Having your own fitness sanctuary at home not only saves you from the high long-term cost of gym membership dues, but it also enables you to work out at your convenience, helping you stay on track with your fitness goals.
For strength and resistance building, two of the most popular home gyms are the Bowflex Blaze and Bowflex Xceed. Not sure which one to choose? This guide explores the features of each home gym to help you determine which one best suits you.
Bowflex Xceed vs Blaze: How Do They Differ?
The Bowflex Xceed and Bowflex Blaze home gyms have a power rod resistance of 210 lbs., which is upgradeable to 310 lbs. and 410 lbs. As to the number of exercises, both home gym models offer a variety of options that target all muscle groups. But, in terms of size, the Bowflex Xceed is more compact and lighter compared to the Bowflex Blaze.
About Bowflex Home Gym
Bowflex is one of the most established manufacturers of fitness equipment worldwide. Besides the Bowflex Blaze and Bowflex Xceed, the line of Bowflex gym machines also includes the PR1000, PR3000, Xtreme 2SE, and Bowflex Revolution. Bowflex is known for its patented Power Rod® Resistance technology, which is featured in most of its home gym machines.
Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
The Bowflex Blaze home gym is a foldable home gym that offers full-body workout options. While it focuses on strength training, the Bowflex Blaze also provides different exercises for cardio, making it a versatile home gym machine. It also comes with a 20-minute workout guide that includes leg exercises and upper body exercises.
Bowflex Xceed Home Gym
The Bowflex Xceed is designed for strength training and building up muscles as well. In addition to the power rod system, the Xceed comes with a multi-cable and pulley system that provides even more exercise options for your full-body workout plan.
Specs Summary: Blaze vs Xceed
Now, let's compare the main specs of the Bowflex Blaze and Bowflex Xceed.
Bowflex Blaze | Bowflex Xceed |
|---|---|
 |  |
Number of exercises: 60+ | Number of exercises: 65+ |
Power Rod® Resistance: 210 lbs., upgradable to 310 and 410lbs. | Power Rod® Resistance: 210 lbs., upgradable to 310 and 410lbs. |
Bench Press: yes, horizontal | Bench Press: yes, vertical |
Attachments: leg curl attachment | Attachments: leg extension, ab harness, and pair of handles |
Dimensions: L 90″ x W 38″ x H 83″ | Dimensions: L 53″ x W 49″ x H 82″ |
Warranty: 5 year | Warranty: 7 year |
Design
The Bowflex Blaze features a stable and heavy-duty steel frame that prevents the machine from wobbling, especially during intense workouts. Its folding design makes it suitable for small spaces. This personal home gym also comes with a multiple pulley and cable system, squat bar, press station, and cardio row.
Unlike the Blaze, the Bowflex Xceed does not fold. Howecer, it sports a lighter and more compact frame, making it just as suitable for a workout area with limited space. It also has several pulleys and cables for chest, shoulders, and upper arm workouts. It comes with an adjustable seat with a wide backrest.
Power Rod® Resistance
The Bowflex Blaze comes with Power Rod® Resistance Technology, which offers the same benefits of exercising with free weights but using power rods instead. Its standard resistance is 210 lbs. of power rods, but you can upgrade it to 310 and 410 lbs., if you need more resistance.
The Xceed is also equipped with Bowflex's power rod system. Just like the Blaze, its power rods offer resistance starting at 210 lbs., and it provides the option to upgrade to 310 and 410 lbs.
Number of Exercises
The Bowflex Blaze lets you choose among 60 different exercises. It has a lat bar and tower for back and shoulder exercises, as well as a lower pulley system and a squat bar for lower body exercises. It also has a rowing station for cardio exercises.
The Bowflex Xceed allows you to perform up to 65 different exercises. It has an 8-pulley system that swivels in all directions, giving you flexible pulling exercises for your arms, shoulders, and trunk. It has a sliding plate at the foot of the machine for squats and standing exercises.
Bench Press
The Bowflex Blaze comes with a horizontal bench press that slides backward and forward, so you can easily set the angle of your workout. The bench press is well-cushioned for increased comfort.
The Bowflex Xceed has a cushioned seat and backrest, which serves as a vertical bench press. The seat is adjustable and made with high-density foam to offer optimal support.
Attachments
For leg exercises focusing on quads and hamstrings, the Blaze has a leg curl attachment.
The Xceed also different attachments, including a leg extension, ab harness, and pair of handles.
Dimensions
The Blaze has the following dimensions: L 90″ x W 38″ x H 83″. Meanwhile, Xceed is L 53″ x W 49″ x H 82″ in size.
Warranty
The Blaze offers a 5-year warranty for the machine and a no-time-limit warranty on the rods.
For the Xceed, the warranty is 7 years for the machine, and there’s also a no-time-limit warranty on the resistance rods.
Price
Price starts at under $800 for the Blaze. For the Xceed, the price averages at around $600.
Blaze vs Xceed: What Are People Saying?
Fitness enthusiasts, especially those who are focusing on strength training, find both the Blaze and Xceed as a versatile alternative to using free weights. They also like that these machines are easy to use and have an upgradeable resistance level.
Final Thoughts:
So, which home gym machine has the edge over the other?
Both the Blaze and the Xceed focus on building muscle strength and resistance, and both can work well in tight spaces. If you are looking for a more affordable option that still has a variety of exercises, go for the Xceed. The Blaze is slightly higher in price, but it also offers a robust choice of exercises, including cardio exercises.