Treadmill Reviews, Elliptical Trainer Reviews, Home Gym Reviews, and other fitness equipment reviews from an industry insider.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Proform Epic View 550 Treadmill Review

Treadmill Review: Proform Epic View 550 Treadmill
Price: $1999
Click to Read User Review

A lot of people place a treadmill in a room with the TV. Some people will go through hoops just to get their treadmill lined up in a perfect spot to see the television. And who wouldn't want to watch TV while they're exercising anyway? I know I jump on the treadmill I have a TV in front of me things seem to go by exponentially faster. Even though I enjoy running, sometimes it is a chore and I just want to get it over with as soon as possible. Why am I saying all of this? Because the Logitech has TV built right into the console. The built-in TV really is the center of the Logitech.

The Logitech includes a 3.0 HP Odyssey two commercial motor. This motor is specially designed to keep noise to a minimum and to last as long as possible. Design features include direct cooling which keeps the components of the motor cooler enabling them to withstand years of workouts. The deck of the Logitech is a spacious 20" x 60". There may be a couple treadmills here or there with an extra inch or two of length or width, but these treadmills are very rare. If you want a larger treadmill you're probably going to have to spend several thousand dollars more than the price of Logitech or have something custom made. A 20" x 60" treadmill deck is pretty much the largest treadmill deck you're going to find at any store or online retailer. The powerful 3.0 HP motor can propel the belle of the Logitech up to 12 mph. For me personally, a jogging pace is about eight or 9 mph. A 12 mph pace is just insane! Unless your sprinter, you'll find very little use for a treadmill that goes faster than 12 mph. The treadmill deck is sturdy enough and the motor is powerful enough to handle users up to 350 pounds. ProForm puts their treadmills under extensive tests to make sure that the weight capacity rating on the label really measures up.

The Logitech comes with a vast array of features, and for a $2000 treadmill why shouldn't it? This treadmill comes equipped with a shock absorption system that reduces the impact of running when compared to running on your average street. This treadmill can fold up so you can have more space or even stored out of the way when you're not using it. Dual heart rate monitors track your pulse and are displayed on the extra-large backlit LCD display. In addition to everything that I just mentioned, the Logitech comes with a built-in 7 inch flatscreen TV. I can't think of a better future to include on a high end treadmill.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Proform 995 Treadmill Review

Treadmill Review: Proform 995 Treadmill
Price: $999

Click Now to Buy the Proform 995 Treadmill

The Proform Power 995 Treadmill is a $1000 treadmill that Proform has built to compete against treadmills several hundred dollars more in price. After I write a detailed review of the Proform Power 995 Treadmill and cover every square inch of the Proform Power 995 Treadmill in this treadmill review you will know exactly why.

One of the great leaps forward in fitness equipment technology is Proform’s iFit system. The iFit system integrates the Internet with your treadmill. You will be able to run courses from around the world by accessing Google maps. You can sink your treadmill with popular social networking sites like Facebook and even compete against or work with other human beings who use iFit. There's so many features to the iFit I don't think I could describe all of them in a single post. The iFit system has ushered the treadmill into the modern-day age.

It takes a lot more to make a great treadmill than social networking an excellent fitness programs. A good treadmill requires solid fundamentals. To that end, the Proform Power 995 Treadmill has been equipped with a 3.5 CHP Mach Z treadmill motor. The general motor built into the Proform Power 995 Treadmill is a commercial grade motor is designed to allow users to work out for extended periods of time. The motor built into the Proform Power 995 Treadmill even has a built-in self cooling system so the inside components do not become heated and stressed to the point of motor failure.

One of the obstacles people who are trying to lose weight face is pain. Proform recognizes this problem and has taken steps to correct it by designing a cushioned treadmill deck that can reduce the impact on your joints by as much as 15% compared to running on an average road. A fan has also been built into the console of the Proform Power 995 Treadmill to keep you cool when you're working really hard during a strenuous workout. Rather than target your face, the fan is pointed towards your core muscles to facilitate bodily cooling. Proform has done its homework and then everything possible to create an excellent treadmill.

Some of the other really cool features I liked are the touchscreen display and built-in iPod support. The touch screen display will make you feel like you're on the deck of a spaceship. The console is large and easy use. If you just can't work out without listening to some your favorite tunes like me you'll love the built-in iPod speakers. No more messy wires choking your neck when you're trying to run, just a clean mess free way of listening to music and stay in “the zone”.

Proform 1050T Treadmill Review


Treadmill Review: Proform 1050T Treadmill
Price: $799
Click Now To Read User Reviews
It's time for my review of the Proform 1050T Treadmill. The Proform 1050T Treadmill is a midrange treadmill designed to deliver performance. A lot of people think treadmills and as for cardiovascular endurance, that's because they don't know how to use treadmills. The Proform 1050T Treadmill can do everything from help you lose weight to help you build some muscle! I'm going to give you a detailed treadmill review and cover everything you need to know about the Proform 1050T Treadmill.

This treadmill is built with a 3.0 CHP Mach Z commercial grade motor. The more powerful the motor, the longer treadmill is likely to last. Every time someone uses a treadmill stress is being placed on all the components. A treadmill with a high level of horsepower will not have to work as hard to meet what you are demanding of it, and therefore last much longer. Combine a powerful motor with an advanced cooling system and you have yourself a treadmill that is going to last for years to come, even when heavy users are running fast for a long period of time. On that note, the motor can propel the Proform 1050T Treadmill at 12 mph which is just about as high as you will find on treadmill at any price.

