ProForm 990X Treadmill Review

The ProForm 990X treadmill is a decent machine, and the quality is an improvement over their former models at this price range. In the past ProForm seemed to be more focused on quantity over quality.

That is changing, as they are making strides to improve the quality and durability. ProForm is also investing considerable resources to upgrade their customer service. It was needed.

As with most ProForm treadmills, the 990X offers an excellent array of features.

ProForm 990X Features:

You get a 2.5 HP continuous duty motor. They claim it is commercial grade, but that is marketing hype. This motor is adequate for walking, and light jogging. It is a McMillan motor, which has a good reputation. They back it with a 12 year warranty.

The selection of pre-programmed workouts is impressive. You get 10 personal trainer workouts that automatically adjust the incline and speed of your treadmill. The different programs each focus on aerobic, weight loss or performance goal. There are 2 heart rate workouts designed to keep you in your target heart rate zone by increasing or lowering the speed. The problem is this machine does not have wireless heart rate control. In order to engage these programs you have to hold on to the heart monitors, which is not really practical.

There are also 2 learned programs that give you the ability to create and customize a workout and then save it for future use. I personally like customized programs, it allows you to set a limit, and then gradually raise the bar.

The console and display are not all that impressive, but what do you expect for $1,000. However, it provides multiple readouts, and there is a display that shows your progress with an image of a mile long track.

As with most ProForm treadmills, the cushioning is reasonable. It is much more forgiving than running on the street.

The one serious drawback to the ProForm 990X is the warranty. You get 90-day parts and labor coverage, although the motor is covered for 12 years. I thought that these short warranties were indicative of the quality of the products. Actually, it is a ploy in order to sell you extended warranties at the checkout. Consider extending the warranty by 1-2 years.

Our Review

The 990X treadmill shows that ProForm is trying to address previous problems with quality control. This treadmill focuses on the fundamentals of building a more durable machine. The warranty sucks, but you can upgrade to 2-year coverage for around $100.

This treadmill is primarily designed for walking. If you plan to jog or run you'll want to upgrade to their ProForm Perspective ES treadmill.

One issue that needs to be mentioned is the ProForm customer service. I've received numerous emails complaining about lack of response. I've talked to the Director of Customer Service, and he assures me they are focusing considerable resources to address this issue. This includes expanding the number of employees and improving the training.

*This ProForm 990X Treadmill Rating and Review is based on product review, customer feedback and industry professionals insight. We attempt to be as accurate as possible. Warranties, features and prices can change without notice.