BowFlex Treadmill 22 - Expensive But is it Worth It?

The BowFlex Treadmill 22 is currently the top model in the series, joining a handful of other new models that the company has introduced in recent months. This one is certainly not cheap, but it does offer a number of features and capabilities that you simply won't find in other home treadmills.

Let's jump into our Treadmill 22 review to see what this model is all about...

Treadmill 22 - The Machine

With a ton of workouts, a new 24" tilt & pivot HD touch screen and specialized heart rate training, you're getting a lot of unique features you simply won't find anywhere else.

The treadmill itself is well designed and well constructed, with a large running area and advanced cushioning to reduce impact.

The specs for the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 treadmill are:

• 22" x 60" Running Belt
• 0-12 mph Speed
• 0-20% Incline
• 0-5% Decline
• JRNY Enabled
• 22" HD touch screen
• Built-in Fan
• SoftDrop Folding System
  
• Footprint: 85" x 39" x 70"
• Warranty: 15 year frame, 5 year parts, 2 year labor

The Buzz

BowFlex has been trying very hard to grow their treadmill lineup and compete with industry leader NordicTrack. So far they've been doing well and have grown in popularity in recent years.

One of the major drawbacks to BowFlex treadmills, and all of their cardio machines for that matter, has been the relatively poor warranties that they have offered for years. That seems to be changing a bit, but interestingly the Treadmill 22, which is their top of the line model, has a weaker warranty than some of their newer released, lower end models.

For example, the Treadmill 22 has 15 years on the motor, 5 years on parts, 2 years on labor and 1 year on electronics and touch screen. Yet the T6, essentially an entry level model at a fraction of the price, has a lifetime frame and motor warranty, and 3 years on parts.

So it looks like Bowflex is moving in the right direction covering the frame and the motor forever, and perhaps the T22 will have this coverage when it is redesigned. It's currently a carryover from the previous year.

Getting back to the merits of the BowFlex Treadmill 22, you get a huge 22" touch screen display that includes the JRNY workout experience, a membership based program that you get to trial for free for a period of time. It offers an endless library of customized workouts, a virtual trainer, over 200 routes around the world, streaming capability, tracking, sharing, radio and much more.

On top of this you get both incline and decline training, something you just don't find very often (although NordicTrack does offer decline on many of their treadmills). Incline up to 20% and decline down to 5%...this really lets you change up your workouts and target different muscle groups in the legs, not to mention the cardio boost.

You get a large 22" x 60" running deck that is well cushioned to help avoid knee and joint pain. it's easy to open and close with the SoftDrop system. You also get Bluetooth heart rate measuring capability and a built in workout fan.

Besides the varying warranty coverage between models, as you move up in the lineup you get larger running decks, more advanced screens and higher maximum weight capacities. We get more into this in the section below.

All in all the BowFlex Treadmill 22 has been well received thus far as it offers a lot of capability, although it has a relatively large footprint and high price tag which may mean it doesn't work for some people.

How Does the Treadmill 22 Compare to the Other BowFlex Treadmills?

As we mentioned BowFlex has a lot of treadmills in their lineup, but it looks like they may be consolidating and getting rid of a few of their older models that have been around for a while.

The entry level models are the BXT8J and the T6. The latter is the newer of the two and we believe that will be replacing the BXT8J shortly.

The BowFlex T6 gives you a basic display with Apple Watch/Gym Kit connectivity, a 20" x 60" running deck, up to 15% incline capability and speeds up to 12 mph. You get lifetime coverage on frame and motor.

The BowFlex T9 is a step-up from the T6, nearly identical but with a wider 22" x 60" deck for more room to spread out.

The BowFlex T10 separates itself with a 10" touch screen as opposed to the basic displays on the lower end models, as well as the addition of decline capability, -5%, on top of the 15% incline. It has the older 15 year frame warranty.

The BowFlex T16 has an even larger 16" touch screen, the same Apple Watch/Gym Kit connectivity as the T6 and shares its lifetime frame and motor coverage.

The BowFlex T22, as you read about above, has the largest touch screen at 22", the most incline and decline at 20% and -5%, respectively. However it doesn't have the best warranty in the lineup.

So the T6, T9 and T16 are the newest Bowflex treadmills in the lineup, featuring the latest design and the strongest warranties. However, you might want to consider one of the other models, especially if they go on sale before they are discontinued.

BowFlex Treadmill 22 Review - Bottom Line

The BowFlex Treadmill 22 is a great machine, and has everything you could ask for in a home treadmill. There's plenty of room to walk, jog, or run. You have endless workout possibilities with JRNY. You have incline as well as decline capability. You have a large touch screen display.

The only real drawbacks are the price, about $2,500 when on sale, and the frame warranty, only 15 years. If either of these are a concern then you might want to look at the Bowflex Treadmill 16 instead. You get the stronger warranty, you'd just be getting a smaller touch screen and no decline capability.

Whichever model you choose, we're sure you'll be happy with the workout that you're getting on a BowFlex treadmill, regardless of whether you are a beginner or a seasoned runner.