The biceps are a common focus for many strength trainers, bodybuilders, casual weightlifters, and workout enthusiasts alike, and it’s no wonder, considering they’re one of the most visible muscles of the body, often shown off in movies, magazines, and other forms of media.
As well as in person, of course!
As a result, the demand for the best tips, tricks, techniques, and equipment to achieve this much sought after goal of bigger biceps has only amplified over time, drawing many to modern and old devices.
Here we will go over two of these methods and explore their similarities and differences, and let you decide which of the two will be the most beneficial!
What is an Arm Blaster?
The arm blaster is a simple and straightforward device, worn with straps around the neck and a flexible metal band around the midsection, enabling the tool to help to restrict the more unproductive movement of the arms to make curls more effective, preventing the user from “cheating” during them.
Which is to say that cheating is whenever your body takes the ‘easy way out’ and lifts unproductively, but more comfortably and with less effort than what would be exerted otherwise using the proper form and technique.
The arm blaster is designed to maximize the efficiency of the bicep curl exercises by aiding the user in keeping the proper form, as well as isolating the biceps themselves.
It is an old school device, but one that has been returning to the mainstream again in recent times.
What is a Preacher Curl?
Technically, the preacher curl is not a device in and of itself, unlike the arm blaster, but is a particular bicep building activity belonging to a group of lifting exercises known as bicep isolation exercises.
However, there are rack mounts and preacher curl station machines meant to aid in doing the curls and other related activities, which is especially helpful for beginners and novices rather than trying to go it alone.
The preacher curl can be performed using a weight bench at a 45-degree angle and a barbell, or either of the above attachments or machines, other weights are also usable options.
It is performed by first holding the barbell with the palms facing upwards, then placing the armpit on top of the bench and lowering the barbell to a 45-degree angle.
Head to head, Arm Blaster VS Preacher Curl:
The Breakdown!
Summary of the differences between the two tools
The differences between either a preacher curl station, a preacher curl rack mount, or the arm blaster are generally apparent just from taking a small glance at them.
A preacher curl station is a large machine, a staple in many gyms and fitness clubs alike, the tool has a seat, a pad for the arms, and a holder for the barbell to slide into, giving everything the user needs to perform the exercise.
The mount is attached to a power rack and resembles the pad that is typical of preacher curl stations, which is a good option for those who are limited in space and don’t think that they may be able to fit a full station.
The noticeable difference in the arm blaster is that it’s basically as long as a belt, lightweight, and easily slipped on, straps attached, and stored.
It is a great choice for those who are limited in space or want something that has less chance for user error, such as the preacher curl station, given it allows the user to ‘cheat’ if not used correctly.
Arm blaster VS Preacher Curl: comfort and ease of use
There is an advantage to the preacher curl station over the arm blaster for comfort, as some users report soreness in the muscles when first using the blaster because it uses and puts a strain on parts of them that are often not used.
The preacher curl only requires you to sit and lean at an angle when lifting your weight, while the arm blaster has you restricted to keeping your arms against the trunk of your body and may put pressure on the triceps potentially, which can range from slightly uncomfortable to annoying for some.
Using either the preacher curl station or arm blaster is very simple, considering with the blaster, you slip it on and pretty much are restricted to doing only the movements it lets you perform easily, and with the station, you just sit, lean, and lift.
This added freedom can be an advantage, or disadvantage, depending on how you look at it, however.
Considering your body is unrestrained, unproductive movements and improper form are much easier to do, thus making mistakes and user error more of an issue than with a blaster, so novices to doing curls may choose to use an arm blaster instead if they want to lessen the chances of doing them incorrectly.
Arm blasters can cause soreness in the muscles of the back, arms, and elbows though, especially for people not used to using them, because the position is somewhat unnatural.
They can also be irritating for those with larger biceps if the size and shape of the arm blaster are incompatible with the body type of the user, though this problem can be solved by finding a better fitting blaster.
Generally, though, preacher curl stations are considered better for the newbies as a rule since they’re more comfortable and less awkward to use.
Arm Blaster VS Preacher Curl: versatility
As a whole, curling using various weights, such as an EZ-bar or dumbbell, is less awkward with an arm blaster, and again, fewer chances for user error and unproductive lifting, given the restriction of the body, as opposed to doing the same using a preacher curl station.
It definitely can be done using a curl station, but the proper technique and form are needed to ensure the accuracy of the results and efforts of your time.
It depends on what your aim is, so I recommend experimenting with both and seeing which one better suits your comfort and experience level, while still getting satisfactory results.
In conclusion
Generally speaking, arm blasters are more affordable and less prone to improper use than a preacher station but are considered to be less comfortable for beginners and novices, however.
Cost-wise they’re not vastly different from each other, with many arm blasters ranging from 30 to 150 dollars max, and preacher stations starting at 70 to 350, so neither is break the bank expensive, so your choice may likely come down to simple preference for either of the two.
As mentioned, preacher curl mounts for power racks are also an option and generally are anywhere from 50 dollars and up, so they’re also fairly affordable for the average joe on a budget.
Those low on floor space may find the arm blaster or the mount to be better options for their situation, especially if you already have a power rack in your arsenal.
As a whole, both preacher curl stations and arm blasters share many of the same benefits and a few disadvantages, but both tools are highly effective for bicep isolation and muscle building, so generally, it comes down to personal preference in a lot of cases.