Hey friend, let me guess – you‘re here because you‘ve heard the buzz about Maxpro Fitness and you‘re curious if their sleek, "gym-in-a-backpack" equipment actually lives up to the hype. I don‘t blame you – as a fitness fanatic always on the lookout for the latest innovations, I was intrigued too. Could a 10-pound cable machine really deliver the same results as a full weight room?
Well, I‘ve spent the last 3 months putting Maxpro to the test, and I‘m excited to share my in-depth review with you. As someone who‘s tried every home gym setup under the sun (and has the credit card bills to prove it), I‘ve got a lot to say about this relative newcomer to the market. So grab a protein shake, get cozy, and let‘s dive in!
What is Maxpro Fitness?
Before we get into the nitty gritty, let‘s start with the basics. Maxpro Fitness is a portable fitness equipment brand that launched in 2018 with one bold mission: to give people the freedom to strength train anytime, anywhere. Founded by Nezar Akeel, a former automotive engineer, the company specializes in compact resistance training machines that fold up small enough to fit in a backpack, but promise the same muscle-building results as bulky gym equipment.
While that might sound too good to be true, Maxpro has some serious clout behind it. The brand has been featured in Men‘s Health, Forbes, and Shark Tank (where Akeel landed a $500k investment from Mark Cuban). NBA legend Shaquille O‘Neal is also a fan and early investor.
But Maxpro isn‘t just for elite athletes. With their integrated coaching app and 20-300 lb resistance range, the brand aims to make strength training accessible for everyone from beginners to gym rats. In a world where we‘re all crunched for time and space, Maxpro is positioning itself as the ultimate fitness hack.
Sounds amazing, right? I thought so too – which is why I couldn‘t wait to click "add to cart" and experience the hype firsthand. Now, let‘s get into my unfiltered thoughts.
Maxpro Fitness Product Review
Over the last few months, I‘ve had the chance to extensively test out Maxpro‘s core products: the Smartconnect portable cable machine, folding bench, wall track, and a few key accessories. Here‘s the lowdown on each one:
Maxpro Smartconnect Portable Cable Gym
The Smartconnect cable machine is hands down the crown jewel of Maxpro‘s lineup – and frankly, unlike anything I‘ve seen before. About the size of a chunky briefcase, this $800 unit houses an insanely sophisticated digital resistance system capable of generating up to 300 lbs of tension (trust me, she‘s HEAVY).
Using Maxpro‘s special cables and pulleys, you can instantly adjust the force for different exercises by clicking a button on the built-in performance tracker. It‘s so responsive and smooth, I kept thinking "there‘s no way this little machine is giving me this much tension" – but my shaking biceps confirmed, it‘s the real deal. With 50+ exercise options right out of the box, this thing is like a complete gym shrunk into a carry-on.
But here‘s the feature that really blew me away: the Bluetooth connection with Maxpro‘s coaching app (included free with your purchase). This is a GAME CHANGER. You just sync your machine with the app, and suddenly you‘ve got world-class trainers guiding you through workouts in real-time, automatically adjusting your machine‘s resistance for each set and rep. It‘s like having a personal trainer in your pocket!
The app has 100s of follow-along strength workouts for every level, plus the option to build your own. What I love is how it tracks your progress and dynamically increases the difficulty over time. I‘m a data nerd, so watching my volume and power output go up each week is beyond motivating.
Other standout features of the Smartconnect:
- Sturdy metal free-standing base
- Quick release long bar, handles, and ankle straps
- Ultra-strong cables (tested to 800 lbs)
- USB rechargeable battery with 3 hr life
- Folds down to compact 18x12x4" size
- Weighs just 10 lbs (but feels substantial)
Maxpro Folding Bench
A perfect pairing with the cable machine, Maxpro‘s foldable bench lets you max out your exercise variety – then conveniently tuck out of sight when you‘re done.
At first glance, this looks like a basic flat utility bench. But with its thoughtful details and tank-like construction (steel frame + ultra-grippy top), I‘d rank it up there with $1000+ commercial benches I‘ve used. The 750-lb weight capacity is no joke!
While I do wish it had decline/incline adjustability, the Maxpro bench excels at serving as a rock-solid foundation for everything from chest presses to hip thrusts to step ups. The 47" pad is plenty spacious even for my 6‘2" frame. And in just one click, it folds nearly flat for easy storage under a bed or couch. Genius!
At $219, it‘s definitely pricier than a generic Amazon bench. But if you want something built to last that‘s tailor made for the Maxpro system, I think it‘s well worth it.
Maxpro Slimline Wall Track
Okay, this one is more of a "nice to have" than a necessity, but hear me out. If you‘re hardcore about building out a designated workout zone in your home, this $300 wall-mounted track will take your Maxpro experience to a whole new level.
Crafted from commercial-grade aluminum, this sleek channel securely bolts to your wall studs, giving you an always-ready anchor point for your cable machine, suspension straps, resistance bands, you name it. Beyond looking seriously badass (it gives me total boutique gym vibes), the track opens up a world of new exercise options like lat pulldowns and TRX moves that aren‘t possible with just the machine base.
