Bowflex vs NordicTrack (2024): Two Top Fitness Brands Compared

Both NordicTrack and Bowflex are top home gym brands that can outfit your space with pretty much everything you need from cardio machines to basic strength training equipment. 

But if both brands have everything you need, which one is best for you? Well, it’s a classic home gym debate: Bowflex vs NordicTrack. 

That’s where the Garage Gym Reviews product testers come in and lay out all the important facts and figures. We’re a group of fitness professionals with over a decade of combined experience with strength and conditioning equipment. 

In this showdown between NordicTrack vs Bowflex, it’ll be up to you to decide who ends up on top. 

Brand Comparison: Bowflex vs NordicTrack 

Quick Look: Bowflex vs NordicTrack

Bowflex and NordicTrack give you quite a few options for customizing your gym. Both brands offer nearly every type of cardio machine you can imagine and a plethora of entry-level strength equipment. Both brands have unique offerings, so here is a quick breakdown of each:

Key Similarities Between Bowflex and NordicTrack

• Interactive programming and trainer-led workouts
• Mid-tier to high-end home fitness machines
• Financing options
• Both brands have limited strength training equipment

Important Differences Between Bowflex and NordicTrack

• Bowflex has a wide range of warranty policies while NordicTrack features 10-year frame warranties on nearly all cardio equipment 
• NordicTrack manufactures smart home gyms and rowers while Bowflex does not
• Bowflex has adjustable kettlebell and barbell options for at-home strength training and NordicTrack does not
• All of the Bowflex ellipticals are designed with a vertical stepping pattern, while NordicTrack ellipticals feature traditional front-to-back gliding

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells

OG product tester and GGR founder Coop is a fan of adjustable dumbbells for home gym owners. It can save on valuable space and cash. Coop even has an entire video review dedicated to the best adjustable dumbbells on the market.  

That said, when it comes to NordicTrack vs Bowflex dumbbells, both brands have suitable options for home gym owners at similar price points. The main differences are the selection method and the weight ranges offered. 

NordicTrack offers four sets of adjustable weights while Bowflex offers two different sets. The heaviest set of dumbbells Bowflex has goes up to 90 pounds, which is 35 pounds heavier than NordicTrack’s top set.

Additionally, NordicTrack has a unique set of adjustables called the iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells, which are controlled through Alexa.

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbell Specs

NordicTrack Select-A-Weight

NordicTrack 55-Pound Select-A-Weight Dumbbell Set

GGR Score: 3.4

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Product Highlights

• 15 weight options in 2.5-lb or 5-lb increments
• 10-pound knurled handlebar 
• Included storage tray
• Includes a 30-day trial to iFIT
• Compact piece of equipment with a smooth weight selection design

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Space-saving
• 15 weights in one piece of equipment
• Includes storage tray
• Moderate knurling

Cons

• Great value, but an investment
• May feel awkward when fully loaded

Bottom Line

NordicTrack’s 55-pound Select-a-Weight adjustable dumbbells are versatile and space-saving, offering users 15 different weight options in one.

Bowflex SelectTech 1090

Bowflex SelectTech 1090 Adjustable Dumbbells

GGR Score: 3.5

Community Score: 5

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Product Highlights

Just like all Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells, with just the turn of a dial you can automatically change your resistance from 10 lbs. all the way up to 90 lbs.

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Treadmills

Bowflex and NordicTrack have some of the best treadmills that rival most home gym brands. Both brands are known for powerful running machines that deliver speeds up to 12 miles per hour. Additionally, NordicTrack and Bowflex have either pulse grip sensors or Bluetooth connectivity to monitor your heart rate while you workout. 

All three Bowflex models come equipped with a 60-inch-long running deck, which is ideal for tall runners. In addition to long running decks, the Bowflex Treadmill 10 and 22 have an impressive user weight capacity of 400 pounds, which makes both an inclusive choice for larger folks. If you like the sound of that, check out our full review on the Bowflex Treadmill 22. 

NordicTrack currently offers eight different treadmill models, with two marketed as incline trainers—the NordicTrack X22i and X32i, which are big, powerful, and non-folding treadmills.  

The other six treadmills from NordicTrack are folding treadmills, which our product testers agree are ideal for home use because you can gain back much-needed surface area if you’re limited on space. 

NordicTrack treadmills all come equipped with iFIT-enabled touch screens, powerful motors to support running, and 10-year warranties on the frame. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 is actually one of our top overall picks for home use. We even have an in-depth treadmill review on the NordicTrack 1750 so you can read all about our personal experience with the machine. 

