As someone constantly strategizing my next PR lift or muscle pump these days, having my own home gym became necessity. Apartment gyms don’t cut it anymore with their outdated machines and limited weights. But outfitting my own garage would’ve required buying tons of plates, racks, benches–not to mention eating up tons of space.
Enter the Bowflex Revolution. After over a year of near daily use through this clever contraption, I can firmly say: this machine delivers strength training nirvana without leaving home.
Keep reading for everything you need to know in this hands-on Bowflex Revolution review after completing 500+ hardcore workouts and counting. Or jump ahead:
- Revolution Overview: Customization Redefined
- Bowflex Resistance Science
- Workouts for All Fitness Levels
- Conclusion
Revolution Overview: Customization Redefined
I distinctly remember unboxing those 5 gigantic Revolution packages thinking, “What in the world is this thing?” Bundles of steel rods, benches, and black cables initially overwhelmed.
But reading over the owner’s manuals (yes I’m that guy), the brilliance behind the Revolution’s flexible design clicked. See, Bowflex built this gym to morph into whatever machine you needed that day.
Feel like blasting quads? Click the leg press attachment in place. Want to smash chest instead? Slide over the vertical bench, pop some handles into the high pulleys. I realized the Revolution effectively packed a complete bodybuilding gym into one dynamic frame.
Over months training, I kept discovering new ways to push my limits. Lock those independent arms flat to crush resistance band rows. Raise them overhead for cross cable tricep extensions. Heck I even hook resistance bands around the back base for makeshift glute kickbacks!
What I’m getting at is no other home gym comes close to the Revolution’s customization. And that limitless variety keeps workouts challenging and fresh long-term.
Key Revolution Features And Specs
Before diving into suggested workouts, let’s explore why this machine sits heights above the competition:
170+ potential exercise angles thanks to movable arms across 10 locking positions
100+ workout varieties from leg presses to cable crossovers and everything between
Resistance up to 600 pounds through patented Power Rod and SpiraFlex tech (more below)
Preacher curl, leg extension, vertical bench and other swappable attachments target any muscle
Folded dimensions of just 55ʺ x 38ʺonce disassembled
Yep, the Revolution earns its name by truly letting you take control. Avoid routine ruts from single-vector gyms with just a bench and dumbbells. This customizable beast opens up endless training possibilities.
Bowflex Resistance Science
So how does this monster produce up to 600 pounds resistance safely from home? In a word: magic. Well, Bowflex magic that is!
Their patented Power Rod and SpiraFlex tech eliminates the need for messy free weights or awkward gravity-based resistance. Instead, the Revolutions works by compressing special bendy steel rods housed in durable elastic.
As you pull cables connected to these bundles, the elastic layers progressively tighten against steel. The further you extend, the greater the tension scales. But here’s the key: transitions between resistances feel silky smooth without force drops.
This means no sudden heavy clunking between increments found on old pin-and-plate systems. As someone with a history of shoulder impingement, I appreciate the joint-friendly loading.
I also love how Power Rods accommodate both featherlight warmups and beastly max attempts. Leg pressing the stock 220-pound SpiraFlex bundle challenges most mortals. But hardcore freaks can upgrade to 300-pound capacity for earth-shattering quad punishers.
Either way, color me impressed how scientists engineered these springy buggers. They deliver buttery smooth tension while barely making a sound.
Workouts For All Fitness Levels
Clearly the Revolution serves up resistance options for days. But what kinds of workouts best tap into all that beefy potential?
I’ve experimented with tons of sites and YouTube demos to curate my favorite Revolution routines. Having trained for years, I focus mainly on progressive overload principles with heavy lifts across moderately low reps.
But others might prioritize joint-friendlier high rep pump sets, agility circuits, or low impact rehab. So I’ve outlined beginner, intermediate, and advanced workout templates to choose from based on your current goals and ability.
