| Unit | Dimensions | Possible exercises | Weight capacity | Workout stations | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bowflex BodyTower Check Discounted Price | L:50" W:50" H:77" | 30+ | 300 lbs | Pull-up station, Dip station, Sling straps, Dip station, Hand grips | Frame: 5 years Parts: 1 year |
If you’re looking for an item of fitness equipment which offers the possibility to perform multiple exercises for the core, a power tower is always an excellent choice. And when it comes to affordable, yet versatile power towers, the Bowflex BodyTower is definitely one model to put on your list. This home gym equipment is somewhat similar to the Stamina X Fortress but integrates fewer workout stations. However, it’s also considerably less expensive.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 50L x 50W x 77H inches (127L x 127W x 196H cm)
- Assembled weight: 120 lbs (54.4 kg)
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Possible exercises: 30+
- Warranty: Frame 5 years / Wear parts 1 year
Frame and parts
Although the Bowflex BodyTower is a fitness equipment designed for home use, not being a commercial model, it does feature a sturdy construction. Its frame is made of steel tubing, 
featuring a corrosion-resistant, silver coating finish.
It’s not an extremely heavy machine, its total assembled weight being 120 lbs (54.4 kg). It offers decent stability for all exercises. Its bases don’t have holes for anchoring it to the floor; however, you can still drill a few, if you want to secure it.
This power tower is not extremely large. Its base is 50″ (127 cm) long, with the widest point also 50″ (127 cm). However, in order to perform all the exercises without any hindrance, you’ll need at least three feet of clearance at the front, and at least one foot of clearance on each side.
This Bowflex power tower may not be the best choice for users above 6’2″ – 6’3″ (188 – 191 cm) as its assembled height is only 77″ (196 cm). The pull-up bar is at 76″ (193 cm) above floor level, so a taller user may feel awkward during certain exercises. Also, even though the 
tower isn’t too tall, just as any other power tower it requires at least 1.5′ (46 cm) of clearance above, for the safe execution of pull-up and chin-up exercises. Therefore, make sure the ceiling of the room where this machine will be assembled and used has the apposite height.
The machine’s back pad features a 4″ (10.1 cm) foam roller for extra lumbar comfort during dips. It’s attached directly to the dip station assembly. Both dip bars, as well as the pull-up bar assembly feature rubber foam handles, to provide the adequate amount of comfort and a secure grip for all exercises.
The upright bars of the Bowflex BodyTower feature two sets of adjustment holes for the dip station. The mid section hosts 3 holes, for 3 height positions of the dip handles, while the lower part features 4 adjustment holes.
Included accessories and workout stations
In terms of accessories, the Bowflex BodyTower comes with a set of two hand-grips and a set of sling straps for various abdominal exercises. A placard showing the 8 main exercises for this power tower is included, part which can be also be considered an accessory. However, the apart from the 8 exercises described on this placard, the tower offers the possibility to perform quite a few more.
This Bowflex power tower offers two main workout stations, given by the pull-up bar and the dip station. The hand-grips and sling straps offer two additional workout stations for various other exercises.
Pull-up station. This workout station is given mainly by a curved pull-up bar, with inclined outer grips. The distance between the outer ends of this bar is approx. 48″ (122 cm). The pull-up bar is attached to the frame via two short parallel bars, which can serve as handles for parallel grip pull-up. However, these bars don’t have foam grips on them.
In case you’re wondering, this power tower doesn’t offer the possibility to install rock climbing grips. Ball grips can be installed instead of the sling straps, though, but these accessories are not included.
Dip station. As opposed to other, more basic power towers, such as the Gold’s Gym XR 10.9 or Soozier B1-0110, the Bowflex model features an adjustable dip station. As we’ve mentioned above, there are 7 positions for the dip station, 3 in the middle section of the frame, and 4 at its lower part. The grip handles are 19.5″ (49.5 cm) apart, and 22″ (56 cm) from edge to edge, offering enough space for users of various sizes.
The dip station handles don’t integrate arm support pads or neutral, vertical handles. Therefore, if you want to perform leg raises or knee raises, you will have to use the sling straps.
The foam roller incorporated into the machine’s adjustable dip station offers excellent back support, but it doubles as support for decline push-ups. Also, if you select the lowest setting for the dip station, the foam roller can be an excellent foot stopper for sit-ups.
All the tower’s workout stations are rated for a weight capacity of 300 lbs (136 kg). The dip and pull up bars should support this weight with no problem, but the tower may slightly wobble with users close to this weight. However, the problem can easily be solved by anchoring the base of the tower to the floor. Also, due to its weight capacity, the tower can support weighted pull-ups or dips, as long as the added weight plus your own weight won’t exceed a total 300 lbs.
Possible Exercises
- Pull-ups
- Handle grip pull-ups
- Parallel handle grip pull-ups
- Wide grip pull-ups
- Muscle pull-ups
- Behind head pull-ups
- Around the world pull-ups
- One arm pull-ups
- Parallel grip pull-ups
- Cliffhangers
- Weighted pull-ups
- Chin-ups
- Parallel grip chin-ups
- Wide grip chin-ups
- One hand chin-ups
- Weighted chin-ups
- Stronghold grip chin-ups
- Stronghold grip pull-ups
- Stronghold grip cliffhangers
- Stronghold grip one-handed cliffhangers
- Dips
- Weighted dips
- Dip to leg raise
- Side-to-side dips
- Gironda dips
- Reverse Gironda dips
- Hanging knee raises
- Hanging leg raises
- Push-ups
- Decline push-ups
- One-leg squats
- Sit-ups
- Dip bar rows
- … and more
Assembly and Maintenance
Assembly is required for this Bowflex power tower. However, the manual offers precise step-by-step instructions for it, so it shouldn’t take longer than an hour. The process basically requires you to connect the base parts, add the upright tubes, assemble and add the dip station, the pull-up bar assembly, and finally the backbone bar of the machine. All tools required for assembly are included.
Maintenance requires the periodic control of the tower’s bolts and joints, and their re-tightening if it’s the case.
The Pros
- Sturdy, steel frame, with a weight capacity of 300 lbs;
- Standard pull-up station with inclined grips;
- Sling straps included;
- Handle-grips included;
- 7 adjustment positions for the dip handles;
- Offers the possibility to perform more than 30
exercises; - Thick foam roller providing excellent lumbar support;
- Easy to assemble;
- Virtually no maintenance required;
- Excellent price/quality ratio.
The Cons
- Not a power tower for tall people, considering that its pull-up bar is only 76″ above floor level.
Summary
The Bowflex BodyTower is a power tower that comes with several extra accessories than other models, including sling straps and handle-grips. Its dip station features 7 adjustment positions, aspect that increases the spectrum of exercises that can be performed on it. It has a sturdy construction, allowing you to perform more than 30 exercises, and the most important 8 of them are displayed on the included placard. It is also in the category of affordable power towers, offering excellent value for the price.