Pro Treadmill Reviews

Elliptical Trainer Review: Horizon Fitness E401 Elliptical Trainer
Elliptical Trainer Rating: 3/5 for smooth motion, but few special features and a defective handle

I think I mentioned on Sunday in a short little post that I took a trip to Dicks’ Sporting Goods. Dick’s sells mostly Livestrong, Sole, Horizon, and Proform treadmills and elliptical trainers. I spent a huge chunk of my weekend testing and then retesting these treadmills and I’m ready to start writing about them. I write in order that I took notes and it seems that I stepped on the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer first. So, let’s start there.

When I tried out the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer there were lots of good things and lots of bad things. Let’s start out with the good. The best thing about the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer is that it was smooth. I didn’t feel any shaking or rattling. If you have a chance to compare the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer to other elliptical trainers side-by-side you’ll notice that the base of the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer is much shorter than the base of most oEther elliptical trainers. The short base of the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer means the stride will be more vertical than horizontal. As a result, users will feel more like they’re on a stepper than they are and elliptical trainer. This is not a bad thing, just more of a preference thing. When I worked out on the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer I felt more work in my quadriceps than I usually do on an elliptical trainer with a longer base.

I’m also happy to say that there was no scraping or scratching noises coming from the flywheel. But, something still wasn’t right. My left hand was moving forwards and backwards when it should not have been. My right hand however, was sturdy and stable. It seems that the left handlebar on the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer was installed improperly or this unit happens to be vulnerable to wear and tear. Either way, when I tried out the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer a handlebar was loose. Ughh, this left a bad taste in my mouth. If you happen to own the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer and you have a problem with the left handlebar please let other people know in the comments.

Features
The Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer is on the low-end of the price range and does not have a lot of features. This elliptical trainer comes with six fitness programs. I do believe I have seen more in terms of fitness programs on elliptical trainers from Horizon Fitness in the same price range in the past, another reason why I didn’t click with the Horizon E401. The console is simple. There are two red LED displays that show time, calories burned, and a lot more.

Compared to a lot of other elliptical trainers from Proform and NordicTrack the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer is practically barren when it comes to the extras. I can pretty much expect built-in speakers and lots of fitness programs from anything by Proform and NordicTrack. Built-in iPod compatibility should be a standard by now and I really would like to see Horizon Fitness integrate iPod compatibility and speakers on their low-end units just like Proform and NordicTrack have.

Final Analysis
I’m going to be honest; the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer is an okay elliptical trainer. The feel is pretty good, but going to the store discovering loose handlebars did leave me feeling skeptical about the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer. There were no other major mechanical problems.. As far as features the Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer left me wanting a lot more. What would really make up for just about everything is adding speakers and an iPod auxiliary in jack. The Horizon E401 Elliptical Trainer is not worth buying simply because there are too many other elliptical trainers out there that offer equivalent or better quality and have a lot more features.

Hello,

I spent about 8 hours this weekend at Dick’s Sporting Goods trying to Livestrong Treadmills and a whole lot more. I’m going to have myself a nice leisurely Sunday nap and then I’m going to start writing some treadmill reviews. I’ll see you all in a little bit.

Treadmill Review: NordicTrack T5 ZI Treadmill
Treadmill Rating: 3/5 for lots of squeaking but a decent feel
Price: $599

Hello Readers,

I’ve ever heard the saying “where there’s smoke there’s fire”? This adage is based on the idea that if you know one thing you know another. Sometimes, this is not always true. My experience with the NordicTrack T5 ZI Treadmillwas a very strange and conflicting one. Let’s get into why I felt so confused about the NordicTrack T5ZI Treadmill.

The second I stepped onto the NordicTrack T5 ZI TreadmillI heard a lot of squeaking. Before even had the treadmill belt going and I was just taking a few test steps that sounded like a couple mice got stuck underneath the treadmill belt. When I finally turned on the treadmill belt I was expecting something terrible because when a treadmill squeaks or rattles it usually means I’m a bad treadmill. To the contrary, I thought the feel was actually pretty decent. The NordicTrack T5 ZI Treadmilldoes not have the best feel in the $600 price range but it was okay. Would you run or walk on the NordicTrack T5 ZI Treadmillalso notice that the treadmill deck is kind of springy but it wasn’t so springy and I felt like I was on a trampoline.

