Smooth 9.25 HR Review

What reviews like:
Reviewers say the extra long belt on the Smooth 9.25 treadmill is well cushioned and long lasting. Experts also like the two separate screens that show speed, distance, time and calories. Oversized buttons make it easier to adjust workouts while running. Most experts say the Smooth 9.25 is an excellent value considering the features.

What reviews don't like:
While the belt on the Smooth 9.25 treadmill is extra long, the whole machine takes up a lot of floor space, especially since it doesn't fold. As with most Smooth treadmills, the price of the 9.25 HR treadmill includes shipping, but indoor delivery and setup cost extra.

Smooth 9.25 HR review highlights

One advantage of the Smooth 9.25 HR treadmill is its extra-long 62" x 20" orthopedic belt, nice for those with a long stride. This helps set it apart in a crowded field of excellent $2,000 to $2,500 treadmills, some of which (like those from Sole) have a better labor warranty. Overall, experts find no big problems with this treadmill, which includes a heart-rate monitor and plenty of program features. The long belt could break a tie in favor of the Smooth 9.25 HR for taller runners, and reviewers say the Smooth 9.25 is a great value overall.

The Smooth 9.25 treadmill isn't tested by Consumer Reports magazine, but we did find a balanced review at TreadmillDoctor.com, where editors evaluate nearly every treadmill on the market. We found additional reviews at personal websites like TreadmillTips.com, Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com and ExerciseEquipmentExpert.com, where reviews are based on the experience of a single reviewer with some background in the industry.

Also see full report: Treadmills

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. TreadmillDoctor.com
Smooth 9.25 HR review
Clark & Jon Stevenson

The reviews at TreadmillDoctor.com aren’t very lengthy or detailed, but this site has a huge advantage in that it evaluates more treadmills than any other reviewer, and since it does not actually sell treadmills, it's ratings are less financially motivated than some of the other treadmill review websites out there. Editors say the Smooth 9.25 HR treadmill is durable and an excellent value.

2. Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com
Smooth 9.25 HR review
Fred Waters

This website is operated by a former industry executive. While the presence of many advertising links on this site makes us question its objectivity, most of the comments for individual treadmills, including the Smooth 9.25 HR, are fairly well balanced. It's not clear that the reviewer personally tested the Smooth 9.25 HR, but the editor says the long belt is an advantage.

3. About.com
Top 10 Mid-Range Treadmills
Wendy Bumgardner

The top-treadmill lists at About.com are similar to other reviewers' lists -- that's probably because site-guide Wendy Bumgardner bases her picks on other reviews, sometimes in consultation with Fred Waters, who operates his own treadmill-review website. The write-ups are short, but picks are generally in line with other reviews.

4. TreadmillTips.com
Smooth 9.25 Treadmill review
Aaron Co

TreadmillTips.com offers reviews and recommendations of treadmills, but we can't tell if these machines are tested or why some are rated better than others. Still, some of the comments are useful. Aaron Co says the Smooth 9.25 is a good treadmill. Its heavy weight makes it stable, but it also takes up a lot of floor space.

5. Exercise Equipment Expert.com
Smooth 9.25 Review
Bret Spottke

While this site (as well as Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com and TreadmillTips.com) seems primarily driven by advertising, some of the comments for individual treadmills are balanced and seem based on first-hand knowledge. Spottke says the Smooth 9.25 is an excellent value with a long orthopedic belt and stable design.

Also see full report: Treadmills

Smooth 9.25 HR Review