One thing exercising taught me is repetitiveness hinders progress. You need variance if you want real gains, and this comes from using the right equipment like the Bowflex BodyTower.
Like all fitness power towers, the BodyTower offers multiple workouts in one station.
Before you discover more about this machine, we’ll learn what you should look out for concerning power towers.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Fitness Power Tower
If you’re unaware, a power tower is a type of fitness equipment that mainly focuses on your core and upper body.
Exactly what exercises you can perform depend on the specific equipment.
Generally, it can be a great asset if you exercise mainly at home because it takes up little room while still able to provide you with an intensive workout routine.
Now that you know what this is all about, let’s check out some important considerations to keep in mind.
Size
The key to buying any home exercise equipment is understanding the space available. So, depending on where you can put it, you should take into account the size of the fitness power tower.
Some are more compact than others so they may fit in smaller spaces better.
Also, you might want to check out the size in terms of yourself as well.
All towers aren’t created equally, so it may help to look at the overall dimensions to make sure you can successfully use it.
Some power towers are designed with height adjustments so that you can adapt it to suit your needs.
This might also come in handy if multiple people of different heights are going to use it.
Usability
As I touched on before, every power tower can offer varied exercises. Knowing exactly what you want to do may help you narrow down your choice of power tower.
Consider how easy it is to use too. Many power towers feature quality handgrips, for instance, to ensure a comfortable and safe experience.
Another aspect is weight capacity. Some towers handle around 200lbs while others easily scale beyond 300lbs.
Always stick to the weight capacity in any exercise equipment to refrain from injuries.
Durability
Of course, you’ll probably want your exercise equipment to last you, especially considering power towers can often cost quite a bit.
You might want to look for products with reliable, heavy-duty construction. Also, check out how the base is designed as this can point to how stable the power tower is.
Introducing the Bowflex BodyTower
The Bowflex BodyTower is a unique power tower from one of the leaders in home fitness equipment. It offers a healthy range of exercises.
It’s currently the only power tower available from the company, and it appears geared toward those of you either just starting or have been at the workout game for a little while now.
The BodyTower is built reliable as well and it’s relatively straightforward to set up and use.
Pros
- Good variety of exercises
- Adjustability options
- Easy to assemble
- Base is wide and stable
Cons
- Could benefit from more padding
- Low height
- Might be too heavy for some to move
Features & Benefits of the Bowflex BodyTower
If you want to invest in the BodyTower by Bowflex, let’s learn more about the important features and how they may benefit your home exercise routine.
Exercise Variety
One of the bigger selling points of the Bowflex BodyTower is the number of exercises you can complete. Generally, you should manage about 20 or so different workouts.
If you are unsure where to begin, then feel free to check out the tower-mounted place card. This card highlights eight key workouts to help you set up a proper routine.
From there, this comes with another guide that demonstrates 10 additional exercises.
Mainly, exercises focus on the upper body such as your arms, shoulders, and back. However, there a handful of leg workouts you can perform with this equipment.
EZ-Adjust Bar
So that you can alternate your workout, the Bowflex BodyTower features an EZ-adjust bar.
Not only does this help add some variety to your routine, but it also allows you to adapt the tower to suit your desired level of intensity.
On the notion of intensity, if you’re looking for any resistance, you’ll have to control it yourself as it’s based on your body weight.
There is also some flexible cushioning found on the bar.
Sling Straps
Exercise variance is also found by using the sling straps. These are nylon-stitched and designed with quality foam padding.
As for the handgrips on them, they are resistant against microbial. Also, these are non-absorbent so that they may not soak up sweat.
Quality Construction
The Bowflex BodyTower is designed for long-term use. For the hardware, it comes with high-strength D-ring and carabiners. It’s capable of supporting users up to 300lbs.
It features a reliable frame made from powder-coated steel tubing. The base of the equipment is wide in an attempt to provide greater stability.
At the same time, this may limit where you can place it as the base can take up a bit of space.
Further quality is found on the backrest design. It features closed-cell EVA foam cushioning, and similar to the handgrips, they’re non-absorbent.
For some of you, the cushioning might feel a touch too firm and not as comfortable as intended. Of course, this could be based on personal preferences.
User-Friendly Design
Since the Bowflex BodyTower is designed for use for beginners and intermediate home gym users, it’s relatively easy to use, more so thanks to the included exercise card and guide.
