Treadmills: Reviews

Updated January 2009

October 29th:
Treadmills Recalled
From: Consumer Product Safety Commission

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Best among cheap treadmills, but short warranty

*Est. $375 Compare Prices

Experts like the Gold's Gym 450 better than any other ultra-cheap treadmill -- but not by much. They caution users that the Gold's Gym 450 isn't sturdy enough for running, but they say that if you only walk or jog and… take very good care of this treadmill, it might hold up. Owners write better reviews for this treadmill than others in its price range, although several complain that it's noisy. Its walking surface also isn't very large -- just 18 inches by 50 inches. And critics point out that the short warranty -- 90 days parts and labor -- does not indicate a durable product.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

TreadmillDoctor.com: The Stevenson brothers pick the Gold's Gym 450 as their best buy under $399, but they still have serious reservations about this ...

TreadmillTips.com: Reviewer Aaron Co recommends the Gold's Gym 450, but only as a starter treadmill. Like the reviewers at TreadmillDoctor.com, Co ...

Walmart.com: The Gold's Gym 450 is a favorite of consumers who post reviews at Walmart.com, where this treadmill is sold. It earns an average ...

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Golds Gym 450 from Walmart

Best-value treadmill for walking

Golds Gym Maxx Crosswalk 650

*Est. $600 Compare Prices

If a $1,000 treadmill just isn't in your budget, reviews say the Gold's Gym Maxx Crosswalk 650 is a reasonable alternative. It includes a wide 20-by-55-inch walking surface, several pre-set workouts, adjustable… cushioning, quick-set speed and incline controls and an iPod port with speakers. This treadmill also folds up when it's not in use. Experts are impressed with its warranty, which includes one year of labor coverage. However, with its relatively tiny 1.75-horsepower motor, critics recommend the Maxx Crosswalk 650 only for walking.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

TreadmillDoctor.com: This review is brief, but it is packed with information. After testing the Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 and scoring it in eight ...

ConsumerReports.org: The Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 is one of 23 treadmills included in Consumer Reports' most recent review. Treadmills are ranked ...

TreadmillTalk.com: TreadmillTalk.com says the Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 "sets the bar" in this price range, but the one-page review points out a ...

Walmart.com: The Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 is one of the best-rated treadmills at Walmart.com, where it is sold. More than 150 owners have ...

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Golds Gym Maxx Crosswalk 650 from Walmart

Best value for walking and some jogging

Sole F63

*Est. $1,100 Compare Prices

If your workout consists of a mix of walking with some light jogging, experts recommend the Sole F63. This treadmill's 2.5-horsepower motor can stand up to daily use, and with a 15 percent incline (most treadmills only go… up to 10 percent), you can get a good incline workout too. This treadmill has a higher-than-average 375-pound user weight limit so it's useful for heavier walkers. Other pluses include a wireless chest-strap heart-rate monitor and an audio input with speakers so you can plug in an iPod. Reviews say walkers might be able to get by with a budget unit like the Gold's Gym Maxx Crosswalk 650, but for a few hundred dollars more the Sole F63 offers more horsepower for light jogging.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

TreadmillDoctor.com: The Sole F63 is a runner-up on this site's "Best Buy $700 to $999" list. This dedicated Sole F63 page doesn't elaborate much on ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports subjects 23 treadmills, including the Sole F63, to a mechanical test designed to simulate a year of use. Human ...

TreadmillSensei.com: The Sole F63 is the "best unit under $1,000," according to the longtime exercise-machine mechanic who runs TreadmillSensei.com. ...

TreadmillTalk.com: TreadmillTalk.com calls the Sole F63 reliable, comfortable and a good choice for people who regularly walk or jog. However, ...

About.com: The Sole F63 is one of 10 treadmills on this "Best Budget Treadmills" list. Bumgardner does not appear to have tested the ...

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Best all-around treadmill

Sole F80

*Est. $1,500 Compare Prices

More reviews recommend the Sole F80 than any other treadmill at any price. It offers features -- a 3-horsepower motor, extra-thick rollers and a lifetime warranty on the motor, deck and frame -- that are usually found on… treadmills costing twice as much. Plus labor is covered for two years. Users appreciate little touches, like smooth, hydraulic-assisted folding and cooling fans that actually work. Reviews say the Sole F80 is sturdy enough for running, with a comfortable 20-by-55-inch deck and 11 mph maximum speed, but daily runners may want to look at a more powerful treadmill like the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

TreadmillDoctor.com: The Stevenson brothers simply call the Sole F80 "the best treadmill under $1,500." In a brief note, they say they especially like ...

TreadmillSensei.com: The Treadmill Sensei -- who has 20 years' experience repairing exercise equipment and isn't a retailer -- praises the Sole F80 ...

TreadmillTips.com: Echoing another source (TreadmillDoctor.com), reviewer Aaron Co calls the Sole F80 "one of the best treadmills you can buy below ...

Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com: Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com concurs with other treadmill specialty sites, calling the Sole F80 one of the best buys in its ...

