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: May 13, 2025
If I hadn’t already known Johnson Health Tech acquired Bowflex, I could figure it out 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 feared 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. But it shouldn’t be underestimated. I grew to appreciate the T9’s differences, and for many of you, it might be an even better treadmill. Keep reading to discover the rest of the T9’s features—we were quite surprised!
I am a fan of the Bowflex Treadmill 22 and of Horizon’s running treadmills, like the 7.0 AT. The T9 feels like it meets in the middle between those two treadmills. It’s not the monster that the T22 is, but it’s a bit burlier than the 7.0 AT. That’s a win in my book and a great value for the price. It’s everything it needs to be without feeling overbuilt.
A lifetime warranty covers the frame and motor. You get three years for parts and one year for labor. Unlike other lifetime warranties, this one is actually for your lifetime, as in, it covers the T9 for the duration of the original owner’s lifetime. Usually, it’s the “product’s lifetime” as decided by the manufacturer.
Note: the lifetime warranty does not cover normal wear and tear—pretty much no warranty does.
The T9 has steel uprights with a reinforcing crossbar, a design we have seen work well again and again. This design also gives the T9 reasonable dimensions: 77.2” long, 37” wide, and 67.6” tall. It shrinks to 48.6” long when folded.
Both the footrails and handles are supportive and textured. The handles, in particular, were really satisfying because they feel almost rubbery and a little squishy, despite being plastic. However, they have a steel core for added structure.
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, the T9 performs like other 3.5 HP motors, meaning it handles a decent amount of daily walking and running.
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. Now, the T9 is fast and quiet.
The T9 has a 22” x 60” running surface, which is excellent for hitting those faster paces. It has 3-zone cushioning, which gives you a softer landing zone and a firm push-off zone. As a biomechanist, I love this feature. It aligns with your body’s needs at different phases of the gait cycle.
The T9 has a traditional folding frame. It has a hydraulic arm for soft unfolding and easier folding. This mechanism allows the deck to lower softly to the ground on its own once released from its locked position. If you drop it while folding it, it won’t slam down to the ground, either.
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.
There are also two programmable interval keys. You can hold them down for three seconds to set them to your current speed and incline. Whenever you press them, the treadmill will return to those settings.
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.
The Bowflex T9's fans provide a gentle cooling breeze while you walk or run. They have three speed options. Although they aren’t the strongest fans, they work well in a room that’s already at a decent temperature, adding a little more airflow.
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 biggest downside is the need to switch between the heart rate and app modes, as you cannot connect both to the T9 at the same time. I recommend pairing your heart rate monitor to the training app you are using to keep your metrics in one place.
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.
The Bowflex T9 is a one-size-fits-all (or, at least, most) treadmill. It has moderate cushioning that feels neither too soft nor too firm. Cushioning that is too soft and bouncy may feel like it is helping you run, while really firm cushioning may not feel as comfortable. The T9 is a good compromise.
It also has fast speed and incline adjustments that make it a great treadmill for HIIT workouts. You can do interval runs and walks without having to wait forever for the speed to catch up or slow down. The incline also adjusts pretty quickly, making hill intervals even smoother.
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, and the Bowflex T9 is just as good. 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 22 onboard workouts available on the Bowflex T9. Most of these also have up to ten levels, so you have even more training options. I found the custom heart rate workout difficult to set up, but the rest were really nice.
The T9 has fat burn, hill sprints, hill intervals, my first 5k, Sprint 8, and more.
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.
