Bowflex Max Trainer M7 Review
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Quick Summary
Keep fit in half the time! The M7 might be discontinued from production, but remains a premier Bowflex Max Trainer on the used market and is a star at pain-free calorie burn.
This total body trainer is a top choice for efficient workouts that are gentle on joints; many shoppers choose Max Trainers as alternatives to ellipticals and treadmills.
Read on for our full review of the Max Trainer M7 with details about its pros and cons.
Our Rating
Rating: 89/100. Want total body training to be quick, painless and very effective? A Bowflex Max Trainer might be your best buy. As your arms and legs move without any jarring impact, you’ll be able to exercise with less perceived effort and get results extra quickly.
How effective is the Max Trainer M7? It outperforms treadmills, ellipticals and stair steppers in terms of calorie burn. In fact, it’s so effective that a mere 7-minute workout can pay off! Most popular with this trainer though is what Bowflex calls “the ultimate 14 minute workout.” This workout is among 11 built into the machine.
All Max Trainers earn positive reviews, but the M7 stands out from the others with lots of upgrades. One is wireless heart rate monitoring with a chest strap included. Another is the series’ widest selection of training programs, including several that can adapt to user profiles. Other upgrades range from stainless steel sport performance pedals to premium club-quality grips on the arm bars.
Bowflex routinely upgrades the lineup, so many used models are available online. This is one of them. Here are lists of top features on the Max Trainer M7 and a couple of potential drawbacks.
Pros:
- Zero Impact
- 20 Resistance Levels
- Preset Workout Variety (11 programs)
- JRNY® digital fitness platform
- Four User Profiles
- Syncs with Bowflex Fitness App
- Wireless Heart Rate Monitoring
- Premium Grips
- Premium Pedals
- Water Bottle Holder
- Media Shelf
- Good Warranty
- Compact Machine Size
Cons:
- Assembly time
- Discontinued model
- Price
Max Trainer M7 Overview
Gentle motion, speedy calorie burn and a great workout selection sum up the Bowflex Max Trainer M7. Your upper body will benefit from moving arm bars that are about twice as effective as those of elliptical trainers. Your lower body will move in constant contact with the pedals, so your body won’t feel the jarring impact associated with treadmills. Here’s info about Max Trainer M7 training programs and features.
Max Trainer M7 Features
Impress yourself as you advance through up to 20 computer-controlled resistance levels. The Bowflex M7 has the most resistance levels of any Max Trainer for 2016. Convenient controls for the resistance are built into the handlebars as well as the console.
The Bowflex M7 can automatically send your workout data to the Max Trainer App for Apple or Android. For this, you’ll need a device with at least Android 5.0 or iOS 9.0.
If you live in a small space and/or anticipate the need to move your Bowflex Max Trainer M7 frequently, its integrated transport rollers make life easy. This model features a small footprint of just 49″L x 30.5″ W and weighs in at 148 pounds.
To help you exercise efficiently, the M7 has a chest strap for wireless heart rate monitoring. Pulse readers are also built into the gym-quality, sculpted dipped handlebars. Best of all, the aero bar upgrade means decreased drag during your workout to maximize efforts in any direction.
This Bowflex has the most advanced pedals of all the Max Trainers. Its stainless steel sport performance pedals will satisfy everyone from novices to advanced racers.
Supporting comfort for the ultimate workout, the M7 has commercial quality grips. These ergonomic grips are upgrades over the grips on cheaper Max Trainers.
Other special features are a water bottle holder and a media shelf.
Workout Programs
The M7 has a good variety of built-in programs, plus customers get access to lessons from a popular mobile app. Up to four users can save their profiles for use with adaptive programming.
The built-in programs are divided into Target Mode and Performance Mode:
- Target Mode programs are named Max 7 Minute Interval, Max 14 Minute Interval, Max 21 Minute Interval, Power Interval, Calorie Goal and Steady Pace.
- Performance Mode programs are Fat Burn, Calorie Burn, Stairs, Manual and Fitness Test. With Performance Mode workouts the machine automatically adapts to your personal training level to set new fitness goals.
With a Max Trainer you’re likely to feel great during exercise and will want to extend your workout, so this model has a convenient “add time” feature.
Max Trainer owners also get to explore the JRNY® digital fitness platform. Here, new and personalized workouts are available every day of the week, and users can enjoy endless ways to combine their favorite exercises with preferred entertainment.
Warranty & Guarantee
The Bowflex Max Trainer M7 has a warranty of 3 years frame and parts, 90 days for labor.
Conclusion
Recommended! See how much you can achieve in half your usual workout time. The Bowflex Max Trainer M7 costs more than many home ellipticals and treadmills do, but it’s also about twice as effective and is less likely to be associated with joint pain. A three-year standard warranty covering the whole machine offers good consumer protection too. If it fits your budget, it’s a wise buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 a quiet machine? Does it make clunking noises?
While the Max Trainer M7 is typically quiet when in use, over time, noises can develop. There are a few culprits, the easiest fix being a loose plastic rear cover. Try tightening the screws. If this doesn’t work, it could be the roller and cover arms, debris caught beneath the fan cover, or something else. The manual has you covered for most situations you may encounter.
Does the Bowflex Max Trainer M7 have an onboard USB port for charging mobile devices?
No
Is an Internet connection required to use the Bowflex Max Trainer M7?
While use of the Max Trainer M7 in and of itself doesn’t require Internet connection, you will need to be online to access the JRNY™ platform.
What is the maximum user weight of the Bowflex Max Trainer M7?
300 lbs.
What is the recommended ceiling height for the Bowflex Max Trainer M7?
User height +15”
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