Exercise is important to get in shape but getting enough, or even any, can be vigorous. Life is always challenging, and time is short; finding the time and heading to the gym is often challenging and intimidating for you.
Yes, you can go out for jogging and/or perform push-ups at your home, but you can’t monitor your progress, and so the workout can’t be so effective. So, if you find it hard going to the gym and want to get the gym-quality workout at your home, then you may consider buying some high-quality home exercise equipment such as an elliptical machine or treadmill.
When the market is full of hundreds of home exercise machines, why is everyone considering using Bowflex Max Trainers over traditional treadmills and elliptical machines?
Our research team went through its specific features and working action for 2.5x faster calories burning. Additionally, we compared this Max Trainer M3 with its sister models and other treadmills in terms of pricing and features and condensed all the facts into a well-defined bottom line.
By the end of the Bowflex Max Trainer M3 review, you’ll end up knowing about this model before actually selecting this for achieving your fitness goals.
Let’s jump in!
Bowflex Max Trainer M3 – Overview
M3 is the starter model in the series of Max Trainer fitness equipment by the well-known company Bowflex. It is the cheapest and affordable model in the Max Trainer series, costing under $1000 with highly unique features. Just like other advanced Max Trainers, this starter model also supports 14 minutes high-intensity workout, which helps in burning 2.5x more calories while giving the proper shape to the upper level of your body.
The M3 model by Bowflex is packed with great power and all the necessary features to challenge the user. Unlike traditional treadmills, this Max Trainer comes with a flexible design with zero impact.
The shape of this model has no impact on injury-prone regions like knees, back, etc and in fact, you can pour most of your energy into trimming the waistline and getting in proper shape. By using this Max Trainer, you will notice a 200% less impact on joints than running.
Just like other advanced models of the Max Trainer series by Bowflex, M3 also comes with a compact design that makes it easily adjustable in any room, even if you’ve got a small workout area.
Bowflex Max Trainer M3 – Features
Bowflex Max Trainer M3 comes with the following quality features that make it one of the best choices for a quality exercise machine.
Heart Rate Monitor
This is an exclusive feature that comes in the Bowflex Max Trainer series to keep the record of your cardiovascular fitness goals, so you control the number of calories you want to burn.
By using this trainer, you don’t have to worry about any annoying contact strap tools separately since it comes with a built-in contact strap that gives you the required data in real-time. However, this machine doesn’t support a contact strap, which is included in the other models of the Max Trainer series.
Water Bottle Holder
This beginner model of Max Trainer also comes with a water bottle or tabs holder which is placed very decently which doesn’t disturb your workout sessions.
Stair Stepper
This fitness machine is specially designed in the form of stair steppers (2 steps, one for each foot) which support the lower body exercise to help you get in shape while burning the fat faster.
Armbars
This starter model also comes with armbars (one on each side) which keep your arm-side muscles toned because of its movement while performing your workout session.
User-Friendly Technology
Bowflex offers this max trainer with over-simplified user-friendly technology with no complex functionalities at all. You can easily make your adjustments to perform your desired workout within a matter of a few clicks.
Unlike other advance max-trainers, this model lacks Computer Features which are given in other models. In order to get those features, you’d need to select an advance model of Max Trainers’ series
Know More About Bowflex Max Trainer M3
How Does Bowflex Max Trainer M3 Work?
Just like other advanced models of Bowflex, Max Trainer M3 helps you burn 2.5x more calories faster in less time than other traditional treadmills. This is due to its ability to engage with the lower body as well as the upper body area.
- The lower body exercise using stair-stepper
- Using the armbars, your upper body portion especially arms also engage in exercise and the curved shape of armbars makes your movement smooth and much easier.
8 Resistance Levels (easy to extreme)
Bowflex Max Trainer M3 comes with 8 levels of resistance which goes from very easy to extreme levels. Resistances are conveniently featured in the handles of the max trainer and you can easily regulate your levels of resistance by turning the dial on handgrip so you don’t need to reach out to console every time you want to change your level of resistance without interrupting your workout session.
No matter, if you’re a newbie, intermediate or advanced level user, you’ll always have a level of resistance to challenge yourself.
Workout Programs
Unlike other sister models, this max trainer comes with only two workout programs that you can use to challenge your workouts.
- Max Interval
- Manual
Using the preset Max Interval workout program, you can burn up to 280 calories in just 15 mins. On the other hand, the Manual workout program allows you to select everything according to your choice and perform your workout.
