First of all, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your wonderful website. I am a professional researcher, and can honestly say that I have found your site to be the best for reviews of fitness equipment. I have been researching treadmills for weeks now and would not have been able to successfully narrow my search to the extent that I have without the information you provide.

 My question is this: I am trying to decide between the Sole F80 and the Livestrong LSPro1 folding treadmills. Although you have not yet reviewed the LSPro1 on your site, were you able to take a look at it at all when you visited the manufacturer? I tried them both at Dick’s Sporting Goods and was impressed with both of them. They were both extremely quiet, responsive, sturdy, and seemed easy to use. For the same price of $1,499, the Livestrong has more programs and bells & whistles, is more streamlined, and a bit less bulky which I actually like. However, the proven excellent reputation of Sole regarding quality, warranty, and service is causing me to lean towards the Sole. And, because of an old foot injury, I also really like the reviews on their Cushion Flex deck. Livestrong’s best cushioning system seems to be reserved for their top of the line LSPro2 which is not a folding treadmill although the warranty of the LSPro1 is comparable—although not equal—to Sole.

 Any feedback would be appreciated.

My Response:

Phil,

I wish I could advise you on this, but I have had very little feedback on the LiveStrong Pro1. When I was at their headquarters the Pro1 and Pro2 were not available. I did see them at a Dick’s Sporting Goods and they seem like decent machines. I know that Johnson Fitness has a reputation for excellence and the other LiveStrong models have proven to be very durable.

I will say that Treadmill Doctor gave it high ratings, which means they actually tested the machine. Also, I went online and the warranty was the same as Sole, and currenty LiveStrong has a 1-year warranty extension on their treadmills.

With that said, I would say either is a good choice. I will mention that the Sole is geared for runners and has a stiffer shock absorption than some other brands. The Sole F80 has been out for about 5-6 years and has an excellent service record. Once again, I would assume the LiveStrong LSPro1 will live up to the brand repuration

Not a definitive answer, but I hope it helps. And thanks for the compliment.

Gold’s Gym is an exclusive brand for Wal-Mart.  However, their treadmills are very similar, if  not exactly the same, as ProForm and Weslo models.  So should you buy a Gold’s Gym treadmill or the comparable model from another Icon Fitness brand.

In doing some research I found the prices did vary.  Obviously, if you want to get instant gratification and purchase a treadmill immediately, you can go to Wal-Mart purchase the treadmill and drive home.  That is true with ProForm treadmills sold at Sears and popular sportings goods stores. 

If you want to buy online, Wal-Mart offeres free shipping only if you pick it up at your local store.  There is a charge to ship to your home.  Most other Icon Fitness brands offer free shipping to your home if you buy online. 

This is my recommendation.  Check out the various Gold’s Gym treadmill models and compare their specs with comparable Icon Fitness brands.  See which offers the best price.  Also, be cautious buying the cheap treadmills, the models under $500.  They just are not built to withstand the abuse treadmills usually suffer. 

If you want to buy online and have shipped to your home, the other brands are probably a better deal.  If you have an urgent need for a treadmill than I suggest you go to Wal-Mart, and your local Sears, Sports Authority or Dick’s Sporting and compare prices, specs and warranties to get the very best value.  Click here to read my indepth review of Gold’s Gym Treadmills.

After returning from Dallas I got a call from a former employee who now works for Star Trac. He said Keys Fitness was having financial difficulties and couldn’t survive the credit crunch.

The Ironman Treadmill brand name was purchased by Star Trac, who is known for commercial grade fitness equipment. They will probably use the popular Ironman brand name to get a foothold in the profitable $1,000-$2,000 price range for treadmills. Keys Fitness generally made decent equipment. It will be interesting to see how Star Trac handles the transition, and how their Ironman models will compare to the past versions.

There is always room for a fitness manufacturer who can build quality treadmills and a value price.

Good Luck STar Trac!

