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When it comes to home gyms, Bowflex is one of the most popular brands on the market. And for good reason – their products are incredibly versatile, durable, and offer a wide range of exercises.
However, choosing your ideal model is sometimes challenging with their wide range of home gym models.
Today, we’ll take you through an in-depth journey into the Bowflex Blaze vs. Xceed dispute. It’s not an easy verdict because both models offer a wide range of full-body workouts.
However, a closer look at their specs, features, limitations and individual strengths will help you decide which one suits you more.
To start, let’s get an overview of each machine.
Bowflex Blaze Vs. Xceed: Comparison
The Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
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The Bowflex Blaze is a comprehensive home gym machine with a sturdy build, versatile features, and a wide range of workout regimens. With over 60 exercises, you can wave your gym membership goodbye and save some money.
The machine comes with Bowflex’s trademark Power Rod resistance rods. Each rod comes with a ‘Rod Cap’ that clearly shows the weight rating.
The workout bench comes with seat rail slides which are great for leg presses or aerobic rowing exercises. Plus, you can design personalized workouts thanks to the versatile pulley and cable positions.
The Bowflex Blaze comes with an angled lat bar, a handy squat bar, and a hand-grip that supports three different functions.
Pros:
- Customizable cable and pulley system.
- Sliding seat for core and lower body exercises.
- More chest and abdominal exercises
- Foldable for easy storage.
Cons:
- More expensive option compared to the Xceed.
- Fewer back exercises.
You Should Consider the Blaze if:
You have a slightly higher budget and less room for storing the equipment at home.
The 60 exercises are enough for fitness enthusiasts of most levels, and the added chest and core exercises are definitely plus points for this model.
The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym
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The Bowflex Xceed comes with similar attributes as the Blaze in many aspects. For instance, the resistance level for both models comes at 210 lbs. But you can upgrade the Xceed to 310 or 410 lbs too.
The Xceed also has a versatile pulley system and Bowflex’s standard Power Rod resistance. But the orientation is slightly different. For the Xceed, you have a vertically oriented seat instead of the Blaze, which comes with a horizontal bench.
In addition to the lat bar and squat bar, the Xceed also offers an ab training strap and a quick-release seat design.
With over 65 exercises to choose from, the Xceed can also cater to more advanced routines.
Pros:
- More than 65 exercises are available.
- Additional attachments for lat, squats, and abs.
- Heavy-duty steel frame for increased sturdiness.
- A vertical bench allows more focus on the back, shoulders, and legs.
- More affordable option.
Cons:
- Fewer chest and abdominal exercises.
- Not a foldable unit (more space-consuming).
You Should Consider the Xceed If:
You have the space at home and are more interested in back and shoulder exercises. Your budget is also worth considering since the Xceed is the more affordable unit. Plus, it comes with a few more attachments compared to the Blaze.
Check out our article on Bowflex Xceed Review
Bowflex Blaze vs. Xceed: Detailed Comparison
A few features stand out indifference when you consider the Bowflex Xceed vs. Blaze debate.
For one, the number of exercises puts the Xceed ahead. But the Blaze’s chest and abdominal exercises options make it a close contender.
The Blaze offers an easy advantage with its foldable and space-saving design. Yet, the Xceed remains the cheaper unit between the two. However, to fine-tune the differences, let’s look at individual specs and features of both models.
We can start with a comparison chart and then a detailed analysis of other features.
Comparison Chart: Bowflex Xceed vs. Blaze
| Bowflex Blaze | Bowflex Xceed | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Exercises | More than 60 | More than 65 |
| Resistance Levels | 210 lbs (upgradable to 410) | 210 lbs (upgradable to 410) |
| Foldable Design | Yes | No |
| Built-in cardio Row | Yes | No |
| Angled Lat Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Squat Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Ab Training Strap | No | Yes |
| Chest Exercises | 8 | 4 |
| Shoulder Exercises | 14 | 15 |
| Back Exercises | 9 | 14 |
| Arm Exercises | 16 | 18 |
| Ab Exercises | 5 | 3 |
| Leg Exercises | 13 | 11 |
| Workout Area (L x W) | 100 x 78 inches | 125 x 121 inches |
| Price | Check Latest Price | Check Latest Price |
Key Specs and Features
Bowflex Blaze
Weighing about 191 lbs in total, the Blaze is somewhat heavier than other models. But with a weight limit touching 300 lbs, it’s still within a reasonable range.
It carries the trademarked Power Rod resistance, which supports 210 lbs. The primary mode of operation is Bowflex’s classic cable and pulley system, which supports over 60 unique exercises.
The Blaze is quite imposing at dimensions of 90 x 38 x 83 inches, but you can fold it into a more compact 52 x 38 x 83 inches. That’s a massive advantage for apartment dwellers.
Also, the triple function hand grips and convenient sliding rail allow you to create a wide variety of workout regimens.
Bowflex Xceed
The Xceed also offers their trademark Power Rod resistance mechanism like the Blaze. And with a flexible cable and pulley system, you can perform more than 65 intense and mild exercises.
At 157lbs, it’s comparatively lighter than the Blaze. But the Xceed does not have a foldable feature. So, the 53 x 49 x 82 inches is the permanent size regardless of where you store it.
The adjustable seat (quick release) and additional ab harness are extra attachments you get on this model.
Winner:
Just on physical specs alone, the Bowflex Xceed takes the cake. It weighs lighter, offers more exercises, and still retains the power rod technology and impressive features of the Bowflex Blaze.
