Smooth 5.15 Treadmill Review

  Treadmill Articles

The Smooth 5.15 is currently selling at $999 with shipping. This has been there lowest price they have sold this model. They may be closing out. This is an excellent opportunity to save on a quality treadmill.

Treadmill Ratings and Review Comments:

The Smooth 5.15 is the top seller in the Smooth Fitness line-up. This is primarily a walking treadmill. It can accommodate lite jogging, but if you are considering a treadmill for regular jogging we recommend the Smooth 7.1 HR.

The Smooth 5.15 has an excellent service record in the field. The warranty is good for the money. The programs can offer a variety of challenges. We particularly liked the (5) window LED display.

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Top pick - Budget treadmill

Key Features on Smooth 5.15 Treadmill

• Powerful 2.5 continuous horsepower motor
• Shock-assisted manual fold, includes four-wheel castor system for easy movement and storage
  
• Handrail grip pulse monitor
• 18" x 53" running and walking surface
• (5) window LED display with (3) pre-set programs with (12) intensity levels of each, and (9) user programs
• (8) user data memory profiles
• 1/4 mile track display with lap counter
• Textured Whisper Weave™ low-noise belt
• Minimal assembly required
• Lifetime frame warranty
• 10 year motor warranty
• 2 year parts warranty
• 1 year service warranty

Smooth 5.15 Treadmill Details

2.5 HP Continuous Duty Motor

Continuous duty horsepower ratings are the amount of power a motor will produce "continuously" at a given RPM (revolutions per minute). Continuous duty HP is the "working power" of a treadmill motor, providing constant power to the drive belt. Our motors are built for endurance and reliability and are backed with an industry leading 10 year warranty.

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM Circuit Board)

PWM is a new electronics technology that will soon be found on most premium treadmills. PWM control boards came out in treadmill applications in the mid-90's. This new technology provides the following advantages:

SILENT

Because the DC voltage is much more "pure," PWM circuit boards do not require a choke and capacitor to filter out electrical "hum." With the electrical "hum" practically eliminated, the treadmill is dramatically more quiet than a treadmill with a SCR board. PURE VOLTAGE, MORE POWER

Both PWM and SCR control boards take AC power (alternating current) and "rectify" it into DC (direct current) voltage. AC voltage is a constant change of positive/negative current 60 times a second. That's where we get the term "60 cycle." In other words, the current is "chopped" 60 times per second. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) boards will "chop" it 1200 times per second, or 20 times faster with pure DC voltage. Because of the "pure" DC voltage, the motor is "seeing" stronger current. The result is higher "pure" voltage with less amp draw.

LOW AMP DRAW

PWM allows much more tolerance to heavy weight users due to a lower amp draw. Amp draw is what throws a breaker in your home when too much energy is demanded.

LOWER COST

PWM circuit boards are expensive to produce. But the real savings comes from NOT purchasing a choke and capacitor, as well as a larger flywheel.

SMALLER FLYWHEEL

Since the motor is receiving and outputting more pure energy, it does not have to rely on a large flywheel to keep the treadbelt moving. Smaller flywheels can be utilized.

Frame

Smooth Fitness Uni-Weld frame is used by many of the top treadmill manufacturers, including Life Fitness, Precor, and Trotter, and of course, Smooth FItnESS.

WELDED vs. BOLTED FRAMES

In a bolted frame, the size/diameter of the holes that need to be drilled on the frame are always larger than the diameter of the bolt. This leaves room for movement, especially over a long period of treadmill usage, and leads to frame fatigue and failure.

STEEL vs. ALUMINUM FRAMES

Steel is a typically less expensive than the extruded aluminum used in some competitor frames. Aluminum is more expensive, and costs more to weld. It is very rare for either a steel or aluminum frame to fail, and most manufacturer's have never replaced a frame under warranty.

Elevation

Elevation mechanisms come in many different forms. The most effective and durable elevation assemblies are worm-gear driven electronic elevation motors.

