Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
June 23, 2010 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise Equipment, Treadmills
Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
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 List Price: $1,999.00 Sale Price: $1,099.97 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping |
Product Description
Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill, motorized, computer-programmed and ready to go the distance in getting you fit! Get the low-impact, high-cardio workout benefits of a gym-quality motorized Treadmill, right at home! Deluxe model, with incline adjustment, telemetric heart reading capability and 15 programs. Here's how Bowflex will have you flexing all your fitness muscles: Strike Zone deck suspension offers a comfortable surface that's easy on feet, ankles, knees and hips. You get a soft landing and a firm lift-off on the big 20 x 60" surface, a deluxe 2-ply belt; 15 programs for variety, including 2 user-defined, 2 heart rate control, and a body mass index. Quick keys for 0-9 speed and incline. Speed range from .5-11 mph; Sky-lite backlit LCD display for setting and workout readouts; Durable 3 HP continuous duty motor, made to last; 2 1/2" precision rollers for smooth operation; Contact grip and wireless heart rate telemetry for heart rate workouts; Fold-up treadmill with soft-drop declining, so it's portable and easy to store; 3-speed fan to cool you as you exercise. 2 bottle / cup holders; Measures 85 x 35 x 55 1/4"h. open. Folded it's 41 x 35 x 65 1/2"h. Weighs approx. 300 lbs. Some assembly required. Maximum user weight 300 lbs.
Details
- Selected as a top fitness product by a leading consumer magazine
- Grip and telemetric heart rate monitors help you measure your fitness level; large 20 by 60 inch walking/running surface area
- Quick incline and quick-speed keys offer easy access to desired settings; 3-speed fan cools you while exercising
- Warranty: frame - 15 years, motor - 10 years, parts - 2 years, electronics and labor - 1 year
- 15 programs, including two heart rate calculation, two user-defined, and a body mass index test offer maximum workout variety
…
Rating
I have never written a review for any product, ever, but here is my first attempt.
About 18 years ago, I bought my wife an el-cheapo treadmill from Montgomery Wards for around $500, thinking that she would probably use it for a couple of months and then it would gather dust and eventually be donated to Goodwill. To my astonishment, she ran on that thing for at least an hour, 3 to 5 days a week right up until last month when the deck finally fell apart and the belt began to shred. If I could have simply bought that treadmill again, I would have, but since that wasn’t possible, I decided at least to get my wife a higher-end treadmill to replace it.
The first challenge was to narrow down my choices. Since Consumer Reports and the Treadmill Doctor website both rated this model highly, I was torn between it and models from Sole and Bodyguard, but a quick internet search revealed a (since ended) Amazon “secret sale” on the Bowflex models that lopped hundreds of dollars off the final price of the Bowflex, so that clinched my decision to get the Series 7.
A few days after I ordered it, the Eagle truck backed into my driveway, and a nice old (60+) guy began wrestling to get the huge, heavy box off the truck. He refused to let me help, and eventually got it tipped off the truck and onto a dolly without killing himself, or losing control of it. I didn’t want him to risk injury trying to get it up my 2 porch steps and over my threshold though, so I just let him wheel it 10 feet into my garage and we eased it to the floor there.
The box was pristine, as was the treadmill itself, and it only took 4 guys to haul the deck down my curving stairway and into a basement bedroom.
I assembled the unit alone, using the supplied tools and two of my own phillips screw drivers. It was easy to do, and only took about an hour and a half.
The assembly instructions are beautifully illustrated and well-written, so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting it together.
Once I got it assembled and plugged in, I tested it out a little, and everything seemed to work fine. Until I tried to use the INCLINE feature.
While it APPEARED to be working well according to the output on the display, the deck stayed flat. Why? Because, although it is not clearly stated in the owner’s manual, you MUST do the calibration sequence on page 28 before the incline feature (and who knows what else) will actually work. Fortunately it is an easy procedure, and only takes a minute to do. Another thing the manual should state but doesn’t is that you should NEVER use WD-40 to lubricate your belt. According to Nautilus, this is something a lot of people do, and any consequential damage will NOT be covered by your warranty.
