# Bowflex Max Trainer M9 vs ProForm Carbon EL: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 (Bowflex) and ProForm Carbon EL (ProForm) among ellipticals. ProForm Carbon EL is the cheaper of the two at $799.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Bowflex Max Trainer M9 | ProForm Carbon EL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $1999 | $799.99 |
| Brand | Bowflex | ProForm |
| Type | center_drive | front_drive |
| Stride length (in) | — | 19 in (manual adjustable) |
| Resistance levels | 20 | 18 |
| Power incline | No | No |
| Max user weight (lb) | 300 | 275 |
| Flywheel (lb) | — | 15 |
| Built in programs | 4 | — |

## Key differences

- Type: Bowflex Max Trainer M9 center_drive vs ProForm Carbon EL front_drive
- Resistance levels: Bowflex Max Trainer M9 20 vs ProForm Carbon EL 18
- Max user weight (lb): Bowflex Max Trainer M9 300 vs ProForm Carbon EL 275

## What reviewers say

**Bowflex Max Trainer M9** — Only one whitelisted tester covers the exact Bowflex Max Trainer M9: Garage Gym Reviews (Stacey L. Nash, CPT, 2026). It calls the M9 solid hardware undermined by software, praising the multi-service streaming, the included 1-year JRNY membership and heart-rate armband, and its compact low-impact footprint, while flagging mid-workout console crashes, a dial-style resistance knob, a shorter-than-competitor warranty and a forced sign-in every time. No independent hands-on measurements were captured on the page. (1 sourced review.)

**ProForm Carbon EL** — Two whitelisted testers rode this $799 budget elliptical hands-on: Garage Gym Reviews (3.8/5) and BarBend. Both call it sturdy, near-silent and a strong value, praising 18 resistance levels (above the ~12 average), iFIT SmartAdjust auto-resistance and a 19-inch adjustable stride. Shared gripes: no built-in touchscreen (bring your own tablet plus a paid iFIT subscription), difficult assembly, and a large/heavy/non-folding frame. GGR alone flags the light 15-lb flywheel, the 275-lb capacity and a missing safety key. Neither ran instrumented lab (dB/watt) benchmarks. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- Bowflex Max Trainer M9: https://www.bowflex.com/product/max-trainer-m9-elliptical/100996.html (bowflex.com, verified 2026-06-19)
- ProForm Carbon EL: https://www.scheels.com/p/proform-carbon-el-w/-18-levels-of-resistance-elliptical/43619-PFEL55925/ (scheels.com, verified 2026-06-19)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/ellipticals/bowflex-max-trainer-m9-vs-proform-carbon-el/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Bowflex Max Trainer M9 ($1999) vs ProForm Carbon EL ($799.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/ellipticals/bowflex-max-trainer-m9-vs-proform-carbon-el/
License: CC BY 4.0.