It dealt with the impact on the internet in buying decisions regarding fitness equipment, and also appareal and footwear. Approximately 45% of those surveyed said they bought fitness related products over the Internet. That was a 7% increase in one year. A remarkable 78% said they used the Internet to research products before they bought them.

Here are the reasons people bought online and the percentages:

Price – 80%
Convenience – 52%
Selection -39%

The Internet is becoming the virtual retailer of choice, and you can expect the numbers to grow in an economy where driving is so expensive, and price is such a major issue.

This does not mean the end of brick and mortar retailers. It just means they need to adjust their model to accommodate those going online to search. They need to connect with local customers online, and also offer the convenience of purchasing online. However, there will alway be a need to satisfy the customer that wants to test drive and try on the product, and also wants immediate satisfication.

Regards,
Fred Waters

Thanks.

-Stratis

1. How many hours will you use the treadmill a week, which also factors in how many users? Of course, the more you use a treadmill the more wear and tear on all the parts.
2. How much does the user weigh?  If the user(s) are exceptionally over weight, once again that is a strain on the components.  For heavy individuals you will also want a relatively thick deck.
3. Will you use it for walking, jogging or running? Jogging and running means the treadmill will be running at higher speeds, and there will be much more impact to the deck.

Here is how I would classify treadmills.  I tend towards the conservative side. 

Walking Treadmill – Usage about 3-5 hours per week.  Models under $1,000.

Jogging Treadmill – Usage 5-7 hours per week.  Models in the $1,000 – $1,500 range.

Running Treadmill – Usage 7+ house per week.  Models going for over $1,500.

I hope that helps, and please send a review once you have made your decision.

Fred

I was out to the Icon corporate headquarters not long ago.  In the past I was critical of most of Icon’s products.  They had problems with the quality control.  In addition, their customer service was lacking.  However, this company has done a complete turnaround, and in general offers the best value for budget treadmills.  In addition, the mid-range treadmills are strong contenders. 

The ProForm brand is their biggest seller, and in addition to being available online, you will find ProForm treadmills at mass merchant retailers like Sears, Wal-Mart and Target.  You will also find their models at the large sporting goods stores like Sports Authority and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

So should you buy a ProForm treadmill?  If your budget is limited, than the answer is Yes.  However, there are two important points to consider.  First, if you buy a budget treadmill, it has it’s limitations.  For example, a $600 treadmill is not adequate for joggers or runners.  Furthermore, regardless of what they state for the user weight limit, you probably want to subtract about 50 lbs. 

Second, many of the ProForm treadmills come with a 90-day parts and labor warranty.  It makes sense that budget treadmills come with budget components, and they are more likely to need service.  Protect your investment and buy the additional warranty coverage – it is not that expensive. 

So if you are planning to get back into shape and have a limited budget, ProForm can offer some of the best value available.

 Another benefit of watching TV when you workout is that it distracts you.  If you are distracted you are less likely to notice the time go by.  And the more time you spend on the treadmill the more calories you burn. 

Icon Fitness, which manufactures NordicTrack, ProForm and Epic, has been equipping a number of their models with television.  And guess what?  They have been hot sellers.  The are usually 7″-8″ flat screen TVs.  I’ve seen models for as little as $1,200.  That is quite a deal. 

The televisions are built into the console, and are also the readout monitor for your exercise feedback.  The one problem with this design is if the TV should ever go out it would be very expensive to replace.  However, I have not heard of any problems with the console of the television. Regardless, most of these models come with a one year parts and labor warranty, and I would recommend you increase it by another year or two. 

Smooth came out with a high-end treadmill with a Flat Screen TV.  The television is approximately 15″ and is built on a platform and not in the console.  This way if there is a problem, it does not affect the electronics of the console.  However, they are selling it at $4,000.

