BowFlex Treadmills
BowFlex treadmills came back on the scene in late 2020 after a short hiatus while the company was focusing on their super popular TreadClimbers.
Due to growing demand, the company introduced two brand new models to compete in the crowded mid-price level category.
The company, owned by Johnson Health Tech, has been highly successful with their Max Trainers, as well as their eponymous home gyms. It will be interesting to see how they fare with their new treadmills.
Check out all of latest models on special sale on the official BowFlex site!
Here you will find reviews of the new treadmills as well as the Max Trainers, a popular alternative to the traditional treadmill.
A Look at the BowFlex Treadmill/Max Trainer Lineup
Bowflex offers a wide variety of cardio equipment, and the list seems to be growing all the time. In addition to the popular TreadClimbers (recently discontinued), there are a handful of traditional treadmills and three Max Trainers.
Let’s take a look at them here…
Traditional Treadmills
Currently you have three options to choose from: The T6, T9 and T16. The T6 gives you speeds up to 12 mph, a 20″ x 60″ running deck and up to 15% incline.
The mid-level T9 is very similar to the base T6, but you get a larger running area: 22″ x 60″. Otherwise they are very similar.
The top-end T16 gives you a large 16″ touch screen display (tough is not available on the other models); otherwise it is very similar to the other two treadmills.
These are regular treadmills that compete head to head with brands like NordicTrack, ProForm, Sole and Horizon. You have a base model, a more advanced option and a higher end treadmill.
All of them come equipped with Bowflex’s JRNY workout program, a paid membership giving you access to hundreds of workouts, trainers, tracking capability & much more.
Here is some information about the older Bowflex treadmill models in case you come across them while shopping…
The BXT8J isa more affordable model for those that want a BowFlex but don’t have the budget for one of the higher end treadmills. It has a dual backlit display, speeds up to 12 mph, 15% incline capability, 20″ x 60″ deck and a 300 lb. maximum user weight capacity. It does come with Bowflex JRNY free for a year but you have to access it on your phone or tablet rather than on the machine itself.
Moving up the ladder you have the BowFlex Treadmill 10, with a 10″ touch screen, incline/decline capability, larger 22″ x 60″ running deck, Bluetooth heart rate and Bowflex JRNY. It also has streaming capability so you can watch Netflix, Hulu and other channels.
The top end model is the BowFlex Treadmill 22, which is similar to the Treadmill 10 but adds a 22″ touch screen and more incline capability (20% instead of 15%).
Max Trainers
The Max Trainers are ellipticals and steppers combined into one compact machine, allowing you to burn more calories than on the traditional treadmill with much less impact. They offer the moving handlebar option that both the traditional treadmills and TreadClimbers do not offer.
BowFlex Max Trainer M6
The mid-range Max Trainer gives you 16 resistance levels, 5 workouts, Bluetooth capability with workout tracking/syncing Bowflex JRNY), interactive display, upgraded features and a 2 year warranty, plus all of the features of the M3.
BowFlex Max Trainer M9
This advanced model gives you 20 resistance levels, 7 workouts, 4 user profiles, a 3 year warranty and all of the other features that the M9 gives you.
BowFlex Max Total 16
This top-of-the-line model gives you everything the M8 offers, with a 16″ touch screen display, WiFi connectivity, 8 workouts and a heart rate armband.
You can read about each the Bowflex treadmills and Max Trainers below, or scroll down for helpful information…
Model Reviews – Learn More About Each One
Why are BowFlex Treadmills and Max Trainers so popular?
Bowflex has always focused on the workouts more than anything else. It’s about getting the very best results that you can in the shortest amount of time possible. The ability to be able to get in shape more efficiently has been a major selling point for them.
The new BowFlex treadmills are huge step up from the BXT models that they are replacing. The running decks are larger, the motors are more powerful, the cushioning is more advanced, and they now have touch screen displays and Bluetooth tracking capability to compete in the current marketplace.
The T6, T9 and T16 have some very appealing features that compare well with offerings from NordicTrack and Sole. But there is a lot of competition in that $1500-$2000 price range, so it will be a difficult battle.
As far as the Max Trainers, they are huge sellers because they are unique. There’s really nothing else like them out there, offering a fast, calorie-burning workout with low impact. ProForm has the HIIT Trainers, but besides that there isn’t much else. However, NordicTrack just released their Step Climber series which may give Bowflex a run for their money.
BowFlex Treadmill or Max Trainer…Which Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for a traditional treadmill, then your choice is between the T6, T9 and T16. We would opt for the more advanced T16 if budget allows because you get a large touchscreen which makes the JRNY workout experience so much more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for something a little different, then consider one of the Max Trainers. We would go for at least the M9 so you can get the touch screen display and additional resistance levels.
Note that the warranties on the treadmills have gotten much better recently. You now get a lifetime warranty on the frame and the motor, as well as 3 years on parts and 1 year on labor. That’s a big upgrade and shows they’re ready to compete with the other brands in the category.
Same isn’t true with the BowFlex Max Trainers though. You get a two, three and three year warranty on the M6, M9 and M16, respectively, which isn’t a lot of coverage at all.
That’s really the only downside to the BowFlex lineup. Other than that they offer a truly unique workout experience with excellent features and capabilities.
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