Best Power Rod Home Gyms of 2024
Editor's Choice
Bowflex Power Rod home gyms are low-impact alternatives to weight stack gyms. In place of metal weights they have Power Rods. These aren’t as heavy as weights but can provide the same maximum resistance with tension.
How Power Rod Gyms Work: Completing a Power Rod rep is similar to pulling back on an archery bow and releasing. At first the tension is light, then it increases, and then it falls. This flex helps make exercise less jarring than if resistance were constant... And suddenly the name “Bowflex” makes sense! Rods have different amounts of maximum resistance. Your best Power Rod home gym will offer enough tension, but not much more than you’ll need.
See the chart below for Power Rod gyms that earn top reviews.
Top 4 Best Rated Power Rod Home Gyms
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Model |  Bowflex |  Bowflex |  Bowflex |  Bowflex |
| Rating |  Rating: 90.6% |  Rating: 84.1% |  Rating: 76.7% |  Rating: 68.7% |
| Type | Power Rods | Power Rods | Power Rods | Power Rods |
| Max Weight | 210 upgradeable to 310 or 410 | 210 lbs. | 210 lbs | 210 lbs |
| Exercises | 70+ | 50+ | 60+ | 30+ |
| MSRP | $1,499 | $1,099 | $1,099 | $799 |
| Pricing | See Best Price | See Best Price | See Best Price | See Best Price |
Power Rod Home Gyms Buying Guide
Power Rod resistance is a revolutionary advance in fitness technology. Available on Bowflex models (via Nautilus), Power Rod Home Gyms are designed to provide “progressive resistance”. Unlike weight stacks, Power Rods offer resistance throughout each rep. Or, in other words, progressive resistance provides increased weight displacement the more the rods are flexed. The result is a completely unique, and revolutionary way of exercising.
Power Rod technology is similar in concept to a bow and arrow. When you initially pull the bowstring back it’s somewhat easy, but as you continue to pull further back the resistance increases. Power Rod Home Gyms essentially work in the same fashion.
Power Rod Home Gyms — The Basics
Still confused with how exactly Power Rod Home Gyms work?
Imagine an 90 lb. rod: In the beginning of the rep you’re lifting somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 lbs. As you progress through the repetition the resistance increases to somewhere around 75 lbs. In the final phase of the rep you’re lifting the full 90 lbs.
The power rod, then, increases resistance effortlessly throughout the routine without forcing you to stop and change weights.
Power Rod Home Gyms vs. Traditional Weight Lifting
Numerous studies have shown Power Rod Technology to be highly effective in building muscle mass quickly and effectively. In addition the studies have shown that more calories are burned during a resistance-based workout compared to an aerobic workout. Furthermore, Power Rod technology is not only effective increasing muscle mass, but increasing metabolic rate as well!
As previously mentioned, Power Rod Home Gyms are very different from traditional weight lifting because the resistance changes naturally throughout the course of the repetitions. This is impossible to do with free weights because you would have to constantly stop in between reps to increase weight. Consequently, advocates of Power Rod Home Gyms argue that you get a more fluid, productive workout with Power Rod technology.
Power Rod Home Gyms
FitRated.com has reviewed some of the highest regarded Power Rod Home Gyms, including the high rated Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE and Bowflex PR3000. Check out the rest of the Top 5 Power Rod Home Gyms, above!