The Series 7 is easy to operate, FAR quieter than our old treadmill, and was a bargain at the price we paid.
Rating
This treadmill is a “MUST HAVE”. The ordering and delivery process was smooth. I received my treadmill within two weeks. I was clearly informed regarding delivery time. Set up was simple. It took my Son and his girlfriend 45 minutes. This is a sturdy and durable piece of equiptment. We are big, tall people and the track length and size really accomodates us and does facilitate a GREAT WORKOUT! This is the 4th treadmill I have puchased and by far the best. I am amazed at how quiet this machine is. I can watch Tv and not have to increase the volume. There are more then enough settings to maximize your workout. I would recommend this treadmill to anyone! Thank you Amazon.Com!!!
Rating
I ordered the Bowflex Series 7 on 9/6/06. It was delivered via Eagle on 9/21/06. It was available for delivery on the 20th, but I wasn’t able to receive it on that date.
The review from Consumer Reports and reviews here at Amazon was the deciding factor for my purchase. So far I am extremely happy with the treadmill. The only drawback that I can see is the heart rate monitor on the machine. It takes a LONG time to read the heart rate. It’s practically useless. However, the package came with a remote monitor that works excellent.
Warning: The delivery. There was one guy who delivered the machine. A middle aged, strong man. But he really struggled with the thing. There should have been two men. I saw the box as it came off the truck and it was really beat up. And then with the one guy struggling with it, as he was getting the thing off the dolly in my garage, it came down hard on the floor. So here I am with a box that looks pretty beat up, and it hits hard on my garage floor. I worry about the delicate computer parts of the machine. I immediately contacted Amazon. They said if there was any problem, there is of course the return policy. Not sure how it would be returned if needed, as the box has to be pretty much demolished to get the thing completely out for assembly. But, so far, so good.
As you can see from my above paragraph, the machine is very heavy. I was able to bring in all parts except for the biggest part… the deck. My husband and two others really had to muscle that thing in. Yes, it can be folded and rolled, but not to get into my house and through hallways and doorways. Folded, it won’t work. It was quite a job. Once the unit was where it needed to be, the assembly was a snap.
Like I said, so far so good. It is working great. I really like the machine. Just as good as the ones I’ve used at the gyms. I hope this will continue for a long time to come.
Rating
We’ve all heard the old Lakota Indian quote, “let me never judge another until I have walked 1000 miles in his moccasins.” Well, I didn’t want to judge this product until I had run 100 miles on its treads. Now that I’ve completed 100+ miles I can provide a review.
I’ve seen a lot of complaints about delivery. None here. Eagle put it right where we asked. I was at work when it was delivered but my wife asked them to bring it around the back of the house, down the steps into the basement and into it’s permanent location. And that’s what the delivery guys did. No problem.
Assembly was a breeze. I put it together in under an hour with my two young kids running around jumping on the box and asking questions the entire time. If you can follow simple instructions you can do this.
I wouldn’t call it a space-saver since it takes a lot of space even when it’s folded, but it’s a big treadmill. What do you expect? It is maneuverable though. Lock it in the upright position, lean it back on its wheels and away you go.
This is a great product. The cushioned platform means my knees and feet do NOT hurt after running. If I run outside I’m in pain for at least the next day.
It runs quietly (although I do NOT).
The soft-landing feature when you lower it is a very nice touch.
The multiple running programs are great. I’ve used a few of them but for now I’ve settled on the run/walk program. A few minutes of running, half those minutes of walking, more running, more walking, etc.. When my heart rate gets down to where I want it during the walk phase, I like that I can override the speed setting and crank it back up to my running pace. So, you don’t have to walk three full minutes after you’ve just run for six. If you’re ready to hit it after one minute of walking you can.
I’ve used the incline a couple times. It works perfectly, but right now I’m focusing on getting my endurance where I want it to be. For me that means no incline, just 60 minutes of running and increasing the pace until I can start hitting my mileage goal consistently.
