Bowflex Xceed Review [2023] – Is It Worth It?

If you are looking to get fitter and stronger by working out at home, then a home multi-gym is a great way to improve your exercise regime. In this Bowflex Xceed review, we will show you how this machine will help you to work out all the major muscle groups and help you to look and feel your best all year round. 

There are lots of different home gyms to choose from and it can be tricky to tell the difference at first glance so we have prepared this review of the Bowflex Xceed to help you better understand the key features of this mid-range multi-gym. 

Bowflex Xceed – The Power Rod Resistance System

All Bowflex home gyms use a patented system of flexible polymer rods to provide resistance to your exercises (except the Bowflex Revolution which we think is the best Bowflex home gym). This rod resistance feels quite different from a traditional free weights machine that you may have used previously which uses heavy weights and gravity to offer resistance.

The Bowflex power rod system has taken inspiration from the design of a bow and arrow. When you first pull there is not too much resistance and it feels fairly easy, but as the tension increases, the resistance builds up and more effort is needed to pull on the rods.  

The progressive resistance of the power rods increases as you work out, giving your muscles a chance to warm up. The difficulty ramps up the harder you work to give you the intensive workout you are looking for. 

As the movement is smooth and fluid, it reduces the strain on joints and tendons. This, in turn, reduces the risk of connective tissue injury and we think this is a big plus of using a Bowflex home gym. 

Studies have shown that the use of elastic resistance provides many of the same benefits as conventional weight training. You can still increase strength, gain bigger and better-toned muscles, and reduce your body fat percentage by using resistance machines. 

In fact, resistance machines may actually offer a better workout than standard weights as you will gain more functional strength.  Your support muscles, tendons, and ligaments gain strength too and the Xceed allows you to quickly and easily change which muscle group you are working on. 

The Xceed system is simple to use and you will quickly get the hang of movements and how to adjust the machine for different workouts. Using the power rods feels a bit different than a conventional weights machine because the movements are far smoother. 

How Much Resistance Does Bowflex Xceed Offer?

Bowflex power rods are made from a composite material and covered in a protective rubber coating. Each rod provides resistance from 5 lbs to 50 lbs. 

Xceed comes with up to 210 lbs of resistance with the included power rods. This is the maximum and you can start from 10lbs and work your way up. 

When you buy an Xceed it comes with two 5-pound, four 10-pound, two 30-pound, and two 50-pound rods in total. By adding or removing the bars you can change the total resistance level of the machine. 

If you are looking to build strength further you can purchase additional pairs of 50-pound rods to upgrade the Xceed to 310 or 410 pounds of resistance. 

We like to recommend Bowflex home gyms as the power rod system makes them far safer to use when you are on your own. As there are no heavy weights involved, you do not need to have a spotter with you, and this makes it perfect for use at home. 

Bowflex Xceed Review – Design and Build Quality 

The Xceed measures 53” x 49” x 82” when constructed. This is similar to other Bowflex home gyms and whilst it is always going to be a fairly large piece of kit, it is small enough to fit in a decent-sized living room or garage (as long as your ceiling is 7 ft high). Thanks to the power rod system it is fairly light and can be pushed in and out of position when it is needed for exercise – when built, the Xceed weighs 157 pounds. 

It is fairly easy to build and you should have it up in less than 2 hours. You can do it on your own, but an extra pair of hands is always useful. The instructions are clear with good diagrams, you need a few simple tools like screwdrivers and a wrench.

The Xceed is made out of durable steel and Bowflex machines are known to be durable and last well. It is covered in rust-resistant paint and should stand up to general wear and tear without showing too many signs of use. 

It is reassuring to know that the Xceed has a 7-year warranty on the frame and a lifetime warranty on the rods, so you can be confident that if there are any issues you will easily be able to get replacements. It also shows that Bowflex has faith in the quality of its product.  

The Xceed has rubber pads underneath so that it grips well onto your floor. This works really well and the machine remains very stable whilst you are pumping away. The pads work best on lino or concrete floors like you would find in the kitchen or garage, but it also works fine on carpet. 

At the front is a standing plate for you to do standing exercises like squats. There is a  lateral bar included which works alongside the pulley system. There is also a small bar on the back of the frame where you can attach the pulleys for trunk rotations and ab crunches. 

Does Bowflex Xceed Use a Pulley System?

The Xceed comes with a system of eight reinforced fiberglass pulleys. Two of the eight pulleys are adjustable and can be attached to either the larger bars on the front of the Xceed or on the smaller bar above the backrest. By moving the pulleys you can focus on different muscle groups each time you use your home gym. 

We think this works really well if you work on a different muscle group each day as it gives your muscles time to recover and ensures that over time you are working on all your muscle groups.

Each pulley has stainless steel ball bearings which allow for smooth operation and a long lifespan. Stainless steel is a corrosive-resistant and hypoallergenic metal, so it’s among the best materials for ball bearings. 

The Xceed comes with plenty of accessories, like the two D-handles that will be used for most of the exercises supported by this home gym. The handles are shaped to match the profile of your hand and have rubberized grips that help you to keep a grip even as your hands get sweaty. 

The Xceed includes a straight squat bar, a 50-inch bent lat bar, and a leg developer. The bent lt bar has foam rollers attached for added comfort and to allow you to perform leg extensions or leg curls whilst standing.

The seat on the Xceed seat is adjustable and has several different height positions to choose from. It can easily support users up to 6’5″ and 300 lbs although if you are this tall it will start to feel a bit tight. 

The seat and backrest are comfortable thanks to the 2 inches of foam padding, the backrest is not adjustable. The vinyl upholstering is hardwearing and is easy to wipe clean after sweaty workouts. 

How Many Exercises Can You Do On The Xceed?

The great thing about home gyms is that they allow you to do loads of different exercises on just one piece of equipment. 

The Bowflex Xceed is one of the more versatile machines from Bowflex and allows you to do over 65 different exercises. This includes a huge variety of different exercises that allow you to work on all your muscle groups for both lower-body and upper body routines. 

Some of the exercises that you can do include tricep pushdowns, tricep extensions, rope pushdowns, biceps curls, tricep kickbacks, wrist curls, and extensions, seated abdominal and oblique abdominal crunches, trunk rotations, lat pulldowns, low back extensions from standing, squats, calf raises, leg extensions, hip extensions shoulder extensions, hip flexions, etc. You get the idea! You can read more about the different exercises here.  

We hope that this has given you an idea of what the Xceed can offer you. It really is an impressive array of exercises that will allow you to significantly improve your strength, fitness, and overall well-being.

Bowflex Xceed Review – The Final Verdict

The Bowflex Xceed is a great home gym. It offers incredible versatility and a huge range of exercise options. It is built to last and comes at a bargain price. The low price means that this is a good choice for anyone that is just getting into working out at home. But, one of the great things is that this home gym is upgradeable so you can increase resistance levels as your performance improves.

If you are thinking about getting one we’d say go for it! You won’t regret it.