Spirit Treadmill Reviews

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A Reliable Machine

I worked with a company that previous private labled Spirit treadmills. In general they were well built machines that required minimum maintenance.

Several years ago they moved all their manufacturing facilities to Taiwan. In fact, Dyaco, the company that builds their treadmills, now owns a majority in the company. Dyaco brings the financial muscle that allows Spirit to slug it out in a very competitive market.

In the past, Spirit was known for constructing treadmills that were built like a tank. They were nothing fancy, buy they were both durable and reliable. In fact, if there was a criticism it was the blasé design. The new "Z" design is as attractive as any model out there.

As with many other treadmill companies that shifted their manufacturing overseas, Spirit suffered from quality control. It has been several years since the transition, and now they build some of the most reliable and durable treadmills in their price range.

What makes Spirit treadmill a good value is the components. They use a minimum of 2.5" rollers, which increases not only the life of the roller, but also the belt, bearings and motor. Most of their decks are 1" thick, which is a factor for overweight individuals.

Excluding their low-end models, they use motors that are more than sufficient for their usage. For example, their Z9 uses a 3.0 continuous duty HP motor. And their motors are backed with a 30 year warranty, which says something about the quality.

Their Z models all come with a 20-30 year motor warranty and 2-5 year parts, which is better then most companies in this price range.

Spirit vs. Sole Treadmills

Both Spirit and Sole treadmills are built by Dyaco. Their designs are very similar, they use the same components, and the customer service number is the same for the both of them.

The difference is their markets. Spirit primarily sells through fitness equipment speciality stores and several resellers on the Internet, while Sole sells through Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon.com and direct through their site.

The advantages of buying a Spirit treadmill at a fitness equipment store is you will get more hand holding and special attention. The downside is you can pay several hundred dollars more.

The other difference between the two brands is on most of their models Spirit offers a 10-year parts warranty and 1-year labor, while Sole offers 5-year parts and 2-year labor. I would consider the extended service coverage a better value. Click here to learn more about Sole Treadmills.

Spirit Treadmill Review

Spirit offers good value, and we would rate them as one of the top 5 in $1,000-$2,000 price range. You can expect to get a machine built to last, and equipped with quality components. That is reflected in their 10 year parts warranty. Overall, I would recommend a Spirit treadmill for its reliability.

We would also recommend in this price range Smooth Treadmills.

Also see:

Spirit Fitness XT175 Review

Spirit Fitness XT275 Review

Spirit Fitness XT475 Review

Spirit Fitness XT675 Review

Spirit Fitness XT375 Review