Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill

Bowflex is best known for their home gym and the TreadClimber - neither, which impress me. On the other hand, they make a very decent treadmill, and one of their best models is the Bowflex Series 7. At approximately $1,500, the Series 7 is one of the better values in its price range. It addition to having a nice array of features, it also has a good reputation for durability. The Bowflex Series 7 is a top seller on Amazon.com.

What we like about the Bowflex Series 7:

• You get a powerful 3.0 continuous duty HP motor. This motor is sufficient to handle both walking and jogging..
• The Series 7 weighs a hefty 298 lbs. - one of the heavier machines in its price range. The good news is it's solid and sturdy. The bad news is, when folded, forget about moving it. You want to find a permanent location. The treadmill does easily fold up and down.
• The running surface is 60" long. This extra length is ideal for running and interval training. It also can accommodate taller individuals.
• The Bowflex Series 7 is equipped with 2.5" rollers. Although not the largest rollers available, the size is sufficient in reducing friction and wear.
• You get wireless heart rate control, where you heart rate determines your optimum level of exercise.
• There is a nice selection of exercise programs, including fat burn, speed interval jogger, hill intervals, fat burn heart rate calculation, cardio heart rate calculation and two custom programs.
• I really like the layout of the console and display. It has a slick design, with unique round backlit LCD read-out windows.

What did not impress me was the warranty. You get 10-year motor, 2-year parts and one year labor coverage. For the same price, you can get the Sole F80 with lifetime motor, 5-year parts and 2-year labor. Also, the fans are rather useless, but that is typical.

Our Review - Bowflex Series 7

I feel the Bowflex Series 7 is a strong contender at $1,500. It is feature rich, with a good service reputation. While running on the machine, the deck had adequate shock absorption, while giving a solid lift off. The weight of the machine makes it rock solid. Because of the weight, we suggest you consider inside delivery, if available. Otherwise, have a couple of strong individuals.

This treadmill is a good choice for both walking and jogging. For serious runners you may want to consider a model in the $2,000+ range.

Consumer Magazine Review

As mentioned, CR gave the Bowflex Series 7 a Best Buy. They gave it a "Very Good" for quality, and an "Excellent" for exercise range.

Customer Reviews - Amazon.com

There were over 72 reviews on Amazon with an overall 4.5 rating out of 5 (Click here for customer reviews). Not bad!

The majority praised the machine, with many comments on how sturdy it was. One person in particular, who weighs 300 lbs, has been using his Series 7 for a year, and has had no problems. That's impressive, but I am not sure I could recommend this treadmill for anyone over 230 lbs. I like to be cautious.

There were several complaints about the customer service - although the percentage was not significant. In addition, there were a couple of complaints about the shipping, but that is typical. Regardless where you buy a treadmill, the fulfillment companies are not always timely.

Below are several reviews:

Great machine

Love it!

I just received my treadmill and I absolutely love it. It arrived much earlier than expected and was a snap to put together. My husband had it working in less than an hour. He's a big guy and the deck is the perfect size. It also has a cushioned deck which prevents jarring of knees and back. It is very sturdy and should last the distance. I would highly recommend this treadmill.

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