The 20" x 60”running surface is wide and spacious. Even treadmills that retail for more than $1500 tend to limit their running area to 20" x 60". If you are a larger or taller person and looking for something with a lot of space to stretch your legs the Proform 1050T Treadmill is a good option to consider. In addition to a large and spacious running area, you can customize the cushioning. The cushioning on the Proform 1050T Treadmill is fully adjustable from very soft to very firm. A lot of people have a lot of different opinions about how firm a treadmill should be, and with this feature everyone can be accommodated.

The Proform 1050T Treadmill does really well with the fundamentals of a treadmill and it does even better with all the extras. You get built-in iPod compatibility and built-in speakers. I personally don't like to wear headphones when I run so the built-in speakers are a great way to still listen to my music and avoid all the wires. There are also loads of fitness programs on the Proform 1050T Treadmill which makes this an excellent treadmill to consider.

Proform 790T Treadmill Review

Treadmill Review: Proform 790T Treadmill
Price: $699
Click Now To Read User Reviews


The Proform 790T Treadmill is equipped with a 2.5 CHP mach Z motor. The motor of this treadmill is a commercial grade motor and is designed to last and stand up to longer training periods. Sometimes treadmills with a low amount power can skip when you run or make quick strides. A powerful motor will help guard against this and keep you safe and deliver an enjoyable treadmill workout. The longevity of the Proform 790T Treadmill is also increased by the built-in fan that reduces heat and noise, reducing the stress is placed on your treadmill allowing it to last longer.

Some of the really cool features of the Proform 790T Treadmill are adjustable cushioning which allows you to make the surface of the treadmill harder or softer depending on your preference. This treadmills also designed fold up vertically so you can keep it out of the way when you're not using it. This also means that you have more space to do exercises like situps and crunches if you have a smaller room to keep your treadmill in.

Proform is one of the better companies when it comes to features. The Proform 790T Treadmill has built-in heart rate monitoring at your fingertips. Use the data from the heart rate monitor in tandem with any of the several built-in fitness programs that are designed by professionals and will help you get the most from your workouts. But it is easy to keep track of with a built-in backlit LCD screen that tracks time, distance, calories burned, and a whole lot more.

Another really cool feature on the Proform 790T Treadmill that I would like to see in every treadmill elliptical trainer is built-in iPod compatibility. The Proform 790T Treadmill has speakers built right into the console and the Port for plugging your iPod. I hate liars and not having to wear a set of headphones when I go running or walking is incredibly appealing to someone like me who spends a lot of time in treadmills and elliptical trainers. There's also the iFit system that allows you to expand your access to a wide variety of programs designed by famous fitness professionals like Jillian Michaels. You can even purchase eight week training programs that are sure to help you get peak condition.

One last thing I'll mention is that the Proform 790T Treadmill comes with a full two year parts and one-year labor warranty. A two-year parts warranty is pretty much unheard of for treadmills under $1000 as nice to see that there is at least one company out there that goes the extra distance to deliver value quality to the consumer.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Smooth CE 2.7 Elliptical Trainer Review


Hello Readers,
Elliptical Trainer Review: Smooth CE 2.7 Elliptical Trainer Review
Elliptical Trainer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 for an excellent feel, low price, and adjustable stride
Price: $1099 (On sale right now, $200 off!)
Click To Buy The Smooth CE 2.7 Elliptical Trainer


Well, I've been going down my list of and Smooth Elliptical Trainers and we have reached the Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainer. The Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainer actually happens to be on sale as of the time I wrote this article I which makes it the best deal Smooth Fitness has to offer. I'm not privy to special information from Smooth Fitness and therefore I do not know when this sale will end. If you like this elliptical trainer I suggest you hop on over to Smooth Fitness’ site right now and order it. For those of you who need a little bit more information to make a choice I invite you to read my full Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainer review.

Anyone who knows me knows I could go on for ever talking about a single treadmill or elliptical trainer. For the benefit of everyone I will try to stick with the basics of the Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainer. The most fundamental and important piece of information you'll need to know when buying elliptical trainer or treadmill is how comfortable is this elliptical trainer. I've been on literally dozens of pieces of fitness equipment during my fitness career and I know that Smooth Fitness offers the best elliptical trainers hands down. Comfort is the Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainers strong suit.

After comfort comes warranty. If I tried out the most comfortable elliptical trainer ever but it didn't have a warranty I could hardly feel comfortable recommending that elliptical trainer. What if it breaks? The Mac customer would be out hundreds possibly even thousands of dollars. And elliptical trainer without a decent warranty is just not worth the risk. Fortunately, the Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainer is backed by an industry-standard one-year parts and labor warranty. If anything breaks on this elliptical trainer you're covered for a full 12 months! I have seen elliptical trainers that retail for $600 or more that are backed by an anemic 90 day parts and labor warranty and some cases no parts or labor warranty. I would think twice before buying an elliptical trainer that covers parts and labor for less than a year. It's just not a very safe bet.

