A Closer Look At The M7 Vs. M8 Bowflex Max Trainers
If you’re shopping right now for a Bowflex Max Trainer, you may want to take a quick comparison look at the different options available as you choose the one that best fits your goals and preferences.
Both of these machines are excellent choices for anyone who wants to get fit, burn fat, and even build some muscle.
But they do different to some degree, so it’s important that you know how so that you can plan your purchase accordingly.
Let’s look at a brief overview of these two machines so you can see what the difference is and what machine is going to be right for you.
M7 | M8 | |
Price | $2249 | $2299 |
Dimensions | 49” L x 30.5” W x 65.5” H | 49” L x 30.5” W x 65.5” H |
User Height | User height + 15” | User height + 15” |
Max Weight | 300 lbs. | 300 lbs. |
Warranty | 3 Years | 3 years |
Resistance Levels | 20 | 20 |
Connectivity | Up to 4 users | Up to 4 users |
Program Features | 11 program options to challenge your workout session – including Max 14 interval, power interval, calorie goal, steady pace, fat burn, calorie burn, stairs, manual, and fitness test | 11 program options to challenge your workout session – including Max 14 interval, power interval, calorie goal, steady pace, fat burn, calorie burn, stairs, manual, and fitness test |
Heart Rate Monitor | Integrated hand grips coupled with chest strap if preferred | Integrated handlebars coupled with chest strap if preferred |
Handles | Multi-grip dynamic handles | Gym Quality, sculpted handlebars with aero bar upgrade |
Max Intelligence | No | Yes |
Availability | In Stores | Online |
Similarities
When looking at the similarities with these machines, we see that they are remarkably similar. These machines are basically the same, with the upgrade of Max Intelligence, which we will talk about in a second.
Both of these machines offer some of the top of the line features that you just won’t see on other cardio machines on the market.
This includes things like a high user weight rating of 300 pounds, 20 levels of resistance, a number of build-in programs, as well as a 4-user connectivity.
Both of these machines also come with a three-year warranty, which is great news and will really help protect your investment. The last thing you want to do is spend this much and have it break down after the first year. Keep in mind that the more advanced the machine is, the better it will likely serve you, but the more things there are that can typically go wrong. Technology is great, but it does have a tendency to fail, so having that coverage is essential. Bowflex doesn’t disappoint here.
The Key Differences
As you can see from the above, these machines are remarkably similar. In fact, they are identical with two major differences.
One is that the M7 is only available in stores while the M8 is available only online. How does this impact you?
Well, if you don’t live anywhere near a Bowflex Max Trainer distributor, you will have no choice but to go with the M8, even if you don’t need its extra features.
The good news is that it’s only $50 more for this model, so not a huge amount to be concerned with and if you don’t need the extra feature, just don’t use it.
Since the M8 is available online, virtually anyone can get it, provided you don’t live in such a remote area that they are not shipped to your location. This is very rare though so if it did happen, that would be an exception.
Do keep in mind there may be added shipping costs however for those who are ordering online depending on your area and what shipping options are available.
Availability aside, the other key difference between the two machines is that the M8 comes with the Max Intelligence feature. This feature is going to be a huge help to some people while others may not even use it.
What Is Max Intelligence?
Max Intelligence is essentially a built in personal trainer that will help deliver you with customized workouts that you can then use to help ensure you make progress.
The trainer learns your body and fitness level and from there, makes recommendations on workouts you should do each and every day. This is an ideal option for those who may be looking for a little extra support with their program and aren’t quite sure how to go about getting it.
If you don’t want to hire a personal trainer to be by your side multiple days per day, it’s a fantastic option.
The Max Intelligence trainer will continue to adjust and adapt your workouts as your fitness level grows and considering the M8 offers 20 different resistance levels, there is plenty of room for you to improve.
If you aren’t someone who’s workout savvy and in other words, you don’t know how to adapt and adjust your routine yourself, this can be a huge addition for you.
It also allows you to take your session through a trail in other parts of the world as well, so this can help with gaining more interest in the sessions you’re doing.
The Benefits Of Max Intelligence
- Ensures that you continue to make progress during your workout routine
- Helps provide guidance when you need that extra support
- Prevents boredom during your sessions
- Will help keep you consistent, which will then translate into faster results
- Plays music while you are exercising, which can serve as a great motivational tool
- Is made for beginners all the way to advanced individuals so anyone can make use of it
- Is built right into the machine so there is no need for any external devices
- Is there with you whenever you are exercising – no more scheduling times with personal trainers
The Max Intelligence is a feature that sets Bowflex apart from other brands and those who use it often state that they couldn’t live without it after giving it a try.
Additional Costs
One thing you do want to keep in mind is that Max Intelligence isn’t free. You will pay $50 more for the machine upright, which isn’t too great of a cost, but this just gives you Max Intelligence capabilities.
From there, if you want to activate Max Intelligence, you’ll be paying $14.95 if you go month to month, or $149 per year, which gives you a slight savings and has you in around $12.41 a month.
Overall this is still much cheaper than hiring a personal trainer would be so when you look at it from that cost trade-off, it’s really not that expensive at all. If you are doing four workouts a week, that is only about $0.75 a workout, which is cheaper than a cup of coffee.
Considering most personal trainers charge $50-75 a session, it’s a big difference.
So there you have the key differences between the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 and M8. Both are excellent machines and will help deliver you a terrific workout while helping you get and stay in shape in the months going forward.