In a comparison of workout programs, other advance max trainers come with 10+ preset workout programs to not only help you in burning the calories but also in burning the fats all the way to get proper body shape.
What We Like
There are many features that you won’t find in traditional treadmills or other elliptical machines but Bowflex Max Trainer M3 provides. These include:
Zero Impact
Even the most cushioned treadmills out there but still you will notice some degree of impact using them. You actually work out to get a perfect body shape and want to feel better but yet there are some types of exercises that leave you injured and in pain.
So, it’s always better to invest in a pain-free workout machine. Max Trainer M3 provides you joint protected and pain-free workouts while making you feel energized and powerful.
Ability to Make Workout More Intense
Since your body works as a shock absorber and doesn’t lose energy so you can put 100% of your energy into performing your workouts. Max Trainer M3 generally allows you to go for high-intensity workouts to challenge your body at any level over using other treadmills or elliptical machines or any type of high-impact exercises.
This allows you to get a better body with the same efforts for the long haul.
Upper Body Exercise
If you ever got a chance to use any cardio machine, you might notice its minimal impact on your upper body. But Bowflex takes care of their users and provides you exclusive upper body exercise that allows you to burn more fat with minimal effort and in less time.
Max Trainer M3 allows you to get a well-rounded level of fitness by performing better arm workouts.
Resistance Levels
To help you get more fit, Bowflex Max Trainer M3 comes with either level of resistance. Once you hit the level of fitness, you can increase the resistance level and see your improvements. You can also perform high-intensity training with the addition of a different variety of workouts just to make your session even powerful and you don’t get bored as well.
However, if you want to get more resistance levels then you’re good to choose other advanced models of Max Trainers.
Heart Rate Monitoring
This Bowflex Max Trainer M3 helps you to keep the track of your heart rate in real-time. So, by using the wireless chest strap you can easily regulate your workouts and hit your target heart rate zone.
User Profiles
This Bowflex M3 Max Trainer comes with up to 2 user profiles, so if you want to get this max trainer for you and your spouse, you can easily set up your individual profile and track your fitness goals without interrupting the other user profile.
Short Space & Lightweight
For people who are short on space and want a gym-quality workout in their room then Max Trainer M3 is the best option for them. It has 46 inches by 25 inches dimension so you can easily adjust this max trainer even in the tightest area of your room. Additionally, the weight of this treadmill is only 143 pounds so you can move this treadmill easily without terrible efforts.
Extras
Max Trainer M3 comes with a water holder and rack ledge which is wider enough that you can place your tablet or reading book in it. So, this allows you to make your workout more interesting and enjoyable.
What We Don’t Like
Bowflex Max Trainer M3 is one of the finest machines we’ve ever come across but there are still improvements that need to be done in this to make it one of the best cardio equipment.
Assembly
This Max Trainer takes more than an hour to assemble completely. However, you can pay extra to set it up completely for you but still, paying the extra cash for assembly isn’t fine when you’re already paying enough for the machine. Although it’s not really a drawback of the machine itself, still it’s something to consider.
Basic Console
This Max Trainer comes with a simple console which is found to be very basic when compared with other treadmills within the same pricing range. It comes with 2 built-in programs with the display of calories burnt and other related data. But it comes with a ledge where you can place your tablet and make your workout entertaining.
Lack Backlit
Max Trainer M3 lacks a backlit display which makes it difficult to read at night or in low light.
The advanced models of Max Trainer (M5 & M7) come with a backlit display which makes it easier for you to read the screen even in low light or at night.
Only Two Workout Programs
Max Trainer M3 comes with only 2 built-in programs which include the Manual program and Max Interval.
Higher Pricing
Max Trainer costs $999 and comes with only 1 year of warranty which is found to be a poor combination of pricing and warranty by its customers.
At this pricing, you can get a comparable pricing treadmill with an exclusive 3 years of parts coverage and lengthy protection of the frame.
Bowflex Max Trainer M3 At a Glance
Pros
- Zero impact
- Offers high-intensity workout sessions
- Provides upper body exercise
- Various resistance levels (easy to extreme)
- Real-time heart rate monitoring
- Occupies less space
- Dual user profile
Cons
- Very basic console
- Lack backlit display
- Only 2 workout programs
- May require extra charges for assembly
- Expensive
Conclusion
This Max Trainer M3 by Bowflex is highly recommended for intermediate and advanced users. It’s higher in price but it is worths the money rather than spending on a compared traditional treadmill. It burns 2.5x more calories with the same efforts so if pricing isn’t a problem go for it.