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If you crave the luxuriant cushioning and powerful design of a commercial treadmill, our review of the Freemotion t22.9 REFLEX Treadmill is worth a read. This treadmill is a high-end treadmill with a design and features to match.
Updated: September 11, 2023
The Freemotion t22.9 REFLEX Treadmill is the perfect machine to tackle your long-term goals. Its robust construction and high-powered motor are ready to stick with you through miles and miles of training. It has a better speed range than most runners will ever need, plus a good incline. The cushioning reduces the impact on your body, makes those miles pass faster, and your run feel smoother. There’s a reason the Freemotion t22.9 is a studio fitness staple, and they are the same reasons we can give you for considering this fantastic cardio machine. For a premium price, the t22.9 has a lot to offer with only a few drawbacks.
The t22.9 has a sturdy frame with a unique design. The console sits on a single thick column unlike the two uprights typically found on residential treadmills. This treadmill has two front transport wheels that double as a platform for elevating the treadmill when it is inclined. The whole treadmill and console move with the incline.
An AC motor is standard for a commercial gym, and the t22.9 gives you a way to bring that same high quality home or to your private training studio. The t22.9’s motor is rated as a 5.0 CHP AC motor, which is perfect for high-mileage runners and multiple users. As a commercial-grade product, this treadmill would also be great for coaches looking for a treadmill for their athletes or clients to use. It can certainly handle high use.
Running on the Freemotion t22.9 is a great experience due to its running surface. The running surface measures 21.5” x 60”. The deck is extremely cushioned, and the design even allows you to see the running deck and footrails bending with every impact. This treadmill has plenty of room for running fast and plenty of cushioning for running further.
The t22.9 REFLEX treadmill is a large non-folding treadmill. It weighs 619 lbs, so it almost goes unsaid that this treadmill is not moving often, if at all. Users will want a large dedicated space for the t22.9. It has two transport wheels for relocating the treadmill, but it will likely require two or three fit people to move. The treadmill should be placed in its inclined position before moving it.
The treadmill should be placed in a location where a 20-amp, 120-volt outlet is available. The treadmill cannot be plugged into a different electrical outlet or used with an adapter. If your home does not already have this option, you will need to install one. When considering the placement of your machine, also account for the length of the power cord. You do not want to use a surge protector or a power cord. If the treadmill is placed facing toward the outlet or beside it, you should not have an issue.
The Freemotion t22.9 has an incline range of 0 to 15%. A decline is certainly one feature that is missed on this treadmill, but its design is incredibly sturdy because of it, so I will let it slide. The incline is challenging, and I was surprised to find that there is no speed cap at the top of the incline. You can run 15 mph at a 15% grade if you are so inclined. I struggled to think of who would want to use these features, as that is a 4-minute mile at a fairly steep grade. I would not wish that on my worst enemies. The incline is a little slow, but it is very smooth even while running.
The t22.9 REFLEX treadmill has all of the necessary features to ensure you have a great walk or run. The 22 series from Freemotion centers around bringing iFIT content to users’ homes or gyms. The accessories and features supplement the content and help you stay focused on your goals. You will feel supported through long and hard efforts or comfortable through your easy, recovery days.
The Freemotion t22.9 has a fairly intuitive console. The iFIT interface is even more simplified and user-friendly than iFIT’s presentation on residential NordicTrack or ProForm treadmills. There are plenty of onscreen buttons to use, but the console also has a horizontal button pad which is very easy to use during activities.
The speed buttons enable users to quickly set a speed by tapping a single button or two buttons in quick succession to set the tenth. For example, pressing “6” and “5” sets the speed to 6.5 mph, while pressing only “6” sets the treadmill to 6.0 mph. If you would rather increase your speed more slowly, there are two buttons for increasing or decreasing the speed by 0.1 mph. For the incline, there are numbered buttons for every option 0 through 15%. The two increase/decrease buttons change the incline by 0.5%.
Additional buttons start and stop the treadmill, set the fan speed, and control the volume. There is a standard emergency safety key. The buttons are easy to use. The horizontal orientation is much easier to navigate during a run than vertical keypads.
The Freemotion t22.9 REFLEX treadmill has a 22-inch touchscreen display. The picture quality is excellent. I really liked the screen height, because it is comfortable to use. Most users should be comfortable with the screen height despite it not being adjustable in any way. The touchscreen is responsive and easy to navigate. The t22.9 has a free version of iFIT that has a slightly different presentation than the iFIT layout found on residential NordicTrack and ProForm treadmills. iFIT is pretty easy to navigate on the t22.9, and most users should be able to quickly acquaint themselves with the setup.
There are two cup holders. They are angled to tilt your bottle out of the way of the screen. If you have a smaller bottle, it might lean a little more than you want it to, but I did not have any problems with my bottle falling over or leaking. The bottom of the cup holders has a rubber covering that helps keep your belongings in place.
There is a device pad between the cup holders. This pad is rubberized and built to keep your phone in place. It is not the most ideal for viewing content on your phone, but if you use a PopSocket or have a phone case with a stand, you can prop your phone up for viewing. The console is very sturdy, so you do not have to worry about your device being damaged during your workouts.
The fan is one of the most powerful fans I have encountered on a treadmill. In fact, I almost felt like I had wind resistance when I was running with it turned to its maximum. This is probably the first time I have ever considered that a fan might be overkill on a treadmill. The lower strength settings were sufficient for keeping me cool. If you are placing this treadmill in a warmer room or you run hotter, this treadmill has enough cooling power to keep you comfortable.
