Are you looking for a low-impact cardio machine that will allow you to exercise without leaving your house?
Are you interested in the benefits of weight-bearing cardio training without damage to your joints? Then the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 is a home exercise machine to consider.
This machine is sort of a combination of an elliptical and stair-step trainer.
What You Should Know Before Buying A Cardio Trainer
Obviously, the first thing you should look into before starting any exercise program is your health situation.
Do you have any health condition that could make your planned routine a bad idea? Ideally, you should consult with your doctor before making any such purchase.
Of course, we all know that exercise will help us maintain our health. Even with that general consensus, there are many things most people don’t know about the benefits of exercise.
Regular exercise is even more important for older adults than for young people. It can improve your lipid profile, blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and neurocognitive function.
One of the big benefits is ambulation. Maintaining the ability to walk not only improves quality of life, it also helps many bodily systems work properly such as waste elimination and circulation.
Also, exercise is a key factor in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. A 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluded that aerobic exercise isthe best preventative measure for Alzheimer’s.
And, yes, the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 provides aerobic exercise.
Another issue to consider is what kind of workouts do I want to perform? For example, is the machine suitable for High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)?
Studies have shown HIIT routines are a more efficient way to lose weight than traditional cardio exercise programs.
Other issues to consider include cost and available space. Just how much room does the machine take up in my home?
You will also want to look at build quality if you intend to use the machine over a long period of time.
I wrote this guide to help you answer these questions.
Introducing The Bowflex Max Trainer M6
As mentioned before, this exercise machine is a cross between an elliptical and stair-step machine.
It has foot pedals that move like a stair-stepper and arm handles for upper-body resistance like an elliptical trainer.
The machine’s upright profile means that it won’t take up much space in your home. The Bowflex M6 occupies 46″ in length, which is significantly less than most ellipticals.
The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 follows the popular Bowflex Max Trainer M5. Other popular models from the Max Trainer series include the Bowflex Max Trainer M3 and M8.
Pros
- 16 resistance levels
- Bowflex Max Intelligence software included in the machine with built in routines
- Large, easy to read LED screens
- Heart monitor in hand grips
- Has 2 user profiles so you don’t have to remember your workout protocol
- Bluetooth included
- Designed for HIIT cardio routines
Cons
- Warranty for labor is only 90 days
- No cooling fan
- Need subscription to fully utilize Max Intelligence system
Features and Benefits of the Bowflex Max Trainer M6
The Bowflex M6 isn’t just a generic aerobic trainer that you typically use in your local gym.
The thing is a high-end machine with a lot of features that help keep you motivated to achieve your goals.
Specs
Max User Weight: 300 lbs.
M6 Weight: 148 lbs.
Height: 65.5″
Width: 30.5″
Floor footprint: 49″
Ceiling clearance required: User height + 15″
Bowflex Max Intelligence App
This system isn’t just a program, it’s an artificial intelligence platform.
This system will analyze your fitness level using your your workout history and suggest ways to improve your fitness.
The app is sort of like having your own personal trainer to provide support and motivation. It will speak directly to you to provide dynamic workouts.
Through this system, you can view 29 different exercise videos (with the $15 per month subscription to the Max Intelligence service).
Without subscription, you can access 17 videos. You can even upload personalized videos.
This system is pretty impressive. The only caveat is that it requires a subscription to get full access.
You can even use a cell phone or tablet to access the app, and it can contain up to two different user profiles.
Bowflex has pledged to add world trail video workouts to add a virtual reality element to the package.
14-minute Workout
The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 has been particularly designed for the 14-minute workout. This option is a 14-minute exercise program based on a HIIT cardio protocol.
This includes working at full intensity for 25 seconds followed by 80 seconds of lower-intensity exercise.
You will alternate between high and low-intensity exercise until you finish the full 14 minutes. This program is designed to maximize your calorie burn.
I wouldn’t advise jumping right into the 14-minute workout. Start off using the manual mode until you’re used to using the machine.
Then progress to the 14-minute workouts. And, no, it’s no just one workout. There are multiple levels of 14-minute workouts to help you develop.
Control Panel
The video console is brightly lit with a good pixel resolution. You won’t have to squint at it to see it clearly.
It also includes a tray above the control panel to hold your personal items while you work out.
The display includes big, easy-to-read numbers that are good for people with old-age eyes. The buttons are located in the center of the panel and are simple to find and intuitive to use.
The console will show your heart rate, calorie burn rate and what exercise protocol you’re using as you exercise.
Handgrips
The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 includes two sets of handgrips. The static handgrips include a heart-rate monitor.
You can also use non-coded chest straps to monitor your heart rate that transmits its signal through radio waves.
The dynamic handgrips provide upper body-resistance so you can get a full-body workout.
The dynamic handgrips move back and forth as you pump the pedals with your feet and are angled to allow a number of different grip positions.