Should you consider a TV when you buy a treadmill?  If you like distractions and find it helps to increase your workout duration, then the answer is yes.  With the Icon models, the TV does not add that much to the price.  However, make sure when you buy a treadmill you focus on getting a model that will also accommodate your fitness goals. 

To Your Health
Fred

Here is why you can expect less than a sufficient response.  First, from black Friday until the end of January treadmill sales take off.  They are quadruple the rate during the summer months.  Unfortunately, it is not cost effective to have a staff  all year long sufficienct to handle the surge of calls in these busy months.  Consequently, manufacturers will beef up their customer service staff in the winter months.  These service agents will lack the training and the expertise to deal with all the problems.  And in general, no matter how much staff they add it is not enough.

However, manufacturers are getting better.  For example, Icon Fitness that sells ProForm, NordicTrack and Weslo had a terrible customer service reputation.  They invested $2 million in their customer service and better trained their staff.  From the considerable reduction in the number of complaints I have been receiving, it appears Icon got their act together. 

Of course, you ultimately want to buy a treadmill that is problem free, however, treadmills are complicated machines and some do have problems out of the box.  In addition, you may have questions about the set-up or how the machine runs.   All I can say is be patient if you are put on hold.  And if you cannot get the right answer ask for another service rep.  Consider using email for your questions so you don’t have to wait on hold. 

If you just bought a treadmill and have a problem or question, be patient.  You will eventually get your answer. 

One last note…if you are buying a budget treadmill consider getting an extension on the warranty.  It is worth the extra cost. 

There are two alternatives.  They can pay to get it fixed, which may be very expensive, and current issue could be the beginning of a series of problems.  Or they could buy a new treadmill that is built to last. 

Of course, what they should have done in the first place was get an extended warranty.  Whenever you purchase a treadmill for $1,000 or less you are getting into the budget category.  In most cases, these treadmills will withstand every day usage and hold up, but the odds are they are more likely to break down in comparison to a more expensive unit.  These treadmills just don’t have the quality components of the more expensive units, and they lack the refine engineering. 

It is like playing the odds in Vegas.  That is why with budget treadmills I encourage people to extend the warranty by a year or two.  Especially if you are buying a cheap treadmill with a 90-day parts and labor warranty.  You’ll find these extended warranty don’t cost all that much more.  You often can get a two year extension for under $100. 

If you pay less than $1,000 for a treadmill and it has a major break down, it generally is not worth the money to get it fixed.  Now if you paid $2,000 than it generally is worth the cost because the fix is probably going to last.   

So if you are considering buying a budget machine, $1,000 or less, spend a little extra to cover your investment. 

Note: For a moderate price treadmill with a excellent standard warranty check out the Sole F80. Comes with 2-year labor, 5-year parts and lifetime motor warranty. 

In most cases the standard delivery is curbside.  That means the company is only responsible for dropping the treadmill off at your curb.  You have to get it into the house.  There are ocassions where they will unload it to your front door or your garage, but that is not required when it says curbside delivery.

It is not unusual for a treadmill to weigh in excess of 200 lbs.  I always recommend you pay for  inside delivery, unless you have the front line of the Dallas Cowboys to move it into your house.  Usually the cost for inside delivery is not that much.  In some cases inside delivery is standard.

If you plan to have the treadmill on your second floor or the basement, then you need to check out what the options are for that kind of delivery.  Inside delivery does not necessarily mean anywhere in the house. 

If you are not to handy with tools and working with your hands, you may also want to consider the turn-key service.  They deliver the treadmill to your house and set it up.  Although this service may require an extra week to fulfill.  If you do decide to set-up the treadmill yourself, it usually is not that hard.  It is a matter of standing the console upright, putting in a few screws and pluging in the connections. 

If you are going to order a treadmill online, be aware that the delivery companies are not always on time, in fact, they seldom are on time.  You are going to need some patience and allow extra time from what they may originally suggest.  However, this is a common issue for all product deliveries, whether you buy online or locally.