ProForm Treadmill Reviews

ProForm is the largest selling brand of Icon Fitness, which is the world’s largest fitness equipment company. (Icon also builds NordicTrack Treadmills). Members of our review team have been to the corporate and manufacturing facilities of ProForm on several occasions and have met with many of the top executives and engineers.

Years ago, ProForm primarily dominated the budget category, but now they are also a major player in the mid-range ($1,000-$2,000) market.

There are two reasons why ProForm treadmills are so popular.

First, you get more for less.

Second, they have the most innovative technology in the industry. Icon Fitness devotes considerable resources to cutting edge motivational technology.

How are ProForm Treadmills Different?

ProForm treadmills consistently out-spec the competition. Over the years, we have found that in general their treadmills have larger motors, longer decks, more features, and some of the most innovative technology in the industry.

Great Value for Your Money —ProForm has the advantage of economy of scale because they are part of the largest fitness equipment company in the world.  They manufacturer large inventories of machines, which drives the unit prices down.

Innovative Technologies — Some of the state-of-the-art features found on ProForm and NordicTrack treadmills are what really distinguishes them from the competition.  They have an entire department devoted to research and development. When we go to visit the company, this area is completely off limits to visitors — they take research and development very seriously.

iFit — iFit allows your treadmill to communicate with the Internet through Wi-Fi. There are several features designed to motivate you to achieve your fitness goals and to take the boredom out of walking or running in place.

• Customized Workouts from World Class Personal Trainers: One of the most attractive features of iFit is being able to bring a professional personal trainer right into your home. There are over 130 world class trainers to choose from within the iFit program.
• Interactive Training Sessions:  You may be wondering what exactly is interactive about watching some else on a screen. The interaction is between you, the trainer and your machine. When you join an interactive session, all you have to do is focus on reaching your goals. The machine will automatically change its speed and incline based on what the trainer is doing, without you having to lift a finger.
• Video Library: You don’t have to be in a live session to take advantage of iFit. There is an extensive video library of workouts you can do on and off your treadmill to get a wide variety of workout routines.
• Fitness Tracking: iFit automatically records the results from each of your sessions and monitors your progress. On top of that, iFit will recommend workouts that get more difficult as your ability grows. This keeps you from plateauing and ensures that you continue pushing yourself and seeing personal progress.
• Sync with Google Maps:  In addition, through Google Maps, you can simulate exercising on trails and roadways throughout the world. With the use of a smart device that you can place on the console, you can define a route on Google Maps, and your treadmill will simulate the terrain by adjusting the incline or decline. In addition, you can see a street, satellite, or earth view as you run the route. There is also a library of existing routes through famous city-scapes or national parks. We tried it when we were at their corporate headquarters and were able to virtually run down our local streets 2000 miles away. To learn more about iFit, check out a more in-depth review here.

Superior Sound Systems with MP3 Input — Many treadmills have speakers that are so poor that you wouldn’t even want to listen to them.  con Fitness equips their cardio machines with some of the best sound systems found in the industry.

Decks that Both Incline and Decline — Several of the ProForm treadmills have the ability to both incline and decline the deck. This allows you to simulate going up and down hills, in addition to being able to target more lower body muscles.

Built-in Fans — The fans on most ProForm treadmills actually offer relief.  They are designed to point at your core, which is the most important part of your body to cool off.  They have a couple of models where the intensity of the breeze is based on the level of your exertion.

Budget-Friendly Option: ProForm City L6 Treadmill Review

The City L6 Treadmill by ProForm is a great machine designed to accommodate small spaces, at an attractive price point. This machine is usually priced around $800, which is a standard price range for a compact entry-level treadmill. If you’re cramped on space, the City L6 will be a nice option for you because of the reduced footprint design. However, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Since this machine is budget-friendly, it does come with a few limitations in features.

ProForm City L6 Features

17.5” x 45” Treadbelt — Treadmills below $1,500 usually have treadbelts around 55″ in length, and around 20″ in width. The City L6 treadmill is designed smaller to accommodate more spaces, but keep in mind some users may feel limited exercising on this treadmill.

iFit Enabled — One of the most exciting features on ProForm products is their iFit technology. With iFit, users are able to to experience trainer-led workout sessions right in the comfort of their own home. Certified personal iFit trainers can take you around the world on virtual workouts, and automatically adjust the speed and incline on your treadmill to give you a more effective (and never boring!) workout. Note: At the time of this review, the ProForm City L6 Treadmill price includes a 30-day trial Family Membership of iFit.