Footpedals
These pedals are long enough and wide enough to accommodate a wide variety of feet. You shouldn’t have any problem using them.
They move up and down smoothly, without any herky-jerky mechanical resistance.
Resistance Fan
At the base of the machine, you will find the resistance fan. As you pump the pedals with your feet and arms, you will turn the fan.
This fan creates the air resistance to provide cardio stress to your body.
You won’t feel any air backwash from the fan while pedaling forward. You have to pedal backwards to catch a breeze.
I sort of like getting airflow while working out, so I sort of wish Bowflex has reversed this feature.
Storage
The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 weighs 148 lbs. As a result, the company recommends you have two people to move the thing.
It does, however, come with rollers so you can tilt the machine onto the wheels to make it easier to move.
Even with wheels, it’s still a good idea to have two people. The machine is pretty heavy and bulky to move. Two people will prevent you from dropping it or causing it to topple over.
The bottom of the machine also contains levelers to make sure it’s sitting flush to the floor.
Assembly
Unfortunately, you will have to assemble the Bowflex Max Trainer M6. Some steps of the assembly process will require two people.
Though you can easily find video instructions on YouTube, building the thing was still a pain.
You can pay to have the machine delivered fully assembled. Personally, I think this price is well worth it despite the cost of this machine.
Warranty
Bowflex warrants the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 for two-years on parts, but only covers the labor required for repair for 90 days.
This last bit seems a bit cheap to me given the cost of this machine. For what you’re paying, this thing shouldn’t break.
What Others Are Saying About the Bowflex Max Trainer M6
There are 542 reviews for the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 on the company’s direct-buy site.
Four hundred and twenty-six of these reviews are 5-star ratings, while only 8 of them are one-star ratings. Overall, the average customer rating is 4.7 stars.
Review #1
Jimmy called the Bowflex M6 “sturdy and well-built.” He appreciated this feature because he had an elliptical that regularly broke down.
Review #2
Jennifer bought the M6 to help her lose weight without bulking up. She thought the M6 worked great for that purpose.
Review #3
DR liked the 14-minute workout, which he says goes by fast.
Alternatives to the Bowflex M6 Max Trainer
To give you an idea of some of the other available options on the market, I will briefly compare the Bowflex M6 to three other home aerobic training machines.
Bowflex Max Trainer M8
If you want an upgraded version of the M6 with more resistance levels, then you should consider the Bowflex Max Trainer M8.
This machine is a step-up from the M6 and provides many of the same features. The M8 includes a more sophisticated JRNY training app, a larger console, enhanced color scheme, enhanced video screens and 20 levels of resistance.
Pros
- Improved AI exercise app (JRNY)
- Enhanced display
- Holds 4 separate user profiles instead of 2 like the M6
- Has 20 resistance levels instead of the 16 on the M6
Cons
- Costs more
- Still only provides 90-day warrant on labor costs of repair
Bowflex Max Total
If you’re interested in the best home aerobic trainer that Bowflex has to offer, you can check out the Bowflex Max Trainer Total.
The top-of-the-line Bowflex Max Trainer model is the Total. This machine includes everything you get with the M8, along with the ability to access streaming programs from your Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu accounts.
It comes with workout ranging in length from 4 to 30 minutes and has a floor footprint of 2.5 feet by 4 feet.
Pros
- Very large touchscreen monitor compared to M6 and M8
- Can watch videos from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime
- Top-of-the-line build quality
- 3-year warranty instead of 2-years for parts
Cons
- Costs more than M6 and the M8
- Still only provides 90 day warrant to cover labor costs of repair
ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer
If you’re want a home aerobic trainer with a bigger display screen and a bit more weight capacity, you can consider the ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer.
This machine is a another home elliptical trainer that is designed for HIIT workouts. The ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer has a larger 7″ touchscreen display compared to the M6 and offers 24 levels of resistance instead of 16.
Like the Bowflex Max Trainer series, the ProForm Cardio trainer is a stair-stepper/elliptical hybrid.
Like the Bowflex Max Trainer series, this machine offers trainer-led videos and includes a 30-day trial subscription to streaming workouts.
Pros
- Can handle users 25 lbs. heavier than M6 (325 lbs. vs. 300 lbs.)
- Six more levels of resistance (24 vs. 16)
- Weighs slightly less (132 lbs. vs. 148 lbs.)
- Free trial membership to streaming video service
Cons
- Costs more than M6
- Is a bit taller than the M6 at 66.7″
Final Thoughts
Home exercise machines continue to get more and more sophisticated. If you want individualized workouts that you can get in your home, you can check out the Bowflex Max Trainer M6.
This home workout machine can provide you a full-body workout while minimizing impact on your joints, along with keeping you motivated by including an interactive training system driven by AI technology.
