Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Treadmills

Bowflex Treadmill Reviews

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The Bowflex company is synonymous with resistance machines and infomercials. In 1986, they came out with their first piece of exercise equipment: the Bowflex 2000x. Years later, they still are a reputable name in the fitness industry by making superior fitness machines.

Read further to learn if the Bowflex BXT116 treadmill and BXT216 treadmill are strong candidates for your home.

Are Bowflex treadmills any good?

We’ve put together this handy guide with the most important information you need to know when searching for a Bowflex treadmill.

SpecificationsBowflex BXT116 treadmillBowflex BXT216 treadmill
Footprint84.6" L x 36.3" W x 55.2" H84.5" L x 38.5" W x 54.7" H
Weight280 lbs304 lbs
Weight Capacity375 lbs400 lbs
Belt Size20" x 60"22" x 60"
FoldingYes
52.5" L x 36.3" W x 67" H
Yes
52.5" L x 38.5" W x 67" H
TechnologyWi-Fi, Bluetooth, iOS and Android compatible, USB charging portWi-Fi, Bluetooth, iOS and Android compatible, USB charging port
Motor3.75 CHP4.0 CHP
Warranty15 years frame and drive motor
5 years mechanical parts and electronics
2 years labor
15 years frame and drive motor
5 years mechanical parts and electronics
2 years labor

Bowflex BXT216 Vs Bowflex BXT116

Treadmill size

Thankfully, both of these treadmills are considered compact and are suited for small spaces. This is because they can be folded. There’s not much size difference in their unfolded form except that the BXT116 is a couple inches shorter in width and half an inch taller. But, they have the same folding dimensions.

Bowflex offers their Soft Drop technology that’s equipped with a gas shock folding system, which ensures smooth folding. The belt size width is marginally smaller on the BXT116 but they both have the same length of 60″. If you’re more comfortable exercising on a wider deck, the BXT216 is a better option. Be sure to check the size of your space to see if either of these treadmills could fit.

Treadmill weight

The Bowflex BXT216 weighs 304 lbs while the BXT116 weighs 280 lbs. This is quite a lot for folding treadmills so expect them to be durable. The BXT216 also has a larger weight capacity of 400 lbs compared to the BXT116, which is 375 lbs.

If you need a higher weight capacity, you’re better off going with the BXT216 model. Try to remember that because these machines are heavy, they may be difficult to fold up or move around.

Treadmill motor

For a compact treadmill, these 2 models have strong motors. Usually, motors for folding treadmills are around 2.0 CHP. The BXT216 has a powerful 4.0 CHP motor and the BXT116’s motor is 3.75 CHP. This means your exercise equipment will last longer.

Again, if you’re bigger or if you’re using the machine often, you’ll need equipment with a strong motor.

Bowflex treadmill technology

The major difference between the BXT116 and the BXT216 lies in their features and technology. The BXT216 has a 9″ full back lit LCD display, while the BXT116’s screen measures a little smaller, at 7.5″.

The two treadmills share the same dual integrated speakers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, iOS and Android compatibility, USB charging port, media device holder, 3-speed cooling fans, chest strap heart rate monitor and heart rate monitors integrated in the handlebars.

Their speed range is 0-12mph and the incline range is 0-15%. However, the BXT216 has 11 on-board workout programs while the BXT116 only has 9.

The BXT216 has handlebar control panels to easily change the speed and incline. But, the BXT116 doesn’t have that feature. Also, the Comfort Deck cushioning system consists of 5 cells in the BXT216 and only 3 in the BXT116.

Treadmill memberships

Both of these Bowflex treadmills are compatible with the Bowflex JRNY App. With the purchase of either model, you get a 2-month free trial membership. After the 2-month trial, the app automatically renews for a paid membership at $19.99/month or $149.99/month.

With the JRNY app you get access to virtual coaching, daily workouts tailored for you, more than 50 destination workouts around the globe, workouts led by trainers, fitness assessments, stream curated playlists, tv and music apps and you can track your rewards and stats.

Keep in mind that because the BXT116 and the BXT216 are older models, not all of the app’s features may be available with the treadmill’s display. Nonetheless, the app can be streamed on any device.

Warranty and price

Bowflex provides a full coverage warranty for these treadmills. It’s 15 years for the frame and drive motor, 5 years for mechanical parts and electronics and 2 years for labor.

Given the subtle upgrades between the BXT116 and the BXT216, the BXT216 is more expensive. The price of the BXT216 is around $1799.00 USD and the BXT116 is closer to $1499.00 USD. Because Bowflex is planning on releasing newer models, these ones are available for a limited time and may be further reduced in price.

Bowflex treadmill reviews online

These treadmills get pretty good reviews online. The Bowflex BXT116 treadmill has a 4.6/5 rating on Google and the BXT216 has a 4.5/5 at the time of writing. Not a significant difference.

For the BXT116, the positive reviews discussed the solid make and design of the machine, how wonderful the app is, the value of the machine and it’s easy assembly. The bad reviews are about how heavy the machine is to move around and safety key issues.

The BXT216 positive reviews are again about the durable construction and easy assembly, but there are a lot of criticisms due to mechanical issues and unknown sounds while operating.

Whichever treadmill you choose, just know that Bowflex is an experienced fitness machine manufacturing company and they’re willing to provide extensive warranties for their products. What it really comes down to is what you’re looking for in a treadmill.

The Bowflex BXT116 and BXT216 treadmills are comparatively priced with others, based on their features and would make quality additions to your home gym.