Most NordicTrack treadmills do one thing perfect, features. The NordicTrack T5 ZI Treadmillis no exception. The built-in speakers and iPod compatibility are great and the speakers can get very loud and even when you run on this treadmill at top speed I was still able to hear my music fairly easily on the NordicTrack T5ZI Treadmill. The console is a bright green backlit display and it’s very easy to read even if you’re running at full speed. There’s also the iFit system and talk about the iFit system on many other treadmill reviews so I really want to go into it again but basically you can connect your treadmill to the Internet and save detailed statistics. You can also purchase enhance cardio routines designed by industry professionals like Jillian Michaels.

Final Analysis
Overall the NordicTrack T5 ZI Treadmill is an okay treadmill. The squeaking really does prevent this treadmill from being rated higher. What you will find in many other competitors treadmills are the wealth of features like the iFit system and built-in iPod compatibility with an excellent speaker system. But really, I couldn’t deal with the shaking and squeaking, especially considering that there’s so many other great treadmills out there that retail for 600 bucks.

If you want something to compare the NordicTrack T5 ZI Treadmillwith check out the Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill. Horizon Fitness dominates the $600 price range when it comes to treadmills.

Treadmill Review: NordicTrack T9CI Treadmill
Treadmill Rating: 3 / 5 for rattling and shaking and a merely okay feel
Price: $899

It’s a good thing I’m a thorough treadmill reviewer because after I played with a lot of the settings on the NordicTrack T9CI Treadmill I found a lot of interesting things. When I stepped onto the NordicTrack T9CI Treadmill the firmness setting was at maximum. I tried it on this treadmill for a few minutes and I was fairly pleased with the feel, it was in the best treadmill I’ve ever read on but it was nowhere near any of the worst treadmills I’ve ever been on. A few minutes later I bent over to adjust the firmness than after running for about 5 seconds I heard a little rattling and felt some shaking. I was kind of odd, I didn’t think that adjusting the shock absorption system would change things so much, but it did. I lowered the firmness on the NordicTrack T9CI Treadmill further and that only seemed amplify the problem. Another problem I want to mention is that switching the firmness on the NordicTrack T9CI Treadmill was very difficult. Perhaps these problems are isolated to just this particular unit, but what can I say this is my experience when I tried out the NordicTrack T9CI Treadmill.

The features are pretty good. I’d be much more inclined to talk about the things like the built-in iPod compatibility and date fitness programs if I felt comfortable recommending the NordicTrack T9CI Treadmill. But I don’t, so it’s pretty much a waste of time because the mechanics of this treadmill or simply horrid.

If you’re looking for a really good treadmill check out anything by Sole Fitness
or something by
Smooth Fitness . It’s really hard to go wrong with a treadmill by one of these companies.

Treadmill Review: Proform Crosswalk 380 Treadmill
Treadmill Rating: 3/5 for simplicity

Hello Readers,

This is going to be the shortest treadmill review ever. In fact it’s going to be so short I’m just going to write a haiku about it.

Only for walking
You should go outside instead
But Merit treadmill

Yeah, that probably doesn’t really make much sense so let me break it down. The Proform Crosswalk 380 Treadmill is really just built for walking and it’s very very small. I’d rather just walk or by a Merit Treadmill instead.

Treadmill Review: NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill
Treadmill Rating: 4.5/5

Hello Readers,

It is time for my review the NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill. NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill is another adjustable shock absorption treadmill and I’m actually very glad I tried it. Usually the adjustable shock absorption system is just a gimmick but the NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill really does deliver. Here is my NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill review.

They can be very difficult to find a balance between firm and soft when designing a treadmill. I don’t know how long ago but somewhere along the line somebody decided that users shouldn’t have to choose between a firm deck and a soft deck. Was a very novel idea the time but as it turns out it’s very difficult to make an adjustable shock absorption system mechanically sound. Since its introduction though, many improvements have been made and one of the treadmills that seems to benefit from the research and lessons learned from models of the past is the NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill. My first up on this treadmill it was on the highest firmness setting. I spent some time running on this treadmill at different firmness settings and have concluded that the NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill offers an excellent balance between firm and soft. I will admit, like many other treadmills at adjustable shock absorption systems they can be annoying and sometimes difficult to adjust the shock absorption system, but you’ll be glad you have it especially if more than one person is going to be using this treadmill. Different people at different tastes and I can recommend fitness equipment that has the capability of satisfying multiple users needs.

