BowFlex BodyTower Review

bowflex body tower

We all know that you don’t need an expensive gym membership to stay in shape. 

With the right equipment and/or the right exercises, getting fit, and building muscle in the comfort of your home gym  is not a dream.

If you have ever tried working out at home, you must have known all about the benefits of using a power tower. For those who haven’t, here us out.

They are very efficient in terms of cost-effectiveness. All you need is your own weight, and you’re good to go. 

Putting your body to work also helps to build balance and flexibility. And the best thing is you can do it at any time you want.

With that being said, have you ever got tired of doing the same old combination of push up, sit up, crunch, and plank? 

Of course, there are tons of variations for these movements. But most of them are too advanced, meaning not everyone can do it.

With that in mind, we offer you a solution: Increasing the number of exercises with a power tower. 

And for that matter, we’re going to give you an in-depth look at the BowFlex Body Tower. Our number one goal is to see if this power tower is worth buying.

And as always, if you want to save time, just scroll to the “too long, didn’t read” section right below. 

But if you have time to spare, keep reading, and we’re sure you’ll find this article very informative, especially to those who are looking for affordable home gym equipment.

TL;DR: BowFlex BodyTower

The BowFlex BodyTower can guarantee you a variety of home workout exercises. 

This multi-station tower possesses an E-Z adjustable horizontal pull-up bar that allows different uses, different levels of intensity, and, thus, improved results. 

If you’re a bit lost and don’t know what to do with it, the included placard demonstrates 8 basic exercises. 

The user manual also illustrates 10 additional drills, giving you a total of 18.

  • Simple and relatively fast to put together
  • Stable even for users over 200 lbs. and/or 6 feet tall
  • Usable for 18+ exercises
  • Easy to adjust the height
  • More compact than some competitors
  • Stylishly designed
  • Heavier users may find it shaky or wobbly.
  • The space is somewhat confined, and knees may knock into the side when rocking too much.
  • Some, especially those of 6 feet or taller, may find the pull-up bar too low.
  • The pull-up bar is a bit thick, making it hard to get a good hold.

Other Special Features

  • The E-Z horizontal dip bars have 7 levels of adjustment to increase the number of options and intensity for each exercise.
  • The steel frame is very stable and of commercial quality.
  • 5-year warranty for the frame and 1-year warranty for wear parts.
  • The maximum user weight for the tower and for the hand grips, in particular, can go up to 300 lbs.
  • Sling straps and hand grips are included, offering a wide range of exercises. They are also great for doing inverted rows which target different parts of your back
  • Sling straps are foam-padded, which add comfort when doing leg raises and crunches.

Is It Worth It?

If you are a moderate athlete, neither too tall nor bulky, then the answer is yes. The BowFlex Body Tower is worth it.

For a price like this one, the quality is undoubtedly adequate. It is stable enough not to rock back and forth or side to side unless you’re very big or attempting some very gymnastic movements.

The tower is expected not to make a sound, so given that you didn’t rock it too forcefully or make mistakes during assembling, it should go quite as it can be.

In-Depth Review of the BowFlex BodyTower

Where to Buy:

You can get the BowFlex Body Tower on the official site of BowFlex. Here they also offer the in-home assembly with an additional fee.

If you’re more familiar with Amazon, you can also find the tower there. However, It is currently unavailable.

If you want a more affordable price, the BowFlex Body Tower is also available on Walmart cheaper than the official one. 

Unfortunately, it is out of stock (probably because of the bargain it is) at the time of this article.

PS: Buy it for a cheaper price here! 

Size and Dimension

When fully assembled, the BowFlex Body Tower measures up to L 50″- W 50″ H- 77″ (127-127-196 cm). 

The distance between the two dip handles is roughly 28″.

So, as stated, the tower might be a bit too compact, depending on your size. It is perfect for those who are equal to or smaller than 6 feet and 200 lbs. 

If you have a low ceiling, this might also be the right choice.

The machine weighs 120 lbs or 54.4 kg, so it wouldn’t be cumbersome during transportation.

Quality and Durability

The E-Z Adjust bar is equipped with flexible and durable cushioning. The frame is built from heavy-duty and powder-coated steel. 

The broad base adds a final touch to complete its stability.

