Bowflex Blaze (Sport) home gym

by Angie

Bowflex changed the name of the Bowflex Sport to the Bowflex Blaze. The Sport is/was (It's still around and for sale especially online.) a really popular machine. The Blaze will run you $900 which is $100 more than what the Sport went for. The Blaze comes standard with 210 pounds of power rod resistance. You can add more resistance and upgrade to 310 or 410 pounds - each upgrade will cost you $99.00.

The Blaze uses a "rod system." These rods are hooked to a cable pulley system. You can hook one, two, three, four or all of the Power Rods to the cable pulley system and go from as little as 5 pounds all the way up to 210 or the upgraded resistance. In order to reach the rods on some machines I have to twist my body. I stand up to change the resistance on the Blaze. I suggest the Blaze if you have any back or shoulder problems. This is an easy to use machine. It requires no knowledge of programming and you get the ability to do over 60 exercises. You can row on the Blaze. A rower is a separate piece of equipment that works your cardiovascular system (heart and lungs).

I think the rower on the Blaze is good for a beginner. If you don’t use any cardio vascular equipment it will raise your heart rate. If you do cardio work you won't get enough with this part of the Blaze.

The Bowflex Blaze gives you an adjustable, comfortable seat. I can do leg presses which work my quadriceps (upper thighs) and hamstrings while on the seat. This is the same seat I do leg curls on. Leg curls are an isolated exercise and only work my quadriceps. It is a great feature to have on the machine versus buying a machine and then having to get the leg curl as an attachment. The leg attachment is easily put on and off with pins and will have to be taken off to do some exercises The bows are flexible. The Blaze has an adjustable pulley system which is designed to change the angle of resistance. This means that I can do a chest press fairly easily with the bows in a bent shape. Each bow has a loop on it which attaches to a cable. Essentially that is all there is to the Bowflex The Blaze has a lat tower. The lat tower works the latissimus dorsi muscles in the back and in my opinion is a must have piece.

The Blaze like the Sport comes with workout handles which I use for my biceps, chest, triceps and my legs. These handles can be put around my foot to so leg lifts which work my buttocks. They both have a lower pulley/squat station which is also a great feature for an expensive machine. This allows me to do low rows for my back and work my entire leg doing squats.

It comes with a fitness guide; has a no time limit warranty on the power rods and a 5-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship.

The Blaze measures a little over 7’ in height x 7’ 6" in length and it is 3’ 2" wide. It folds to 52" long x 38" wide. The maximum user weight is 300 pounds. That is very low for a universal type machine which tells you about the target audience.

A sample of what I do on the Blaze includes:

For my back I like to do bent over rows and pull downs. For my arms I like to do triceps pushdowns, triceps extension, and bicep curls. For my legs I like to do leg extension and leg presses. For my chest I like to do flyes and bench presses. For my shoulders I do front shoulder raises and reverse flyes.

Sylvia Luciano's Bowflex experience

by Sylvia Luciano
(Ohio)

Purchasing Bowflex products was the best thing that I've ever done in my life. It provide sufficient excercise under my hectic daily schedule. Every morning just before work, I do about 30 minutes of excercise.

I believe that Bowflex products definitely live up to their promise. Over a period of a few weeks, I've already felt more fit and stronger.

When I exercise with Bowflex, my heart starts pumping and I get pretty hot and into it. Generally though, the resistance is not too much for me to handle.

My next door neighbour was the one who recommended Bowflex to me. She was in a great shape and seemed to be very fit. She ran around for 5 kilometres every day, and went swimming every week. She also did weights. At that time, I attended the gym once a week, but my neighbour recommend to just purchase some some weights, so I considered her advice!

Initially, I found Bowflex products a bit pricey, as I was under a tight budget on the date of purchase. But as I worked out, my strength improve and felt more fit. It was definitely well worth my money!

Personally, I'd recommend the Blaze Home Gym, it was also my first purchase. It's a great product if you're under a tight budget.

I would recommend Bowflex to anybody, you wont be dissapointed! :)

Me and My Bowflex Blaze

by Keith
(Florence)

Hi, my name is Keith and I just bought a used Bowflex Blaze. Why you ask, because I am not getting any younger and I am up to 340 Lbs. I worked for the City of Cincinnati an Electrical Maintenance Worker in the Traffic and Roads until one day a truck drove into our work area and in my attempts to get out of the way I tore my perineal tendon in my left foot, tore the meniscus in my left knee, tore a muscle in my glute and if that was not bad enough. While attempting to get out of a wheelchair I slipped and while falling grab onto a car door window frame and tore the Labrum in my left shoulder.

Before the accident I weighed 225Lbs, was a 3rd degree black belt instructor teaching men, women and children Tae Kwon Do, working out at Bally's 3 times a week and riding my ten speed 10 to 15 miles to a local high school and running on their track for 3 to 5 miles then riding my ten speed back home on the weekends.

Today I am barely able to function at times, I have gone on disability as I can no longer "Dig holes and Plant poles and watch Traffic lights grow" I have all this ability in my mind, but my body keeps saying "NOOOOOOOO!" I am tired of listening to my body, I may not become all that I used to be, but I will become all that I can be. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers

Keith McCown