Another cool feature is adjustable stride length. The fitness industry is adding this feature to more elliptical trainers. This is an excellent addition to any elliptical trainer and eliminates many of the problems caused by multiple users, especially if one user is tall and when users short. All you have to do to get a comfortable stride is turn a knob.

One thing I do a lot of complaining about when it comes to local trainers is the console. Elliptical trainer consoles are often small and hard to read. The Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainer console is still small but all the important data are displayed large to make it easier to read when working out. This is just a small detail but coming from an elliptical trainer and aficionados it's an important one.

Final Analysis
I think I've covered all the important points of the Smooth 2.7 Elliptical Trainer. In short, it's comfortable. Comfort is the most important thing to consider when buying elliptical trainer. If you're elliptical trainer is not comfortable you probably won't use it. It also has a decent warranty and a large console display. The adjustable stride length makes this an ideal elliptical trainer for multiple users and I strongly recommend elliptical trainer.



Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer Review

Hello Readers,
Treadmill Review: Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer
Treadmill Rating: 4/5 for excellent fundamentals but lacking special features
Price: $1299

Click Now To Read Smooth CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer User Reviews


I'm getting ready for another canyon run tomorrow morning at five o'clock! That means I got a get to bed early but I'm too excited to sleep. So, the only productive way I can think of to spend my time right now is writing an elliptical trainer review. I figure since I've gone through all of the Smooth Treadmills I should probably write reviews of all the Smooth Elliptical Trainers. I'm not one for wasting time so let's get right into the review.

One thing that irks me just a little bit about elliptical trainers in general is that they come with small consoles. They're often too small for me to see clearly without bending over or squinting and all the up-and-down movement that is natural to elliptical trainer makes things even worse. I really wish treadmill manufacturers would design an elliptical trainer with a large console. Shoot, I got off on a rant again. Let's try this again. The Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer is a product of excellent design. The motion is fluid, elliptical trainer is heavy enough to reduce wobbling often associated with elliptical trainers on the low end, and it comes with a two-year labor warranty. I can't stress enough just how unique a two-year labor warranty is for elliptical trainer that costs less than $1500! In fact, I'm going to say it again and bold it this time. I can't stress just how unique a two-year labor warranty is for an elliptical trainer that costs less than $1500!

Smooth Fitness got a whole lot of stuff right with this elliptical trainer. But, there are some things that can be improved. First of all, there aren't any real special features to speak of. I want something, some gimmick, something that tells me that Smooth Fitness really wants my money like built-in fans or include a wireless pedometer, something. I'm sad to say that there are no such pack-ins this or features with the Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer.

Final Analysis
when it comes to the core of the Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer Smooth Fitness has everything down perfect. It has an excellent stride that is smooth and fluid. The 18 inch stride probably should be an adjustable stride or at least a 20 inch stride but I'm not to complain too much about that. Most people will be happy with an 18 inch stride unless you're over 6'1". The labor warranty is stellar! Smooth Fitness backs the Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer with a two-year labor warranty which tells me smooth fitness is very comfortable and the mechanics and durability of the Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer. I feel much more confident recommending an elliptical trainer when the manufacturer is willing to fix things at its own expense. The only thing I'm kind of sad about is that there are no cool features to distinguish the Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer from some of its competition. Well, at least it's leaps and bounds ahead of much of the competition in terms of warranty. Overall, you'll be happy with this elliptical trainer and the motion and mechanics are good enough for me to recommend you buy the Smooth Fitness CE 2.1 Elliptical Trainer.



Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Smooth 9.45 TV Treadmill

Hello Readers,



Well, I thought this day would never come, but it seems I’ve reached the last Smooth Fitness Treadmill. I’m not going to “review” this treadmill per se. No, I’m not being lazy; I’m just being really smart. You see, the Smooth 9.45 TV Treadmill is exactly the same treadmill as the Smooth 9.45ST Treadmill with one crucial and expensive difference. The Smooth 9.45 TV Treadmill has a built in 15” LCD TV. If you’re looking for more information about this treadmill read my Smooth Fitness 9.45ST Treadmill Review Other than that, this post is mostly about the built in TV that comes with the Smooth 9.45 TV Treadmill.

That’s it for my Smooth Fitness 9.45 TV Treadmill Review, I know it wasn’t much of a review, but honestly, there is no point in writing 3 paragraphs about this treadmill when they’ve already been written. Happy treadmill hunting, be healthy!

Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill Review


Hello Readers,
Treadmill Review: Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill
Treadmill Rating: 4 stars out of 5 for really cool features but a shorter running area
Click Now To Buy The Smooth 935HR Treadmill

I'm going to be continuing with my Smooth Fitness treadmill reviews. There are just three more Smooth Treadmills left and I think I'm going to try to finish writing all of them tonight and then take a few days off from the treadmill blog. Maybe I'll even take the whole weekend off and do some running and hiking! Oh wait no, I have a test in a psychology class to study for. Anyway, here's my Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill review.

The Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill has a 20" x 55" running area. That's quite a bit of space and I'm sure that it should accommodate just about everyone up to 6'1". But, more running area is always better, and you never know who's going to come over and want to use your treadmill. It's better to be able to accommodate everyone! If the Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill was about $1000 I would say the Reading area is fine. But it's not! This treadmill retails for about $1800. I expect quite a bit out of the treadmill for $1800 and leaving me 5 inches short on the running area leaves me feeling just a little bit empty.

