| Brand: | Gold's Gym |
| Expert Rating: |  |
Some Good, Some Very Bad
The Gold’s Gym 430i Trainer treadmill is built by Icon Fitness, which also builds ProForm, NordicTrack, Reebok, Epic and several other popular brands. Yes, it is affordable — between $400-550! It has very mixed reviews from customers. About two-thirds of the reviews we found were from satisfied customers, but the problems noted in the rest of the reviews are enough to make us very cautious.
The main issues with this machine are in the quality of the machine’s construction. It’s broken down for a lot of people and customer service seems to be a nightmare.
The walking deck on the Gold’s Gym 430 Trainer is only 16” x 50.” The width of the treadmill is a real drawback. Take a tape measure and see just how wide 16″ is. There are some ProForm treadmills for about the same price that have 20″ wide belts. This treadmill is practical only for walking and only for users 5’7” or shorter.
The 2.5 HP motor is not the continuous duty rating. The 2.5 HP rating is the peak performance, so don’t be fooled. It is not the same powered motor you see in higher priced treadmill. It is designed primarily for walkers and may strain when used for jogging or running.
Proform Performance 400i – Read our full review here.
At first glance, the features on the Gold’s Gym 430i Trainer 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.
Proform Performance 600i – Read our full review here.
If you’re short on money, short on stature and moderate on weight, the Gold’s Gym 430i Trainer treadmill may work for you. However, this machine isn’t built for the long haul. At this price range the company has to compromise on the components, engineering and overall biomechanical features.
The Gold’s Gym 430i Trainer 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. 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 430i Trainer. 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 430i Trainer.
Check out all of our top rated ProForm treadmills or visit our Best Buy Treadmill page for more great deals!
The majority of the customer reviews on WalMart were positive. Although a number of customers said they had issues right out of the box or in a very short period. At least they were covered by the 90-day warranty.
Just put the treadmill together about a week ago,my wife started walking on it a few nights ago,but as she walking it jumps up a speed or two almost making her fall.then it slows down to the normal speed than after a few more minutes it jumps up speed again.Ot keeps doing it as she walks. I’ve read through the manual and could not find a solution.
Hi George,
Sounds like a “preset” work out has been selected and the machine is speeding up, slowing down according to the program.
Thank you for your response,I’ve unplugged and pushed the reset button a few times already.I might go ahead and return it for another one.I don’t want to risk my wife or anybody else getting hurt .
I’ve had the 430 i for a little over a year now and I can’t use it anymore, whenever I get on it, it doesn’t run smoothly and if I even try to work out on it I would probably fall or trip/get hurt. It sucks cause it was pretty pricey and it only lasted a year.
Brought the treadmill home a couoke nights ago followed all instructions for setup and all it does is say hello accross the screen and beeps when I try pushing a button. Tried looking into troubleshooting procedures but found nothing.
Bought it a month ago, no longer working it counts time and speed but without movement..470 bucks for a 120 pounds liece of crap!! Very upset…
I’m so frustrated because I can barely see my screen!? Isn’t it supposed to light up!?? You would think for $400 the treadmill would light up on the screen?? Am I doing something wrong!?? Tried Calling customer service to ask and was a NIGHTMARE!! Because my phone # wasn’t recognised they wouldn’t put my call THROUGH!!!? NEVER ever was so angry with a company like I was today! Not happy with Golds Gym products anymore..😢 So at 51 trying to get back in shape after 2 back surgeries and being out of work I was so excited about getting my first treadmill and have had it over 2 months and used it twice because I can’t see the screen to see my results because my bedroom is not very bright.. Please Help I really want to enjoy my treadmill!😢 Thank you so MUCH!
Right out of the box the belt wouldn’t move. I adjusted the belt and reset many times and finally got it working. In just another week it happened again and after adjusting many more times got it working again. Within the next few weeks the belt stopped and it never worked again. Luckily it was under warranty and I was able to get my money back. I bought a Nordic Track and haven’t had a problem . I also had a Gold’s Gym elliptical that broke in 6 months as well. The leg came off while I was using almost causing me to be severely injured!!! Never again Gold’s Gym
Hi Lori,
I’m glad you are having success with NordicTrack…thanks for sharing!
I’m a 6’2″ 255lb walker and bought the 430I Oct 2017 and smartly purchased a service warranty plan from Walmart with it. Worked fine for the first few months doing 3-5 mile walks 3 X a week, but then I noticed that it started to develop a burning plastic smell after hitting the 2mile mark while walking. One day I walked 4.5 miles and was really alarmed at the smell so I contacted my warranty and they sent out a tech. He suspected the motor and the board so both items were ordered in and replaced. I still continued to notice a smell after 2 miles but wasn’t sure if it was just a break-in needed for the new motor. The other day the unit shut down at 3 miles like it lost power and the display was empty like the power was unplugged. The power returned a few hours later after cooling off but now I am waiting for another repair visit by the warranty company. Now I’m wondering if the belt is dragging on the deck putting severe load on the motor even though I have lubed the deck twice since I have owned it. The unit is rated for 350LBs but I’m wondering if it should be 250LBs.
Purchased this treadmill January 2017 from Walmart it was working just fine. November of 2018 I started smelling a strange smell coming from the treadmill after walking on it for 30 minutes at the speed of 3. Contacted the extended warranty that we purchased. They sent a Tech out, he couldn’t find anything wrong. But I could smell it a little as he turned it on, but he couldn’t so he checked everything out, cleaned it and vacuumed it out. Well, the smell is back and I have never had breathing problems or throat swelling. I didn’t notice me having this problem until after walking on this treadmill smelling that awful smell coming from it. All of this happened to me after breathing in that smell coming from this treadmill. Thought it was caused from taking some antibiotics. I stopped taking the antibiotics, my doctor told me to take Benadryl, after taking the Benadryl my breathing got better and my throat got better. Got back on the treadmill the smell was back after breathing in some form of toxic fumes. Now I am feeling once again shortness of breath and throat smelling. The fumes coming from this treadmill must be the cause. Has anyone out there had this problem?
The motor is overheating and you smell the lacquer on the copper coils of the motor smoldering. Same exact thing happened to mine. (see above Aug 3 2018. They sent a tech out who replaced both the motor and the board. Worked fine until you hit the 2 mile mark then the motor starts over heating again. The motors that are sourced for these machines are pure junk. Keep calling and reporting the problems. Eventually they are going to get weary and give you your money back. Go out and get a decent treadmill. I bought a Nautilus and have not had any problems.
Thanks Douglas Drummond for your reply, now I know it’s not in my head, I reported this issue that I am having with my treadmill twice now. I received an email from the extended warranty stating, “Unfortunately, your product is beyond repair.” They are issuing me a full refund. If they had not have responded with a refund and tried to send out a tech again, I was going to report it again & again until they gave me my money back, because cleaning and vacuuming it out doesn’t help the issue it just comes back again because of what you said, “lacquer on the copper coils of the motor smouldering.” I know that It has affected my throat & breathing due to breathing the smell in after it started back in November of 2018. I have been wearing a mask over my nose & mouth while walking on my treadmill. Again thanks! Out the door, it goes…….
Would love to know where I can find a list of the preprogrammed workouts on the Gold gym trainer 430i treadmill. Don’t want to push a button and not know what it’s going to do. Some idea of what the 16 workouts are would be great.
Thanks