Iron Kettlebell Fitness

My Review of the Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill

If you have been a regular reader of my blog, you know I love working out with weights and have done so religiously for many years.  I am a firm believer in taking care of myself which includes performing some type of cardio at least a couple of times a week in addition to weight training.  I incorporate kettlebells into my cardio routines but also believe strongly in the benefits of running, although I detest it with all my heart and soul.  But, I don’t mind so much running on a treadmill, I guess because there are so many variations as to what you can do on one and it is easy on my knees.  (Watching TV while running on the treadmill helps me with the boredom of running.)

When spending the kind of money it takes to get a good quality treadmill for your home, you want to make sure you are getting the treadmill that is right for you and one that is going to last.  I have done some research on some of the different makes and models of treadmill available for consumer use and thought I’d share my findings on one of the better models of treadmill, the Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill.

What to Look for When Buying a Treadmill

I have found that there are a lot of differences out there among treadmills, but there are a few points that are of universal consideration before you decide on which one to purchase.

• · What Will You be Using the Treadmill For?
• · Available Space
• · Motor Strength
• · Workout Programs
• · Build in Heart Rate Monitor
• · Roller Size
• · Deck Suspension
• · Belt Construction
• · Warranty

What Will You be Using the Treadmill For?

What I mean by this is, will you be walking or running on the treadmill.  There are many cheaply made treadmills out there that are perfectly fine if all you want to do is walk, but if you plan on running on it, going cheap is a huge mistake.  If you go out and spend a couple hundred dollars on a treadmill and you are doing a lot of running on it, expect to be buying a new one in six months.  When you run, you are literally pounding the pavement with your feet and the same holds true for a treadmill.  If all you plan on doing is walking, the Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill isn’t for you.  Get a cheap treadmill and save your money but if you do plan on running, keep reading.

Available Space

I have a friend who bought a treadmill (not this one) and didn’t take into consideration the amount of space it would take up. She had plenty of space to use it but not to store it and the one she bought didn’t fold up so it took up half of her apartment’s living room.

The Bowflex Series 7 easily folds up to take up half the space it uses when open and it has wheels that make for putting it into another room or a closet a piece of cake.

Motor Strength

From my research, I have found that the minimum motor strength you want for your treadmill is 1.5 horsepower with 2.5 being preferable.  The Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill comes with a continuous duty 3 horsepower motor which does the job of powering the belt very nicely.

Workout Programs

One of the reasons I can tolerate running on a treadmill as opposed to running on pavement is the variety of workout programs available.  The Bowflex Series 7 offers 15 different workout programs to include an interval training program which is one of the best methods of burning fat. The Bowflex also has 2 custom program modes which is an excellent feature in a treadmill.

Build in Heart Rate Monitor

The ability to monitor your heart rate while performing cardio is a must, so unless your treadmill comes with a monitor, you will have to buy one separately which is an added expense.  The Bowflex Series 7 comes with its own heart rate monitor built into the handles which saves you some money and adds to the convenience of the treadmill.

Roller Size

Roller size matters for the durability of the treadmill and the longevity of the machine.  The rollers should be a minimum of 2 inches which ensures that the belt will last you a long time.  The Series 7’s rollers measure 2.5 inches.

Deck Suspension

Running on pavement, even for short distances takes a major toll on my knees.  Running on a treadmill helps but some of the machines I’ve used aren’t much better than the pavement in terms of shock absorption.

When buying a treadmill, you want one that has a mild deck suspension to cushion your feet as then land but isn’t squishy so as not to feel like you are running in sand.  The Bowflex Series 7 gets it right with its Strike Zone deck suspension.  Not too hard and not too soft.  (Little Red Riding Hood would be impressed.)

Belt Construction

Just like with the rollers, we want a treadmill that is going to last a while, so a good solid belt is a must.  Bowflex addresses this concern with a two ply belt that should last a lot longer than a single ply belt.

Warranty

This is a big one in my eyes, especially if you are going to be investing some good money into a treadmill.  The Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill has a very good manufactures warranty.  15 years on the frame, 10 years on the motor, 2 years on parts and 1 year on electronics and labor.

Honorable Mention

The above listed features are what make this Bowflex treadmill a very good machine but there are a couple of little extra’s that are nice additions.

One I already mentioned is the interval training program which is a must for burning fat.  The next is the 2 bottle holders which comes in handy if you are doing any long distance running and the last is the built in 3 speed fan.  I tend to run hot so I love the fan.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

I know that this is a major consideration for most of us when we are looking to purchase something like a treadmill.  As I mentioned earlier, I will caution against getting treadmill that only cost a few hundred bucks if you plan on running on it.  You will be sorry you did.  With that said, the Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill isn’t terribly expensive when compared to some of the other treadmills that don’t rate as high as this one.

Of course the price varies depending on where you buy it but I wouldn’t spend any more than $1400 for this treadmill.  I have actually seen it priced at almost 2 grand but you can do much better than that.  I would suggest Amazon who seems to have the best deal on this treadmill, especially when you factor in the free shipping that they offer.

Other Reviews

The Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill continually gets very good customer reviews.  It currently rates 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon and was named as top fitness product by a top consumer magazine.  Here are what some customers have said about this treadmill:

• “…extremely happy with the treadmill.” – T. Greer
• “I have put on over 800 miles and it’s had no problems at all.” – Dana
• “I would buy it again in a heartbeat!” – T.
• “This treadmill is a MUST HAVE.” – Dana
• “Easy to fold and move around” -  Huck

Click here to read more Amazon customer reviews for yourself.

Any Complaints?

There are some customers who have some, in my opinion, minor complaints about the Bowflex treadmill but none that seem to display any kind of pattern with the exception of one, the treadmills weight.  Bowlfex lists the weight of the series 7 at 297 pounds.  Yes, that is heavy but it is comparable to the other treadmills in its class.

I must mention again that you want a treadmill that is sturdy and well build if you are going to be running on it.  Because of this, the treadmill is going to be heavy so I don’t see this as a complaint that is worthy of concern, especially considering the weight of the other comparable treadmills.

Where Can You Buy the Bowflex 7 Series Treadmill?

You have lots of options for purchasing this treadmill.  As I said earlier, Amazon seems to consistently have the best price and with the free shipping they offer, you might be hard pressed to find a better deal.  Free shipping seems like a no brainer considering the weight of this treadmill.  Let somebody else lug it to your house.