Worm-gear electronic elevation systems use a separate, powerful motor to elevate the treadmill while in use. Typical elevation motors will have a thrust value from 400 to 1000 pounds, therefore lifting the deck without any hesitation while exercising.

Rollers

2.5" diameter rollers with a rust resistant steel finish and high quality bearings press sealed into each end. Hardened,1.9 Carbon steel wall construction. The longer length on the tube places LESS stress on the bearing, extending the life. Only the Smooth 5.15 treadmills have rubber sleeves on both the front and rear roller, which allow for less tightening of the treadbelt, and thus much longer wear on the belt, deck and roller bearing.

Belt

2-Ply, 100% Polyester low friction sole backing with Black PVC non-slip beam top. Black PVC (poly vinyl chloride) is the industry standard for all treadmill belts. High wear and tensile strength help keep this belt a top performer for several years. The 100% Polyester backing is "whisper weaved" for very low friction, and thus a very quiet belt in use.

The 20-degree seamless diagonally fused belt is incorporated to help reduce noise. A belt with a perpendicular or straight across splice causes excessive noise when the belt crosses over the rollers on each end, creating a "thumping" noise.

This is the highest quality 2 ply belt in the industry. Manufactured in Spain, our high standards have been incorporated into this high quality tread belt.

The belt is pre-lubricated with silicon and will not need additional lubricating at delivery.

Deck

Thick high-compression pressboard made out of particulate and fibered wood. The laminate black top, also known as a phenolic deck coating, is a micro-screen, lubricate trapping laminate. Phenolic decks have a micro-screen that acts as a net for the silicon lubricant, thus making the silicon "catch" within the "micro-valleys" that are created by the micro-screen.

Optical Speed Sensor

An Optical Speed Sensor is used in combination with the PWM motor controller to produce the smoothest speed changes. The optical eye actually counts the revolutions of the motor directly at the axle. The PWM motor controller then averages the input count from the optical eye to produce a consistent speed regardless of load.

Smooth 5.15 treadmill Console Details

The Smooth 5.15 Treadmill has a total of 8 different programs numbered P1 thru P8. It also includes a Quick Start, or manual mode program. P1-P3 are goal oriented programs. P4-P7 are pre-set programs. P8 is the Heart Rate Control program.

The treadmill will store in its memory up to nine different users' information (age, weight, etc…). This allows the user to only input their data one time, after that they simply choose their user number for their profile to appear. This makes it very convenient for an entire family of users to quickly utilize their personal programs for treadmill workouts.

Quick Start/Manual Program - In the manual program all readouts count up once you start the treadmill. There are no preset speeds, inclines, or goals. The user can alter the speed or incline at their preference at anytime during the workout. The treadmill will not automatically change the speed or the incline at any time; the user must do so manually. This program is automatically chosen if the user just pushes the start button without choosing a program.

P1: Time Goal Program - Once the user selects this program they are prompted to enter the amount of time the program will run. Then the user starts the Smooth 5.15 treadmill and the treadmill will count down the time specified and other displays will count up until the treadmill stops. The user still manually adjusts speed and inclines during the workout.

P2: Distance Goal Program - Once the user selects this program they are prompted to enter the total distance the program will run. The user then starts the treadmill and the treadmill will count down the distance from the amount specified. The lap counter will display the target number of laps and count down as each lap is completed. The user still manually adjusts speed and inclines during the workout.

P3: Calorie Goal Program - Once the user selects this program they are prompted to enter the amount of calories they wish to burn during the workout. The calories display will count down from the pre-set calories and the other displays will count up until the treadmill stops. The user still manually adjusts speed and inclines during the workout.

P4: Killer Hills Program - The user chooses their workout level from 1 thru 12. Choosing a higher level will result in a higher incline level during the workout. The Time LED shows a pre-set workout time of 24 minutes; which can be adjusted higher or lower in four minute segments. Incline is changed automatically every two minutes during the workout, from a minimum grade % to a maximum grade % until the time counts down to zero.

