LifeSpan TR2000

January 2009. TreadmillDoctor.com and Consumer Reports award the LifeSpan TR2000 numeric scores based on testing, allowing readers to compare it with other treadmills. TreadmillSensei.com and the Los Angeles Times both provide more narrative detail about the TR2000 than other reviews do, but they do not rate or rank it against the competition. About.com's review provides very little information about the TR2000. We disregard the handful of glowing reviews posted at Amazon.com as most, if not all, appear phony.

Most treadmills can tilt uphill, but few can simulate a downhill climb. The LifeSpan TR2000 can, and it's much less costly than other treadmills that offer this feature. Several reputable reviewers recommend the TR2000, saying it is sturdy and has a good warranty (lifetime frame and motor, five years parts, one year labor). The TR2000 also shaves 14 to 16 inches off of its size by locating the motor underneath the unit, according to reviews that recommend this folding treadmill as a space-saver. But testers do find flaws, too: The running belt slipped under one reviewer, who reports that his 180-pound weight may have been too heavy for running on the TR2000 (the weight limit for walkers is 350 pounds). Reviews note that tall runners may find the 56-inch deck too short, and that the TR2000's preset workouts don't leverage its downhill feature. Some reviews instead recommend the more expensive PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR ($2,500). The PaceMaster has a 60-inch running deck and uphill-downhill workouts with names like "Lombard Street" and "Appalachian Trail," but it doesn't fold for easy storage, and its 12-year motor warranty is shorter than the LifeSpan's.