The heart rate handles are useless. I’m not sure if it’s possible to make them work correctly but what’s the point? You shouldn’t be reaching out and grabbing those anyway. Why break your pace? The Polar heart monitor that comes with the treadmill is all you need. In fact, you shouldn’t run without it. It’s been interesting to see how, as I steadily increase my running distance, my heart has grown stronger. This is measurable with the output provided by the heart monitor. Amazing.
Everyone complains about the fan. Yep, I’ll confirm that. The fan is weak. It might as well not be there. But, I didn’t buy this thing for the fan. If it can generate any breeze at all, that’s just a bonus.
Consider me one very satisfied customer. Also consider me a healthier customer than I was before I began using this fine piece of equipment.
Rating
I purchased the Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill nine months ago and have used it almost daily. It has held up very well and I have trained for a half marathon, using it as my main source of running since my schedule does not allow me to get outside as much as I would like. I have put on over 800 miles and its had no problems at all. My one disapointment was with the fan. It is not as strong as I would like. This treadmill is also difficult to move around as its very heavy. However, this is a great treadmill, well built and made to last. It was well worth every penny!
Rating
I just recently purchased a Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill off of Amazon. The other reviews definitely helped me in my decision making process, so I definitely wanted to pass my thoughts along. I respect Consumer Reports as well, so it was an added plus to find out that they rated this treadmill a top buy.
First off, I am very pleased with the overall value. I received a free Bowflex mat to go underneath it, and also got free super saver shipping. The Bowflex mat is decent. I probably would not have purchased it for the $99 price-tag, but it does protect our carpet very nicely, and I’m glad to have it.
The thing I was most nervous about was the free super saver shipping. Other reviewers had mentioned that their boxes arrived in very poor condition, so I didn’t know what to expect. Thankfully, my treadmill box arrived in excellent condition. One guy delivered it, and he had quite the time getting it off the truck. He did a great job, though, and nothing was damaged in any way.
As other reviewers have noted, this is one HEAVY machine. It took me (a 200 pound guy), a strong friend, and my wife to lift the thing into our house.
Once the machine was in place, setup was a breeze. Probably took me 45 minutes to an hour, and everything was pretty self explanatory. The instructions were very easy to follow. Probably one of the easiest assembly projects I have ever encountered.
I have already had the opportunity to run on this machine a couple times, and it is even better than expected. Although the machine is very heavy, which makes for an interesting time getting it into the house, I believe the weight also makes it an extremely sturdy machine. I am a 200 pound guy, and the machine has no trouble handling me when I run. It is very smooth, reasonably quiet, and the 3.0 horsepower motor has no trouble handling inclines or running. I have had health club memberships in the past, and this machine is as good, if not better, than some of the “commercial quality” machines I have used.
Also, the 20″x60″ deck provides ample running space. The two-ply belt looks thick, and does not appear to be something that will wear out any time soon. The deck also folds up and drops down very easily, with minimal assistance needed.
Here’s the stuff that is so-so:
Don’t expect the fan to do much. You do notice a difference if you have the fan on high, and then you turn it off. At most, it provides a very light breeze on your face.
As one other reviewer noted, the grip heart-rate monitor seems to take a very long time to provide a reading. I haven’t had a chance to use the wireless monitor yet, but it seems like that has received very positive reviews.
Another reviewer mentioned that his belt was off center when he received the machine. My belt was a tad off center as well, but it is very easy to make the needed adjustment to get it centered again.
My only other complaint is that I wish the treadmill had a warranty that would rival Smooth Fitness. I was close to purchasing the Smooth 6.25, but the Bowflex Series 7 was slightly less money, and I felt it offered more features. That said, the Smooth 6.25 has an unbelievable warranty that Bowflex cannot match. Nothing about the Bowflex Series 7 leads me to believe that it will be anything but a great machine for years to come, but I do wish it had a longer warranty.
Overall, the Bowflex Series 7 appears to be an awesome machine, and hopefully it proves to be a workhorse that can standup to years of use.
