Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up

Bottom Line

Owners say the Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up manual treadmill is great for brief bouts of walking. Most love how small and light it is, although some say it's too small. The Easy-Up definitely isn't for runners, and we found a number of complaints about durability and build quality.

Performance

Mixed reviews. Since the Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up doesn't have a motor, users must grasp the handlebars and press the treadmill belt back with every step. Some owners love this, saying that a few minutes of walking on the Easy-Up is comparable to jogging on a powered treadmill, especially since the Easy-Up is permanently set at a mild incline. Others wish they had the option of starting out on a flat surface.

Quite a few users are surprised that they can walk comfortably on the Phoenix 98510's rather tiny 13-by-41-inch belt. However, taller exercisers say they wouldn't recommend it for anyone over 6 foot, 3 inches, and some medium-height users aren't convinced. "Iffy guys, iffy," comments a 5-foot, 11-inch reviewer posting on Amazon.com. "This is built for a toddler!" says another.

We found lots of praise for the Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up's quiet operation, a typical high point for manual treadmills. Most owners say it's no louder than a dishwasher, although a few complain about random loud noises that come and go. "Sometimes it's an extremely loud clicking, other times it sounds more like some kind of engine," writes an Amazon.com reviewer concerned about disturbing his neighbors. A few report that the treadmill sometimes squeaks.

Ease of Use

Assembles in 20 to 30 minutes. One person can easily assemble the Phoenix 98510 in about a half-hour as long as you don't mind forcing misshapen parts into place or sometimes drilling your own holes. Problems with missing holes or hardware, or parts that just aren't shaped right, are the biggest complaints among owners.

Using a manual treadmill involves a bit of a learning curve, since the belt won't move unless you actively press it back by taking a stride. "It did take a few minutes to get a good groove going…but as soon as I did, it was smooth sailing," says one Amazon customer. Others believe the belt's jerkiness is more than just a learning curve; they suggest users lubricate it with WD-40 or a silicone spray to work smoothly. Some reviewers on ZooStores.com say walking on this treadmill is akin to "trudging up a sandy hillside."

A number of owners warn that if you don't grasp the handlebars while walking or jogging, you're prone to slip right off the back of the machine. This is common for manual treadmills. The Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up's small size, ability to fold for compact storage and impressively light weight of 45 pounds are high points. However, users must remove two screws from the frame every time they fold this unit.

Durability

Keep your expectations in check. The many satisfied owners of the Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up love its light weight and ability to fold for compact storage. For them, value and portability trump all other expectations, and they don't mind lubricating the treadmill belt so it doesn't stick. The fact that the frame moves from side to side when they run fast doesn't bother these users, who usually prefer to walk or jog.

That said, runners are disappointed by the readout's tendency to freeze or return obvious errors when they get this treadmill up to speed; one says at Amazon.com that when he sprints, the treadmill tells him he's running at 1.5 mph. The monitor is a sore point with many users, who say it malfunctions or stops working entirely after a few days.

We also found frequent complaints of wires that broke or fell out of tubes, and owners say the Phoenix 98510's belt tends to slip to the side. Adjusting the tension screws in the back of the treadmill sometimes corrects this issue. One user posts on Amazon.com that the two supports at the rear of the treadmill frame can damage flooring and suggests placing a board beneath them to better distribute the weight. Some do this anyway to reduce the treadmill's incline.

Customer Service

No news may be good news. Despite numerous complaints about missing hardware and poorly fitting parts, most owners post no comments about Phoenix's customer service; instead, they simply make do with a power drill or a trip to the hardware store. The few consumers who do contact customer service report positive results, reaching a real person right away and receiving the missing or replacement parts promptly.

The one-year frame warranty and 90-days parts warranty are typical of this price range, but otherwise not encouraging.