New Balance Treadmill Review

I love New Balance shoes, in fact, that is my running shoe of choice. But can a shoe company build a decent treadmill? From personally testing their machines, and from my conversations with salespeople, the New Balance treadmills appear to be a solid value.

I tested a couple of New Balance treadmills at the local Sports Authority. I find testing treadmills at these large sporting goods stores rather revealing. The machines are often so abused it shows how they hold up under the strain. In this case the New Balance treadmills were in top form.

I found the treadmills to be relatively quiet, which suggests the motor is not straining and is adequate for the task. While running the deck appeared to offer just the right amount of shock absorption. Often when running on a treadmill the absorption can seem to soft or too hard. You want the deck to absorb the impact of your stride without being sloppy.

New Balance has what is called the EZ Care Treadmill Maintenance System. It makes it simple to adjust the belt and prevent slippage. In addition, you have easy access for cleaning and lubricating, thereby extending the life of the belt and deck.

Their treadmills all have 20" wide belts and between 56"-57" running areas. A bit longer than normal for this price range. Each model can fold. All of their treadmills are equipped with fans, although you can barely feel the breeze.

Not crazy about the look of the console. The overlay looks cheap. And the warranty is not all that impressive for the 1200 and the 1400 models. You get one year parts coverage.

The New Balance treadmills are sold on the New Balance web site and the Fitness Quest site. They are also for sale at Dick's Sporting, Fogdog, Gatelys and Sears, but call your local store to make sure they are in stock. Prices vary, but our research generally found these prices, which included shipping:

New Balance 1200 - $1,000
New Balance 1400 - $1,100
New Balance 1500 - $1,300
New Balance 1600 - $1,700
New Balance 1800 - $1,700
(The 1800 was on sale during this review.)

The 1200 we would recommend for primarily walking. The 1400 and 1600 can handle jogging. The 1800 comes with a 3.0 hp continuous duty motor, and would be better equipped for regular jogging. The 1800 is the only model that comes with wireless heart rate control chest strap, and it has a thicker than normal belt for reduced impact.

New Balance Treadmill Reviews

Our Review

The New Balance treadmills stood out over the over models on the floor at Sport Authority. Without question they surpass ProForm, and edged out the Horizon and Reebok treadmills. The saleperson I talked to mentioned that New Balance had the least service issues.

I find the 1200 and the 1400 treadmills to be contenders in the $1,000 price range. The few upgrades on the 1600 do not justify the sizable increase in price.

It should be noted I received a customer review that said their customer service was sub-par. So if you have a service problem, it could be a real problem.

With the below average warranty and service issues, I recommend you like at some other brands like Smooth, Vision Fitness and NordicTrack.

*This New Balance Treadmill Review is based on personally testing the equipment, in addition to comments, testimonials, reviews and ratings of customers and third parties. We attempt to be as accurate as possible. Warranties, features and prices can change without notice.