The real reason to buy the Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill is comfort. Smooth Fitness is known for comfort. The Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill uses the Hydra Suspension System and allows users to adjust the firmness of the treadmill deck. There are a couple other treadmill manufacturers out there who attempt to include an adjustable firmness setting with their treadmills, but often fail miserably. There is usually little difference between the highest setting and the lowest setting or the mechanics used to set the firmness go bad after a few uses. Not true with the Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill! Smooth Fitness really went to town with the design and mechanics of their adjustable firmness feature. The bottom line is, it works.

In addition to the adjustable firmness feature there is also something I call the “Jedi Speed Control” feature. Basically, you can wave your hand over the treadmill console to speed up or slow down. It really does make you feel like you can use the force to control your environment. The “Jedi feature” adds a coolness factor to Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill.

Final Analysis

There is no doubt that smooth fitness is one of the better treadmill manufacturers out there. I would be happy with just about any treadmill they manufacture. The core of all my treadmill reviews centers on comfort. If a treadmill is not comfortable it is not going to be used. When it comes to comfort the Smooth Fitness 9.35 HR Treadmill scores major points. Throw in no hands speed control or what I prefer to call “Jedi speed control” and adjustable tech firmness that actually works and you got yourself a recipe for an excellent treadmill. The only drawback to this treadmill is a smaller than expected running area. There really is no excuse for this. All in all, this is a solid treadmill but you can find better.



Saturday, September 12, 2009

Bowflex Xtreme 2 Home Gym Review

Bowflex Xtreme 2 Home Gym Review
Click Here To Read Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym Reviews


Hello Readers,
If you spent any time using a home gym at all you know how annoying it can be to adjust pulley systems. First you have to take them off, attached employees the right way, sometimes you forget how to remove them, and it gets worse when you realize you forgot how to put them back on. It is a hassle! Ease-of-use is one of the primary reasons people use a rod weight resistance system as opposed to a weight stack system. Overall, they're much easier to assemble and use.

Now, there are literally dozens of choices when it comes to home gyms and I wouldn't want to recommend anything average. So let's see if the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym stacks up to a rigorous home gym review. First off, one of the things I frequently read in forums on the Internet is that band resistance or in Bowflex’s case Power Rod resistance loses its resistance over time as they are bent. This is true, but I rarely see the counterpoint that weight stacks lose weight as they are banged against each other and chipped. Both types of home gyms lose resistance over time. The difference between the two is that Power Rod resistance is generally much less expensive to replace.

As for the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym itself, it comes standard with 210 pounds of resistance. Now, that's good enough for just about every high school student I can think of, but if your student happens to be one of the monsters on campus the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym can be easily upgraded to as much as 410 pounds of resistance. In other words, there is plenty of room to grow as the body grows with strength training.

The Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym already came with an impressive array of stations that worked out the chest, shoulders, back, arms, abdominals, and legs. However, the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym has recently been upgraded to include enough, no crunch shoulder harness that is sure to help anyone build incredible abdominal muscles. The other add-on is an improved seat that provides greater back support. This features especially useful to someone like me who goes out of his way to reduce back injuries! If your back is broken your doctor to be doing too much of!

Honestly, if you don't believe me you can see for yourself how great the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym is. Bowflex offers a six-week results guarantee that enables you to return the home gym within six weeks of purchase. If you like it, just call Bowflex and they'll be very happy to help you send the home gym back.



Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Smooth Fitness 9.45 TV Treadmill Review

Hello readers,

Buy the Smooth 945ST Treadmill Now



Well, it seems like the fires have finally been put out my area and the wind has been pushing all the smoke away from my house so it looks like I can finally go back outside and run, ride my bike, and hopefully swim at the Canyon soon. Have you been thinking about splurging on a new bike. Mild bike has been well, it tries and I suppose I shouldn't disparage it. Speaking of splurging, if you're in the splurging mood I have a treadmill for you! This one is so cool it even comes with its own TV!

I'll save the TV hype for the end this treadmill review. The most important thing is always comfort! If a treadmill is not comfortable there is not a snowballs chance in hell that you're going to use it to run on, let alone lose weight. I know this better than many people because I have been using treadmills to exercise for about six years now and I never kept a running routine when that routine involved an uncomfortable treadmill. So is the Smooth Fitness 9.45 TV Treadmill Review comfortable? I assure you it is! I've been putting together, fixing, until internals for many years now and Smooth Fitness in general has consistently impressed me with their quality. One feature that seems to be proliferating among treadmill manufacturers is adjustable shock absorption. This means that you'll be able to adjust the firmness of the treadmill shock absorption system to your liking. I personally like things in the middle, but you may prefer a little more spring in your step or a little less. I like that smooth fitness has given me and all the people who buy the triple X the power to choose. Choice means everything!

Let's finish off some of the other features that I think are worth noting before I get into some of the drawbacks of this treadmill. One really cool feature makes you feel like you’re Master Yoda himself. The speed can be controlled by waving your hand over the console. Yes, I pretended to use the force to change the speed of the treadmill for about an hour before got bored of it but hey nobody is perfect. The Smooth Fitness 9.45 TV Treadmill Review also comes with a commercial grade deck. This means the Smooth Fitness 9.45 TV Treadmill Review can support very heavy users and handle more than one workout session a day, which means more people can use this treadmill.

