Our product design team was challenged to create a cardio 
product for the home that motivates, engages, and gives 
users a full body workout. It had to cut the workout time in 
half, while pioneering a workout product not seen before in 
the fitness industry. The result is the Bowflex MAX Trainer™ 
– a one-of-a-kind cardio machine that burns more than two-
and-a-half times the calories of other exercise equipment in 
14 minutes and engages the upper body 80 percent more 
than a traditional elliptical. Its sleek design, inspired by high-
performance motorcycles, enables full-body movement while 
remaining easier on the joints than running on a treadmill.
Studies showed that lack of time is the biggest barrier to 
exercise, so we set out to create a cardio machine that 
would burn more calories more quickly. We developed 
hundreds of sketches and numerous prototypes that 
combined the best of an elliptical and a stepper. By rotating 
the machine 90 degrees and leveraging Schwinn® Airdyne 
technology™ we created faster speeds and a higher calorie 
burn. The interval workout setting maximizes the benefits of 
afterburn, and can increase metabolism up to 48 hours after 
a workout is complete.   
We wanted a product that was fun and engaging and 
visually it had to drive the consumer to push past their 
comfort zone so we replicated the tachometer of a 
motorcycle so users could see how many calories they burn 
every minute. The gear shift, like a throttle grip, allows 
users to quickly adjust resistance. Users have access to the 
benefits of interval training while still enjoying the comfort 
and simplicity of other cardio machines. They can track their 
workouts with a free app, which wirelessly transfers data via 
Bluetooth®. 
Bowflex MAX Trainer is shaking up the fitness industry with 
this 14-minute interval training cardio machine of the future.