BowFlex T16 Treadmill - Worth the Hefty Price Tag?

The BowFlex T16 is one of three new treadmills offered by the company, joining the mid-range T9 and entry level T6. All of these machines have been upgraded from previous models, and feature enhanced capability and comfort features.

One of the most significant upgrades from their previous treadmills is the lifetime motor and frame warranty, a hugh step up from the coverage previously offered. It seems like the company is finally addressing one of the major complaints that people had about their cardio line.

Let's dive into the T16 to see what it's all about...

T16 Treadmill - Quick Overview

The T16 features an entirely new streamlined design, all black with some red accents. It has curved hand grips with built in heart rate monitoring, touch screen display, quick speed/incline buttons and built in speakers.

Here are some of the main features...

• 22" x 60" Running Belt
• 0-12 mph Speed
• 0-15% Incline
• JRNY Enabled
• 16" HD touch screen
• FlexZone Deck
• Built-in Fan
• SoftDrop Folding System
  
• Footprint: 77" x 37" x 67"
• Warranty: Lifetime frame/motor, 3 year parts, 1 year labor

BowFlex T16 - The Buzz

BowFlex has been trying to gain market share in the treadmill market for quite some time, competing head to head with NordicTrack and to a lesser extent Sole Fitness.

To this end they created the JRNY fitness program, a membership-based interactive experience similar to iFIT found on NordicTrack, ProForm and Matrix treadmills. They also introduced touch screen consoles, streaming capability and a more modern design, hoping to appeal to the same audience that their competitors do.

The BowFlex T16 is the latest model in the lineup, and it replaces the T22 as the top of the line option. You get a large 16" touch screen on which you can tap into the JRNY workouts or stream on Netflix or other apps.

You have a large 22" x 60" running deck, speeds up to 12 mph and incline up to 15%. You have quick buttons to change your speed and your incline and a well-cushioned deck.

As we mentioned, the new warranty is definitely a highlight of this machine, on top of the enhanced features. You now get lifetime coverage on frame and warranty (previous models had 5-10 years); however the parts and labor coverage is less than what you had on the T22.

Also note that Bowflex treadmills no longer have decline capability, so if that's something that's important to you then NordicTrack and Sole are better options, unless you find a used T22 model somewhere.

Overall the new lineup is appealing. The three models are very similar save for the size of their touch screens as you'll see below. The machines are sturdier than they've been in the past, and as such accommodate higher maximum weights - up to 375 lbs. on the T16.

How Does the T16 Compare to the Other BowFlex Treadmills?

The BowFlex T16 is the higher end treadmill in the series, at about $500 more than the mid-range T9. Let's break down the models.

The BowFlex T6 is the entry level model, giving you a basic dual window LCD display, 20" x 60" running deck, 8 built in workout programs, speeds up to 12 mph, incline up to 15% and a 325 lb. max weight capacity. You need to access JRNY workouts through your tablet or phone, as there is no touch screen on the treadmill.

The BowFlex T9 sits in the middle, with a slightly enhanced LCD display and larger 22" x 60" deck, 10 built in workout programs and a 350 lb. max weight capacity. Otherwise it is very similar to the T6.

The BowFlex T16 adds the 16" HD touch screen, more displayed workout metrics, 12 built in workouts and a 375 lb. max weight capacity.

So as you move up in the lineup you're getting a better display, larger running surface, more built in workouts (on top of the unlimited JRNY ones) and higher max weight capacities. You're looking at a $500 jump from one model to the next, so it's a matter of deciding what features and capabilities are important to you.

BowFlex T16 vs. Competitors

As far as competitors the BowFlex T16 matches up with the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 and the Sole F85 as far as price point is concerned.

Each one has its pros and cons, so let's break it down to help you choose the one that makes the most sense for you:

As you can see, the BowFlex T16 has the most built in workout programs of the three but doesn't excel in any of the other categories. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 has the strongest motor and the highest maximum weight capacity. The Sole F85 has the best incline/decline capability.

The BowFlex and NordicTrack have more comprehensive workout options via JRNY and iFIT, respectively, but those are paid memberships vs. the free Sole+ app.

As a general rule, if you're more concerned about the overall quality of the treadmill lean towards Sole. If you're more into the workouts, streaming media, etc. then lean towards NordicTrack & BowFlex.

BowFlex T16 Treadmill Review - Bottom Line

Overall the BowFlex T16 is a very capable treadmill with a great workout selection and a large touch screen display bringing you the health club experience.

It has great incline and speed capability, a well cushioned deck and an improved warranty on the frame and motor, which speaks to improved durability.

We recommend you take a look at the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 as well as the Sole F85 as potential alternatives, as they both have the T16 beat in many categories.