Another perk? The track has built-in hooks for hanging your Maxpro accessories, plus a nifty shelf for propping up your phone or tablet to view workouts. It‘s a small thing, but makes such a difference in creating an organized, functional training space.
I will say, if you‘re renting or not allowed to drill into your walls, the track probably isn‘t for you. You‘ll need a few basic tools and a drill to install it properly. But if you‘ve got the freedom and motivation to trick out your #homegymgoals, I highly recommend it!
Maxpro Workout Accessories
Beyond the big three, Maxpro also offers a full range of smaller accessories to level up your workouts:
Maxout Starter Pack ($50) – This budget-friendly bundle includes 3 loop resistance bands, 2 core sliders, a set of mini bands, and a drawstring carry bag. Nothing revolutionary, but a solid starter kit for warmups, bodyweight training and glute work.
Foam Roller ($30) – Your body will thank you! Maxpro‘s dense 18" roller is clutch for pre and post-workout recovery. I love how the grid texture really digs into knots.
Resistance Bands ($40 for 3) – A must-have for adding variation and accommodating resistance to cable exercises. These 41" latex tubes come in 10-50 lb resistances.
MaxPro Backpack ($115) – If you plan to take your Maxpro setup on the go (highly encourage!), this extra-roomy TSA-friendly backpack will be your BFF. Smartly designed with tons of padded compartments and straps to securely hold the folded machine + all accessories.
While these smaller items aren‘t mandatory, I do think they help you squeeze even more versatility out of your Maxpro. And compared to the cost of the machine, they‘re super reasonable, so I say why not.
Maxpro vs. Other Home Gyms
So how does Maxpro stack up against other leading home gym brands? Here‘s my hot take:
Maxpro vs. Bowflex – Look, there‘s no denying Bowflex makes great products (I owned the Xtreme 2 SE in my 20s and it served me well). But Bowflex simply can‘t touch Maxpro in terms of portability and space efficiency. A typical Bowflex unit takes up 7+ feet of floor space and can weigh over 200 lbs. The Maxpro machine? It fits in a backpack and weighs 10 lbs. Plus, with Maxpro‘s digital resistance, you never have to fuss with manually changing rods or plates.
Maxpro vs. Total Gym – While both use a cable-based resistance system, I see Total Gym as a better fit for beginners and rehab focused training – whereas Maxpro shines for higher-intensity strength work. The Maxpro goes up to 300 lbs of resistance vs. 75 for Total Gym, and the free-standing base allows for way more functional patterns vs. only incline positions. Total Gym‘s main edge is price ($300-$1000 less on average)
Maxpro vs. Gorilla Bow – As another newer, social media favorite "portable gym", I think the Gorilla Bow is a cool concept. I‘m just not sold on bands-only training for serious strength gains. Maxpro‘s cables provide way more consistent, measurable tension – and the digital tracking is lightyears ahead.
Maxpro vs. Tonal – Okay, this is more of an apples to oranges comparison; Tonal is a brilliant machine but a completely different use case than Maxpro. Tonal is like bolting a full (amazing) weight room to your wall; Maxpro is like turning any room into a weight room on demand. Unless you have a dedicated gym space, $3k+ budget, and zero desire to train outside your home, I‘d lean Maxpro for most people.
The Bottom Line
Still with me? Congrats, you now know the Maxpro system inside and out. But I know what you really care about – is it worth YOUR hard earned money and precious space? If any of these sound like you, my vote is 100% yes:
- You crave challenging strength workouts but can‘t always make it to a gym
- You‘ve tried other home equipment but got bored/it collected dust
- You need a versatile solution that accommodates low ceilings and tiny rooms
- You want the OPTION to train outdoors or while traveling
- You geek out on tracking performance data and following expert-led programs
- You‘re an experienced lifter who wants a portable system for maintenance on the go
- You‘re newer to strength training and want an approachable but hardcore effective system that will grow with you for years
On the flip side, you might want to look at other options if:
- You‘re on a tight budget (Maxpro ain‘t cheap)
- You‘re training for powerlifting/Olympic lifting and need free barbell movements
- You only care about cardio, not strength
And what about me – after 3 months, have I become a total Maxpro convert? In a word, absolutely. I‘m kind of shocked how often I find myself reaching for this over my other equipment now. The combination of digital resistance, workout guidance, and extreme portability is just unbeatable. I‘ve never been so consistent with strength training, even while traveling every week!
Of course, Maxpro isn‘t perfect – I do think they could improve the app stability and add even more extreme resistance for advanced users. But those are minor quibbles.
At the end of the day, if your goal is cutting-edge strength training you‘ll actually stick with – without turning your home into a full-blown gym – I can‘t recommend Maxpro enough. It‘s a premium product at a premium price, but an investment I feel confident will pay for itself many times over.
So go ahead, take advantage of that 30-day trial and see for yourself. Start your Maxpro journey here – your future self (and biceps) will thank you. I know I do every day.