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Treadmills Comparison

NordicTrack 1750

NordicTrack Commercial 1750

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Spacious running deck
• Compatible with iFIT
• 14-inch touchscreen
• Incline and decline training
• Financing available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compatible with iFIT
• 3.5 CHP motor
• Free trial of iFIT subscription with purchase
• Treadmill with incline and decline training
• Foldable to save space (EasyLift Assist)
• Run that feels similar to road running
• Financing options available through NordicTrack
• Generous speed range
• Wide running deck
• Cooling fan

Cons

• Big footprint
• Heavy and not the easiest to move
• Price is around $2,000
• Warranty is voided if the treadmill is used/stored in a garage

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to add a workhorse of a treadmill to your home gym, we recommend the NordicTrack Commercial 1750.

Bowflex Treadmill 22

Bowflex Treadmill 22

GGR Score: 4.02

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Product Highlights

• Heavy-duty treadmill
• 0 to 12 miles per hour
• Incline range from -5% to 20%
• 60-inch cushioned running deck
• Bluetooth enabled 
• 22-inch HD touchscreen 
• Access to JRNY fitness platform 
• JRNY enables streaming apps

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 400-lb max user weight capacity
• Immersive training
• Large cushioned running surface
• Folds easily for storage
• Equipped with entertainment apps
• Decline and incline

Cons

• Requires a JRNY membership
• Console may be confusing for some
• Long delivery times reported

Bottom Line

The Bowflex 22 is a high-quality treadmill with impressive components that features an immersive training experience via the JRNY platform.

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Exercise Bikes

Bowflex has three studio-style exercise bikes available on the website, all with 100 micro-levels of resistance. The C6 Bike offers an affordable option for a studio bike, with a price tag around $800. The VeloCore 16 and 22 are more expensive but feature large touch screens and a unique leaning feature to engage core muscles and mimic the natural movements of road cycling. If you’re curious about this cool innovation, we have an in-depth review of the VeloCore for more details. 

NordicTrack offers more variety than Bowflex when it comes to exercise bikes. The brand manufactures three different exercise bikes (and seven different models): Two recumbent bikes, two upright bikes, and three studio bikes. Regardless of the style, each one is equipped with an iFIT-enabled touchscreen. 

NordicTrack’s studio bikes are a bit more expensive than Bowflex studio bikes, but our product testers like the fact the NordicTrack S22i has a pivoting touchscreen making it easy to follow along with cycling classes in addition to strength training routines off the bike. If you like the versatility of the NordicTrack S22i, you can read the full details in our written review. 

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Bikes Spec Chart

Bowflex VeloCore

Bowflex VeloCore

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Makes you feel like you’re riding an outdoor bike
• Large monitor makes it easy to follow workout classes
• Incredibly stable and durable
• Easy to use

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Leaning feature activates core muscles
• Large monitor with lots of information
• Durable with almost no shaking while in use
• User-friendly and simple to get started

Cons

• Difficult assembly with unclear instruction
• Limited music options with JRNY membership
• Uncomfortable seat
• Sub-par warranty

Bottom Line

We were very impressed with the Bowflex VeloCore. It’s a durable, innovative exercise bike that will appeal to a lot of people. We would consider adding it to your fitness equipment repertoire.

NordicTrack S22i

NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• 24 digital resistance levels
• Incline and decline adjustments
• Fully rotating touchscreen

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large 22" smart HD touchscreen
• Incline and decline ability
• Compatible with iFIT
• Adjustable seat
• Adjustable handles
• Dual-sided pedals
• Fan
• Comes with 2 3-lb dumbbells
• 24 digital resistance levels

Cons

• Expensive
• iFIT membership not necessary, but most beneficial
• Difficult to assemble
• Can’t be stored in the garage (brand states doing so will void the bike’s warranty)
• Hard to move and weighs more than 200 pounds

Bottom Line

This is the bike to get if you want an indoor cycling bike with interactive programming, incline and decline capabilities, and all the extras.

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Ellipticals

When it comes to elliptical trainers, one of the main differences between the two brands is the stride pattern. Bowflex is known for its upright machines and compact footprints. That said, the Max Trainer M6, M9, and Max Total 16 are not like a traditional elliptical you might see in a commercial gym. All three machines provide you with a more vertical stride pattern that mimics a stair-stepper. 

NordicTrack offers two machines with more traditional elliptical stride: the Commercial 9.9 and AirGlide14i. The brand also has two machines—the FS10i and FS14i—that can cycle between three different stride patterns including a regular elliptical, stair-stepping, and walking. 

RELATED: NordicTrack AirGlide 14i Review

NordicTrack vs Bowflex Elliptical Spec Chart

Bowflex Max Trainer M6

Bowflex Max Trainer M6

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Gets harder as you get stronger
• Stair-stepping design targets muscle development
• Compatible with JRNY app
• Ideal for HIIT workouts

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Stair-stepping design targets muscle development
• Compatible with JRNY
• Ideal for HIIT workouts

Cons

• No interactive touchscreen
• Pretty basic display
• Expensive

Bottom Line

The Bowflex M6 provides a heart-pumping, low-impact workout that resembles stair-stepping.

