LifeSpan TR3000i folding treadmill

January 2009. Reviewers are more likely to write about the LifeSpan TR2000 than the heftier TR3000. TreadmillDoctor.com does a thorough but succinct review, rating the TR3000 in several categories and briefly listing its most useful qualities. TreadmillTips.com doesn't test treadmills, but reviewer Aaron Co does evaluate the TR3000's features. About.com recommends several treadmills, but write-ups are very brief; models are not tested or compared.

Experts say the LifeSpan TR3000 is a solid choice in the $1,500 price range. It is one of the least expensive treadmills that includes heart rate control programs, in which the treadmill detects your pulse and automatically alters the speed or incline to keep it steady. The TR3000 comes with a 56-inch running deck, which critics say is long enough for all but the tallest runners; a 2.75-horsepower motor and a lifetime frame and motor warranty (plus five years parts and one year labor). It also folds up when not in use. The TR3000 is beefier than the LifeSpan TR2000 (*est. $1,500), with slightly more powerful lift and drive motors, a higher maximum speed (12 mph versus 10 mph) and aluminum side rails instead of plastic. However, the TR3000 can only incline; it can't decline, or tilt downhill, like the TR2000 can. For a non-declining treadmill in this price range, reviewers prefer the Sole F80 (*est. $1,500) to the LifeSpan TR3000. The Sole F80 has a stronger 3-horsepower motor and a slightly longer warranty than the LifeSpan.