Bluefin Fitness BLADE 2.0 Rowing Machine

With the recent lockdown many of us have discovered that working out at home is actually rather enjoyable and cheaper than most gym memberships and with the avoidance of communal changing rooms it is an easy way to keep fit and boost energy.

The downside to having gym equipment in the home is that often it can end up taking up too much space, especially rowing machines which are a great overall body workout. The Blade 2.0 Rowing Machine from Bluefin Fitness gets round this problem by making its rower foldable, with a simple lift and tilt the rower track folds upwards and sits on the sturdy base (74.5cm x 166cm x 51cm), giving back your floor space. The pads on the bottom protect delicate flooring and the feet can even be folded for even more compact storage. Assembly isn’t the easiest, it is best done with two people and some of the components are quite heavy, once put together it feels robust. The ergonomic handlebars are comfortably padded and have a non- slip coating for those sweaty hands, the foot pedal tilts naturally as you work out and the adjustable Velcro strap keeps your feet in place.

There is a smartphone/tablet stand so you can track exercise, put on a movie or watch some upbeat music videos, the seat has a comfortable amount of padding for long sessions. There is a backlit LCD display which keeps track of your speed, time, distance, strokes per minute and calories burned, there is also the optional App which will record and share your work out and compete with friends, however it is an occasional struggle to connect it to the rower. The belt drive provides a smooth and comfortable rowing motion with a 10° incline and eight levels of tension to choose from, the top resistance was the max intensity needed for me a moderate exerciser but might not be strong enough for more muscle-bound rowers. The Blade 2.0 is best suited for those looking for low to moderate exercise with limited space for equipment, the app is temperamental and rather limited but it isn’t necessary to enjoy the exercise. All things considered it is reasonable value for money and provides an all over workout, improving cardio and muscle strength all from the comfort of your own home. RRP £399

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