What is Membership required?

A required membership means the brand ties the full experience to a recurring paid plan instead of a one-off purchase price. Treadmills, rowers and strength racks can look cheap up front while the real cost sits in a monthly or annual fee. None of the brands here hold a machine back that way. Bowflex, Academy, Altas Strength, Bells of Steel and Blackroll BNL all work without a membership, so the listed price is the price of the kit itself. Still check what app workouts or content sit behind a paid tier.