For example, with Level 1 the minimum grade percentage is "0", while the maximum grade percentage is "4". With level 12 you get a strenuous workout with a minimum grade percentage of "11", and a maximum grade percentage of "15". Speed is pre-set at 2 MPH, and can be adjusted manually to whatever the user desires.

P5: Speed Interval Program - The user chooses their workout level from 1 thru 12. The higher the selected level will result in higher speed levels during the workout. The Time LED shows a pre-set workout time of 24 minutes; which can be adjusted higher or lower in four minute segments. Speed will be changed automatically every two minutes during the workout, from a Minimum speed to Maximum speed until the time counts down to zero. For example, at level "1" the minimum speed is 1.8 mph, and the maximum speed is 3.0 mph. For serious runners there is level "12" with a minimum speed 4 mph and a maximum speed of 7.2 mph. Incline is pre-set at 0% and can be adjusted manually to what the user desires.

P6: Weight Loss program - The user chooses their workout level from 1 thru 12. The higher the level the more intense the workout is. The Time LED shows a pre-set workout time of 30 minutes; which can be adjusted higher or lower in five minute segments. Both speed and incline will change during the workout; the minimum speed/incline segments last two minutes, and the maximum speed/incline segments last three minutes. For example, with level "1" the minimum speed is 1.6 mph and the minimum incline is 0%, maximum speed is 2.8 mph and maximum incline is3%. With level 12 the minimum speed is 3.8 mph and the minimum grade is 4%, maximum speed is 5.0 mph and maximum incline is 14%.

P7: 5K Self Competition - The Distance LED will show 5 (KM)/ 3 (MILE). For new users there is a pre-set speed and incline % program in the computer. The user can change the speed and incline levels during the workout. The distance will count down to zero and then stop. The results will be shown in time and calories. This information will be saved and shown on the display. When the user selects this program in the future he can challenge himself against his previous time and calories.

P8: Heart Rate Control Program - This heart rate program is activated through the hand grip pulse monitor. The program can be utilized only through the hand grip pulse monitor, and constant contact with the sensor must be maintained to enable the program.

This program consists of a "Warm Up" and "Main Program". The Time LED is pre-set to 60 minutes, but can be adjusted up or down by the user. The treadmill determines a pre-set maximum target heart rate based upon the users age, or the user can adjust it to whatever maximum target workout rate they want. (This should be subject to the user's physical condition and determined after consulting with a physician.)

The Warm Up is three minutes long to help the user reach the minimum target workout rate. The treadmill does this by changing the elevation in 1% increments every 30 seconds. After the 3 minute warm up period, the Main program will begin. If the minimum target heart rate has not been reached by elevation, the speed will increase in .5 mph. increments again every 30 seconds for three minutes. If the HR target is exceeded, the speed will slow by .5 mph to allow the user to adjust accordingly. After the initial three minutes of the "Main Program" the program will switch back to using elevation as in the "Warm Up" phase. Every three minutes the program is designed to switch between these elevation and speed changes to help you to reach your HR target.

At any time the user may lower/raise the elevation or speed and the subsequent changes will be made from that point forward. The user must maintain contact with the pulse grip sensors at all times for this program to operate properly. As constant contact must be made, this is considered primarily a "Walkers" program

Overview - The programs are designed with the users' goals in mind, whatever they may be. The first three programs are ideal for someone just starting out, or for an individual trying to walk or run a certain distance or burn a certain prescribed number of calories. The motivational value of seeing the laps count down or the calories tick off is tremendous incentive. Don't forget that the ¼ mile track and lap counter will show you your progress no matter what course you use on the treadmill.

As the users' fitness level improves, it is easy to challenge themselves by adding a lap or two to their workout. The pre-set courses provide challenges for users at all levels of fitness. By gradually increasing the levels of intensity you will find an improvement in your cardio capacity and your overall health and fitness.