Is the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 worth it?

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The Bowflex Max Trainer M7 was introduced in 2016 to serve as a suitable high quality alternative to treadmills and ellipticals. The low impact workout is gentle on your joints and ligaments, while at the same time it helps you melt away calories. Capable of storing up to four user profiles, the M7 can help the whole family stay in shape without taking up an extreme amount of space.

Bowflex Max Trainer M7 Review

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Design

Price

Features

Warranty

To challenge users of many different exercise experience levels, the M7 has 20 resistance levels. With a smooth combination of stair-stepping and elliptical training, you can train your lower body, toning your arms with the moving handlebars. This exercise will help you break a sweat without putting too much pressure on your body.

As the top model in its series, the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 stands apart with its multiple features. Here, I will explain what those features are, how they might impact your buying decisions, and how similar or different the Max Trainer is in comparison to other treadmills or ellipticals.

With extra training workout programs and other upgrades, here are some of the things that set the M7 apart:

PROS

Low Impact: The Bowflex Max Trainer M7 has been designed to keep your feet in constant contact with the pedals, so you aren’t striking your feet against a platform. Doing so allows you to avoid damage to your joints like that you might incur running on a treadmill or outdoors.
Efficient Calorie Burn Rate: Along with the moving handlebars, the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 can improve your burn rate more quickly than other cardio trainers. More efficient than stairclimbers, ellipticals or treadmills, the M7 can help you burn 2.5 times the calories you would while using an elliptical.
Upper Body Resistance: The moving handlebars in the M7 have twice as much impact as those on elliptical trainers. With commercial quality ergonomic grips, you can feel the quality as you exercise.
Challenging: With 20 different resistance levels, you’ll always have a new level of difficulty to overcome.
Preset Workouts: The Max Trainer M7 comes with the same preset workouts featured on other Bowflex Max Trainers. Some of the options in the first menu include items such as Max 7 Minute Interval, Max 14 Minute Interval, Max 21 Minute Interval, Steady Pace, Calorie Goal, and Power Interval. In Performance Mode, the machine adjusts your goals to accommodate your training progress. Some of the items on this menu include Manual, Fat Burn, Calorie Burn, Stairs, and Fitness Test.
Max Trainer App: When you purchase this machine you get access to the App that syncs to your machine via Bluetooth so you can easily track your stats.
Heart Rate Monitor: With the contact grip system built into the handlebars, you can track your heart rate information. Or, if you prefer, you can also use a chest strap which is included in the purchase to get wireless heart rate. Only the M7 Bowflex has wireless heart rate monitoring, in comparison to the M3 and M6.
Top Quality Pedals & Grips: As soon as you start using the Bowflex Max Trainer M7, you will come to appreciate the comfort and quality with the commercial-quality grips on the handlebars and stainless steel sports performance racing pedals.
User Profiles: The Max Trainer M7 allows up to four users to store their profiles in the system’s memory so they can keep their customized training goals. Each user is allowed two profiles each.
Bonus Features: The Max Trainer M7 also comes with a media rack and a bottle holder to keep yourself entertained and refreshed while you burn away the calories.
Small Footprint: Bowflex Max Trainers don’t tend to take up as much space as full-sized treadmills. With a footprint of 46” L x 29.5” W, and a weight of 148 points, this machine can be easily rolled into storage with the transport wheels at its base.

With free shipping, the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 stands out as an excellent alternative to ellipticals and treadmills. But it does have room for improvement:

CONS

Lacks Audio: The Max Trainer M7 has no sound system built into this unit.
Lacks Cooling: No fan is included on the Max Trainer M7.
Assembly: Building the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 could take an hour or more. If you decide that you’d rather hire a professional to assemble the machine for you, it could add an extra $114.53 to your bill. The most affordable option is assembling yourself with the help of Bowflex how-to videos online.
Warranty: In comparison to other kinds of fitness equipment, the warranty for the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 isn’t very long. The warranty includes 3 years of coverage for the frame, 3 years for electronics, and 90 days of labor.

How much is the Bowflex Max?

CHECK BOWFLEX MAX TRAINER PRICE ON AMAZON

Details and Specifications

Dimensions: 49″L x 30.5″W x 65.5″H (125L x 75W x 166H cm)
Weight: 148 lbs (67 kg)
Weight capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
Elliptical path: 10″ (25.4 cm) vertical, 4″ (10.1 cm) horizontal
Pedals: Cushioned
Handlebars: Mobile with pulse sensors
Computer Controlled Resistance: Air and eddy brake, 20 levels
Console: 11 workout built-in programs, 4 user profiles, Bluetooth connectivity
Amenities: Bottle/accessory holder, tablet holder
Warranty: Frame 3 years / Parts 3 years / Electronics 3 years / Labor 90 days

Questions and Answers

Is the Max Trainer M7 an elliptical?

The design is similar to other upright elliptical machines, but the Max Trainer provides a better whole-body workout and burns more calories. The design also more compact with a smaller footprint than most ellipticals, making it ideal for smaller living spaces or apartments.

How often should you use the Bowflex Max Trainer?

Marketers claim that if you use this piece of equipment for 14 minutes, 3 times a week, you’ll see results. I recommend that you use the machine more often than that, but you should consult the appropriate experts to decide how much use is appropriate for your fitness level.

Is Max Trainer good for beginners?

It isn’t the easiest machine to start off with, but that shouldn’t discourage beginners from starting with the Max Trainer. It provides a zero impact, high-intensity workout that works the upper and lower body. It’s perfect for setting long term fitness goals as you improve your fitness levels.

Which is better Bowflex TreadClimber vs Max Trainer?

The Treadclimber is a little better for developing your lower body, but it cannot give you a full-body workout. The Max Trainer will burn much more calories, but the Treadclimber will build your leg muscles at a faster pace. Check out my full review of the Bowflex Treadclimber TC100.

Does the Bowflex M7 build muscle?

The machine was primarily created for cardio, so while you may gradually develop muscle tone after extended use, you’re not likely to build more muscle on the M7 than you would by doing weight training.

Does Bowflex Max trainer work glutes?

Yes, it strengthens your glutes and tones your arms.

How many calories are burned on the Bowflex Max Trainer?

In a regular 15-minute session as recommended, you can burn as much as 280 calories.

Is the Bowflex Max Trainer noisy?

I could only find one complaint about the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 starting to squeak. As it turned out the issue was the flywheel grinding against the side. The user said that after he adjusted one of the screws, the squeaking noise went away.

M5 vs M7 vs M8

On the Bowflex Max Trainer M5, you get 16 levels of resistance, on the M7 you get 20. This means that you can enjoy longer-term growth on the M7.

While the M7 has multi-grip, dynamic handles, the M8 has gym-quality sculpted handlebars with aero bar upgrade. The M7 is available in stores while the M8 has to be ordered online.

Conclusion

Bowflex Max Trainers are a great choice if you’re looking to get away from more traditional cardio machines. The Max Trainer M7 is meant for shoppers with bigger budgets who need a low impact workout for themselves and their families. This machine will help you avoid joint paint and burn calories in no time.

For more examples of great elliptical machines, please take a look at my review on the Best Ellipticals for 2020.