The only drawback is that I would like to see a larger console display with more dedicated metrics. This is a very small flaw and remember the $2800 price tag includes a built-in LCD screen with speakers.

Final Rating
Overall this is probably the best high-end treadmill you're going to find. If you spend any more money than this you're getting overkill, you're paying for a commercial grade longevity and I can't think of a single person or family who would need to spend more than $2800 on a treadmill, except of course maybe a family of ninjas..


Monday, July 27, 2009

Horizon LS780T Treadmill Review

Horizon Treadmills are my favorite budget treadmills on the market right now. HorizonFitness offers the best treadmills for the buck you can possibly find and the quality is unmatched by any other manufacturer that sells treadmills in the under $1000 category. However, there are better Horizon Treadmills than others. Does the Horizon LS780T Treadmill measure up to other Horizon Treadmills? Read the rest of my treadmill review and judge for yourself!


Horsepower
The Horizon LS780T Treadmill comes with a 2.0 HP motor. That’s pretty much standard for this price range, what’s worse is that the Horizon T91 Treadmill comes with a motor just as powerful but costs $50 less. I’m a little disappointed with that fact. There’s not even much more on the Horizon LS780T Treadmill to justify the 8% price increase as the rest of my horizon treadmill review will reveal.

20” x 50” Running Area
The Horizon LS780T Treadmill has a 20” x 50” running area. Once again, this is identical to the Horizon T91 Treadmill and definitely not worth paying an extra $50 for. You’re definitely going to notice a pattern in my Horizon LS780T Treadmill Review.

Speed and Incline
The Horizon LS780T Treadmill has a 10 MPH top speed and a 10% maximum incline. Once again the Horizon LS780T Treadmill matches up exactly with the Horizon T91 Treadmill. Do you still think it’s worth paying an extra $50? I think not.


Final Analysis
I could go on a lot more about how the Horizon LS780T Treadmill is exactly identical to the Horizon T91 Treadmill but it’s not. The Horizon LS780T Treadmill is different, it has a blue console. Okay, I’m a huge fan of the color blue and paying an extra $50 might be worth the cost to someone like me, but it’s probably not worth it to you. I strongly suggest you check out the Horizon T91 Treadmill before you pull the trigger on the Horizon LS780T Treadmill. If you’re still hell bent on buying it, do yourself a favor and Click here to get it directly from Horizon Fitness.

Horizon Treadmills are my favorite budget treadmills on the market right now. HorizonFitness offers the best treadmills for the buck you can possibly find and the quality is unmatched by any other manufacturer that sells treadmills in the under $1000 category. However, there are better Horizon Treadmills than others. Does the Horizon LS780T Treadmill measure up to other Horizon Treadmills? Read the rest of my treadmill review and judge for yourself!

Horsepower
The Horizon LS780T Treadmill comes with a 2.0 HP motor. That’s pretty much standard for this price range, what’s worse is that the Horizon T91 Treadmill comes with a motor just as powerful but costs $50 less. I’m a little disappointed with that fact. There’s not even much more on the Horizon LS780T Treadmill to justify the 8% price increase as the rest of my horizon treadmill review will reveal.

20” x 50” Running Area
The Horizon LS780T Treadmill has a 20” x 50” running area. Once again, this is identical to the Horizon T91 Treadmill and definitely not worth paying an extra $50 for. You’re definitely going to notice a pattern in my Horizon LS780T Treadmill Review.

Speed and Incline
The Horizon LS780T Treadmill has a 10 MPH top speed and a 10% maximum incline. Once again the Horizon LS780T Treadmill matches up exactly with the Horizon T91 Treadmill. Do you still think it’s worth paying an extra $50? I think not.

Final Analysis
I could go on a lot more about how the Horizon LS780T Treadmill is exactly identical to the Horizon T91 Treadmill but it’s not. The Horizon LS780T Treadmill is different, it has a blue console. Okay, I’m a huge fan of the color blue and paying an extra $50 might be worth the cost to someone like me, but it’s probably not worth it to you. I strongly suggest you check out the Horizon T91 Treadmill before you pull the trigger on the Horizon LS780T Treadmill. If you’re still hell bent on buying it, do yourself a favor and Click here to get it directly from Horizon Fitness.

Proform 570 Crosswalk Treadmill Review

The Proform 570 Crosswalk Treadmill was once one of the most popular treadmills out there. At the moment the Proform 570 Crosswalk Treadmill is either out of stock or discontinued, more than likely discontinued. Proform pushes out new models so frequently it’s really hard to keep up. I actually wrote this Proform treadmill review a few months back and never published it. So, with about a 3 month delay, here’s my Proform 570 Crosswalk Treadmill Review.

1.75 Continuous Duty HP Motor
Most treadmills that cost more than $600 have a 2.0 HP motor. Anything less than that and you’ve got yourself a slow walking treadmill at best and a pile of junk at worst. In short, the motor alone would be enough to get me to turn my nose and run the other way. But there are more reasons to hate the Proform 570 Crosswalk Treadmill.

