Smooth 5.65 Treadmill Review

I was recently at the Smooth Fitness headquarters and was particularly interested to see their new entry level treadmill. Smooth has always had a strong contender for a "Best Buy" at the very competitive $999 price range.  The new 2010 Smooth 5.65 treadmill is no exception. 

This model takes the best of their very successful Smooth 5.45 and improves it even further. The 2 year service warranty is an indication of the quality.

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Note: As of 7/29/10 the Smooth 5.65 Treadmill was selling for $999 — A good value. Save an additional 5% using coupon code "trr565". Go to Smooth Treadmills for the latest deal.*

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In talking to the head of their customer service, Jim Mugford stated that of the new releases for 2010, the Smooth 5.65 was upgraded the most in terms of design and engineering.  He further mentioned the 5.65 service record is impressive. It is a very low maitenance machine, which is not always the case for treadmills in this price range.

Smooth 5.65 Treadmill Features

2.5 Continuous Duty HP Motor — The motors Smooth uses in their treadmill do the job and virtually never have any problems, that is why they all come with lifetime warranties.  You'll find that this motor will not strain at higher speeds or steep inclines.

Speaker System with iPod/MP3 Input — This is becoming a standard feature on most new releases of treadmills.  Studies show that people often exercise harder and longer when they listen to music.  Without built in speakers your alternative is headphones.  I personally hate running with headphones while having wires dangling from my head.  The sound quality on the Smooth 5.65 isn't great, but it is convenient.

Built-in Fan — Although the cost of installing a fan is not that much, in talking to a treadmill manufacturer, they mentioned that the built-in fan is one of their most popular features.  It is nice having air blowing directly at your core.

Toggle Switches on the Handrails — The ability to adjust your speed and incline is conveniently located on the handrails. You don't have to break you stride and reach forward to make adjustments. 
 
Two Shock Folding System — In the old days raising and lowering a treadmill was a major effort and potentially dangerous.  With the Smooth 5.65 treadmill it is effortless to raise and lower.  They use a dual stage gas shock system that slowly lowers deck. 

20" X 55" Walking Surface — What is interesting is Smooth defines the length as walking surface and not treadbelt.  There is a difference, because when a company states the length in terms of treadbelt, they are not mentioning that several inches is covered with a shroud.  I need to qualify this statement with the company, but this suggests their walking surface is longer than the average $999 model.

Compact Design — When talking to Jim Mugford about the new treadmill models for 2010, he stated that "they incorporated a more efficient design in the use of components and materials. Consequently, they used less materials resulting in less wasted space." 

The width is 5" less. In addition, the Smooth 5.65 weighs about 20 lbs less than the 5.45.  This makes it easier to move the machine around for storage.   However, the smaller footprint does not compromise the stability of the machine.  It is one of the most stable treadmills at this price range.

14 Workout Programs — You get a nice variety of installed workout programs, allowing you to vary your workouts with different challenges.  I personally change my workouts daily.

Wireless Heart Rate Control — I'm not aware of another treadmill at this price range that offers wireless heart rate control and the wireless chest belt.  This allows you to exercise based on your heart rate.  An ideal way to target specific cardio goals.  A method that is used by professional athletes.

Our Review - Smooth 5.65 Treadmill

For the last ten years Smooth Fitness has aggressively competed to have the best treadmill at the $999 price range.  Their goal was not to build a model that had the most bells and whistles, although the Smooth 5.65 has some impressive features.  Rather, they wanted one of the most durable $999 models on the market.  If you want to focus on achieving your fitness goals and not maintaining your treadmill, the Smooth 5.65 is one of your best choices.

Overall, the featues, design, engineering and warranty make this a "Best Buy" value.

New: Check out the Video Demo of the Smooth 5.65. Taken when I was at the Smooth headquarters.

Customer Reviews on Previous $999 Smooth Models