1.6 CHP2 Mach Z™ Motor — As we mentioned before, the City L6 Treadmill is built for small spaces – not necessarily for power. With the limited deck space and small motor, this treadmill is not the best for those interested in jogging or running.

0-8 MPH Speed — This is a pretty decent speed range, and there is no incline feature on this treadmill.

Small Footprint, Folding Design — The footprint on the City L6 is 29” Wide x 70.25” Deep x 44.5” Tall. And, it folds up too!

Weight Limit — ProForm advertises the weight limit on this treadmill at 250 lbs. This is a very light weight machine, and we are not confident in this advertised weight limit. We would suggest a 200 lb. max user weight on the City L6 Treadmill.

Warranty — 10-Year Frame, 1-Year Parts & Labor. Not the best warranty, but pretty average for the price.

ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill Review

Most of the time when we see a machine with features like the ones found on this machine, we expect a high price tag to match, but this is not the case with the Carbon T7. You get a decent motor, 7″ HD Touchscreen, 0-10 MPH Speed, 0-10% Incline, and folding capabilities, all for right at less than $1,000. This is a great deal for an at-home treadmill.

ProForm Carbon T7 Features

2.6 CHP MachZ Motor — If you are looking to do anything from walking to light running, you won’t have any issues with the Carbon T7. For serious runners who like to put in a lot of miles on the daily, this may not be the treadmill for you. There are more powerful treadmills out there to handle that kind of use, but the price tag will certainly reflect that.

0-10 MPH Speed — This is exactly what we expect to see on a mid-level treadmill. You’ll be able to do HIIT and sprint workouts to your heart’s content. A

0-10% Incline — The Carbon T7 offers a 10% incline which means there are definitely some hill workouts in your future. This is a great feature to have with this machine.  Your iFit membership will be taking you on those ups and downs through amazing scenery around the globe during your virtual workouts.

20” x 55” Tread Belt — The size of the tread belt on the Carbon T7 is a little more compact than we are seeing on other models, but should still do the trick for most users. This is really only going to be an issue for taller users or those with a longer stride.

Folding Capacity — On the flip side, this is where being compact is a plus. The Carbon T7 folds for easy storage and its compact size makes it easier to stash away. This is a huge bonus if you reside in a shared living space or a smaller home.

Being able to fold up and put away the Carbon T7 is also great for anyone with children at home. This keeps them from potentially hurting themselves playing with a machine that has to be left out.

7″ Smart HD Touchscreen — Obviously the Carbon T7 is going to feature an HD Touchscreen considering it’s made to be used with iFit. While 7” isn’t the largest screen out there, it will still allow you really experience all that iFit has to offer.

It’s also worth noting that larger HD screens are a factor that really drives up the price of a machine. If you’re wanting a giant HD Touchscreen, you’re going to pay a pretty penny for it.

ISO Flex Cushioning — The ProShox Cushioning system is one that we are familiar with from other ProForm machines. This system relieves stress and impact on your joints when your foot strikes the deck. This means that you will feel more comfortable when you exercise, allowing you to work out longer.

Warranty — ProForm offers a 10-year frame, 2-year parts and 1-year labor warranty on the Carbon T7.

ProForm Carbon T10 Treadmill Review

Is there such a thing as a free treadmill? Well… kind of. The ProForm Carbon T10 is as close as you can get. With the Carbon T10 treadmill, iFit is what you purchase, the necessary equipment comes for free. You heard that right, the treadmill is free when you purchase the interactive exercise technology! More specifically, when you commit to a 3-year iFit subscription, you receive the Carbon T10 for free. iFit is $39/month so the total purchase price is $1403 (at the time of this posting).

ProForm Carbon T10 Treadmill Features

2.75 CHP Mach Z™ Motor – This motor is designed to maintain a quiet volume and cool temperature. This motor is a slight upgrade from the 2.6 CHP motor found on the Carbon T7 treadmill.

10″ Full Color SMART HD Touchscreen – This is one of the main features that differentiates the Carbon T10 from the other model in the Carbon series, the Carbon T7 T7. If a larger screen isn’t a huge deal to you, you may want to opt for the T7 as it’s a similar machine for a slightly lower price point.

