If you're looking for new home workout equipment, you may have been tempted by Bowflex weights, smart treadmills, and exercise bikes However, in March 2024, the company filed for bankruptcy and is up for sale So is it still a good idea to buy Bowflex equipment?

A few years ago, this wouldn't have been much of an issue - after all, weights are essentially metal plates - but BowFlex, the company behind the BowFlex apparatus and Schwinn machines, made its name with smart apparatus that sync data to your smartphone and integrate with apps and

So while the company makes some of the best adjustable dumbbells and excellent exercise bikes, what happens to your smart equipment now that it is for sale? We also delve into whether it's worth it to buy BowFlex products at a discount

In general, if you want to get BowFlex equipment (including Schwinn-branded exercise bikes) on sale, your best option is to stick with non-smart machines that do not rely solely on the company's JRNY workout app

Thus, it may still be worth considering BowFlex weights, Schwinn bikes, and BowFlex multigyms However, if you are looking to purchase a BowFlex-branded exercise bike, elliptical, or treadmill, you are taking more of a gamble, as most features are locked behind a JRNY membership

With the news of BowFlex's bankruptcy, many pieces of equipment are now on sale, like the BowFlex SelectTech 1090 Adjustable Dumbbell, which is now down to just $329 on Amazon

BowFlex (the company formerly known as Nautilus) owns BowFlex and Schwinn Fitness, although the BowFlex brand focuses primarily on strength training equipment, including dumbbells, kettlebells, home gym multigyms exercise bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills

Most of BowFlex's equipment is integrated with the JRNY workout app to stream classes, in a similar fashion to Peloton, which manufactures home workout machines and virtual memberships for classes and training sessions It has a built-in display

Schwinn-branded exercise bikes generally do not have a smart display for tracking workouts, but the JRNY app can be downloaded and the machine used for instructor-led classes In addition, Schwinn also manufactures some of the most popular recumbent bikes for low-impact exercise, such as the Schwinn 270 recumbent bike

While the details of what will happen to BowFlex are unclear, the safest option is to purchase only items that are not dependent on the JRNY Workout app That way, if the new owner deactivates the app or lets it become obsolete, they can still use the equipment

The JRNY app is an integral part of most BowFlex products, even SelectTech dumbbells, and uses the app's motion tracking feature to improve weightlifting formThe JRNY app is a Google Play Store and was last updated on March 6 - the day after the bankruptcy filing

The app is also available in Apple's App Store, where the latest update was March 12 The same update is supposedly available on Android, but the one-week delay is likely due to Apple's app review process And importantly, it is still available for download on both platforms

But it is also embedded in the displays of many BowFlex machines, and it is not clear when the latest update to that version was However, membership in JRNY costs $1199 per month or $99 per year to sign up

This gives you access to thousands of on-demand workouts, virtual coaching features, bodyweight sessions, and classes designed for your equipment, while Peloton's equivalent app, Peloton App+, includes live workouts, costs $240 per year, so this is quite competitive

Peloton and NordicTrack are BowFlex's closest competitors Both brands make smart home workout equipment, designed around subscription-based workout apps (Peloton App+ or Peloton One, NordicTrack's iFit app)

If live classes are what you want, Peloton is the brand that popularized on-demand and live home workouts with the Peloton Bike+, and the Peloton Tread is one of the best home gym equipment you can buy right now But how Peloton escaped the fate of the BowFlex almost didn't happen

The brand suffered a terrible situation in 2023, when a mandatory recall was applied to the entry-level Peloton Bike due to safety risks, and demand for the Tread and Row machines slumped However, the app was revamped and focused on more affordable training options like the Peloton Guide

NordicTrack, on the other hand, is a great alternative to Peloton and the brand most similar to Bowflex The company makes both standard and smart equipment, so you can choose between gym-style rowing machines and exercise bikes, or Peloton-esque treadmills and ellipticals integrated with the iFit workout app

These studio-grade treadmills are great, and two NordicTrack models made our Best Treadmill Roundup However, given the similarities between the two brands, it can be difficult to decide between them Fortunately, we compared Peloton and NordicTrack

BowFlex filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2024 It is not known whether the new owners will keep the BowFlex name alive, discontinue some or all products, or close the brand altogether

This decision came after a difficult trading period as pandemic closures eased, gyms reopened, and demand for home workout equipment dropped The pandemic was a great time for fitness brands like Bowflex, with millions of people eager to invest in home workout equipment

Once the shutdown was lifted, the demand for expensive machines and weights essentially disappeared, leaving Bowflex in a bind Formerly known as Nautilus, the company rebranded as Bowflex in late 2023 in an attempt to reverse the decline in sales

But it was a big mountain to climb, and by fiscal year 2022/23, Bowflex's sales had dropped 43% and losses had grown to $21 million; by February 2024, Bowflex warned of the possibility of filing for bankruptcy, eventually filing one month later