A Review Of Mid-Range TreadmillsFor all but the most serious athletes, a mid-range treadmill is perfectly adequate. For this reason, the mid-range market is very competitive, offering the consumer a plethora of home treadmills. What follows is a review of some of the best mid-priced treadmills; on what features, build quality and warranty they offer.
It's difficult when rating a treadmill. Some trade magazines will give a poor rating for a particular model while another will give it a good rating. The reason is that people are looking at different things when reviewing a treadmill. Some will place more emphasis on build quality; others care more about the program setting and console and some place a great deal of emphasis on the warranty.
The following is a review of 3 of the best mid-priced home models; the Bowflex Treadmill, the PaceMaster Treadmill and the Trimline Treadmill. In order to try and compare like with like, the top of the range models of each brand's treadmills is scrutinized.
The Bowflex Series 7 TreadmillBowflex is probably better known for strength building equipment but recently it has become an important player in the mid-priced market. The Series 7 treadmill is their most expensive model and retails for around $1,400.
The best features of the Bowflex Series 7 treadmill are the 3.0 HP continuous duty motor and treadbelt that is 20" X 60", which is ideal for those who are sprinting or are tall. The maximum speed is 12 mph and maximum inclination is 12%. The motor size and the 2-ply treadbelt are what you'd expect for a mid-range treadmill.
It's a very popular and well-liked machine, although some customers have complained that it's a little noisy. The major criticism of the Bowflex treadmill is the mediocre warranty that comes with it. You get a 10-year warranty on the motor, 2-year parts and 1-year labor warranty coverage.
The PaceMaster Gold Elite TreadmillPaceMaster was founded, in the 1960s, by the one of the most influential figures in the development of treadmills; Bill Staub. The pedigree of the PaceMaster treadmill is excellent. Many in the industry can find only praise for its machines, offering an excellent piece of kit in this price category. The PaceMaster Gold Elite treadmill retails for around $2,200.
The Gold Elite treadmill from PaceMaster comes with a 3 hp continuous duty McMillan motor. It's maximum speed is 12 mph, the same of the Bowflex Series 7 treadmill, however, the PaceMaster can handle a weight load of up to 400 lbs, compare to the Bowflex weight limit of 300 lbs. Its inclination is from 0 to 15 degrees in 0.5 degree increments. The 2-ply belt is rated for 10,000 miles.
The warranty of the PaceMaster is much better than that of the Bowflex. You get lifetime warranty on the frame with 12 years on the motor and a 5 year parts and 1 year labor warranty.
The only aspect of the Bowflex Series 7 that is better than the PaceMaster is the price; it's $800 cheaper.
The Trimline T370 HRC TreadmillThis is a close contender for the PaceMaster. You get an American made 3 HP continuous motor and a 20" x 57" treadbelt. Its speed is a little less at 11 mph and also its inclination is 0 - 12 degrees. Its weight capacity is a pretty respectable 350 lbs. There's a large LED display that provides feedback on time, speed, distance, incline, calories, pace, cal/min, heart rate and other fitness parameters. It retails for around $1,600.
The warranty of the Trimline T370 HRC is the best of all three. It comes with a 30 year warranty on frame and drive motor with 3 years parts and 2 year labor warranty.
With the Trimline you get a lot of quality for the money you pay. It really is one of the very best treadmills on the market and gets an excellent rating from consumer reviews.
So, which is the best treadmill? All three offer great value for money but, if money wasn't an issue, I would pick the PaceMaster Gold Elite Treadmill - it really has everything you need, even for a serious runner. But, if I were watching the pennies, then the Trimline T370 HRC treadmill comes an awfully close second.
Follow the links for the PaceMaster Treadmill and the Trimline Treadmill plus treadmill reviews on major brands.
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