The heavy-duty Bowflex Treadmill 22 is more space-saving than compact. It’s easily one of the sturdiest treadmills for serious workouts. However, it folds up to save space when necessary. This treadmill doesn’t fold flat, but it can be stored in home gyms and smaller studios.
Bowflex sent me a Treadmill 22 for a hands-on review. Here are my thoughts after testing it out.
It’s immediately apparent that this Bowflex treadmill isn’t nearly small enough to fold up and store under your bed, or even against a wall. Only the running deck folds up for storage. This beastly piece of home exercise equipment weighs 336 pounds when fully assembled, which means you’ll likely need at least one additional person to move it around. Opting for assembly with delivery can save you time and aggravation. The treadmill’s 400-pound weight capacity indicates just how durable it is.
Once the treadmill is set up and ready to go, your eyes will undoubtedly be drawn to the immersive 22-inch HD touchscreen display. This is actually the same size as the screen on the larger interactive Bowflex VeloCore Bike for home spinning workouts. You can easily adjust the screens on both machines to follow along with your favorite instructors or achieve better viewing angles when streaming content. I found the display to be crisp, clear and responsive.
This treadmill offers wide speed and incline levels for athletes of all levels. Depending on your goals and how you’re feeling, you can toggle between 0 and 12 miles per hour and experiment with the adjustable motorized incline, which spans from -5 to 20 percent for hill workouts.
Integrated handrail controls make it easier to adjust your speed and incline settings without reaching up to the console. While these controls were pretty consistent overall, I noticed an occasional slight lag compared to the console-based controls.
As with most interactive fitness equipment, signing up for the accompanying platform gets you the most bang for your buck. Bowflex offers JRNY, a digital fitness platform with a wide variety of workouts, from scenic routes around the world to numerous trainer-based classes. It works with iOS and Android devices. You can also enjoy adaptive workouts that progress as you become fitter and virtual coaching for extra inspiration. Although you’ll need a membership to access the platform, Bowflex offers a free two-month trial with each Treadmill 22 purchase.
If you’re a fan of personalized workouts, the JRNY platform is just for you. To get the most out of each workout, you’ll complete an initial assessment to determine your current fitness level. Once this simple test is done, you’ll be able to access various classes that are within your capabilities. You can also hop off the treadmill for some yoga, strength and core workouts. These additional classes are included in your JRNY membership and are accessible via the touchscreen.
An included Bluetooth heart rate monitor tracks your levels as you exercise and offers pretty accurate readings. This treadmill is also Bluetooth-enabled to accommodate your smart devices.
Besides on-demand workouts and individualized programs, your JRNY membership includes another distinct advantage. If you’re not in the mood for a trainer-led workout, you can opt for streaming services instead. As long as you have your own account you can binge-watch your favorite shows on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Prime Video. Only one JRNY membership is required per household.
You can still use the treadmill without a JRNY account. It’s even possible to use a third-party app such as Zwift if you prefer. When you go this route, the console displays basic metrics to keep you in the loop. There’s also plenty of storage space for your phone or tablet if you want to use your own device.
If you’re looking for a treadmill that doesn’t rely as heavily on the JRNY platform, the BXT8J could be a better fit.
Although the Treadmill 22 isn’t very light or portable, it’s clearly designed for maximum performance. This is perhaps most evident by its Comfort Tech cushioning, which softens the blow on your joints and provides a highly comfortable running platform. I completed various workouts, including shorter sprint sessions and longer endurance runs, without any issues. In fact, the extra cushioning felt slightly bouncy and somewhat cloud-like. Runners and walkers suffering from knee pain and joint issues may find that this additional cushioning makes this treadmill worth the splurge.
Another perk of this larger home treadmill is the spacious 22-inch wide and 60-inch-long running path. If you’ve ever felt claustrophobic or squashed on a smaller belt, the Treadmill 22 is a compelling option. To put these numbers into perspective, some of the best compact treadmills on our list have smaller decks that measure closer to 40 inches long and 15 inches wide.
You’re probably wondering just how much space the Treadmill 22 requires. The machine measures 85 inches long, 39.6 inches wide and 44.5 inches long when it’s unfolded. Folding the running deck reduces the overall length to just 44.5 inches. To ensure a comfortable fit in your living space, Bowflex suggests a minimum ceiling height of the user height plus 21 inches.
As we previously mentioned, this treadmill weighs well over 300 pounds once it’s fully assembled. The good news is that its SoftDrop technology gently lowers the deck to the ground. Once you’ve initiated the drop, simply step back and allow the treadmill to do the hard work. Not only is SoftDrop technology convenient, it also reduces the treadmill’s footprint by more than 40 percent.
After using the treadmill for several weeks, I noticed a few areas in need of improvement. For example, the treadmill doesn’t display minutes per mile pace. I also found that the speaker quality was just average, especially when ramping up the speed for sprint intervals. It’s not a super quiet treadmill, which is worth keeping in mind if you live in an apartment or often do your workouts during off-peak hours.
Overall, it’s very solid and is worth the higher price tag if you’re looking for a serious space-saving treadmill with the latest technology for your workouts.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="439" width="780" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
