Bowflex MAX Trainer Reviews - Details, Models, Features, Pros and Cons

Ordered the M6 after reading awesome reviews and trusting Bow Flex (Nautilus) company. We spent $2000 happily for this machine, knowing that indoor and snow would prevent good workouts.

February 2019. The machine arrived - we paid for assembly. It worked for 3 months. THREE months. Called, ordered power cord. Bowflex said "you need our power cord." We had it, but ordered another. Express shipping. Cold is here and muscle atrophy has set in. It did not work. They sent one. Did not work. Two weeks pass. We paid for their technician to come out, another $150...IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. No movement on a new machine or refund.

If I find the free time, I will sue this company for ruining winter workouts, making false promises and costing us over $3500 in lost funds, wages for appointments for them to fix their product. We have wasted months waiting for this to be repaired, wasted time off from work and still this brand new machine is broken. The fix-it and assembly technicians, however, are friendly.

Horrible customer service. DO NOT BUY A MACHINE FROM BOWFLEX unless you know how to make repairs yourself.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

The good news is it gives you a great workout but after about 18 months, it was done. It's not worth $3500 for the M7 that they claim it was going to last a long time. These so-called big-time workout machines are claimed to be working well and last a long time. The Bowflex M7 was a complete big bust. They're only worth about $500 if it's only going to last about 2 years. Don't buy this machine, it's not worth the money to spend on it.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Very poor customer service. I bought my MAX Trainer 3 weeks ago. I have only been able to use it 3 times. It has some kind of power issue. The display will not hold a charge and the Bluetooth and WiFi only work when they want. I have been in contact with customer service 5 times through email. I have not been able to get in touch with them over the phone because I am at work when the customer service line is open. Since I can't contact them by phone the customer service says that there is nothing to do to help. They won't even give the info I need to return it. So if you want a machine that you cant use, return, or get support for buy the MAX Trainer.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I have bought many exercise machines over the past 15 years and the Bowflex MAX Trainer is one of the most expensive and unreliable pieces of equipment I have ever owned. Within two months after using it about 2-3 times a week, the computer would not turn on. The company sent me a replacement only after they made me completely disassemble the entire thing to see if I could find a loose wire in which I didn’t. After 3 months of using the new replacement, I am again having the same issues. I would never buy another Bowflex again.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Why do all these reviews feel like they are commercials? Bought and paid for by Bowflex? Almost all these glowing reviews are the same, and use the same pictures and verbiage...it’s suspect. There’s literally no evidence to support these "14 minutes burns 2.5 times the calories!"

I bought into the hype, got the M6 a little over a week ago. It’s a nice machine, but I worry about its long term durability, especially given the consumer reviews popping up around the web. I also have to say that the Bowflex customer service/support is among the worst I’ve ever dealt with, you either get someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about, or someone who is quite rude. I had an issue where I wondered why the M5/7 supported Apple Health and Android but I couldn’t get the app to work with the M6/8. To me, this is a huge deal, and something so basic. The first customer service rep sent me to the Max Trainer app, it wouldn’t pair...so I called back. The next agent told me that Apple Health and Android Fit aren’t supported (something not mentioned in any of these canned reviews), and that they want you to use their Max Intelligence App ($150 a year or $15 a month!). They say you don’t have to, but are badgered everywhere in the app to upgrade. There’s a handful of free training sessions, but even basic ones like calorie and fat burn aren’t included, you have to disconnect the app and use the panel. Also, I logged out from the app so my wife could create a profile...and it would not let me log back in, telling me the password was wrong, then when I asked for a new password it sent me a code that would also not work...took 40 minutes and four resets to get it to work.

I contacted support again with my frustrations and dealt with an incredibly rude agent by email, who simply stopped responding after two emails.

I tried to leave a review on their website twice, wrote a lengthy review like this and gave them 3/5 stars, the review never posted. I contacted them again about the review and they told me they got my feedback and didn’t have to posted my review...totally sleazy and dishonest. I like the machine ok, but I would never recommend Bowflex to anyone.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I recently bought the Bowflex Max 3 and I am very disappointed with the product. After two months of use, I have a large knocking sound. I called Nautilus and they told me that even with my extended warranty they I would have to fix the problem myself. They said it was a maintenance problem. After looking on YouTube, many of the people called this and many similar other types of problems manufactural defects. This should certainly be covered by the warranty. I wish I could get my money back, but it is over 40 days.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I purchased the M6 on the Thanksgiving sale - I did the assembly myself, and I think most people could put it together.