0 – 10 MPH Speed, 0-12% Incline – Both the incline and speed on the Carbon T10 feature QuickSpeed Button Control. Adjust your speed and incline instantly with the touch of a button!

iFit Enabled – Enjoy workouts led by professional trainers right from your living room. Experience interactive workouts where your trainer controls your incline and speed.  Run through cities and trails with global classes. Sync your machine with Google Maps to simulate real life scenery. Track your progress with connected fitness stats. All of this is included with your FREE 3-year iFit Family Membership with the purchase of the Carbon T10.

20”×55″ Treadbelt – This length belt will provide ample room for most users. However, if you are taller than 6’0″ you may want to opt for a machine with a 60″ belt.

ISO Flex Cushioning – ProForm Treadmills are equipped with cushioning throughout the entire deck so you can take advantage of a longer workout and a faster recovery.

Folding Technology –Featuring ProForm’s SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist, the T10 is designed to be out of the way when your workout is complete. It has a powerful shock feature built in to make lifting the deck easier.

1.9” Rollers – This machine has “precision balanced” rollers. This will reduce wear and tear on your treadmill, as well as keep noise to a minimum.

Workout Fan – A built in CoolAire fan with two speed settings.

300 Lb. Weight Limit – The Carbon T10 is built for up to 300 lb. user weight limit.

Warranty – 10-Year Frame, 2-Year Parts, & 1-Year Labor… Fairly standard warranty.

ProForm Carbon T14 Treadmill Review

The brand-new 2022 launch to the ProForm Carbon collection of treadmills is the Carbon T14 model. While the Carbon treadmill models are built to withstand heavy amounts of use, the machines are great for any level of fitness. Whether you are just starting out on your journey or even if you are an avid fitness junkie, these treadmills have features for you and everyone in between.

The Carbon series treadmills are all very similar. The main feature that sets them apart from each other is the size of the screen. 

ProForm Carbon T14 Treadmill Features

14” Smart HD Touchscreen – The T14 features the largest screen out of the three Carbon models. The T7 has a 7” screen, and the T10 has a 10” screen. Since they are all priced within a few hundred dollars of each other, if a larger screen size is important to you, then we would suggest considering the new Carbon T14. If a smaller screen doesn’t bother you, you can likely just purchase the Carbon T7. All the features are almost identical.

iFit – On your Smart HD Touchscreen, you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of the interactive fitness technology known as iFit. iFit is exclusive to ProForm and NordicTrack machines. There is a 30-day free trial included on all ProForm treadmills. iFit allows you to experience features like…

• Live interactive coaching from world renowned fitness trainers
• Workout in sceneries across the globe
• On demand workout library
• Fitness tracking
• Community interaction and accountability
• & so much more!

To learn about iFit and all that it has to offer, read more here.

Fan and Speakers – A lot of treadmills don’t come with fans anymore, and if they do, they’re subpar fans. The CoolAire Fan from ProForm on the Carbon treadmills is actually a decent fan for when you’re working up a sweat during exercise. In addition, the Bluetooth speakers on ProForm treadmills offer good audio quality.

ISO Flex Cushioning – Deck cushioning on a treadmill is very important. In order to keep yourself safe and injury free, you’ll want to make sure that the deck has adequate cushioning. The flex cushioning built into the deck on the Carbon treadmill series is designed to reduce joint impact.

Walking Surface – The walking area on the Carbon T14 is the same as the other two Carbon treadmill models, 20” x 55”. This is a standard size. If you’re taller than 6”, you may want to consider upgrading to a model with a 60” length, such as the ProForm Pro 9000 Treadmill.

Speed and Incline – The T14 goes from 0-10 MPH and has a 0-12% incline.

Motor – The Carbon T7 has a 2.6 HP motor, and the Carbon T10 has a 2.75 HP motor. At this time, ProForm has not released the size of the motor on the Carbon T14.

Weight Capacity – All of the Carbon treadmill models have a 300 lb. weight capacity.

Space Saving Design – All ProForm treadmills are designed to be space conscious. The footprint on the Carbon T14 is 35.2” x 73.5 “ x 57.5”. It’s not a monster-sized treadmill by any means, so it won’t take up your whole space. These treadmills also have EasyLift Assist, so when not in use, they’re easily foldable to move them right out of the way.

Warranty – 10-year frame, 1-year parts and labor.

ProForm PRO 2000 Treadmill Review

The Pro 2000 treadmill is a great machine loaded with features, yet sells for a relatively low price. When we tested the ProForm Pro 2000 treadmill at the Icon headquarters in Logan, UT, we were impressed with not only the leading-edge technology, but also on the overall performance.  This machine screams “Value”.

