Name: Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
Brand: Bowflex

Quick Summary

An industry leader for years, Boxflex knows how to give customers the results they crave through their wide variety of machines. And while now discontinued from production, the Bowflex Blaze remains a great buy as a used model online. The 2019 COVID quarantine drove millions of fitness fans around the world to buy home exercise equipment, and with gyms slowly opening back up, many of these units are now up for sale at bargain prices.

The Bowflex Blaze home gym utilizes Power Rod technology to maximize strength training and hit fitness goals. Instead of stacks of free weight plates or true cables, the Power Rods offer resistance up to either 210, 310, or 410 pounds depending upon the package. Easy on the joints, users recovering from injury will especially enjoy working out on the Bowflex Blaze. Meanwhile, even powerlifters will feel the burn with the resistance offered here in a very different form.

Additionally, Bowflex puts its reputation behind this product by offering a five-year warranty on parts. While in production, the company offered a lifetime warranty on the Power Rods as well and purchasers can contact the company’s service department if they need to be replaced. If buying a used model, contact Bowflex customer service to inquire about the status of that guarantee. Fret not, Power Rods are easy to source online at numerous outlets as they work with other Bowflex units. A good comparison to the Blaze is the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE, which is among the brand’s newer machines and brings more bells and whistles.

Buy new or shop for used? Learn more about the Bowflex Blaze home gym below…

Specifications

Model	Bowflex Blaze
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the Home Gym's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	76.7%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,099
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the current best price. Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.	$899
Type There are a few different types of Home Gyms. There are weight stack, power rod and body weight.	Power Rods
Max. Weight Home Gym Max Weight is the maximum amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that can be lifted on the machine.	210 lbs
Exercises Home Gym exercises is the number of exercises you can do on the machine.	60+
Seat The seat on a Home Gym can be adjustable, padded, or detached.	Bench (Adjustable/Foldable)
User Weight Home Gym User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	300 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this Home Gym will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	Length: 90" Width: 38" Height: 83"
Workout Area Home Gym Workout Area is the amount of space needed to use the Home Gym (Length x Width)	8' 4" x 6' 6" (L x W)
Legs This field lets you know if this Home Gym has the option to do leg workouts or not.
Abs This field lets you know if this Home Gym has abdominal workouts or not.
Curls This field lets you know if this Home Gym has the option to do arm curls or not.
Pulldown This field lets you know if this Home Gym has the option to do pulldown workouts or not.
Rows This field lets you know if this Home Gym has the option to do rows or not.
Accessories Many Home Gyms have optional accessories you can purchase separately.	- Squat bar, angled lat bar, triple function hand grip, ankle cuffs - 310 lb or 410 lb Rod Upgrade (not included, every 100 lb upgrade costs an additional $129)
Warranty The warranty is a very important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs by the manufacturer.	Power Rods: Lifetime Parts: 5 Years

Our Rating

76.7/100

The Bowflex Blaze allows one to target all muscle groups through a wide selection of workouts. Power Rod resistance is suitable for all ages and experience levels. This machine is especially useful for users recovering from injuries, designed to deliver low impact workouts with high quality results. What we really like about this unit is the diversity of exercises it avails. With a foldable bench, users can hit the legs, arms, chest, and more with this machine. We also like the fact that its a great buy for the buck, particularly now as a used model. Clearly professional athletes have other machines in mind, but for the average person simply looking for a solid piece of equipment to help them earn the burn, the Bowflex Blaze will do just fine.

The obvious downside to the Blaze is the fact that as an older model now discontinued, one would be purchasing a used machine and its condition would vary widely depending upon treatment. When purchased new, Bowflex units are quite easy to assemble, but used models might be a different consideration. Pricing also varies widely with used models, and our review is based on our experience with the machine that comes from the manufacturer.

Pros:

Bowflex patent Power Rod resistance.
60+ exercises to select from.
Bench seat adjusts for all shapes and sizes.
Spacious workout area (8′ 4″ x 6′ 6″).
The foldable unit only measures 52″ x 38″ x 83″ when stored.
Transport wheels for easy movement.

Cons:

The machine has been discontinued and parts may be hard to source.
Given the size of the unit, tall users might not be comfortable.

Introduction

The Bowflex Blaze home gym is equipped to work all major muscle groups including the chest, shoulder, back, arms, abs, and legs. Ultimately, the Bowflex Blaze is best suited to strength training and not nearly as adept for cardiovascular activities. There are some cardio workout options, but the Bowflex Blaze is primarily designed for muscle building.

With an assembled machine weight of only 191 pounds, the Bowflex Blaze is easy to place inside a home or garage. Designed to afford more than 60 different exercises, the unit can actually be the center piece of a much more diverse routine when floorwork and calisthenics are taken into account. With an aerobic rowing component as well as a squat bar, there’s very little one cannot do here.

