Little cling
On the trainer you’ll
find a USB charging
port, a magnetic tray
for your device and
a generous bottle
holder for your
wine.81
TESTED BOWFLEX MAX TRAINER M8In a world of giant connected exercise
bikes, Bowflex is offering a compact
(but just as pricey) cardio alternative
■ The Max Trainer M8 is a kind
of elliptical step machine and
treadmill in one – which basically
means you’ll feel like you’re
constantly walking (or running)
upstairs, rather than strolling on
flat plains. That should equal quads
and calves of steel, but swinging
arms work the upper body too.■ First things first, though: it’s a
workout just assembling the thing.
Like a massive Meccano set, it
comes in two boxes and takes
a good couple of hours to put
together. However, while it’s tall
and resembles a vertical gravlev
speeder from Star Wars, it takes
up dramatically less floor space
than a bike or treadmill.■ The M8 is a high-spec model
(the ‘basic’ options are still over a
grand) featuring tailored workouts,
20 resistance levels and contact
heart-rate tracking. Choose
between fat burn, endurance
and performance, or connect to
the app for more, but be prepared
for an onslaught of enthusiastic
Americans and EDM.■ The workouts are hard, but with
no ‘pounding’ to speak of there’s a
lot for your limbs to like in terms of
full-body, low-impact motion. The
pedals are sturdy and the handles
grippy – just ensure you slow down
gradually between sprints.■ Changing the emphasis between
muscle groups is tricky – it’s a bit
like rubbing your head while tapping
your tummy, and takes some
getting used to if you really want
to work those arms.If you’re ditching the gym for serious home workout sessions, the Max Trainer M8
looks the absolute business and really delivers results. You’ll need to get creative with
Bowflex’s apps to stop things from getting too boring too quickly, and we wish the
upper-body workouts had greater weight, but as an alternative to cumbersome bikes
and treadmills it’s a winner.Ain’t no telling
how far you’ll go
with this compact
workout beast
James Day
Gymmy hench tricks
STUFF SAYS A space-saving – but not cash-saving – home cardio colossus HHHH✩
Display Colour LED/LCD
Connectivity Bluetooth, USB
Tracking Heart rate, calories
Dimensions 166x122x78cm, 67kg■ App from the skies
Trainer-led guided workouts can
be tailored to time, but switch to
the Explore the World app and you
can tour iconic locations – hello
naked rambling without leaving
the house – and race against your
own shadow avatar.■ Hassles made of hand
The dual-mode LED/LCD display
is clear and concise, and includes
a satisfying calorie-killer totaliser.
The only downside is that
heart-rate readings only show
up when switching from the
handles to the in-built receivers.£1999 / stuff.tv/BowflexM8Tech specs