Editor’s Note: This product has been removed from our side-by-side comparison because it is no longer available. You can still read our original review below, but Top Ten Reviews is no longer updating this product’s information.
The Bio Force Extreme has an MSRP just under $1,600. It looks a lot like the Body-Solid G1S, the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE and the Marcy Club 200, but it’s the only home gym we reviewed that uses total nitrocell technology to create resistance. The Bowflex machine uses power rods, and the Marcy Club 200 has a weight stack. By contrast, TNT resistance is provided by nitrogen-charged cylinders and is designed to be fluid and smooth. This machine is reported to be excellent for complete muscle stimulation and development. We didn’t recommend one resistance technology as being better than another, but they each have specific advantages and limitations. For this reason, the type of resistance is less important than whether it’s upgradeable, because increasing the challenge as you meet your fitness goals is key.
The Bio Force Extreme provides more than 100 exercise options, but some users of this home gym say this number is misleading. They report the count as being based on switching arms or legs to perform the same exercises versus truly having 100 unique movements. Either way, this machine provides a full body workout, strength building exercises and sport-specific conditioning.
The Extreme has 250 pounds of resistance and weighs 171 pounds. While that’s still a lot of weight to move, it’s much less than the 483-pound Bodycraft Galena Pro. Granted, the Bio Force accommodates just one user at a time, while two people can work out simultaneously on the Bodycraft machine. The maximum user weight on each of these systems is 300 pounds. If you’re not sure whether you want a home gym designed for single users or a multi-user system, Nautilus Fitness Adviser Tom Holland says it’s a good idea to ask your friends.
“Talk to your friends about what they have, what they like and what they dislike,” he said. “As overly simplistic as it may sound, you have to find a home gym that you will actually use.”
The Bio Force Extreme is 52.75 x 60.46 x 81 inches (length, width and height). It has transport wheels for easier set-up and comes with an ab strap, four cable hooks for upper body workouts, an exercise manual, a nutrition guide and an instructional DVD. Standard workout features include high and mid-pulley stations, a power bench and a leg development station. You can also buy an accessory set which includes a triceps rope, two multipurpose handles, two nylon ankle straps and a plastic storage tray.
Bio Force warranties the Extreme’s frame for 10 years, but parts are guaranteed for only a year. Customer service is available by phone and email.