NordicTrack Commercial 9.9

NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical

GGR Score: 3.8

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Product Highlights

• 7” smart HD Touchscreen
• Water bottle holder, dual 2” digitally amplified speakers
• AutoBreeze workout fan, oversized cushioned pedals
• 22 levels of digital resistance and up to a 20% incline
• Constructed with heavy-duty solid steel

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Programming options
• iFIT enabled
• Quiet
• Sturdy build
• 30 pre-programmed workouts
• Incline options

Cons

• Stride length is small for a commercial elliptical
• Requires a 4-year iFIT membership
• Heavy

Bottom Line

Intended for commercial use, the Commercial 9.9 Elliptical is a sturdy treadmill that offers interactive programming through its required 4-year membership to iFIT.

Interactive Programming: NordicTrack vs Bowflex 

NordicTrack fitness equipment is integrated with iFIT, while Bowflex equipment features the JRNY app. I appreciate how inclusive both apps strive to be with workouts for a variety of fitness levels. As a certified personal trainer, I also appreciate that both apps track your progress and make suggestions on future workouts based on your performance (aka progression!). 

NordicTrack: iFIT 

There are several things I like about iFIT, but one of the coolest features is the automatic trainer control. This feature allows the iFIT trainer to control incline, speed, and resistance settings on your machine in real-time during the workout. That means your NordicTrack treadmill can change incline settings without the need to touch your console. 

Bowflex: JRNY

Much like iFIT, the JRNY app has a wide variety of on-demand classes you can choose from including cardio workouts, bodyweight sessions, and strength training. 

The one thing that is different about JRNY (and well-received with users) is the ability to stream entertainment like Hulu and Netflix. Although subscriptions for those types of entertainment apps are sold separately, JRNY is designed to integrate these services and overlay your workout metrics over your favorite shows or movies without toggling between programs.  

JRNY vs iFIT Comparison Chart

Company Policies

Every company has different policies, but it’s safe to say you’ll want to read the fine print before you decide to purchase, return, or make a warranty claim with any brand. Here is an overview of the policies for both NordicTrack and Bowflex: 

Warranty

Warranties not only vary from brand to brand, companies often have different warranty policies on each fitness category and even different breakouts depending on the price of each piece of equipment. 

Bowflex has an array of warranty policies ranging from a subpar three-year frame and parts warranty on the Bowflex Max Trainer M9, all the way up to a pretty standard 15-year warranty on the frame and motor of the Bowflex Treadmill 22. Although the warranty policy does get a little confusing, you can purchase additional protection plans through the Bowflex website. 

NordicTrack offers 10-year warranties on nearly every piece of equipment it manufactures. Parts and labor warranties vary from one to two years depending on what type of equipment you’re buying. Overall, NordicTrack has a pretty straightforward policy. It’s worth noting that the best treadmills often cover up to 15 years on the frame and motor, so it’s a little disappointing that NordicTrack comes in slightly under the industry standard. 

Return Policy

NordicTrack offers a pretty standard 30-day window to make returns on like-new products.  You’ll be charged a flat rate of $250 for shipping and a 10% processing fee for the return. 

Bowflex gives customers up to six weeks to make returns. You will need a return merchandise authorization (RMA) number to process any returns, otherwise the brand will not refund you or return the equipment. To get your RMA number, you’ll have to call customer service at 1-8000-605-3369. 

Financing Options

NordicTrack provides financing options through TD Bank. If you qualify, you can finance your purchase starting at 0% APR with loan terms between 12 and 48 months. 

If you purchase Bowflex equipment, you’ll have the chance to apply for a Bowflex credit card. A nice perk to this is that you’ll make interest-fee payments for the first 18 months. 

Final Thoughts on NordicTrack vs Bowflex

NordicTrack and Bowflex are some of the top names in home fitness. They both have a lot to offer in cardio machines and entry-level strength equipment. Neither brand is particularly budget-conscious but you will have the ability to finance your purchase on either website. 

Here are some of the main differences between these two brands:

• Not all Bowflex machines come equipped with touchscreens, while all NordicTrack cardio machines do. 
• NordicTrack has a larger selection of cardio machines and models to choose from.
• NordicTrack offers smart home gyms and functional trainers, while Bowflex also offers functional trainers plus an adjustable kettlebell and barbells. 
• Bowflex ellipticals have vertical stepping patterns, while NordicTrack ellipticals offer a more traditional stride. 

FAQs on NordicTrack vs Bowflex

Lauren Strong, CPT

Lauren is an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer working with clients of all ages and skill levels. She specializes in coaching the squat, bench, and deadlift and enjoys introducing beginners to barbell training. Before becoming certified, she worked in marketing roles after graduating from the University of Maine with a BA in Journalism. Writing for Garage Gym Reviews blends her two passions: writing and lifting. Lauren spends her leisure time in the kitchen, reading fiction, and taking nature walks. She's also an avid downhill skier, learning how to ski when she was just two years old. She lives in Maine with her husband and two cats.

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