Functionality
Bowflex Blaze
The Bowflex Blaze offers a wide range of strength training, upper body exercises, leg exercises, and a full-body workout. So, it scores pretty well on functionality and full-body exercises.
Here are some examples of the workouts you can perform.
- Chest exercises: Bench press, Chest fly, Lying cable crossover.
- Shoulder exercises: Shoulder rotator cuff, shoulder shrug, and various exercises for shoulder muscles.
- Back Exercises: Lying lat pulldowns, low back extension, bent over row.
- Arm Exercises: Triceps pushdown, French press, Rope pushdown.
- Ab Exercises: Ab crunch, reverse crunch, trunk rotation.
- Leg Exercises: Leg presses, squats, leg extensions.
Bowflex Xceed
The Bowflex Xceed is no pushover when it comes to functional exercises, and the power rods allow for varying resistance levels.
While it occupies a more extensive workout area, the 65 different exercises it offers make it one of the top home gyms available.
You can use it to target specific muscle groups or create intense workouts for advanced practitioners.
- Chest Exercises: Horizontal bench press, chest fly, decline bench press.
- Shoulder Exercises: Reverse fly, lateral shoulder raise, scapular depression.
- Back Exercises: Pullover, pulldowns, bent over row, seated lat rows, seated lat pulldowns.
- Arm Exercises: Triceps pushdowns, triceps extension, barbell biceps curl, wrist extension.
- Abdominal Exercises: Trunk rotation, seated oblique abdominal crunch, seated abdominal crunch.
- Leg Exercises: Leg extension, squat station, hip flexion, deadlift, leg kickback.
Winner:
When it comes to functionality, the Bowflex Xceed is clearly the right choice in the Bowflex Xceed vs. Blaze discussion.
The Bowflex Xceed may not match the Bowflex Revolution in the number of exercises. But it certainly beats the Blaze with more than 65 workouts.
As far as home gyms go, you can choose Bowflex Xceed and be satisfied for years to come.
Space Requirement
Bowflex Blaze
The Bowflex Blaze measures about 98 x 38 x 83 inches. That’s an understandable size if you consider the horizontal bench, the built-in cardio row, and multiple power rod elements on this rowing machine/home gym.
However, if you remember that both workout machines come with Power Rod resistance, durable frames, a horizontal (Blaze) and vertical (Xceed) bench, it’s clear why these dimensions exist.
But one of the Bowflex Blaze features that sets it apart is that it can fold into dimensions measuring 52 x 38 x 83.
Bowflex Xceed
The Bowflex Xceed touches 53 x 49 x 82 inches in dimensions. That includes the leg attachment, Bowflex’s power rod system, and stainless steel ball bearings. But you cannot fold or contract it, so this home gym remains the same size throughout.
Winner:
The Bowflex Blaze is the clear winner as far as space efficiency goes. Yes, the workout dimensions are higher. But you can fold it to a more modest size for easier storage. The large workout area is reasonable because you can include different exercises like the horizontal bench press leg extension or design your own workouts.
Price
You’ll also notice that the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym is slightly cheaper than the Bowflex Blaze. Your fitness goals can be anything from muscle building to weight loss.
Regardless of these goals, you want a home gym machine that fits your budget and doesn’t cost you an entire fortune.
Click here to check the price of Bowflex Blaze.
Click here to check the price of Bowflex Xceed.
Winner:
The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym is the more affordable one, judging only by price point.
But if you want the full advantage of using power rods and free weights, the Blaze is the way forward. Also, the price is bound to increase a bit with additional elements like the lat tower, assembly tools, and media rack.
Warranty
The Bowflex Blaze comes with a warranty of one year on the frame, 60 days on the parts, and five years on the Power Rods. If you’re expecting a no-time limit warranty on any components, you may be disappointed.
The Bowflex Xceed comes with a similar warranty to the Blaze on its frames, parts, and Power Rods.
But you can nullify the warranty benefits if you misuse the machine. For instance, continuously exceeding the maximum user weight limit can damage the seat or frame of the equipment.
Winner:
There’s no obvious winner when it comes to the warranty on these two machines. So, you’ll have to rely on the other specs and functions to decide.
What Other People Say
Both machines enjoy raving feedback and positive reviews on their website and other online platforms.
For instance, Amazon has over 1600 reviews on the Blaze and above 1400 on the Xceed. And each unit enjoys an average of about 4.6 stars out of the full five offered.
FAQs
How easy is it to assemble the Blaze?
The Blaze is an easy to assemble home gym that you can set up with basic tools and implements at home.
Can I perform ‘Abs crunch’ on them?
Yes, you can.
Do they provide leg extension?
Yes. Bowflex provides leg extension for their home gyms.
Can you get ripped with a Bowflex?
Yes. You can lose weight, build muscle, or get ripped with the right Bowflex machines.
How Noisy are they?
Bowflex units are all super quiet and make no unnecessary sounds when being operated.
Can you row on Bowflex Blaze?
Yes. The Bowflex Blaze offers sliding seats for performing rowing exercises.
How much does the Bowflex Xceed weigh?
The Bowflex Xceed weighs about 157 lbs.
Can you build muscle with Bowflex Xceed?
Yes. The Xceed offers over 65 unique exercises that can help you build muscle.
Overall Winner: Bowflex Blaze
Although the Bowflex Xceed looks enticingly better with unique features and 65 specific exercises, it does lack in some areas like storage, rowing workouts, and abdominal practitioners.
So, if you have the extra bit of cash to spare, the Bowflex Blaze will continue to provide you with optimum gym facilities in the comfort of your home.
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