver. The wrenches are not included.

The ease of use, comfort features, versatility, and ability to work out large muscle groups quickly are all reasons we think you will keep using this home gym. Whether it is your main mode of exercise or an addition to your regular routine, the unit will always be there for you with its durability and efficient transitions.

The Bowflex PR3000 is a slightly more compact version of Bowflex's flagship multi-gyms. It comes at cost savings, too. If you are interested, Bowflex offers payment plans and installment options so you do not have to pay for the unit all at once. Assembly may be time-consuming, but it is doable especially if you have a friend who can help. Once assembled and installed, you will have access to over 50 exercises for your whole body. The cable setup makes it easy and efficient to switch from one muscle group to another. If you need a consistent way to move your body, that will not get stale, won't cause joint pain, and does not require any special accessories, we recommend the Bowflex PR3000 as a long-lasting solution for you.