Warranty
My philosophy for judging a treadmill is “if a manufacturer trusts it, so do I”. The best way to tell if a manufacturer trusts the fitness equipment it makes is by examining the warranty. If the warranty covers a long period of time, chances are that manufacturer does not expect you to call up a few months later complaining that the motor blew out. I can’t say the Proform trusts many of the treadmills it makes because a large majority of their treadmills are backed by a pathetic 90 parts and labor warranty. Honestly, you can do way better! EVERY OTHER TREADMILL BRAND OFFERS A 1 YEAR PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY for treadmills that cost more than $599.99. Don’t settle for less. Check out the Horizon T91 Treadmill, it’s comfortable, has a decent warranty, and has a 2.0 continuous duty HP motor.

Final Analysis 1 / 5
Please don’t buy the Proform 570 Crosswalk Treadmill. It’s really a piece of junk. The only reason why Proform is able to sell treadmills with inadequate motors and short warranties is their marketing machine. I Proform’s marketing department props! They have managed to sell poop in a bag!

Sole F63 2009 Treadmill Review

Sole Treadmills are one of my favorite brands of treadmills. In fact, if someone handed me $1500 to choose any treadmill I wanted I would probably end up with a Sole Treadmill. But the Sole F63 Treadmill is not a $1500 treadmill, it’s a $1000 treadmill. In my Sole F63 Treadmill I’ll examine how the Sole F63 Treadmill holds up to other treadmills in its class. Read on for a detailed look at the Sole F63 Treadmill.

2.5 Continuous Duty Motor
Like many other treadmills in the $1000 range the Sole F63 Treadmill comes with a 2.5 Continuous Duty Horsepower motor. That makes the Sole F63 Treadmill’s motor average. By the way, a 2.5 HP motor is powerful enough for just about anyone. In fact, it could probably support as many as two different users a day without presenting any major service problems. The motor is also strong enough to prevent a common treadmill problem, slippage. Slippage in turn can cause users to slip; it can be a real safety hazard, not to mention it can throw off your rhythm during a workout routine.

10 MPH Top Speed
I’m a little disappointed with the top speed of the Sole F63 Treadmill. I would estimate that half the $1000 treadmills on the market have a 10 MPH top speed and the other half have a top speed of 12 MPH. If you want to do any sprinting, that’s going to be an issue. However, for most people 10 MPH is going to be fine for what they want to use it for. If you do want the 12 MPH top speed for a $1000 you’re probably going to have to sacrifice on something like running area or programs

2.5” Rollers
People frequently neglect to examine roller size when doing their treadmill buying research. The treadmill belt wraps around the roller and keeps the treadmill belt turning. Larger rollers turn less, which means they’ll last longer. Most treadmills in this category have 2” rollers, and you’ll have to spend about $600 more to move up to 3” rollers. So, the Sole F63 Treadmill’s 2.5” rollers are excellent!

Fitness Programs
Unfortunately, Sole Fitness has neglected to develop a lot of fitness programs for the Sole F63 Treadmill. There are only 6 fitness programs and that’s not enough for me to get excited about. 6 fitness programs is average at best.

Warranty
The Sole F63 Treadmill is covered by a 1 year labor warranty and 3 year or greater parts warranty. This is definitely one of the better treadmill warranties around, save for the Smooth Fitness 5.45 Treadmill

Final Analysis 3.5/5
The Sole F63 is one of the more comfortable treadmills for less than a $1000, but it lacks many other features like a high top sped of 12 MPH or a wide range of treadmill programs. Ultimately, the comfort factor is the most important factor so I’m still giving the Sole F63 Treadmill decent marks.

NordicTrack T9 CI Treadmill Review

The NordicTrack was released by Icon Fitness, parent company of the Proform, Weider, and Weslo fitness equipment brands. The NordicTrack T9 CI Treadmill is NordicTrack’s entry in the $1000 price range. There’s some stiff compeititon in this price range and I’ll cover all the pros and cons of owning this treadmill in my NordicTrack T9 CI Treadmill Review.

20” x 60” Running Area
I’m really impressed with the 20” x 60” running area. More often than not, treadmills with a 20” x 60” running area cost several hundred dollars more than the NordicTrack T9 CI Treadmill. When it comes to size, the NordicTrack T9 CI is just about as big as it gets. In fact, you’ll have to spend several thousand dollars to get a treadmill with a larger running area.


2.5 Continuous Duty Motor
Buying a motor with a good amount of horserpower is incredibly important. The motor is what drives the treadmill belt and a weak treadmill motor is subject to slipping which in turn can make the user slip. Second, a weak motor is probably not going to last a long time. A weaker motor has to work harder to achieve the same speed as stronger motor which means the weaker motor is going to give out sooner. The NordicTrack T9 CI’s is built with a 2.5 continuous duty horsepower motor, strong enough for just about anyone doing any type of workout imaginable.

12 MPH Top Speed
Most treadmills in this price range have a top speed of 10 MPH, and that’s great for most people. However, if you require a bit more zest during a workout the extra two miles of speed can prove challenging and enjoyable. I think I can do about 2 minute long sprints at 12 MPH before my body says “no more!” I couldn’t even begin to imagine running 12 MPH for an extended period of time.

Adjustable Treadmill Deck Cushioning
Adjustable deck cushioning is a revolutionary idea in the treadmill world. Users can adjust the firmness of a treadmill’s shock absorption system to customize the feel of a treadmill. It’s a very handy and useful feature, especially if you’re using this treadmill to train for an event. Users can adjust the firmness to mimic the feel of a race course.

