Bowflex
Bowflex Max Trainer M9
$1999
Best Ellipticals · head-to-head
Bowflex Max Trainer M9 vs ProForm Carbon EL
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. ProForm Carbon EL is cheaper at $799.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
ProForm
ProForm Carbon EL
$799.99Cheaper
Which is better: the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 or ProForm Carbon EL?
The ProForm Carbon EL wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The ProForm Carbon EL is the cheaper at $799.99. The ProForm Carbon EL both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Bowflex Max Trainer M9 | ProForm Carbon EL |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1999 | $799.99 |
| Brand | Bowflex | ProForm |
| Released | — | — |
| 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 | — |
Sources — Bowflex Max Trainer M9: bowflex.com (verified 2026-06-19). ProForm Carbon EL: scheels.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 and ProForm Carbon EL?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- 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
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
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.)
Praised: Streams Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ and HBOmax directly on the 10-inch touchscreen; Free 1-year JRNY membership and heart-rate armband included in the box; Compact, low-impact calorie-burner that does not dominate the workout space.
Flagged: Users report the console crashing mid-workout; Dial-style resistance adjustment instead of buttons or touchscreen; Shorter warranty than competitors, and must sign in every time.
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, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Sturdy build with no noticeable shifting or shaking during workouts; Near-silent magnetic resistance; 18 resistance levels, above the ~12-level industry average.
Flagged: No built-in touchscreen; requires your own tablet plus a paid iFIT subscription; Difficult assembly, better done with two people; Large, heavy, non-folding and hard to move (not apartment-friendly).