ProForm SMART Pro 2000 Treadmill Features

3.25 Continuous Duty HP Motor — ProForm designs their motors to run cooler and to use less energy than the competition. This is a decent motor, however if you are going to be running frequently, we would suggest upgrading to the Pro 9000.

10″ HD SMART Touchscreen – This display will allow you to monitor your fitness stats while you’re exercising. It also lets you view your iFit programming.  A very nice feature to have on this machine.

Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities with Dual 2” Speakers – ProForm is known for having some of the highest quality speakers on the market. So, crank up your tunes – plug in your favorite device and get moving!

Declines and Inclines — The ProForm Pro 2000 treadmill has a deck that both inclines to heart racing 12% and declines to 3%. This allows you to simulate running up and down hills, and lets you target additional lower body muscles.

20″ x 60″ Running Surface — When we were out to visit the company, they made it a point to tell us that the 60″ is the actual running surface. They mentioned that other companies advertising a 60″ tread belt may have a running surface as much as 4″ shorter because part of the belt is covered by shrouds. This is an excellent length for speed and interval training.

iFit Enabled— A free 30-day trial to iFit is included with your purchase of the Pro 2000 treadmill.  

ReBound Pro™ Cushioning — This is the newest cushioning technology that ProForm has to offer. This technology will reduce impact to your joints so your knees, ankles, feet and hips will experience less stress during your workout.

Warranty — The ProForm Pro 2000 comes 10-year frame, 2-year parts, and 1-year labor warranty.

ProForm PRO 9000 Treadmill Review

The ProForm SMART PRO 9000 treadmill is ProForm’s top of the line model. It comes with every premium feature that ProForm has to offer, and they have quite a few. The ProForm SMART PRO 9000 treadmill combines a heavy-duty running machine with features that are designed to motivate and entertain you while you run in place. Since running in place can be boring, being motivated or entertained is a big plus.

Features on the ProForm SMART PRO 9000 Treadmill

Both Incline and Decline – Every treadmill has the ability to incline, but few allow you to also decline the deck.  The ProForm PRO 9000 declines to 3%, and inclines to 12%. This allows you to simulate going up and down hills and target additional lower body muscles.

Upgraded 22″ Smart HD Touchscreen – This is the main feature that increases the price of this model over the ProForm Pro 2000.  The 22″ Smart HD Touchscreen allows you to access the internet and view your iFit stats.  The Pro 2000 only has a 10″ screen.

1.9” Precision Balanced Rollers – Larger rollers are always better because they require fewer rotations of the belt.  This reduces wear on the belt, the rollers, and the bearings.  It can also reduce noise.

20″ x 60″ Treadbelt – At this price, 20″ x 60″ is fairly standard.

3.6 Continuous Duty HP Motor – This motor is more than you’ll ever need.  It will easily handle any sort of abuse you throw at it.

iFit Enabled – iFit will help you keep your workouts more interesting helps you track your workouts and progress towards goals.  There is a 30-day free trial included with the Pro 9000.

ReBound Pro™ Cushioning – This is ProForm’s most advanced cushioning on a treadmill. This cushioning technology will keep impact to a minimum, and your joints will thank you.

Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities with Dual 2” Speakers – ProForm has some of the better speaker systems found in treadmill consoles.  Better music means a better workout!

Warranty – The warranty includes 10-year frame, 2-year parts, and 1-year labor.

What is the Best ProForm Treadmill?

If you are undecided on which ProForm treadmill is the best fit for you, check out these model comparison charts to help you decide.

ProForm Treadmill Comparison Chart

ProForm PRO Series

ProForm – Other Models

ProForm Treadmills – What We Don’t Like

One thing that our review team has been weary of is the decline in warranty offerings from ProForm over the years. Previously, their company had one of the leading warranties in the industry. We have seen the steady decline in the service coverages on their machines. You will get much better warranty options from other brands in the industry like Horizon or Sole.

Are ProForm Treadmills Worth It?

Despite their sub-par warranties, ProForm still remains a top player in the game in terms of specs and technology. ProForm treadmills are all about value, and getting the most for your money. Because they succeed so well at this proposition, they sell massive amounts of treadmills per year.

Even the ProForm treadmills did not have features like iFit, full color displays, and the ability to incline and decline they would still be a good value because of the upgraded components. However, when you factor in the innovative features you get an excellent value on a number of their models.

This article was written by Brook Norris and published on Wednesday, 2 February 2022.