Fitness Programs
The NordicTrack’s fitness programs are its strongest point. Fitness programs are important because they can mix up fitness routines, preventing the body from becoming too accustomed to a workout, reducing the efficiency of a workout. There are 12 fitness programs in all and the best part is users can purchase memory cards with fitness programs created by Jillian Michaels of Biggest Loser fame. I’m a huge fan of the ifit feature and wish a similar feature would be made available on more treadmills and elliptical machines.

Warranty
NordicTrack offers a 1 year parts and labor guarantee. 1 year parts and labor is standard for just about every treadmill under a $1000. The only other treadmill with a better treadmill is the Smooth Fitness 5.45 Treadmill

Final Analysis 3.5 / 5
NordicTrack is definitely one of Icon Fitness’ more ambitious brands. The NordicTrack Treadmill brand is perhaps Icon’s best treadmill brand; the NordicTrack T9 CI Treadmill definitely reinforces that notion. The motor is very powerful considering the cost, the running area is extremely large, and the adjustable cushioning system enables users to customize the firmness of the treadmill deck. Overall, this is a great showing from NordicTrack.

NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill Review - Best Fitness Programs

Hello Readers,



I’m going to try a different way of doing this for my NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill Review. Instead of editorializing I’m going to make this more of a presentation. I’ll skip my life story and I’ll just stick with the facts. NordicTrack is subsidiary of Icon Fitness. Icon Fitness is the man behind the curtain for many treadmill brands including ProForm, Gold’s Gym, and Weslo. I’m not a huge fan of all if Icon Fitness’ brands, namely Proform and Weslo, but NordicTrack Treadmills are generally of much better quality. Let’s take a look at the NordicTrack T7 Treadmill.

2.5 Continuous Duty Horsepower
The NordicTrack T7 Treadmill has one of the most powerful motors in this price range. The stronger the motor, the longer the motor is going to last. Even if the motor is covered under a lifetime warranty, it’s still a good idea to buy a treadmill motor that won’t poop out on you because it takes a few days to get a treadmill tech out and fix a treadmill. All that down time can disrupt a regular routine!

20” x 55” Running Area
There are other treadmills with running areas identical to the NordicTrack T7 Treadmill, which means the NordicTrack T7 Treadmill comes up average. Other common running area sizes in this price range are 18” x 60” and 20” x 52”. If running area is a huge concern for you do some research and find a treadmill with a running area that suits your personal tastes.

Innovative Feature: DuraStride Adjustable Cushioning
This is a particularly unique and innovative feature. Users can adjust the firmness of the treadmill deck to suit personal needs. If you’re training for a marathon the treadmill deck can be adjusted to more accurately reflect the conditions of a race. My hat is off to your for this one NordicTrack!

12 Programs
Another strongpoint of the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill is programs. Way too often a treadmill manufacturer neglects to add challenging and diverse program sets. I’m glad to say NordicTrack has not neglected to add a wide range of fitness programs to help users achieve results as fast as possible.

If the built in programs are not enough, users can purchase ifit cards that provide audio coaching from well known fitness professionals including Jillian Michaels. It’s like being on the Biggest Loser without losing your privacy!

Warranty
NordicTrack offers some ridiculous amount of coverage on the motor and frame just like every other treadmill manufacturer. Truth is, treadmill buyers should pay attention to the parts and labor warranty. Parts and labor are covered for a full year and that’s just about all you can ask for in a treadmill that costs less than a $1000. There’s an extended warranty available for about $90 at checkout.

Final Analysis: 4 stars out of 5
The NordicTrack T7 Treadmill is not the best treadmill out there, but it’s still a good treadmill. It stays about even with most treadmills in this price range but blows every other treadmill out of the water when it comes to programs. The exclusive ifit training option is an excellent feature and enables users to train with famous fitness experts like Jillian Michaels without going on or watching a reality show!

Smooth Fitness 5.45 Treadmill Review - Best Treadmill Ever!!!

Hello readers,
Click Now Get $100 Off The Smooth 5.45 Treadmill

It's not all that often that I get to talk about a treadmill that just blows me away. So, when I say that the smooth 5.45 treadmill is the absolute best treadmill out there for less than $1000 you know that I'm telling the truth! My top treadmill list 2009 is going to have to be revised to put the smooth 5.45 treadmill at the top of the thousand dollar category! I'll explain in my smooth 5.45 treadmill review why this is the best value you're going to find on the entire Internet when it comes treadmill!

There are a lot of really good reasons to own the smooth 5.45 treadmill. First, the Smooth 5.45 Treadmill is also incredibly comfortable. The Smooth Fitness 5.45 Treadmill is designed with Smooth’s patented Swing Arm shock absorption system and has demonstrated the ability to reduce the impact during running and walking. Reducing the impact of working out makes it easier for your body to recover and causes significantly less pain in joints. Next, the running area is wide and spacious with a full 20" x 55” treadmill belt. Running area is important because it adds to the comfort level of the treadmill. If you don’t believe me, go to Wal-Mart and try out the Weslo Cadence G40 Treadmill like I did. I kept stepping on the side railing and tripping up! If a treadmill is uncomfortable, nobody is going to use it!