Ease of Assembly

The BowFlex BodyTower comes with a detailed assembling guide. It won’t take you more than half an hour to put it all together. 

If you still find it too complicated or fear that you’ll break something in the process, we mentioned that BowFlex offers an in-home assembly service.

This optional assembly service includes:

  • Moving packages to a room of choice (You’ll still have to inspect product specifications to make sure passages are big enough for the product)
  • Full assembly by qualified technicians (Optional accessories like racks or attachments are not available)
  • Removal of boxes and packaging materials

Obviously, this is too expensive. So unless you really need it, just grab a friend to help you with moving, unpacking and assembling.

You can find the PDF file for the Assembly Manual on Amazon. A quick look in advance couldn’t hurt, right?

Features and Components

First, we have the 7-level E-Z Adjust bar to help you mix up your workout with more difficulty.

The back pad is non-absorbent to prevent mold or bacteria that cause smelliness. 

It is also cushioned with closed-cell EVA foam to make your workout more comfortable and protect you from injuries.

Similarly, nylon-stitched sling straps are foam-padded while microbial-resistant grips are non-absorbent.

Each and every carabiner and D-ring is high-strength hardware, together with the steel base raising the maximum capacity to 300 lbs. or 136 kg.

Exercises to Perform

Amazon.com : Bowflex BodyTower : Home Gyms : Sports & Outdoors

The number of exercises one can execute with the BowFlex Body Tower is claimed to be three times more than most power towers. 

On the preset placard, you’ll see 8 essential exercises, including Squat, Chin Up, Tricep Dip, Push Up, Pull Ups, Supine Row, Raised Bridge, Vertical Knee Raises, and, of course, Crunch.

But that’s not it. The included workout guide provides you with 10 additional exercises that are listed below:

  • Assisted Leg Squat
  • Forward Angle Calf Raises
  • Assisted Triceps Dip Bars
  • Chest Dip
  • Incline Push Up
  • Pull Ups
  • Hanging Leg Raise
  • Rear Decline Plank
  • Hanging Hip-Leg Raise
  • Assisted Inverted Row

So that brings us to a total of 18 exercises. Of course, if you’re creative, the limit won’t stop at just 18.

Warranty

The BowFlex Body Tower’s frame comes with a 5-year warranty, while wear parts are warranted for only a year.

The PDF version of the Product Warranty can be found on Amazon along with the Assembling Manual.

In-Depth Review of the BowFlex BodyTower

power tower review

On Amazon, the BowFlex Body Tower receives an average rating.

The BowFlex Body Tower gets many good reviews, mainly about its ease of assembling.

  • Easy to put together. Did it by myself in about 30 mins after unboxing. 
  • Its versatility, sturdiness, and stability are also its strong points.
  • The design, however, might be a minus point to taller and more muscular people.
  • Taller people will likely be annoyed by some exercise discomfort(s) based on the tower design. 
  • More massive/more muscular people may be less comfortable. The tower may be less stable and/or feel less ‘burn’ compared to more ‘advanced’ exercise regimens available.
  • So it is more recommendable for average to slightly bigger people and beginner to moderate athletes.
  • For those building up their athleticism, looking to consolidate equipment, looking for a lightweight substitute for bulkier equipment, or as a home gym substitute/starter, this works quite well.

A lot of complaints are about missing parts. If you actually run into this trouble or receive shipping damage, BowFlex’s warranty policy should take care of them for you.

BowFlex customer service was actually fantastic. I called, and they immediately shipped all the missing and broken parts.

The Bottomline…

best body tower

So there you have it, our latest, 2020 in-depth review on the BowFlex BodyTower. 

We have stated it throughout the article, and we’ll repeat it: The Body Tower is a good investment for those who are looking to build up their own home gym.

However, for people with exceptional size and/or into more dynamic movement, this BodyTower might not be strong enough.

If you’re about to move, it’s best to wait until you have settled.

If you enjoy this article, make sure to check out our other Bowflex Dumbbells review. We also have tons of analysis available on gym equipment and fitness exercises. 

As someone who loves working out at home, you wouldn’t want to miss them.

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Article by:

Daniel DeMoss

I’m a personal trainer based in Denver (Matrix Gym) and a true fitness nerd. If I’m not training clients or working out at my home gym, I’m probably skiing, cycling or hiking with my dog Rufus.