Some things to make note of, however, are the height and weight factor.
The BodyTower is surprisingly heavy as it weighs about 120lbs, so take care after you assemble and position it in your workout room.
Also, it has a lower profile compared to some other power towers. The low height may help you fit it in specific rooms, but this does limit exactly who can use it.
Taller individuals might have some discomfort trying to perform some exercises.
Warranty
It might be in your best interest to seek out a warranty when it comes to exercise equipment. Issues such as quality control or even user error are common, so it helps if there’s a safety net of sorts to fall back on.
Thankfully, Bowflex offers a 5-year warranty for the frame of the Bowflex BodyTower. Wear parts come with a 1-year warranty plan.
What Others Think of the Bowflex BodyTower
As with any product, everyone has their own experiences and opinions about the Bowflex BodyTower.
Although I stand behind my review, I’m eager to share with you how others feel about the BodyTower as well.
By doing so, you may leave here with a greater overall understanding of it and whether or not it’s suitable for your home and workout goals.
Here are some useful comments from everyday consumers:
- Dennis W. O’Keefe: This user wrote a simple review praising how simple the BodyTower was to put together thanks to the straightforward instructions. They did mention some issues with the unit wobbling a bit.
- NSMaster: In this more extensive review, the consumer praised the BodyTower for being ideal starter equipment, but did admit that those of you who are more athletic may not benefit much from it. They went in-depth about various aspects rating things such as the exercises, and there were some complaints about the difficulties transporting it due to how wide it is.
- PT: A simple, yet effective comment, this user praised the versatility of the BodyTower and the value it had concerning the price. They did say there were barely tall enough to use it though, and they mentioned it wasn’t exactly gym-level quality but still gave it a good recommendation.
Alternatives to Consider
It’s understandable to want to keep your options open as gym equipment is always an investment.
Perhaps you need to budget differently or require various heights or exercise variety.
No matter the reason, it helps to have more options, so I discovered three additional fitness power towers that are worth a second look.
Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower
The Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 Power Tower is a reliable piece of fitness equipment meant for simple bodyweight exercises.
You can perform several different exercises, but there isn’t a good deal of focus on the lower body.
It’s designed for beginners and intermediate users, and it’s constructed from strong steel for good durability. This is also simple to assemble and use.
Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 vs Bowflex
- A handful of mainly upper body workouts
- Non-adjustable
- Affordable price range
- Slight instability
- Heavy-duty frame
RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE Power Tower
Ideal for strength training, the RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE Power Tower is a high-quality power tower.
It’s capable of holding a max of 280lbs, and it features six levels of adjustability so that various people can make good use of it.
Since it’s multifunctional, you can perform different strength-based exercises from knee raises to pull-ups.
It boasts a 1-year warranty for the frame and a lifetime warranty for all the other parts.
RELIFE REBUILD YOUR LIFE vs Bowflex
- Six-level height adjustment
- Ergonomic comfort design
- Lifetime warranty for materials
- Anti-skid comfort handle
- Smaller maximum weight
Body Champ VKR1010
The Body Champ VKR1010 is designed for almost everyone from beginners to experts.
It emphasizes a journey back to basics, offering four stations to tone your whole body using your body weight.
With an H-frame base coupled with two arched bars, it should have a good deal of stability.
The bars have a non-slip design and there are even protective feet installed so that your floors aren’t damaged.
Concerning assembly, it has an easy setup and since it weighs less than 90lbs, it isn’t too difficult to move around.
Body Champ VKR vs Bowflex
- Lightweight design
- Only four workout stations
- Constructed with an enhanced stability frame
- Intended for beginners and advanced users
- Doesn’t support a large amount of weight
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a straightforward power tower to begin your path toward a more physical, healthier life, you may want to give the Bowflex BodyTower a shot.
It’s not the most affordable product, but it certainly holds plenty of value thanks to the sturdy, stable design.
The BodyTower also provides a massive amount of workout opportunities so you can continue to switch up your routine as your skills grow.
Also, it’s well designed for beginners and easy enough to assemble.
If you don’t feel the BodyTower is for you, why not take a closer look at the three alternatives reviewed above?
No matter your decision, I hope you find the right fitness power tower to improve your home workout experience.
