ProForm Treadmill Reviews

If you are considering buying a treadmill, you want a machine that can accommodate your fitness profile. For example, budget treadmills are not adequately engineered to handle the rigors of runners. They are not designed for running, but our primarily walking machines. That is the case with any budget manufacturer. If you want to jog, plan on spending around $800 or more. If you are a serious runner you want to consider a machine in the $1,500+ range.

Also, be leary of most suggested weight limits, like the ones on ProForm treadmills. They are typically inflated, as they are with most treadmill companies. It is pushing it to imply that a budget treadmill can handle someone 300 lbs or more. I usually substract around 50-75 lbs.

Finally, ignore their suggestions that their components are commercial grade. If you want a treadmill with commercial grade components, you better be ready to dish out in excess of $3,000.

With all that said, ProForm treadmills offers some of the best value in their price range.

Reasons to Buy a ProForm Treadmill

Value — Considering how little most ProForm treadmills cost you get some good value. Being the largest fitness equipment company, you benefit from economy of scale. ProForm reminds me of Hyundai cars. They are not the quality of a Lexus, but they offer an excellent value to someone wanting a loaded automobile at a value price.

I've talked to competitor who are amazed at how ProForm/Icon can offer so much for so little. In general, they'll have treadmills with larger motors, longer decks, more workout programs and innovative features.

Innovation — Speaking of innovation, when I was at the Icon Fitness headquarters, they impressed upon me how much they invest into research and development. That is why, even their budget machines have patented technology designed to assist you in reaching your fitness goals.

A perfect example is their iFIT Technology. iFIT is a series of programs that control the speed, incline and duration of your workout. Each focuses on different levels of fitness, with different fitness goals - wellness, endurance, weight loss, body shaping. They include audio coaching and motivation.

New for 2010 is iFit Live. It allows your treadmill to communicate through Wi-Fi with the Internet. You create your own personal account online and define your fitness goals. Customized workouts with audio coaching is downloaded onto your treadmill. In addition, you iFit Live tracks all of your specs and progress and defines the data in your personal online account.

However, what makes this feature rock is the interaction with Google Maps. You can define trails or roadways that you want to walk on Google Maps, and iFit Live will simulate the terrain with the incline feature. Furthermore, you can place your laptop on the treadmill and see either a street, map or satellite view of the route you are running. You can get iFit Live on the Power 990 and Power 995. (Note: There is an additional cost for the insert module and membership.)

In addition, all of their treadmills come with quality sound systems, and audio inputs for MP3 and iPOD.

Our Review - ProForm Treadmills

Are ProForm the best treadmills made? Not by a long shot. Are they the best-made budget treadmill? Probably!

ProForm has gone through an impressive transition over the last several years. They went from being a joke in the industry to offering some of the best values for budget treadmills. Their specs match or exceed their competition. In fact, their only real competition is NordicTrack, which is built by the same company.

Just realize when you spend under $1,000 for a treadmill you are not getting the equivalent of a Lexus or a heavy duty four-wheel drive truck.

Consumer Magazine Review

CR rated the ProForm 750 as "Excellent" for ergonomics and "Good" for quality. With the ProForm 1000S (No longer available), they rated it "Very Good" for ease of use, quality and exercise range.

Customer Reviews

Unbelievable Treadmill for the Price!!!,

"I am 220 lbs and 6' 5" - and this treadmill handles me at a full out run with no problems. It is quiet too. The 8 pre set programs are amazing, and I can't believe how fast this thing will go. WAY faster than I can run!!!! (Note - This counterdicts my recommendation on not using these treadmills for running, I tend to be on the cautious side.)"

Good Product

"Good product, works well, delivery was prompt and the price was right. Assembly was fairly easy with a little help and directions were easy to read. Fan is a little noisy though and can be slightly distracting. Other than that I would highly recommend this Treadmill."

Other ProForm Treadmill Reviews:

(Prices as of 9/1/10) - There are several models that are currently mark down. Go to ProFormTreadmills.com to see all models.

ProForm Power 995 - $999 - Bargain Buy

ProForm 1050T - $799 - Bargain Buy

ProForm Power 990 - $849

ProForm XT 90 - $899

ProForm 590T - $599

ProForm 570 CrossWalk - $599

ProForm 790T - $1,299

ProForm Epic View - $1,999

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