I am male, 58, 5'11, about 195 lbs.

Overall, I really like the machine. I have set a goal to work out every day for the 14 minutes as advertised. I downloaded the app and I have had done about 25 consecutive days now, and a total of about 30 sessions in the past 6 weeks. So pretty much every day.

I started off with limited resistance and now I do the 14 minutes with level 14 resistance. Its a really tough workout and it takes at least 30 mins to cool down completely. Heart rate peaks around 140.

The results are interesting, I feel really good from an aerobic standpoint - lots of energy, clear thinking, never out of breath, better sleep, tighter butt...so there is an immediate impact on those areas.

However, I have had no weight change at all. In fact, I have put a few pounds on. (Note: this was also Xmas period.)

My app says I am burning an extra 1800 calories a week doing the workouts. Each workout burns about 275 calories for me. With that, I would have expected some change in weight.

Obviously, what you eat has a much bigger impact on your weight than the exercise benefit on this machine. I am going to continue doing it as long as I can and see if the weight changes.

As a reference, I am not particularly overweight, but I was hoping to tone up and lose a few pounds around the middle.

I have had no injuries or pain from using the machine. My knees are too fragile to allow me to run or jog, so this machine is ideal. No shoulder pain or any negatives from using the machine.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I had a torn meniscus and as part of my rehabilitation, I looked into elliptical machines. The Bowflex made a very attractive package in both the size that it takes up is relatively small, and the promises that it makes of being gentle on your body, especially those with knee and hip and back problems. Unfortunately, in three years of ownership, I've only been able to use it a couple of days every few months or so because my knees hurt with what feels like terrible arthritic pain and I'm in my early forties. I actually have a 4-flight walk up from the street to my front door and then an additional 2 flights from the downstairs to the upstairs of my home, and I make these trips so many times per day that my Fitbit says that I do approximately 60 flights of stairs between work and home, and just inclined walking in general. With the Bowflex, however, it is just taking up space in my room as it hurts my knees within 1 minute of use.

It looks pretty, but if you start out overweight with any joint pain, it is going to be hell on you. I used to play field sports and was an avid cyclist, so I have stamina, but this is dreadful.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

My MAX Trainer M5 stopped working. It is out of warranty, but wasn’t used all that much. I was told by the customer service rep that it was the keypad. So I ordered a replacement. That it would quit working, with little use, is an obvious indication of poor workmanship, design, parts, or a combination. Instructions were simple with regard to disassembly, except there is no easy way to disconnect the “plug” connection. I am concerned about breaking it, and called to ask if there was a secret to disconnect it. Customer service is closed.

My biggest regret is that on the answered survey regarding my initial call, I gave them a good score, because at the time I thought the rep was knowledgeable and helpful. I would like to revoke that endorsement, both for the representative and for the company. I am revoking it for the rep for not telling what I was in for, and I am revoking it from nautilus for designing this piece of trash, and not having someone available to answer questions at 3 pm Central Standard Time. Thanks for nothing.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I am 60 years old, 280 lbs, I'm out of shape. I sit a lot because I drive a truck. Not much physical activity. And as time goes by, my activity level is declining. So, I'm trying and lose some weight and get in shape. I saw the commercial for the Max Trainer and thought it looked like something I could do.

So I read about it and then called them. They recommended the M5. It arrived in about three or four days. It was easy to put together. The first time on it, I was only able to about one minute. I thought oh crap, I wasted my money because I'm not going to be able to do this. The next time was three minutes. Then five minutes. Then I increased by 15 seconds every day until I got to six minutes. In my third week, I was doing the 14-minute max interval work out. In four weeks, I lost ten pounds.

So I'm happy with my purchase. I don't have time to go to the gym. People that spend an hour in the gym may not like this machine. I do. It fits my schedule and is exceeding my expectations.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Like others, I found my first uses of the machine quite challenging. I have always been a jogger and used ellipticals and treadmills in between shorter runs outside...5K. I was using different muscles, and it takes a little while to get into the groove. There is a fast learning curve once your muscles adapt, maybe 4-5 workouts over 2 weeks. Then you can work on building your intensity. I keep the resistance handle 1 or 2 clicks away from easiest.

I am on the M3. The wide pedals allow the lateral core to get some workout and interval training is more challenging on the M3 compared with treadmills because the resistance is more of a challenge. I believe this M3 is a good buy and I have heard some sounds, but I listen to music so I am not bothered.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend