The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The T9 ushers in a new era for Bowflex and borrows from its new parent company’s expertise with other treadmill brands, like Horizon.
Updated: October 4, 2024
If I hadn’t already known Johnson Health Tech acquired Bowflex, I would from one look at the Bowflex T9’s treadmill console. It borrows some of my favorite features from Johnson’s Horizon brand treadmills. I love Horizon, so I am really happy to see these features, but I also have to admit my dismay at losing a few things that I really loved about the other Bowflex Treadmills.
The T9 isn’t the futuristic spaceship of a treadmill that the Treadmill 10 and 22 are. I am sad that the T9 doesn’t have the burly build of its predecessors, but I find this change easier to accept with the T9’s improved warranty. Keep reading to discover the rest of the T9’s features—we were quite surprised!
At the time of writing this, the Bowflex T9 has not been released, so we are speculating on its build quality. Normally, we draw from our previous experience with the brand. While we have extensively tested Bowflex and Horizon treadmills, the T9 still feels like new territory. However, if there is anything both brands have in common, it is an excellent build quality for the price.
The warranty gives me a lot of hope. A lifetime warranty covers the frame and motor. You get three years for parts and one year for labor.
I’m sad the T9 doesn’t have the overbuilt frame of the Treadmill 10 and 22 with their triangulated uprights, but it does have steel uprights with a reinforcing crossbar, a design we have seen work well again and again. This design also gives the T9 smaller dimensions: 77.2” long, 37” wide, and 67.6” tall. It shrinks to 48.6” long when folded.
The T9 surpasses our expectations for the weight capacity with its 350-lb limit. Historically, 300 lbs has been the industry standard, but many brands have surpassed this standard recently.
Bowflex remains secretive about its treadmill motor ratings. We also saw motor ratings disappear from the webpage of its sister brand, Horizon. Some third-party listings for the T9 state the motor power as 3.5 HP. Even if this is wrong, I expect the T9 to perform like other 3.5 HP motors, meaning it can handle walking, running, and most things a household throws at it.
One of my biggest complaints about the Treadmill 22 was the slow incline and speed adjustments. Johnson Health Tech has given Bowflex the Horizon treatment with Quick Response Technology. I expect the T9 to have the same performance as the Horizon 7.8 AT, which bested almost every other treadmill’s speed and incline adjustment rate.
The T9 has a 22” x 60” running surface, which is excellent for hitting those faster paces. Regarding cushioning, I can’t wait to test the T9 out. The Treadmill 22 was firm, but Horizon and Matrix treadmills (both Johnson brands) have moderately soft cushioning. I don’t mind either, but the T9 is probably not the softest treadmill. Consider NordicTrack for soft cushioning.
The T9 has a traditional folding frame. I’m not sure if it has handles to make folding easier, but that is one feature I will investigate when we get the T9 in for testing. It appears to have a gas shock or hydraulics for soft unfolding. This mechanism would allow you to release the deck and let it lower itself to the ground.
A 12% maximum incline just isn’t impressive anymore. The T9 steps it up a notch with a 15% incline. It does not decline. While I would like to see another 20% incline, like the Treadmill 22 has, 15% should be enough for most exercisers to get a great hill workout done.
The T9’s features are a pleasant surprise. They amalgamate typical Bowflex features with features that are stereotypically Horizon. The biggest surprise was the lack of a touchscreen display. While this console choice has many benefits, I wasn’t expecting the step away from full integration with Bowflex’s JRNY platform—more on that later.
The Bowflex T9 Treadmill has done everything possible to appease a button critic like me. Two of the top things I look for regarding treadmill buttons and controls are buttons for every level and ease of use while running.
The T9 has my favorite speed and incline controls: Quick Dials. You just spin either wheel and adjust the treadmill’s settings.
There are also two programmable interval keys. If these function the same way they do on the Horizon treadmills, you hold them down for three seconds to set them to whatever speed and incline you are at currently. They will return the treadmill to those settings whenever you press them.
There are plenty of other buttons for adjusting the display and features. You also have media controls for any device you have paired with the treadmill console.
As I mentioned, the T9 does not have a touchscreen display. It has a high-contrast color LCD screen. This display is brightly lit, so you should be able to see it regardless of your room’s lighting. There are also LED windows for your most important metrics, like calories, heart rate, split time, total time, distance, and pace.
There are two cup holders on the Bowflex T9. They aren’t the largest, but you should be able to store a standard water bottle. There are also two smaller trays inside the cup holders to hold small items like keys.
A treadmill fan is one of the most difficult features to judge. I liked the fan power on the Bowflex Treadmill 22, but I haven’t been overly impressed with Horizon fans. I hope the dual fans on the T9 are powerful enough to cool you off, but I’ll remain skeptical for now.
There are two device racks on the T9. Device racks/holders are a must-have for me, especially with a treadmill like this that does not have a built-in touchscreen display. If you have your phone and tablet, you can keep both on hand and viewable. Personally, I like reading my Kindle while I walk or jog and listening to instrumental music at the same time. The T9 is great for that.
If you want to listen to audio out loud rather than through headphones, you can connect via Bluetooth to the speakers. They are behind the front handles and under the cup holders. I like that the features are front-facing. This design makes it easier to hear than rear-facing speakers.
The console is Bluetooth and FTMS compatible. The FTMS protocol allows treadmills to connect to a variety of third-party apps, like Zwift. Of course, you can also connect to the speakers via Bluetooth or pair a heart rate monitor.
The T9 has Apple GymKit for Apple Watch users. It also pairs with Galaxy watches.
You have a few different options for heart rate training with the Bowflex T9. There are EKG pulse grips on the front handles. The T9 also comes with a Bluetooth heart rate chest strap. You can also use your own Bluetooth heart rate monitor with the T9 or one of the apps it pairs with.
I can’t say much about the Bowflex T9’s performance. It is yet to be released, and we haven’t received it for testing. We will update this review when we have more information. It is definitely a treadmill I look forward to running on. Read on below for some of the training options I am most excited to use.
JRNY is the Bowflex subscription fitness platform. You can take trainer-led classes, scenic runs, and structured workouts. It is more affordable than competitors like iFIT and Peloton. You can also try a two-month free trial before committing to the service. I like JRNY for its price, even if it isn’t as refined as more expensive competitors.
You don’t have to have JRNY to use the T9. You can use other free and paid apps, like Zwift, Peloton, and Kinomap. I have been on a huge Zwift kick lately. You can meet up for virtual runs with friends on tons of different courses. Your avatar will move faster or slower as you do, considering your treadmill’s speed. It’s currently free for runners, too.
Horizon treadmills have been some of my favorites for taking Peloton classes. I think the Bowflex T9 might be just as good or even better. The responsive motor, Quick Dial controls, and connectivity with Peloton make it easy to keep up with the classes and record your training metrics.
There are ten onboard workouts. These are basic hill and interval programs like you would find on a gym treadmill.
Check out Zwift, Kinomap, and Kinni. These apps have tons of structured workouts for your treadmill with much more variety than you could ever get built into a simple console like the T9 has.
The Bowflex T9 Treadmill is a running treadmill that supports the JRNY training service but doesn’t require it. You can instead pair third-party apps like Zwift, Peloton, Kinomap, and more. I like that the T9 gives you so many training options. Its powerful and responsive motor makes keeping up with any workout easier.
A high weight capacity, lifetime frame and motor warranty, and solid brand reputation for Bowflex and Johson Health Tech make the Bowflex T9 a very appealing treadmill. The 22” x 60” running surface and 15% maximum incline only further the temptation for runners and walkers.
We can’t wait to see more from Bowflex after this latest treadmill addition, and we think the T9 would be a great option for runners who want unlocked training options.