The key to understanding the Bowflex Blaze is in recognizing the value of hypertrophy and resistance training in general. No, it’s not an Olympic weight set, and that’s the point. To achieve hypertrophy one needs to break down muscle fibers through resistance so as to rebuild them over time. To gain strength through progressive overload, one needs to adapt their body to greater weights. The Bowflex Blaze does all of this without the banging and clanging of barbells, and frankly, with much less stress on joints and tendons.

Home Gym Workouts

More than 60 exercises are included with the Bowflex Blaze home gym, including a 20-minute Bowflex Blaze workout specially designed to take advantage of the machine. The fact is, with a Blaze-type unit, the number of exercises are nearly unlimited as variations to each movement abound. The user can also easily blend floor work and dumbbells into any of these routines for a full-fledged workout. Bowflex stands behind its commitment to give you fast results by working out 20 minutes a day, three times a week. These exercises concentrate on providing exercises that burn calories, sculpt your muscles, and keep you fit. The machine also comes with seven free trainer-built workouts included in the manual, each of which can serve as inspiration for customized routines of one’s own. This is on top of the instructional placard which comes with the machine, detailing all of the individual exercise movements.

A sample workout with the Bowflex Blaze could start out with light stretching, followed by 3 sets of 10 cable flyes for the chest, 3 sets of 10 lateral raises for the shoulders, 3 sets of 10 seated overhead presses, and 3 sets of lat pull downs. A leg day could consist of stiff-legged deadlifts, squats, leg extensions, and leg curls. Meanwhile, dumbbell lunges or kettlebell snatches would also make for a great addition to the plan.

Bowflex Blaze Features

Measuring 90″ x 38″ x 83″ this unit requires a 100″ x 78″ floor space. Weighing in at only 191 pounds when fully assembled, the machine fits easily into a home gym and can be moved around by just one person. The standard 210 pounds of Power Rod resistance can upgrade to both 310 and 410 pounds worth of resistance for more demanding workouts.

Power Rods are a key component of many Bowflex systems and can be found at Walmart as well as online through the company. Measuring 54″ x 34″ x 73″ the flexible rods attach at the rear of the machine and serve as the means of resistance when pulled or pushed with the cable/pulley system. Made of a composite material called poly hexamethylene adipamide, the Power Rods are easy to replace if need be. And while, the Bowflex Blaze itself is discontinued, other Bowflex units utilize the Power Rods meaning there are plenty around if needed.

To add further customizability, multiple cable and pulley positions along with triple function hand-grip and ankle cuffs ensure that you will find your perfect customized workout. The machine features a sliding set rail which allows aerobic rowing as well as leg presses. The unit has multiple cable and pulley positions: Upper, middle, and lower. One can develop muscular legs with the leg extension/leg curl attachment. Reach your targeted heart rate with the aerobic rowing and leg presses found on the sliding seat rail. Bowflex’s unique handgrip is designed to add flexibility and performance to any workout. Functions include a Regular Grip, Non-Grip Cuff, Ankle Cuff, Foot Cuff, and a Shoulder Cuff.

Questions & Answers

Is the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym worth it?
That will vary from user to user, but for many people the answer is yes. Our biggest concern is that as a discontinued model, replacement of the Power Rods might be guaranteed, but product availability could be limited. This machine is clearly build for users seeking resistance training as opposed to free weights and barbells.
How much does the Bowflex Home Gym weigh?
The assembled unit is 191 pounds.
What exercises can you perform with the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym?
Well over 60 individual exercises and many variations. For more information, check out the user’s manual here.
How much bodybuilding can you do with the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym?
This is probably not the machine for a competitive bodybuilder. That said, with more than 60 exercises and sufficient resistance, users can better shape their physique.
How does the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym fold up?
Users can lock the seat and bench into a flat position, then remove all the Power Rods and bind them with a provided strap. Next, install the leg extension lock-out pin and remove the seat rail knob from the seat rail. Users need to then tilt the bench toward the Power Rod unit, and while holding the rear leg with one hand, disengage the rail pull pin to allow it to fold against the seat rail. Finally, secure the bench by inserting the rail knob into the hole in the side of the seat rail bracket.
How much space does one need for the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym?
At minimum the gym requires a space 8’4 x 6’6.
How long does it take to assemble the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym?
With a simple tool kit, perhaps two to three hours.

Warranty & Guarantee

The Bowflex Blaze home gym warranty and guarantee includes:

– Power Rods: Lifetime (Customers will have to contact Bowflex service department as the product has been discontinued)
– Parts: 5 Years

Conclusion

The Bowflex Blaze home gym does some cardio, but first and foremost it is a strength training machine. There are a wide variety of options available to users with that need though. A number of high power, yet low impact workouts are possible with this single machine. Unfortunately, there are odd gaps in workout options (your abs will feel tragically ignored) and the machine takes up quite a bit of floor for a home gym. This is very clearly the entry level model in the Bowflex line. It is designed for a very specific user, so make sure to compare the machine to other Bowflex home gyms before you commit.