Smooth 9.15 HR Treadmil Review

• HealthRider

The Smooth 9.15 is discontinued. See the upgraded Smooth 9.17 HRO.

Smooth 9.15 Treadmill $1,899 - $2,399 (Includes Shipping)

The Smooth 9.15 HR treadmill is a power folding treadmill. The treadmill folds with the push of the bottom. It comes with a generous 2.75 motor and a 20" x 54" treadbelt. Heart rate control is standard, allowing you to maximize your workout. You also get a premium console with a 3" LED.

Our Smooth 9.15 HR review

The Smooth 9.15 treadmill is similar to the 7.1, but it comes with hand grip pulse monitor, a larger motor and a premium console. It is a heavy 265 lbs, which makes it very stable for a folding treadmill. It comes standard with heart rate control. It has a unique power folding function that folds the treadmill with the flick of a button. This treadmill is excellent for both walking and jogging. The warranty reflects quality.

Smooth 9.15 Treadmill Details

3.0 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. The Smooth motors are built for endurance and reliability and are backed with an industry leading 10-year warranty. The 3.0 hp motor is built to withstand regular jogging and running.

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 Engineering

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.

Frame

The Smooth 9.15 treadmill has a Uni-Weld frame which 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.

Elevation

Elevation mechanisms come in many different forms. The most effective and durable elevation assemblies are worm-gear actuator 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 pushing up the deck without any hesitation while exercising.

Most manufacturers mount their actuators backwards, in essence pushing up the deck, which is exactly the opposite of what an actuator is designed to do. The Smooth 91.5 treadmill features a patented actuator elevation system, which pulls the treadmill up. Therefore, our machines have approximately 2000 lbs. of pulling capacity, which is why they operate so quietly. They will last forever!

Rollers

2.5" diameter rollers with a rust resistant steel finish and high quality Japanese 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 9.15 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.

Smooth 9.15 treadbelts are unique in that we use a proprietary, non-slip tread pattern, which does not TRAP dirt into the square grooves that an ordinary treadbelt would have. Easy to clean and more durable, our treadbelts have a higher quality look and feel.

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

Deck

The Smooth 9.15 treadmill has a 1" Thick, high-compression pressboard made out of particulate and fibered Douglas Fir 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. Our decks are reversible and laminated with wax on both ends.

Electronic Program Descriptions for the Smooth 9.15

The Smooth 9.15 Pro Treadmill has a total of 8 different programs numbered P1 thru P8. It also includes a Quick Start, or manual mode program. On the left side of the console are 3 goal oriented programs along with the Heart Rate Control program. On the right side of the console are 4 pre-set programs.

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 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. The higher the level selected results in higher incline 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. 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: Level 1 Minimum grade % 0, Maximum grade % 4; Level 12 Minimum grade % 11, Maximum grade % 15. Speed is pre-set at 2 MPH, and can be adjusted manually to what the user desires.

P5: Speed Interval Program - The user chooses their workout level from 1 thru 12. The higher the level selected results 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: Level 1 Minimum speed 1.8 mph, Maximum speed 3.0 mph; Level 12 Minimum speed 4 mph, Maximum speed 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: Level 1 Minimum speed 1.6 mph Minimum incline 0%, Maximum speed 2.8 mph Maximum incline 3%; Level 12 Minimum speed 3.8 mph Minimum grade 4%, Maximum speed 5.0 mph Maximum incline 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 time and calories will be saved and shown on the display so the user can select this program again to challenge himself or herself using the same program.

P8: Heart Rate Control Program - This program consists of a Warm Up, Main Program and Cool Down. 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 sex, height, weight and 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 speed by .5 mph every 15 seconds. If the minimum target heart rate can't be reached by speed changes alone, the treadmill will adjust the incline every 15 seconds until you reach the minimum HR target.

During the Main Program treadmill will adjust the incline level by 1% every 15 seconds until the pulse rate reaches the maximum target workout heart rate. If the pulse goes above the target rate, the incline will be reduced by 1% every 15 seconds until the pulse returns to the target range. If the incline changes are not enough to keep the user in the target range then speed changes will automatically be made accordingly. After the Main Program concludes, there is a one minute Cool Down program when the incline returns to 0% and the speed lowers to 2 mph. The user must maintain contact with the pulse grip sensors or wear the heart rate monitor chest strap at all times for this program or the program will fail.

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

As the users' fitness level improves, it is easy to increase the challenge by adding a lap or two to your 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.