Bowflex Home Gym Fitness Blog

Rating

One thing that Bowflex is most noted for in the fitness equipment and machine market place is the variety of machines that they have to offer. While they all will have obvious similarities in that they draw ther resitance from engeneered cable pulley syatems rather then standard iron weights, they all will have differences as well. I note this because the Bowflex Blaze so closely resembles the Bowflex Sport. At a little over 60 available exercise options this machine is lower then most other Bowflex models but so is the price.

However before you decide that the $900 Bowflex Sport which sells for $100 less than the Bowflex Blaze would be a cheaper replacement please continue to read on because the Blaze does have one major feature that you may be intersted in. That is that it can nbe baught brand new. You see bowflex no longer produces the Sport so if you want one you are going to have to buy one used and that measn that it wont come with a Bowflex warranty.

The Bowflex Blaze is one of the models of Bowflex fitness machine that used poer rods as its source of weight resistance. If you aare at all unfamiliar with them if anything they resemble a bow that you would shoot an arrow with only shorter and thicker. Bowflex doesnt disclose how or what they are made of but they have been beinbg used for decades and have stood the test of time. Besides all power rods on Bowflex fitness machines come with a lifetime guarantee.

The Bowflex Blaze in all its glory.

On the Bowflex Blaze the power rod cable pulley system delivers delivers a maximum of 210 pounds of resistance and a minimum of 5 so that will be the range of weight that you will have to work in during your exercise routines. However Bowflex does make available resiistance upgrade kits that will bring your total weight resistance up to 310 or 410 pounds depending on what you want from your machine.

The price tag on each upgrade kit is $99 and they are quick and simple to install. However it must be noted that you cant go directly to a 410 pound upgrade without first going to the 310 upgrade. What this means is that if you want 410 pounds of resistance on your Bowflex Blaze you have to purchase both upgrade kits. Its not a scam becaue the extra resistance is addded by adding extra power rods so even if they sold an upgrade kit that took you directly from 210 to 410 it would containthe exact same equipment and cost the exact same price.

If you have used conventional iron stack weight machines inthye past then you obviuosly knw that weight is increased by inserting a pin into the amount of weigth that you intend to lift. The Bowflex Blaze is vaguely similar in that you selkct out the weigh that you are going to use only instead of inserting a pin into iron weights you quick connect cables to the business ends of the power rods. Its a simple process that even a child can learn to do and doenst involve any tugging or hasseling with anything.

Basic Features of the Blaze

One notable feature of all Bowflex fitness machines including of course the Blaze is the unique polyurithane fabric that the bench is upholstrered with. This might not seem like a big deal at first glance but then think back and try to remember what older workout benches looked like that you have seen in the past. Without exception they atleast had cracks in them. This heavy duty fabric is the same material that automobile manufacturers use to upholster car and truck seats with and it is designed to stand up to heavy use.

The bench/seat on the Blaze also comes equioped with a sliding rail that it sits on so it can slide easly back and forth if you want it to. Its a part of the rowing function that that Blaze has and I found that it worked just fine. In fact the rowing function on the this machine is the best cardio workout feature that the Blaze has. Its smooth, doesnt knock at either end of your stroke so its real easy to get a good rythem going with it. I like to start out with heavy resistance then work my way down in weight as I get more tired for a more complete workout.

The Blaze also comes stock off the shelf with a leg curl extension feature. Basicly its a padded t-bar atachment that slides on the end of the bench framework, attaches with a pin and allows you to do a number of leg exercises with it. This feature doesnt come stock on all Bowflex fitness machines and the Blaze is one of the few that you dont have to shell out $200 to add it which is nice. Itys easy and super comfortable to use so it makes doing leg exercises such as curls that much easier to do.

The Blaze also comes stock with a lat tower which is an added bonus becaue not all Bowflex machines come with this featuyre either. This is the what you will be using to do stand up back chest and shoulder exercises. Its definitly a must have piece of equipment so its nice that it comes with this machine. To add the lat tower to other Bowlfex machines that dont have costs $200 so when you combine this wioth the leg extension its a total of $400 that you dont have to spend to get them.

The workout handles on the Blaze are the same as you will find on other Bowflex fitness machines. They are made from high impact plastic rather then standard metal like you wil tend to find on standard workout equipment at a gym. I have read other reviews from people who claimed to prefer metal workout handles but personaly myself and many other people prefer the plastic workoput handles becasuwe for one thing they tend not to become as slippery as metal handles during use.

See larger image Bowflex Blaze Home Gym (Sports) List Price: $1,099.00 USD New From: $849.00 In Stock Used from: $689.00 In Stock

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