Bowflex Treadmill Reviews – Pros & Cons (2023)

Sydney Kaiser

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Last Updated: October 9, 2023

Bowflex was introduced into the world by Nautilus, Inc. in 1986. The very first product designed by the company was Bowflex 2000X, which was considered a futuristic strength trainer. The low-impact tension resistance offered by the strength trainer was first of its kind.

Since then, Bowflex has designed a vast multitude of fitness machines, including elliptical hybrids, treadmills, tread climbers, and more. On this page, we’ll take a quick look at Bowflex’s Treadmills and Max Trainers. These are a few of the cardio machines offered in Bowflex’s extensive lineup of fitness equipment.

Bowflex Treadmills

Bowflex Treadmill 22

Bowflex’s Treadmill 22 looks like it’s about to launch into orbit with the rugged deck and space-age console! This hearty machine has a 22” touchscreen that is Bluetooth compatible and includes the option of a subscription to the JRNY app for onboard training. With a JRNY subscription, you can also access NetFlix, Hulu, and other streaming apps – or you can sync with Zwift for virtual training. The Treadmill 22 inclines to a whopping 20% and declines to -5% for impressive hill work. It also has deck cushioning and the Easy SoftDrop system that allows the deck to fold up and lock into place when you are finished. It is unusual for a treadmill that inclines to 20% to also fold, and we love Bowflex’s innovation here. The space-age console and multiple-position handlebars make it so you can walk or run at any incline and still access the console. We are impressed with all the Treadmill 22 has to offer!

20% Incline
-5% Decline
12 MPH Speed
4.0 HP Motor
400 Lb. User Capacity
Folds up and locks into place
22” x 60” Tread belt
Footprint: 85″ L x 39.6″ W x 70″ H (215.8 x 100.5 x 177.7 cm)

Check out our full review of the Bowflex Treadmill 22

Bowflex Treadmill 10

The Bowflex Treadmill 10 maintains much of the functionality of the Treadmill 22 with a slightly smaller touchscreen and reduced incline to keep it more affordable. You can get precise training on this treadmill since the handrails have controls for both speed and incline. The deck lifts to 15% and descends to a -5% grade for plenty of hill options. The deck cushioning is firm but offers shock absorption while you run and the JRNY app offers training programs and access to third-party apps! We like that Bowflex offers great functionality at a lower price on the Treadmill 10.

15% Incline
-5% Decline
12 MPH Max Speed
400 Lb. User Capacity
Deck cushioning
Folds up and locks into place
22” x 60” Tread belt
Footprint: 85″ L x 39.6″ W x 65.3″ H (215.8 x 100.5 x 165.9 cm)

Check out our full review of the Bowflex Treadmill 10.

Bowflex BXT8J Treadmill

A new addition to Bowflex’s lineup of treadmills is the BXT8J. This is the lowest-end model from Bowflex. It has a more standard design than the T22 and T10, but we’re impressed with the steel frame which includes steel uprights and a steel crossbar mounted between them. This helps add to the overall stability of the machine. The 20” x 60” running surface is great for most running strides but will save you a little extra room in your home when you’re using it because it isn’t as wide as the other models. The deck folds up, too. Although it doesn’t decline, the 15% incline and 12 mph max speed should give plenty of options for well-rounded training. We love the quick-adjustment buttons on the console, as well as the device rack to stream content from JRNY. The LCD screen means the console has less tech than the others, so if you prefer a more traditional experience on a treadmill, this is the one to go with.

15% Incline
No Decline
12 MPH Max Speed
300 Lb. User Capacity
Deck cushioning
Folds up and locks into place
20” x 60” Tread belt
Footprint: 78″ L x 37.6″ W x 62.8″ H (198 x 95.5 x 159.5 cm)

Check out our full review of the Bowflex BXT8J Treadmill.

Other (bikes, rowers, ellipticals)

In addition to treadmills, Bowflex also offers exercise bikes, like the Bowflex Velocore and Bowflex C6, home gyms like the Revolution Home Gym and Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym, free weights, and other fitness accessories.