There are no speakers on the treadmill, in keeping with the commercial design. It would have been nice for Freemotion to incorporate speakers on the t22.9 but place them under the club owner control settings. When the treadmill is used in a residential or private setting, I think the lack of speakers becomes very noticeable. Yet, the treadmill does make up for this by including a few audio options.
First, you can connect to the treadmill via Bluetooth. If you have compatible headphones or earbuds, the process is quite easy. Additionally, there is an audio jack for plugging in wire headphones or earbuds. I prefer the Bluetooth option to keep the cord from interfering with my workout or accidentally disconnecting. You need quite a long cord to comfortably run and listen to music with the audio jack. If you do not have a suitable listening device, iFIT is also equipped with closed captioning. The captions tend to be timely and accurate, so they are a good substitute.
The Freemotion t22.9 REFLEX has a few different options for tracking heart rate. I used the ANT+ connection to connect my watch to the t22.9. By setting my Garmin to broadcast my heart rate, no additional steps were required for the treadmill to pick up my heart rate automatically. In addition to ANT+ devices, the t22.9 is also compatible with Polar heart rate monitors. If you have neither type of heart rate monitor, you can use the dual EKG pulse sensors. These are located on the stability bar in front of the console. These sensors are less accurate than the wearable alternative, and they require you to keep your hands on the bar for consistent readings which is not ideal.
iFIT has heart rate training programs that automatically adjust the speed and incline settings to target a particular heart rate zone. If you are using these programs, I recommend using a wearable heart rate monitor. The EKG pulse sensors are better for intermittent monitoring.
This treadmill has USB charging. The port is located on the console near the device storage pad, so you can keep your phone powered while you exercise. This feature is nice to have, so you can listen to your favorite audio or watch a TV show on your device without thinking about your phone’s battery level.
Fast never felt so easy. Running on the t22.9 almost feels a bit like cheating, because it is significantly softer and bouncier than running on the road. Challenging paces feel easier, and I feel like I can run for a longer time. This benefit makes the t22.9 a great way to practice running at higher speeds and increase mileage in a safe way. It also improves your recovery by not being as hard on the body but allows you to accumulate the same amount of time on your feet. New runners may find the t22.9 helps them develop a better relationship with running. It is a tough sport and can feel unnecessarily grueling for some.
The treadmill’s speed changes are decent for interval workouts. When I ran intervals on the t22.9 I did not feel like too much of my interval time was wasted in the transitions from my recovery speed to my fast speed. However, the incline adjustment is pretty slow. It does not feel practical for short hill intervals.
When incorporating off-treadmill exercises into your use of the t22.9, be mindful of the 2-minute time out. You can pause the treadmill and resume the same workout, but only if the break is under two minutes. If not, the treadmill will reset to the welcome screen, and your workout metrics will be lost. For a treadmill that is designed with HIIT training in mind, the t22.9 could give users a little more time to perform off-treadmill exercises. It would also not be enough time for users who may need to take a break and use the bathroom.
The t22.9 delivers the luxury experience you would expect from a treadmill at this price point. The cushioning is fantastic, and the machine is extremely stable. Whether this treadmill is pushing you to your limits or you are pushing it to its limits, the performance is great. The price may be out of range for many treadmill shoppers, but the performance of the t22.9 does feel premium in comparison to more affordable treadmills.
Users have two content options on the t22.9: a free or paid version of iFIT. The free version gives you access to iFIT’s treadmill content without personalization. You can train with the guidance of one of iFIT’s 180 coaches. iFIT’s content is filmed in a studio or on routes all over the world. The coaches share training advice or neat facts about the locations you are virtually exploring together. While in the free version, the speed and incline adjust to the trainer’s specifications. You can override these settings or turn auto trainer back on to resume the automatic adjustments.
In the paid version of iFIT, your training history is recorded. You can review your past workouts and receive speed adjustments based on your fitness level. Whenever you override the preset speed or incline, iFIT remembers that input, so it can better attune the rest of the workout and future workouts to your needs. You can also join series or challenges for ongoing training.
iFIT has a Google Maps integration which allows users to create routes almost anywhere. These routes use Google Street View to display the real-world visuals on screen and adjust the incline to match the real-world terrain. Free version users cannot save these routes for later, so they must create these routes when they plan to do them. Paying users can access any routes they create later.
With a paid subscription to iFIT, users can follow along with non-treadmill content off the t22.9. If they have access to other iFIT-enabled equipment, they are welcome to access their profiles and training content suitable for rowers, bikes, and ellipticals. The iFIT app can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple app stores, allowing subscribers to follow along with strength training, meditation, or yoga content on their smart devices.
iFIT provides engaging content that pairs perfectly with the t22.9 treadmill. Whether you stick to the free version of iFIT or upgrade to a more personalized experience, the two work together to give you a superior walk or run.
The Freemotion t22.9 REFLEX Treadmill is a high-end cardio machine that executes its features well. The cushion is extremely soft and bouncy. The speed and incline settings provide plenty of challenge for all users, though I don’t think 15 mph at a 15% grade is necessary for most runners. It is impressive that the t22.9 has such an extensive speed and incline range. The inclusion of a free version of iFIT is a definite plus, as this treadmill already has a high sticker price. The t22.9 is a very large treadmill that does not fold and will need a dedicated space, but if you have the budget and the space, it is an excellent choice for luxurious training.
