Reaction training systems and gadgets are not something new to athletes. So let’s take a closer look if the BlazePod can bring anything new to reaction training or provide a more fun way to workout for fitness enthusiasts.
What exactly is the BlazePod Training System?
The BlazePod system consists of pods with flashing lights that are touch-sensitive. The pods light up in accordance with the selected workout or drill where you have to touch the lights when they flash. It can be used for running drills or combat sports and incorporate programmes that require touch with either hands, knees or feet.
The flashlight pod system is connected together via Bluetooth and is controlled by the BlazePod App. So, the app enables you to select training programmes and measure performance as users complete their drills. See the video below from BlazePod to see the system in action:
How Do You Use The BlazePod Training System?
To use the BlazePod system, simply download the BlazePod App and connect your smartphone or tablet to the pods using Bluetooth. Then, you can customise your training by selecting different drills from the app’s library. Also, you can adjust the pod settings to choose the colour sequence. and response time. Furthermore, the app can monitor your progress with detailed performance data.
A Closer Look at the Pods
The pods are portable, lightweight circular and about 10 cm in diameter. BlazePod states that the pods are “extremely durable” and can withstand punching and kicking from athletes of all levels. They are designed for the ‘rough and tumble’ as they do not contain any buttons or moving parts which also ensures they do not interfere with the programme.
Also, the pods are able to stick to any surface via their straps or suction cups. However, the straps and suction cups have to be bought separately to the pods and kits (more on this in the BlazePod Kits section below). The straps and suction cups help to set up reaction programmes in a wide variety of environments such as gyms, studios and at home. Also, they are required if you want to attached the pods to surfaces for kicking and punching or for jumping drills.
The pods are also water resistant to IP65 which means that they can handle gentle rain, tolerate sweat or be placed on wet surfaces. But they are not waterproof and cannot be submerged in pools of water.
Also, it emits powerful light via RGB LEDs and provides up to 8 different colour options. The battery length is also commendable as their rechargeable li-ion battery will provide up to 12 hours of use.
The Bluetooth connection to your smart device is also worth a mention. It is able to pair with your smartphone from up to 40 metres away from the pods.
The Blazepod Kits
BlazePod offer their system in either the standard kit or the trainer kit. Both kits come with a charging base, a storage case. However, the difference between the two kits is that the standard kit comes with 4 pods and the trainer kit comes with 6 pods (and a larger storage case to accommodate the extra 2 pods).
Currently, the standard kit is advertised on the BlazePod website at £299 and the trainer kit at £429.
As previously mentioned, if you want the pod to attach to surfaces then you will need to buy the BlazePod functional adapter kit. This kit is listed on their website at £19.99 and you receive 2 x functional adapters, 2 x suction cups and 2 x straps.
However, you are able to buy each component separately with a single pod costing £79.99. So, you can begin to see that if you need a high number of pods and require to attach a number of them to surfaces, the cost of the BlazePod system can begin to mount up.
If you are considering purchasing a kit, it is worth noting that to control the pods via Bluetooth you are required to sign up to the app which provides a free and paid for membership (we review the membership in more detail in the ‘What Do You Get for Blazepod Membership’ section below). So, the free membership enables you to connect to a maximum of 6 pods and there are less programmes and activities to choose from. However, the paid for or Pro membership enables you to connect to a maximum of 15 pods and there is unlimited access to the app’s programmes.
A Closer Look at the BlazePod App
The app is the control centre for the BlazePod Trainer system. When you first log into the app there are a few steps to enter details about yourself and your areas of interest. The app can then suggest programmes for you based on your preferences.
Once you are logged in, it has a high number of programmes to choose from. This ranges from various sport-based and or skill-based activities. However, some programmes are only accessible if you have signed up to the app membership which is £12.99 per month or £129.99 for an annual membership.
The app is easy to use and navigate with a range of categories to select your work from which you can select sport specific sports such as soccer or basketball.
Also, you can use the filter to select a drill of your choice. You can select by the type of activity, activity goal and if you have any accessories as shown in the image below.
Each drill has a video in the app that demonstrates how the drill work. This is a useful feature to grasp how to do a new drill without trying to figure out how the sequence works.
However, if any of the app pre-designed programmes or drills are not quite hitting the spot then you can design your own custom drills.
Furthermore, the app has pre-designed performance tests such as agility, endurance, speed and co-ordination tests. So, for the serious athlete or coach they can measure and analyse performance improvements. Also, the app has analytics and performance tracking to enable you to monitor and measure progress over time.
You can download the app of google play and apple store
What Do You Get With The Blazepod Membership
The BlazePod Membership enables access to all pre-designd programme and drills, tracking and analytics, access to all performance tests and an unlimited number of custom activities design. Although, these features are limited in the free version of the app. Also, the membership enables you to track and manage more than one person’s performance. So, if you are a coach of a team or have multiple clients you can keep all your team and client performance data in one place.
Our Verdict
The BlazePod is a well designed training system for agility, reactions and co-ordination. The app integrated with the pods provide a fun and structured training experience.
There is no doubt that using the BlazePod training system will improve performance. However, BlazePod is most likely to be a product that is used at either elite level of sport or where it will become a key part of training programmes.
The price of the Kit, Pods and Membership can add up to quite an investment. Particularly for someone who will use it casually or as a ‘bit of fun’. Also, for the amateur or casual fitness enthusiast, there are cheaper and alternative methods to create fun and improve the same skill areas.
But for someone competing at the elite level where speed, agility, co-ordination and improving reaction times are core to their performance it is a worthwhile investment. Whether you’re working on improving your footwork for sports such as football or tennis, or want to take your running speed to a new level, the BlazePod is an effective tool for reaching your performance goals.
Pros
- Works seamlessly between the app and pods.
- The pods are robust and designed to take impact.
- Excellent training system for functional drills.
- App is easy to use and navigate.
- App provides a wide range of pre-built activities and enables you to design your own.
- Will help to make drills and workout fun.
Cons
- Costly, especially for amateur or casual fitness enthusiasts.
- The analytics feature in the app can be more detailed.
Level of Fitness
Suitable for all levels of fitness but is most likely to be used by athletes and professional coaches.
