Bowflex Max Trainer Review

Manufactured by Nautilus, Inc., the Bowflex MAX Trainer claims to be an easy and intuitive fitness machine that can help you burn more calories in less time, build a stronger heart and lungs, improve your endurance and stamina, and continue burning calories long after you’ve stopped working out.

The Bowflex MAX Trainer is a unique device unseen elsewhere in the industry, which some consumers have described as being a combination of a “reverse elliptical” machine (e.g. your feet move in a reverse motion, almost as if you were walking backward), a stair stepper, and a stationary bicycle. Other users have described the MAX Trainer’s motion similar to running up a very steep hill.

How Max Trainer Works?

The Bowflex Max is essentially an elliptical trainer combined with a stair-stepping device that uses interval training. Like an elliptical, the Bowflex Max is designed to be low-impact on the joints (Bowflex proudly says it has “virtually zero impact”). They boast it is also specially designed to look futuristic, keep you motivated to use it, and take up as little floor space as possible.

The main-claim-to-fame, however, is that it gives you a more intense workout in less time (14 minutes) by doing intervals, i.e. 25 seconds of intense activity to get your heart rate up, followed by a cool-down period of less activity; they claim 75% of your workout is actually in the low activity zone.

Bowflex Max Trainer Models

Bowflex Max Trainer comes in two different models namely M3 and M5. There are 16 different levels of resistance on the M5 model and 8 on the M3 model, and most people will be unable to get anywhere close to the top 2-4 levels of resistance for more than a few minutes at a time. M5 offers a warranty of 2 years whereas M3 serves a 1-year warranty.