Smooth 9.17 HRO Treadmil Review

Here are the features that make this treadmill a stand-out:

Impression Shock Absorption Technology - The Smooth 9.17 HRO treadmill uses a lever system that absorbs the impact. In fact, if you jump up and down on the deck you can see it move as if you pushed down on the fender of a car.

Other companies have different forms of shock absorption on their treadmills. What you want is a fine balance between a machine that is not too rigid and too bouncy. The 9.17 appears to have found that happy medium.

Orthopedic Belt - The older 9.15 does not have the othorpedic belt, but recently they have become popular. I was just on the phone with an individual who was in the process of buying a new treadmill. He was in his late middle ages, and was suffering from knee and back pains. He wanted to get a treadmill that offered extra cushion. Many individuals are buying treadmills with these extra cushion belts to further reduce the impact.

The othorpedic belt makes a difference over a standard 2-ply belt, but don't expect it to be dramatic. It's not like running on grass or soft ground, but then again, you don't have to worry about twisting your ankle on uneven surfaces.

Power Folding - The power folding on both the 7.1 and the 9.17 is a nice feature. The press of the bottom and the machine folds. Although, these days most treadmills are easy to fold manually due to hydraulic lifts. It should be noted that even when the 9.17 HRO folds it still occupies a fair amount of space. Part of the reason is the sizable base of the machine, which contributes to the stability.

Heavy Weight Machine - Speaking of stability, one feature I really like about the 9.15 is the solid, stable feel. There is no compromise on the stability, even though it is a folding treadmill. At 290 lbs, this machine weighs a ton. In fact, you may want to consider paying extra to have the treadmill moved indoors and set-up. Otherwise, you better have three people to move it, or two professional wrestlers.

Other notable features on the Smooth 9.17 treadmill is the 3.0 hp continuous duty motor. The model I have has a 2.75 motor and it is sufficient enough to comfortably handle high speed or steep incline workouts. Relative to comparable models, it is very quiet, even at higher speeds.

I like the layout of the LED console, it is designed in a fashion that allows you to get multiple feedback at once, time, distance, calories burned, etc.. It also comes with a ¼ mile track. You are also able to store up to nine user profiles, based on age, weigh, height, sex and target heart rate. An excellent feature when you have multiple users.

It comes standard with wireless heart rate control, for those that prefer to their heart rate control the level of their exertion. It has a 20" x 54" treadbelt. I haven't measured it, but the actual running surface may be slightly less.

The Smooth 9.17 HRO is backed with a generous warranty, which includes lifetime on the motor, 5 year parts and 1 year labor.

Smooth 9.17 HRO Reviews

Our Review

I've owned the Smooth 9.15 for over a year, and have been pleased with its' performance. Thus far, I have not had any service issues. The machine runs quiet, it offers various challenging programs, and provides reasonable shock absorption, even without the orthopedic belt. If you have problems with your joints, the 9.17 model with the orthopedic belt is worth considering. Watchthe Smooth site for sales, since the prices can vary week to week.