Amazon.com: The Sole F80 is one of the best-rated treadmills at Amazon.com, with 21 owners awarding it an average of 4.5 stars (out of five). ...

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Treadmill for incline/decline training

PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR

*Est. $2,500 Compare Prices

The PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR treadmill is unique in that it features a negative incline (down to a -3 percent grade), which is helpful for runners who want to strengthen the fronts of their legs by simulating downhill… running. Also, PaceMaster has a 40-year reputation for quality, and reviewers say the Platinum Pro VR offers a lot of bang for the buck, with a 3-horsepower motor, a long 20-by-60-inch belt, a 400-pound weight limit and a Constant Effort Compensation mode that adjusts speed to keep your exertion level constant. Although there's a lot of competition in this price range, reviews say the negative incline really sets this model apart.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

RunnersWorld.com: In this roundup, Runner's World recruited 100 members of the Michigan Athletic Club to give eight treadmills a pounding. None of ...

ConsumerReports.org: The PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR is one of the 23 folding and non-folding treadmills included in this latest review from Consumer ...

Los Angeles Times: Fitness expert and endurance runner Roy Wallack recommends four treadmills in this roundup. The treadmills are not rated or ...

TreadmillDoctor.com: TreadmillDoctor.com evaluates nearly every treadmill on the market. The editors here call the Pacemaster Platinum Pro VR ...

TreadmillTips.com: Treadmilltips.com offers reviews and recommendations of treadmills, but we can't tell how extensively they might have been ...

Bodybuilding.com: This discussion forum for bodybuilders addresses treadmills, with contributors offering varying opinions of the PaceMaster ...

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Heavy-duty treadmill for daily runners

Landice L7 Cardio Trainer

*Est. $3,300 Compare Prices

The best under-$2,000 treadmills are durable enough for running, but if your home treadmill will take a real pounding from daily running, reviews say the more expensive Landice L7 Cardio Trainer is built to take the… abuse. You won't find its powerful 4-horsepower motor, inch-thick running deck or lifetime warranty (frame, parts and wear items) on less expensive treadmills. However, some reviews caution shoppers to look carefully at Landice's fine print to make sure they don't void the warranty.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

TreadmillDoctor.com: The Stevenson brothers test the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer and assign it numeric scores in eight subcategories (such as ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports tests 23 treadmills, including the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer, and ranks them from best to worst. A chart ...

Runner's World: Runner's World tests eight upscale treadmills, including the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer, but models are not rated or ranked. The ...

Runner's World: In this test, Runner's World asks a team of experts to pick 10 top treadmills. More than 100 members of a Michigan athletic club ...

TreadmillSensei.com: The Treadmill Sensei, a longtime exercise equipment mechanic, picks the L7 Cardio Trainer as the best Landice treadmill and a ...

About.com: Wendy Bumgardner, About.com's guide to walking, picks eight $3,000-and-up treadmills (including the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer) ...

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At Home Fitness

for $4,095.00

Sole F85 *est. $1,750

5 picks including: About.com, Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com…

LifeSpan TR2000 *Est. $1,500

3 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…

PaceMaster Gold Elite Fold-Up *Est. $2,500

3 picks including: Runner's World, TreadmillDoctor.com…

Bodyguard T460X *Est. $3,700

3 picks including: Runner's World, TreadmillDoctor.com…

Smooth 9.35 HR *Est. $2,000

3 picks including: Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com, TreadmillDoctor.com…

Smooth 9.45TV *Est. $2,900

3 picks including: Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com, TreadmillDoctor.com…

Landice L7 Pro Sports Trainer *Est. $3,000

2 picks including: Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com, TreadmillDoctor.com…

Bowflex 7 Series *Est. $1,330

2 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…

LifeSpan TR3000 *Est. $1,500

2 picks including: About.com, TreadmillDoctor.com…

Epic View 550 *Est. $1,300

2 picks including: Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com, TreadmillDoctor.com…

LifeSpan Pro5 *Est. $3,300

2 picks including: TreadmillDoctor.com, TreadmillTips.com…

Landice L7 Pro Trainer *est. $3,000

2 picks including: Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com, TreadmillDoctor.com…

NordicTrack T7si *Est. $800

2 picks including: Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com, TreadmillDoctor.com…


	LifeSpan Fitness TR 2000-HRC Treadmill from Amazon.com New: $1285.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Smooth Fitness 9.35HR Treadmill from Amazon.com New: $1999.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Smooth Fitness 9.45TV Treadmill with Premium AV System from Amazon.com New: $2999.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Landice (L770 CLUB) Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill from Amazon.com Average Customer Review:


	Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill from Amazon.com New: $1399.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	LifeSpan Fitness TR 3000-HRC Treadmill from Amazon.com New: $1499.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Epic 550 View Treadmill from Amazon.com New: $1299.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	LifeSpan Fitness Pro5 Treadmill from Amazon.com New: $3298.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Treadmills: Reviews

Best among cheap treadmills, but short warranty

Best-value treadmill for walking

Best value for walking and some jogging

Best all-around treadmill

Treadmill for incline/decline training

Heavy-duty treadmill for daily runners

Treadmills by Price Range