Weslo Cardio Stride 2.0

Bottom Line

The Weslo Cardio Stride 2.0's low price is the first thing to catch the attention of many shoppers. Those looking primarily for an inexpensive, compact manual treadmill usually come away happy, but consistent problems with the electronic readout are a concern.

Performance

Simple, no-frills operation. The Cardio Stride 2.0's 17-by-41-inch belt draws mixed reviews. A few taller users say the belt is long enough to walk or run on, although they admit to occasionally straying too far toward the front or back of the machine. "It's definitely not for big men with a long stride, but for a small woman (probably 5-foot, 6-inches or under) it's fine," posts one reviewer on Walmart.com.

Most owners agree that the Weslo 2.0's belt works smoothly once you lubricate it, but another Walmart.com reviewer is one of a few who say it "isn't the most quiet." The majority of users who mention the noise say they just turn the music or television up as they work out.

The Cardio Stride has two incline options: 13 percent or 17 percent. Because it doesn't adjust flat, some owners rig a homemade fix to reduce the incline. In general, most seem happy with the unit's performance. As one Walmart.com consumer writes, "I was happily surprised by how good this treadmill is. Not fancy but gives a good workout." "Great for the price," says another.

Ease of Use

Manual treadmills aren't for everybody. As with other manual units, you must grasp the handrails to keep from zipping off the back when you walk or run, and this takes some users by surprise. "You can't walk on it without holding on! …if I had known how difficult it is to walk on before buying, I wouldn't have bought it," posts one on Walmart.com. "I would describe walking on the treadmill like walking in sand," says another.

Those who do get used to the sensation say the Cardio Stride 2.0 offers a more difficult workout than motorized treadmills, which could aggravate those hoping to start gradually. Others point out that because of this machine's light weight -- a big plus for most owners -- the front or back can lift up if you run too far toward the opposite end.

Most owners say the setup is straightforward and fast, with only a few well-labeled tools and parts to deal with. Setup typically takes about 30 minutes, and can be accomplished by one person.

Durability

Better than some of the competition. The Weslo Cardio Stride 2.0 gets mixed reviews for its build quality and reliability, which is to be expected from any low-end manual treadmill. Some common complaints are that the electronic readout works poorly or not at all, and the screws that hold it in place are too short. Consumers also warn that the advertised transport wheels sometimes aren't included, the console batteries can vibrate out of place and wires may have to be taped back where they belong. "Spend a little more and get a better-quality treadmill," advises one reviewer, who gripes that the Cardio Stride is very loud and doesn't feel sturdy.

With all that said, we found more than the usual smattering of compliments about relative sturdiness. "It is solid," writes one Sears.com user, and another claims to have lost almost 50 pounds using the treadmill to walk two or three times daily.

Customer Service

Flimsy warranty doesn't inspire confidence. The Weslo Cardio Stride 2.0 is backed by a 90-day parts and labor warranty. One user says customer service replaced a defective readout unit, but another was left on hold for more than 20 minutes and ended up returning the treadmill to the store. Otherwise, most owners have little to say about Weslo's customer service or how well its warranty department handles problems. On inexpensive treadmills with such a short warranty, it's not uncommon for owners to skip calling customer service entirely and just concoct their own solution or return the unit outright.