Bowflex BXT8Ji Treadmill review: Affordable functionality

While exercise bikes are often the go-to for home cardio, a treadmill remains the ultimate choice for an all-encompassing workout—though it often comes with a hefty price if you want one that folds neatly and runs smoothly.

Enter the Bowflex BXT8Ji, an 'incredibly functional' folding treadmill designed to deliver performance without sacrificing space. As a compact version of the full-size Bowflex Treadmill 25, this model retains Bowflex's hallmark quality, a brand known for its premium treadmills and strength equipment. Despite lacking a touchscreen, the BXT8Ji offers solid construction and meets the needs of most users with ease.

In this review, I explore whether the Bowflex BXT8Ji is a worthwhile home treadmill, capable of delivering a smooth, comfortable run with enough programming and entertainment to keep things engaging—while neatly folding away when you’re done. Let’s dive in.

Bowflex BXT8Ji Treadmill review

Price and availability

The Bowflex BXT8Ji Treadmill is available in the UK for a recommended retail price of £1,599/ $1,299 (approx. AU$1,982). This price includes a 2-month free trial of JRNY (new members only).

Build quality

The Bowflex BXT8Ji Treadmill is a sturdy machine with the build feel of high-end treadmills found in gyms. The belt looks and feels tough and is able to withstand some foot-pounding punishment.

The good news is that it folds itself thanks to its SoftDrop hydraulic system. This feature not only saves space but also makes it easier to move around the home via its transport wheels.

As someone who has been put off by a big home treadmill overcrowding an already small home gym, it’s worth noting that although it folds away nicely - even fully ‘folded’ this treadmill still takes up quite a bit of space. While the width stays the same, the length is reduced from 54.9 inches, and it sits at 66.6 inches tall.

The control panel all worked fine, too, and there’s plenty of room for water bottles, phones, towels and other miscellaneous items. There’s also room for your tablet to sit above the panel at the ideal near-eye-level height.

Okay—the lacklustre dashboard certainly gives off an old-school vibe, and it doesn’t quite live up to the streamlined magnificence of rivals such as Peloton, but most of us have a tablet or phone to stream from these days, and if it means saving some money on a treadmill that doesn’t have the bells, whistles, and HD touchscreens, then so be it.

It’s not all negative, though. You still get the basics: time, incline, speed, distance, and calories. There’s a three-speed in-built fan, too. Refreshingly, I found it super effective, and it certainly took the edge off any overheating. I also liked the quick jump buttons for speed and incline and that you can compare past workouts using the unique profiles feature. The shelf for the tablet was at a good height, too.

Setup

At first glance, the mammoth box that holds the treadmill is ridiculously heavy (at almost 120kg) and bulky. It’s huge - but what did I expect? It was housing a treadmill after all. Don’t be alarmed though, on opening the box and stripping away the packaging I felt a little calmer. It wasn’t as big as I thought. There was a lot of packaging - and the treadmill lay flat-packed and ready to build.

The setup, which took around 90 minutes and needed an extra person, required us to connect the upright bars to the frame, as well as the console deck crossbar and the (super hefty) hydraulic lift under the walking belt.

To do this, we had to lift the treadmill and lock it in place. It wasn’t a quick process, and the screw sizes and instruction manual were all pretty confusing, but we got there, and once we were all set up, I was pretty impressed with the size and quality.

At just 78 inches long, 37.6 inches wide, and 62.8 inches tall, the Bowflex BXT8J is bigger than some home treadmills, but for the solid build, it didn’t feel like it was taking over the space - and at just 253.5 pounds, I found it an easy weight to manage when folded and wheeled into my ‘cardio corner’.

Ergonomics

The Bowflex is a decent-sized treadmill. Measuring 20 inches wide and 60 inches long, the treadmill has a relatively generous running surface. With a Comfort Tech cushioning for a softer landing you can instantly feel the bounce and speed wise the Bowflex hit a comfortable 12 mph, which made it suitable for everything from casual walking and jogging to sprint workouts.