Pros / Cons of Bowflex Treadmills

Pros

Bowflex offers treadmills with impressive functionality.
Bowflex treadmills fold up, which is a massive benefit to users who may need to clear floor space when not using their treadmill.
When you subscribe to the JRNY app, most of the Bowflex treadmills will sync with Zwift!
A JRNY subscription also includes access to NetFlix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more on the treadmills with touch screens.
The Bowflex T22 inclines to 20% and the T10 inclines to 15%. Both decline to -5%.
Handlebar controls make it easy to adjust speed or incline on the T22 and T10.

Cons

The consoles aren’t the most streamlined to use.
These are large treadmills with sizeable footprints.

Overall Rating of Bowflex Treadmills:

Bowflex has been manufacturing fitness equipment for several decades now, so they know what works and are willing to regularly update and change their lineup to match the current market. While there are only a few treadmills currently available from Bowflex, they all have impressive functionality and overall design. The JRNY app provides good training content and allows access to external apps as well! You can sync with Zwift or another virtual program for more options. We love that the treadmills incline to an impressive grade but fold up as well! Bowflex has earned its reputation as an industry leader and continues to impress with its current treadmills.

Bowflex Max Trainers

Bowflex Max Total 16

If you want to kick up your training with both upper and lower body strength and cardio conditioning, the Bowflex Max Trainers are a great place to start! The premium Max Trainer from Bowflex is the Max Total 16. It has the largest screen at 16” to stream JRNY for guided training and entertainment. We love the intense workouts that the Max Trainers provide while taking up a small amount of floor space. The 20 levels of resistance are tough, and the 300 lb weight limit means users up to this limit should get a lot of use out of the Max Total 16. The vertical motion to the pedals paired with the horizontal-moving handles will give you a total body workout that will especially target your hamstrings and glutes as well as arms and shoulders. And the 6 grip handlebars let you target your upper body muscles in multiple ways. Any type of athletic shoe can be used with the textured, oversized pedals.

20 Resistance Levels
Wide cushioned pedals
6 Position handlebars
Transport wheels
Bluetooth compatible
300 Lb. User Capacity
Footprint: 49.3″ L x 30.8″ W x 65.7″ H (125 x 78.2 x 1666 cm)

Bowflex Max Trainer M9

With wide, comfortable pedals and extended handlebars, the Max Trainer M9 provides a full-body workout. The 10” touchscreen and JRNY app provide good training content with curated content based on your workout abilities. A JRNY subscription allows for unlimited users so anyone in your home can create a custom profile with their personal metrics recorded after each workout. The M9 is Bluetooth enabled and comes with a heart rate tracking armband. Four basic workouts are included without a JRNY subscription, which includes manual, fat burn, calorie burn, and stairs. You also get 20 levels of resistance and a 300lb weight capacity.

20 Resistance Levels
Wide cushioned pedals
4 Position handlebars
Transport wheels
Bluetooth compatible
300 Lb. User Capacity
Footprint: 49.2″ L x 30.5″ W x 65.1″ H (125 x 77.5 x 165.4 cm)

Check out our review of the Bowflex Max Trainer M9.

Bowflex Max Trainer M6

The M6 Max Trainer has many similar features to the M9 except it has a digital display rather than a touchscreen. The theme of the Max Trainer M6 is that you should work smarter, not harder. With the combined design of stair stepper and elliptical, the Max Trainer M6 allows you to push your fitness level faster with its challenging design. There are 16 resistance levels to keep your body pushing hard, and the M6 will sync via Bluetooth with your phone or tablet so you can enjoy the extensive training options in Bowflex’s JRNY app. The digital LCD screen displays your heart rate, calories, burn rate, target burn rate, interval count, total workout time, resistance and RPM’s. You can also adjust your resistance level at any time for a custom workout. For full-body training the M6 is a great option at an affordable price.

16 Resistance Levels
Wide cushioned pedals
Functions as stair stepper or elliptical
Multi-grip dynamic handlebars
300 Lb. User Capacity
Transport wheels
Bluetooth compatible
Footprint: 46″ L x 26″ W x 64.2″ H (117 x 66 x 163 cm)

Check out our full review of the Bowflex Max Trainer M6.

Pros / Cons of Bowflex Max Trainers