The Smooth 545 Treadmill is also great for runners. Users can reach speeds of up to 10 MPH, nothing to sneeze at. Think about it, 10 MPH means you’ll run a mile every 6 minutes! Most people won’t be able to sustain a 10 MPH hour pace for more than a couple minutes. Back in high school, my fastest mile was 6:50 and I’m not anywhere near that these days and I work out regularly! Unless you plan on training for sprinting, 10 MPH is plenty of speed.

If that’s not enough for you, I’ll give you the two most compelling reasons to buy the Smooth 5.45 Treadmill. Smooth offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a 3 year parts and 2 year labor warranty! That’s phenomenal! If you buy a treadmill and it’s not comfortable or it doesn’t get used for whatever reason, just send back the treadmill and get your money back. It’s that simple. The 3 year parts 2 year labor warranty is unprecedented! You’ll really have to spend at least $500 or $600 more to see a warranty that comes anywhere near that kind of coverage. THIS IS THE BEST WARRANTY YOU WILL FIND FOR LESS THAN $1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This treadmill is going to last for years, and if it doesn’t, Smooth Fitness is going to fix it for you on their dime! That’s a really incredible guarantee. If you want the best treadmill under $1000, you’ve found it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click Here to Read User Reviews of the Smooth 5.45 Treadmill

Friday, July 24, 2009

BodyGuard T460X Treadmill Review - Discontinued

Hello Readers,
I was getting ready to post another excellent treadmill review of the BodyGuard T460X Treadmill. Unfortunately, that model has been discontinued. The BodyGuard T460X was one of the most expensive treadmills on the market and retailed for about 5 grand! If you’re looking for a quality high end treadmill, I suggest checking out my Sole Treadmill Reviews, they can be found on the sidebar. Sole Treadmills are one of my favorite treadmill brands and they’re extremely comfortable!

Eclipse 1100 HRA Elliptical Trainer Reivew

Hello Readers,

I can’t think of a single elliptical trainer I would buy for under $600. The motion doesn’t feel right and I live in California, where it is sunny outside almost every day of the year. There’s not much of a reason to use a low grade elliptical trainer when there are beaches, mountains, and nice sidewalks to use if I can’t afford one of the better elliptical trainers out there. But, I understand that in much of the country snow blankets the streets or it is hot enough to cook eggs and bacon without a stove. For those of you who must suffer the insufferable, the lowest of the low end elliptical trainers may be your only option. To serve that segment of the population, here is my Eclipse 1100 HRA Elliptical Trainer Review.

The Eclipse 1100 HRA Elliptical Machine is designed by Fitness Quest, a leader in the low end fitness equipment sector. Fitness Quest has been making strides in the mid-range category, but has a lot of catch up to do if it wants to compete with the big boys like Horizon Fitness and Schwinn. One thing the Eclipse 1100 HRA Elliptical does well is programs. You’ll get 12 whole programs which is double or more what you can expect with a lot of other elliptical trainers in this price range.

Well, that’s about it for the positive. Yeah, seriously. The motion is bad and you’ll probably feel cramped with a clumsy feeling stride. I really wish I could tell you that you’re getting an amazing piece of fitness equipment for an incredible price, but I can’t. It just wouldn’t be honest. As a matter of fact, I would prefer a Tony Little Gazelle to the Eclipse 1100 HRA Elliptical Trainer. Better yet, check out a Merit Treadmill, you’ll feel much more comfortable on a Merit Treadmill, I promise!

Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical Trainer Review

This model has been discontinued!
Click Here To Buy A Better Elliptical for $200 Less Direct From Horizon Fitness
Hello Readers,
I’ve been gone for a while. I’ve been doing some prep work for video reviews. A video post takes much more time to make than a text post. I hope you appreciate them when they come out! But it’s time to write another elliptical machine review. The Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical Trainer was made to be sold in Sears stores and I believe it’s only available at the Horizon Fitness website right now. Does the Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical merit your hard earned dollars? Read on, and find out.

A lot of elliptical trainers utilize a terrible knob system to adjust resistance levels. Knob resistance adjustment is clumsy, and often times break down without a delicate touch, a touch I’ve yet to acquire! So, when I found out that the Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical Trainer uses a motorized system to adjust resistance I was ecstatic! It’s so much simpler to press a button than mess with whatever zany contraption an engineer thought up on a Denny’s napkin at 2 in the morning. Furthermore, the Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical has 10 different resistance settings or levels, I can’t say that’s the most I’ve ever seen in this price range, but that’s definitely within the above average range.

The fitness programs are impressive as well. The Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical Trainer has 15 different fitness programs ranging from fat loss to calories burned. If you have a fitness goal, chances are there’s a program on the Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical Machine that will help you reach it! Fitness programs are also great for people new to cardiovascular based training and weight loss.

As far as comfort goes, the Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical Machine is pretty good, but not the best out there. If you plan on spending $1300 there are definitely better options out there like Sole Ellipticals. Horizon Fitness dominates the category under $1000, but tends to get beat by elliptical trainers in the higher price categories.

Oh, a couple last notes. The Horizon SXE 7.7 Elliptical Machine comes with a built in MP3 player. That’s a really cool ad-in that seems to be proliferating across the fitness industry. You’ll need to buy a $5 adapter cord, but you can probably find it cheaper if you look hard enough.