Bowflex Max Trainer Review 2026
Bowflex sells two Max Trainer models now, the M6 and the Max Total 16. Its pages showed them at $999 and $1,999 on 2026-11-07, listed at $1,299 and $2,499. Bowflex describes the motion as a mix of elliptical and stepper, and its pages never call the machine an elliptical outright.
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This review sits under the hub guide best elliptical for home because shoppers often weigh the Max Trainer against ellipticals, so the same criteria apply with one caution: Bowflex's own wording separates it from them. MudderElla did not test either model. Everything below is what Bowflex states on its own pages, read as raw page text on 2026-11-07, and where a page says nothing the review says so.
Which models are sold
Bowflex's cardio collection lists 13 products. Two of them are Max Trainers: the Max Trainer M6 and the Max Total 16. The collection links no other Max Trainer page, so no M8, M9 or SE model is listed as sold. That is a statement about what the pages read showed, and an older model could still be sold elsewhere.
What it is, in Bowflex's words
Bowflex's pages describe a "unique two-in-one motion" that combines the "low impact benefits of an elliptical and high intensity movements of a stepper". The Max Total 16 page uses the phrase "elliptical-meets-stepper design". Neither page calls the machine an elliptical outright. Bowflex's M6 page also says Max Trainers are "smaller than a treadmill or most other ellipticals", which is a size claim, not a category label.
A customer review on the M6 page, not written by Bowflex, says it is "more like a stepper". The site reports that as a customer's view, not a finding. The practical point for a shopper is that an elliptical's long gliding stride and a stepper's up-and-down pedal action are different movements, so check the pedal description before assuming the Max Trainer replaces an elliptical. The elliptical vs treadmill and elliptical vs exercise bike pages cover how a true elliptical compares.
Facts at a glance
Facts below are as the Bowflex pages word them, read on 2026-11-07. The figures are Bowflex's, not ours.
| Fact | Max Trainer M6 | Max Total 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Shown at $999, listed at $1,299 | Shown at $1,999, listed at $2,499 |
| Resistance | 16 magnetic levels | 20 magnetic levels |
| Console | Backlit LCD, no touchscreen | 16 in HD touchscreen, Wi-Fi connection required |
| Size (L x W x H) | 46 x 26 x 64.2 in | 49.3 x 30.8 x 65.7 in |
| Product weight | 136 lb | 155.4 lb |
| Maximum user weight | 300 lb | 300 lb |
| Minimum ceiling | User height plus 20.5 in | User height plus 20.9 in |
| Warranty | Frame 2 years, parts 2 years, electronics 2 years, labor 90 days | Frame 3 years, parts 3 years, electronics 1 year, labor 90 days |
| Paid protection plans | $149 (3-year), $179 (5-year), $199 (5-year Protection+) | $199, $259 and $299 |
| Heart rate | Integrated contact grips; Bluetooth armband compatible | Bluetooth armband included per overview |
| Noise | NOT STATED | Not read as a figure |
On both models the pedals sit 11 in apart center to center, the step-on height is 8.5 in and the maximum step difference is 13 in. The M6 page lists four-grip handlebars and the Max Total 16 page lists six.
The 14-minute claim
Bowflex's M6 page says "Maximize results with the 14 Minute Interval button" and describes high-intensity interval training that alternates short bursts of intense effort and recovery "in as little as 14 minutes". The Max Total 16 page carries the same sentence but mentions no 14-minute button. This is Bowflex's own workout claim. The site did not test it, and it prints no calorie or fat-loss figure for the machine. A person with a heart condition, an injury, pain or a pregnancy should ask a clinician before any high-intensity routine.
JRNY and subscriptions
Bowflex's pages give two statements about the JRNY app that do not sit easily together. The M6 page says "Train on your terms with no required subscriptions". The same page lists a "2-Month FREE Trial for New Members", pricing "starting at $11.99/mo or $99/yr", and a footnote reading "Membership required for full JRNY experience."
The Max Total 16 page lists JRNY on its touchscreen, "starting at $19.99/mo or $149/yr", with the same footnote. It also says streaming apps need a "separate digital subscription". The honest reading is MIXED: the machine can be used without JRNY, but Bowflex's footnote says the full app experience needs a membership. Add that cost to any multi-year comparison. The Max Total 16 adds a second layer: its touchscreen needs a Wi-Fi connection, and Bowflex's page says connected streaming apps need their own separate subscriptions, which are not priced on the page.
Cost over three years
Bowflex's pages show no subscription charge for the machine itself, so the starting point is the price shown. The sums below add only the JRNY membership prices that Bowflex prints, and every step is shown.
The M6 at the $999 shown price, with a JRNY membership at $99 a year for three years ($297), comes to $1,296. Without the membership it is $999. The Max Total 16 at $1,999, with JRNY at $149 a year for three years ($447), comes to $2,446. Without it, $1,999. These sums use the shown prices and the membership prices on Bowflex's pages, and leave out delivery, protection plans and any promotion.
Assembly is MIXED. A Bowflex answer on the M6 page cites $399 for delivery with assembly, and another answer cites $349. Bowflex's return policy page says a return in the first 30 days gets a full product refund minus freight, with return shipping costs of $155 and a processing fee of up to 20% outside delivery with assembly, and that returns are curbside pickups.
Scorecard
| Criterion | Cell | What the pages say |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Total price | STATED | Shown and listed prices for both models |
| 2. Works without a subscription | MIXED | "No required subscriptions" and "Membership required for full JRNY experience" both appear |
| 3. Noise | NOT STATED | No figure or adjective on Bowflex's page |
| 4. Footprint | STATED | Dimensions, weight and ceiling rule given |
| 5. Warranty and return | STATED | 2 or 3 years on frame and parts; 30-day return with costs |
| Called an elliptical | NOT STATED | Pages describe an elliptical and stepper motion |
| Assembly price | MIXED | $399 in one answer, $349 in another |
Who it is wrong for
- Anyone who wants a true elliptical stride. Bowflex describes a mix with a stepper, and a customer calls it "more like a stepper".
- Anyone who wants a quiet machine on paper. The M6 page states no noise figure.
- Anyone who dislikes monthly app fees. Bowflex's footnote says full JRNY needs a membership.
- Anyone over 300 lb, by Bowflex's figures.
- Anyone with a low ceiling. The ceiling rule is user height plus about 20 in.
Versus the alternatives
Cardio alternatives are covered in the compact elliptical guide, which compares footprints across brands, and in elliptical benefits, which gives named health sources on what elliptical use does and does not claim. For a strength machine from the same maker, see the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE review and the Bowflex Revolution review. The cardio machine start page compares rowers, treadmills, bikes and ellipticals together.
FAQ
Is the Bowflex Max Trainer an elliptical?
Not outright, on Bowflex's pages. They describe a motion combining the "low impact benefits of an elliptical" with stepper movements and never call it an elliptical.
Which Max Trainer models are sold?
Bowflex's cardio collection linked the Max Trainer M6 and the Max Total 16 on 2026-11-07, and no other Max Trainer page.
How much is the Max Trainer?
Bowflex's pages showed the M6 at $999, listed at $1,299, and the Max Total 16 at $1,999, listed at $2,499, on 2026-11-07.
Does the Max Trainer need a subscription?
MIXED. Bowflex's M6 page says "no required subscriptions", and its footnote says membership is required for the full JRNY experience.
What is the warranty?
Bowflex's M6 page lists 2 years on frame, parts and electronics, and the Max Total 16 lists 3 years on frame and parts and 1 year on electronics. Labor is 90 days on both.