Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685 Treadmill Review

  Treadmill Articles

While it’s true that the Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685 is made by Icon Fitness, it’s also true that this treadmill is NOT one of Icon’s finest. Icon builds ProForm, NordicTrack, Reebok, Epic and several other popular brands.  Yes, it is affordable!  But when it comes to fitness equipment, you definitely get what you pay for.

When you look at the features, you might think you’re getting a real bargain with the Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685.  Unfortunately, the quality of this machine is sacrificed to make it more affordable. 

The walking deck on the GG Maxx Trainer 685 is only 19” x 50.”  That’s rather small for an active surface.  In reality, this treadmill is practical only for walking and only for users 5’7” or shorter.

The 2.75 HP motor rating is the peak power rating, the continuous duty rating is probably around 1.75 HP.  Although it is backed by a 12-year warranty and has a self-cooling drive system, this motor is rather small and not powerful enough to handle too much abuse.  If you need a treadmill to accommodate larger users or runners, the Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685 is not the machine for you.

What are some of the attractions on the Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685 treadmill?

At first glance, the features on the Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685 seem quite nice for a treadmill in its price category.  Just keep in mind that the parts used in this model are not of the highest quality.  The features on the Maxx Trainer 685 include:

• Twelve personal trainer workouts – The variety of preprogrammed workouts lets you mix up your exercise sessions to keep you motivated to reach your fitness goals.  Each workout automatically adjusts the speed and incline levels on this treadmill to focus on aerobic, weight loss, or endurance fitness.
• Two create and save workouts – You can create and save two personalized workouts for even more training variety and motivation.
• 0-10 mph speed – With the quick touch of a button, you can adjust the treadmill’s speed to suit your level of fitness.  On the Maxx Trainer 685, however, the motor isn’t really designed to handle speeds higher than a brisk walk.
• 0%-10% incline – For a more intense workout without training at high speeds, you can increase the incline level on the treadmill.
• Cooling fan – A cooling fan is standard on a lot of today’s treadmills.  Most of these fans don’t produce a lot of cool air, but even a slight breeze can make a workout more comfortable.
• LCD display – This is a decent LCD window that displays a motivational race track for monitoring the progress of your workout.  It also graphically displays your workout on a 7 x 10 workout matrix.  Monitor your speed, distance, time, calories burned, and pulse rate.
• Heart rate monitor – Heart rate can be monitored by grasping the handlebars with built-in pulse sensors.  The reading won’t be as accurate as you would get with a wireless chest heart rate monitor.  Nevertheless, it will give you a general idea as to how hard you are training.

Our Review – The Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685 Treadmill

If you’re short on money and short on stature, you could get by with the Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685 treadmill...for awhile, anyway.  This machine isn’t built to last long.  It isn’t built for large people.  It isn’t built to handle joggers or runners. 

The GG Maxx Trainer 685 is sold only at Walmart.com.  If you want it delivered to your home, you have to pay extra for shipping and handling.  You can, however, have it delivered to your local Walmart store with free shipping.  Once it arrives at the store, you are responsible for picking up the treadmill and getting it home.  The machine weighs 179 pounds.  If you choose in-store pickup, you will probably need to find someone to help with moving the treadmill.

The low price and the listed features might get your attention and lure you towards the purchase of the Gold’s Gym Maxx Trainer 685.  Before you spend your money, though, check out some of Icon’s Proform treadmills.  You would be better off buying a Proform on sale than using your hard-earned money for the Maxx Trainer 685.