If you use an Apple Watch with cardio equipment, GymKit should be on your radar. It is the best way for an Apple Watch and a treadmill, elliptical, stair stepper, or indoor bike to exchange workout data. The result is more accurate measurement than either device can provide on its own. Apple introduced GymKit with watchOS 4 in 2017, but compatible equipment has remained surprisingly difficult to find. Nearly a decade later, you no longer need to spend around $15,000 on a GymKit treadmill. Instead, you can spend about $1,000 on a home treadmill that works with Apple Watch. The BowFlex T6 is exactly that kind of machine.
What makes Apple GymKit so useful
GymKit provides a two-way connection between Apple Watch and compatible treadmills, ellipticals, stair steppers, and indoor bikes. Without GymKit, cardio equipment knows your pace and distance but needs separate hardware to measure heart rate. Apple Watch tracks heart rate but has to estimate treadmill distance and pace from wrist movement. GymKit lets the two devices fill in each other's gaps. Apple Watch sends heart-rate data to the treadmill, while the treadmill sends back measurements it knows directly from the workout.
According to Johnson Health Tech, the parent company of BowFlex, calories, speed, distance, pace, time, incline, and heart rate sync in real time between the treadmill and Apple Watch. That creates a more unified and accurate Fitness app record than what you would get from wrist-only tracking or machine-only tracking.
BowFlex T6 price and availability
The BowFlex T6 treadmill is priced at $999, with a regular price of $1,299. That is a normal price for a capable home treadmill and roughly one-tenth of what a GymKit model cost when we last looked at the category. The T6 is part of BowFlex's current treadmill lineup. GymKit support is also available on the more expensive T9 and T16 models, so the feature is not being reserved for the flagship machine.
The treadmill does not require a subscription for its core functionality. That distinction matters at a time when connected fitness equipment can come with an ongoing fee just to access its best features. You can use the T6 on its own, or pair your own tablet or phone with the console and use whatever workout service you prefer.
Pairing Apple Watch with the BowFlex T6
Pairing is intentionally simple, but the process can also be forgiving. You can connect Apple Watch before starting a workout, but you do not have to do everything in that order. For example, you can start the workout from the T6 console, get the belt moving, and then hold your Apple Watch near the NFC reader and confirm the connection. Realizing that you can pair after starting is a useful unlock. For many people, beginning on the treadmill and bringing Apple Watch in afterward feels more natural.
Once connected, Apple Watch offers four GymKit workout choices: Indoor Walk, Indoor Run, Time to Walk, and Time to Run. The first two provide the standard Apple Watch workout experience. The latter two let Apple Fitness+ subscribers combine the treadmill's GymKit data with Apple's audio-guided workouts. After pairing, the treadmill and Apple Watch stay together. Pausing, resuming, or ending the workout from one also updates the other.
GymKit support for iPhone and AirPods Pro 3
Starting with iOS 27, GymKit is no longer limited to Apple Watch. You can connect an iPhone to compatible equipment and use AirPods Pro 3 as the heart-rate source. That experience essentially delivers the Apple Watch GymKit experience without the watch. The BowFlex T6 supports this newer connection method, and it works as expected.
Meanwhile, watchOS 27 improves wrist-based distance estimates for indoor walks and runs. That should help when GymKit is unavailable, but a direct connection to the treadmill remains the most accurate option. The T6 also supports Samsung Galaxy Watch, making it more flexible for households with mixed smartwatch preferences.
Why GymKit has been so difficult to find
The biggest problem with GymKit has always been availability. Compatible machines initially appeared in premium fitness clubs in major cities. Equipment has since reached more regional locations, including some Planet Fitness gyms, but support remains far from universal. Even at a participating gym, only some machines may include it.
Buying GymKit equipment for a home gym was even harder. When we last checked in 2020, compatible Technogym treadmills started at just under $14,000. That might make sense for a high-end commercial gym, but it was a non-starter for most homes. At the time, we hoped GymKit would eventually reach treadmills in the $1,000 to $1,500 range. The BowFlex T6 is exactly that kind of machine.
QuickDial controls are a surprise highlight
Aside from GymKit and the approachable price, one of the best features is how the BowFlex T6 controls speed and incline. Instead of repeatedly pressing arrow buttons while walking or running, you roll dials mounted on the hand grips. The right-hand dial adjusts speed, while the left-hand dial controls incline. That format is much faster and more natural when making adjustments on the fly.
BowFlex pairs those QuickDial controls with its MaxReact drive system, which responds quickly as you change speed or incline. That makes the controls especially useful for interval workouts where you are frequently moving between intensities. Dial controls like these first appeared on Peloton's original treadmill, which cost a fortune. Finding a similar control system on a much more affordable treadmill is an excellent bonus.
Other key features of the BowFlex T6
The T6 also has a cushioned 20-by-60-inch running surface, speeds up to 12 mph, a motorized incline up to 15%, a three-speed fan, and a folding deck. Those are solid home-treadmill fundamentals without forcing a large touchscreen into the package.
The design avoids an expensive built-in touchscreen. Instead, it has a straightforward console and an adjustable shelf for your own iPad, tablet, or phone. That keeps you free to choose a workout platform instead of tying the treadmill to one service. You can use Apple Fitness+, Peloton, Zwift, or BowFlex's optional JRNY platform. Your device can pair with the T6's built-in Bluetooth speakers, while the console continues to display the workout data you need.
Your heart rate appears on the treadmill console throughout the workout. That is especially useful for zone-based training because you can monitor your heart rate without repeatedly checking your wrist or holding the treadmill's metal sensors. The combination of GymKit data and on-screen metrics makes the T6 feel like a much more expensive machine than its price suggests.
Who should consider the BowFlex T6
Anyone building a budget-conscious home gym should consider the BowFlex T6 treadmill. BowFlex offers more expensive models with advanced displays and larger running surfaces, but the T6 gets the important things right without adding costs you do not need. GymKit support has been fantastic with Apple Watch and, more recently, with iPhone and AirPods Pro 3. The treadmill also supports Samsung Galaxy Watch if that is your preference.
The $999 price puts GymKit within reach of ordinary home buyers. The lack of subscription requirements and the flexible device support make it an easy recommendation. For Apple Watch users who have been waiting for GymKit at a realistic price, the BowFlex T6 finally delivers the experience at home.
Source: 9to5Mac News