Bowflex 216 Elliptical Review – How Does It Stack Up?

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Bowflex 216 Elliptical – Highlights:

 

The Bowflex 216 Elliptical Trainer is the top-of-the-line elliptical in the Bowflex lineup – ideally suited for longer, more intense workouts or multiple-user families.

It has a larger console, heavier flywheel, upgraded arm bars and more built-in workouts than the 116 model.

 

 

Basically this machine was made for serious runners. The massive 35-pound flywheel and heavy machine weight make it rock-solid stable.

Plus the double-wheel-track design reduces side-to-side swaying and can easily take the extra stress of intense workouts.

But there’s a softer side as well: track your workout activity with the free Bowflex Results App; watch your tablet with the tablet shelf; or charge your devices with the built-in USB port.

Let’s look a little deeper into what you get with the Bowflex 216 Elliptical trainer.

 

 

 

Get An Optimal Lower Body Workout

The Bowflex 216 trainer comes with an impressive 22 inch stride.  Stride length is the furthest distance between the pedals.

A longer stride feels more natural and more like a true running motion. It also will work your muscles to the fullest extent with less stress on your knees, back and hips.

Want to ramp up your calorie burn? Use the power incline to change the shape of your elliptical pathway and use different lower body muscles.

You can change the incline from the buttons on the console – or you can also do it from the controls on the moving arm bars.

With both resistance and incline controls on the moving arm bars you don’t have to interrupt your upper body training to change your settings.

 

 

 

 

Bowflex 216 Elliptical Review – A Stronger, More Stable Design

A lot of cheaper quality elliptical trainers will use a single-wheel track design where there is just one wheel running on the track behind your footpedals.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re an occasional exerciser. However if you really work the machine hard, over time this puts more stress on the wheels and eventually they may come off the track or even break.

Having a double-wheel-track design however helps to reduce the chances of this happening. This kind of design can stand up better to more intense workouts with less chance of mishap or breaking.

The double-wheel-track design also has the added benefit of reducing side-to-side swaying motion as you run as well.

 

 

 

 

Console on the Bowflex 216 Elliptical:

The console on this trainer is extra-large, multi-color and easy to read. You get 11 pre-programmed workouts you can start with the touch of a button.

Plus the console will store information for up to 4 different users – which is great for families. You don’t have to re-enter all of your stats into the console every time you workout.

 

 

And if you’re looking to get more out of your workout the Calorie Burn Rate meter on the console shows you exactly how many calories you’re burning at any one time. This can motivate you to work hard – just to see those stats change.

The console will also track your workouts every day and then you can sync it with the (free) Bowflex Results app. This is really motivating to see how far you’ve come over time. It’s yet another handy tool you can use to help you reach new fitness goals.

And finally if you want some added entertainment while running, there’s a shelf above the console you can use to hold your tablet. So you can watch your favorite TV shows or Youtube videos as you run.

 

 

 

Bowflex 216 Elliptical – A Few Comfort Touches

There’s also some extra touches on this trainer that will give you a much more comfortable workout. The BXE216 trainer comes with Switch Select pedals.

These gives you 3 different toe-heel angles to choose from. So you can easily find the right “tilt” for your body that helps you feel most comfortable.

This is also great for multiple-user families as everyone can choose a toe-heel angle that feels most comfortable for them.

You also get a massive 35-pound flywheel which is heavier than a lot of other brands give you at this price point. A heavier flywheel helps to give you a much smoother-feeling elliptical ride. It also helps to anchor the machine and add more stability to your crosstrainer.

 

 

 

Anything Else You Should Know?

The Bowflex 216 is a monster elliptical – but it’s also a very heavy elliptical (263 pounds).

While lots of user reviews say how stable and steady it feels – people also note that it’s an extremely heavy machine. While there are wheels on the bottom to ease movement, don’t be expecting to move this trainer around on a regular basis.

Also, a hidden feature many people don’t know about? The BXE216 comes with a USB charging port – so you can charge your phone or tablet while working out – very cool.

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Where to Buy and Save:

You can get the Bowflex 216 elliptical direct from the Manufacturer here. You can also see detailed specs on the ceiling height you’ll need for it and read the latest user reviews as well.

 

Click Here To Save on the Bowflex BXE 216