Beginner Full Body Workout Routine
Just starting out working out? No worries–the Revolution allows building strength foundations without overexerting yourself. This 3 day full body plan focuses on machine-assisted bodyweight moves for 2-3 sets of 12-15 reps.
Workout A
- Assisted Pull Ups
- Machine Chest Press
- Goblet Squats
- Bicep Curls
Workout B
- Assisted Dips
- Single Arm Row
- Split Squats
- Lying Tricep Extensions
Workout C
- Inverted Bodyweight Rows
- Push Ups
- Bodyweight Hip Thrusts
- Lateral Raises
I recommend newbies train full body 2-3 days a week, resting at least a day between sessions. This gives muscles adequate recovery time to repair and build back stronger.
Focus on moving smoothly through range of motion while maintaining good alignment. Dial resistance to challenging yet doable levels. Leave 1-2 reps in the tank for best technique practice versus failure.
Intermediate Upper/Lower Body Split
Prepared to start splitting up training for higher volume? Then try this 4 day Upper/Lower Revolution routine working each area 2x weekly. I perform sets of 8-10 reps here aiming for muscular fatigue by the final attempts.
Lower Body
- Leg Press
- Deadlifts
- Leg Curls
- Calf Raises
Upper Body
- Incline Bench Press
- Lat Pulldowns
- Shoulder Press
- Biceps Curls
- Triceps Pushdowns
This split allows really attacking specific musculature for more well-rounded development compared to total body training. I’d perform this routine for 8-12 weeks before switching movements to continually shock muscles.
Be sure to ramp warmup sets here before reaching heaviest loads. Always maintain safe exercise mechanics over chasing weight. Mixing high and low rep ranges also helps drive mass gains through varied mechanical tension.
Advanced Push/Pull/Legs Routine
Think you can hang with more frequent gym goers? Then try this expert-level 5 or 6 day split training either PPL rest, or repeating with no off days. I shoot for low 4-6 rep territory on compounds to prioritize strength, then higher 8-12 reps for accessories.
Push
- Bench Press (4×4-6)
- Overhead Press (3×6-8)
- Incline Flys (3×10-12)
- Triceps Extensions (3×8-10)
Pull
- Weighted Pull Ups (4×4-6)
- Barbell Rows (3×6-8)
- Face Pulls (3×10-12)
- Biceps Curls (3×8-10)
Legs
- Squats (4×4-6)
- Romanian Deadlifts 3x(6-8)
- Leg Extensions (3×10-12)
- Leg Curls (3×10-12)
This routine blasts each muscle group harder than possible training total body. The increased frequency also enables faster recovery between demolishing sessions.
But don’t jump into this hardcore plan overnight. Work towards heavier loads with perfect form to avoid injury. Maintain at least 90 seconds rest between sets as well.
Conclusion
I’ll be first to admit the Bowflex Revolution costs a pretty penny. But think long-term value here. Yes you can buy basic bench and weights cheaper upfront. However factor costs of expanding those piecemeal over years as strength increases to prevent plateaus.
The Revolution eliminates this hassle by packing ALL essential gym gear into one dynamo machine built to last. So while casual lifters may balk at the $2,800+ investment, I bet most find themselves adding accessories constantly to maintain progress on budget systems.
And good luck getting specialized muscle-targeting equipment like a smooth leg press or isolation preacher bench down the road. Even premium gyms charge extra amenities and classes.
That’s why I happily crown the Bowflex Revolution king of home strength training domain. No other system delivers this level of customization, uber-quiet operation, and nearly endless exercise variety in such little space.
Over 500 sweat-soaked workouts later, my Revolution still runs smooth as ever thanks to smart engineering. So if you’re searching for THE permanent home workout solution to save money and skip crowded gyms for good, accept no substitutes! This bad boy earns my highest recommendation.
Hope you found this hands-on review helpful. Feel free drop any Revolution questions below, and I’ll try my best to answer from personal experience. Happy gains everyone!