Rating
I read consumer reports looking for the best treadmill for someone other than a serious distance runner. This was the recommended machine. Its a bit pricey and you do have to do assemble it when it arrives, but its a great machine. It even has a built in fan. One caution, make sure to assemble it in the room where you want it to be and don’t expect to be able to move it between rooms because when assembled its too wide for standard doorways.
Rating
I love my treadmill. I ordered it oct 2, was delivered oct 10. To reiterate previous posts, this baby is BIG-box brushed against my 8 foot ceilings when the delivery men were wheeling it in. I don’t have stairs, so I could just push it where it needed to go. The box had a few holes, but nothing hurt inside. The manual labels and the parts packet labels did not match up for a few things, but was easy enough to figure out what fit and what didn’t. The manual also showed six bolt holes on the arm, but there were only four. I did not have to calibrate my machine before using the elevation function. All leads me to believe they may have changed a few things in the last year. Took about an hour, start to finish, to get it put together. Very easy, and yes, it can be done by one person (in this case a 5’4″ 32 year old woman, completely out of shape;~).
The instructions tell you to lubricate every 250 miles, but no indication of where or how to lubricate. Also written instructions for how to adjust the belt, but no pic. I still can’t find where to put the hex wrench to adjust. Luckily, the belt is perfect right now, but I know they stretch with use.
Other than that, this is a great machine. INCREDIBLY quiet, if that is important to you. Very stable. The deck is super easy to raise and lower. I love the magnetic safety disc-won’t work unless the disc is in place, so even if my three year turns the machine on, she is not going to get caught in anything or shot off the back.
I got my mat at Wally World for $20. Fits fine.
Edited 10/17/07
Here is the response I received from Bowflex for lubricating the machine:
Thank you for contacting Nautilus Customer Care. This machine is
equipped with a pre-lubricated deck and belt system. The deck and belt
friction may affect the function and life of your machine; we recommend
periodic lubrication. We also recommend a periodic inspection of the deck
surface and under the walking belt. To lubricate the belt turn it off and
unplug the machine from the wall outlet, also remove the power cord.
Gently lift each side of the machine’s belt and apply a small amount of
the silicone based lubricant directly onto each belt while they are
warm (not hot). Plug the fitness machine back into the machine base and
then into wall outlet. Stand to the side of your machine and not on the
belts themselves. Turn on your machine, and start the belts at the
slowest speed. Let the belts run for approximately 15 seconds. Turn off your
fitness machine. And repeat all steps again. Then take care to wipe up
any excess silicone lubricant from the deck surface area. We recommend
that you only use Silicone Spray, available at most Hardware and Auto
Parts stores. If you decide to purchase this lubricant at an Auto Parts
store, Napa Auto parts has a brand called NAPA 8300 that will work
very well. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the
lubrication of your belts please contact us at 1-800-782-4799. Thank you
again and have a wonderful day.
Lisa Dahlquist
Nautilus Customer Care
800-782-4799
Rating
After reading a consumer mag. and all the reviews on Amazon I ordered the Bowflex 7. What is written is so! After a month of daily use I would buy it again in a heartbeat! Powerful motor, quiet operation, very stable, simple controls, great cardio belt, and easy to fold. The delivery was textbook – called in advance, arrived as promised, and put it on the spot I requested (with my assistance)!
Rating
I have had this treadmill for a few weeks now and have been very happy with it. It’s very sturdy and has a lot of features for a home treadmill. The comments I list below fall into the category of “just be prepared for” and mainly involve the delivery process.
One caveat I have is that this machine is *heavy*. My delivery guy brought it into my garage and despite my attempts to have him put it just inside a room off the garage, no dice. I had to have the help of a very strong guy to move the treadmill where I wanted it. The good news is that after that, it was a piece of cake to put together, involving about 30 big screws and took exactly an hour (probably could have taken even less time).
This treadmill is supposed to fold up, but I can’t imagine ever using that feature — for one, it’s too heavy and two, it’s so big it’s not like you could really hide it anywhere. These are not complaints — the fact that the machine is big and heavy translates into sturdiness and a larger running surface.
Finally, there’s no instant gratification when you click the Purchase button online. Be prepared for this item to take up to a month to be delivered. It’s worth the wait, though!