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 Nautilus, has been highly successful with their TreadClimbers and 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 three traditional treadmills and three Max Trainers.
Let’s take a look at them here…
Traditional Treadmills
The newest treadmill is called the BXT8J, a 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%).
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.
Here are the older models in case you come across these for sale…
BowFlex BX116 (Discontinued)
The base traditional treadmill has a 20″ x 60″ belt, speeds up to 12 mph, a 3.75 CHP motor, incline up to 15%, 9 built in workout programs, 7.5″ LCD display and a 375 lb. max user weight capacity.
BowFlex BX216 (Discontinued)
The more advanced BX216 has a wider 22″ x 60″ belt, a stronger 4.0 CHP motor, 11 built in programs, larger 9″ LCD display and a 400 lb. max user weight.
Both BowFlex treadmills offer 4 user profiles, advanced cushioning to reduce impact on your joints, grip and wireless heart rate monitoring with free chest strap, fans, media shelfs, USB chargers, easy folding and a free 2-year subscription to Bowflex JRNY, an immersive workout experience with on-demand workouts, virtual coaching, fitness assessment tools and more.
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 SE
The base model in the series gives you 8 resistance levels, the 14 minute Max Interval workout, wireless heart rate, 2 user profiles, water bottle holder, tablet shelf and a one year warranty.
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 BXT8J, Treadmill 10 and the advanced Treadmill 22 have some very appealing features that compare well with offerings from NordicTrack and ProForm. 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.
BowFlex Treadmill or Max Trainer…Which Should You Choose?
If you’re looking for a traditional treadmill, then your choice is only between the Treadmill 10 and Treadmill 22. We would opt for the more advanced Treadmill 22 if budget allows because you get more incline capability and a larger touch screen.
If you’re looking for something a little different, then consider one of the Max Trainers. We would go for at least the M6 so you can get the tracking/sharing capability as well as the additional workouts. The M3 only has the one workout option.
One thing to be aware of regardless of which Bowflex treadmill or Max Trainer that you choose. The warranties on all of the Bowflex cardio machines aren’t great. Although the parts and labor coverage is decent, you only get 15 years on the frame and motor on both the Treadmill 10 and 22.
That pales in comparison to the lifetime frame and motor coverage you get on most comparably priced treadmills from Sole, Horizon and others. So opt for the extended warranty if it is offered.
Same is true with the BowFlex Max Trainers. You get a one, two and three year warranty on the M3, M6 & M9, respectively, which isn’t a lot of coverage at all.
That’s really the only downside to the BowFlex treadmills and other cardio equipment. Other than that they offer a truly unique workout experience with excellent features and capabilities.
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