At full whack, the deck felt cushioned and springy for sprinting, which kept the joints happy and avoided noisy pounding. The incline also quickly hit its ultimate 15% gradient without a rattle or shake. My only advice is to make sure you use the feet under the treadmill to level out the deck.

At first, the treadmill was unsteady, and I had to get off to stabilise it by adjusting the feet - but it was honestly no bother, and once done and left in that space I didn’t experience another wobble. Powered by a 2.5 CHP motor, the treadmill felt solid, sturdy, and able to withstand all you could throw it at, no matter how fast or slow you were moving.

Connectivity

Firing up the treadmill is easy: simply plug it in, it will all light up and then you’re ready to start running. In terms of Bluetooth connectivity, the machine hooks up via the provided 5kHz heart rate monitor which then display and track your target zones and heart rate monitoring. There are contact grips on the handles too.

The Bowflex BXT8Ji also connects to the JRNY® adaptive fitness app, which will auto-adjust the incline to match the onscreen incline while you’re running on the app’s routes.

The app connected to the treadmill easily, and I either followed a JRNY class led by a trainer and filmed in a studio - or did an “Explore The World” workout where I ran scenic routes through parts of Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.

I enjoyed the latter, especially the Valley of the Gods route in Utah. I also loved how the camera sped up, slowed down or stopped depending on my pace. This feature is subtle, but you do really feel like you’re moving through the real-life location yourself. You can also stream from popular apps that are pre-loaded on JRNY, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Disney+. It will cost you £13.49 per month, and you’ll need to link it up to your phone or tablet to take advantage of it, but I honestly can’t fault it, especially after getting the first two months free.

Performance

In terms of inbuilt programmes, there’s 26 pre-set workout programmes. Simply choose one and select how long you wish to work out and the machine will provide a variety of inclines. These worked well in testing, with the incline changing in line with the workout profile.

The only minor complaint would be that once you stopped your workout that the incline on the treadmill didn’t drop automatically so you either have to manually bring it back down or when you fire up the treadmill next time wait for it to go down before taking it back up again. It wasn’t a problem but other treadmills tend to stop and then reset themselves whist you do the rest of your workout. Not this one. This was down to you - and just took an extra few minutes to do at the end of your workout or at the beginning of the next.

Verdict

The Bowflex BXT8Ji is a solid, versatile folding treadmill, ideal for beginners and seasoned runners alike, including those gearing up for winter endurance training. When paired with the JRNY app, the auto-incline feature adds a helpful touch, while the treadmill's cushioned deck delivers a satisfying bounce that’s gentle on joints, even at higher speeds.

Although it’s not the smallest option when folded, it still saves valuable space compared to non-folding treadmills and is a worthwhile investment for those not seeking extensive tech features. True, the lack of a touchscreen and the simple console might feel a bit dated, but it quickly becomes part of the experience, with daily live runs and engaging classes like Yoga for Runners available via the app.

My verdict? This treadmill is here to stay. Well-built and just the right size, it’s a reliable companion for my half-marathon and marathon training, fitting seamlessly into my routine without needing to be folded away after every use.

Also consider

If you’re after a foldable treadmill and your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the Bowflex, the Mobvoi Home Folding Treadmill is worth considering. At around half the price of the Bowflex, you can get a treadmill that folds down to a very similar size. The speed and running belt aren’t as generous as the Bowflex, and it doesn’t look as bouncy.

If this is important to you, then you should consider the Echelon Stride. The stride comes around the same price as the Bowflex but folds completely flat and maxes out at 12mph and a 10 per cent incline. The Bowflex might carry a modest price tag, but it’s far from basic – this comfortable-to-use, folding treadmill provides a quality workout every time. The Bluetooth connectivity is super reliable, and although there’s no display, it comes with a tablet/phone holder, allowing users to prop up their device of choice to aid in running.

However, if you like a screen and want something that folds, the ProForm Pro 2000 Folding Treadmill is cheaper than the Bowflex yet has a similar fold and boosts that all-important 10-inch touchscreen.