The thing I really liked about the NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill was the console display. It is bright and very easy to read. The buttons are also large and easy to spot something is change speed or incline while you’re running is relatively easy compared to some other treadmills to slow down. Like just about every NordicTrack treadmill the NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill comes with built-in iPod compatibility allows you to play her music on built-in speakers. Sound quality is pretty good and it sounds comparable to my $20 Sony headphones. The speakers can get loud too, like I’ve had an embarrassing moment when I plug my iPod in to this treadmill to test the speakers and “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer started blasting from the speaker. I think I almost have my auxiliary in cord when I tried to yank out my iPod.

The deck is spacious at 20″ x 16″ which is just about the biggest treadmill you’re going to get even if he spent about $1000 more. The top speed is 12 mph and once again 12 mph is about the upper limit for just about every treadmill on the market, unless you’re willing to pay about $4000 for a commercial grade treadmill that probably belongs in the 24 hour fitness gym.

Final Analysis
I don’t know what else it can say about this treadmill other than I really liked it when I tried it out. I was particularly impressed that the adjustable shock absorption system, mainly because it actually works. At a large running back, high top speed, iPod compatibility, and easy to use and see control panel and you have yourself an excellent treadmill.

If you are looking for a high-end treadmill like the NordicTrack Elite ZI Treadmill I also recommend you check out the
Smooth Fitness 7.35 Folding Treadmill or something by Sole Fitness
. I highly recommend you these manufacturers on the whole and I’m certain you will not be disappointed if you bought a treadmill from one of these two companies.

Treadmill Review: NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill
Treadmill Rating: 4/5
Price: $799

Hello Readers,

The next treadmill my list is the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill. This treadmill comes with an adjustable shock absorption system so you can run on a firm or somewhat bouncy deck depending on your preference. When it was time to try out the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill the sales associate could not turn on for me. He spent about two minutes try to figure out why I felt a little embarrassed letting them know that the plug was actually unplugged. I bent over and plugged the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill in and off I went to test out the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill. Now it’s time to tell you what I thought.

It didn’t take long to realize that the deck of the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill was very firm. Hunting around for about five minutes and decided that it was high time I test out the adjustable shock absorption system. For me, the medium setting was just right but this would not be a thorough treadmill review if I didn’t test out the shock absorption system little more thoroughly. I cranked the shock absorption to loose a setting and was a little surprised to see that even at the lowest setting the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill was still very firm. If you want a very firm feel for your treadmill definitely go with the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill. It’s about as firm as you’re going to get. One thing I have to note about this treadmill is that the adjustable shock absorption system can be hard to adjust. The sliders that let you adjust the shock absorption tend to get stuck and it may take a minute to switch things up.

Like many of the treadmills manufactured by Icon Fitness the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill is feature packed. This treadmill comes with 12 workout programs and if that’s not enough you can get the iFit system with the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill. The iFit system is basically an enhanced personal training system with routines designed and developed by some the top trainers in the fitness industry right now. You can even get voice coaching programs narrated by Biggest Loser fitness trainer Jillian Michaels. The running area of the NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill is an average 20″ x 55″ and can support heavy users. There’s also built-in iPod compatibility so you don’t have to put on headphones while running on your treadmill.

Final Analysis
The NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill was a pretty good treadmill when I tried it out and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other people I know. The NordicTrack T7 SI Treadmill offers everything I have come to expect from a treadmill that retails for about 800 bucks and you’ll be very happy if you decide to take this treadmill home.

If you’re looking for something to compare the NordicTrack T7SI to check out the
Smooth Fitness 5.65 Folding Treadmill or the Horizon Fitness T102 Treadmill. I recommend both of these treadmills and they’re both worth a quick glance.

Hello Readers,

Treadmill Review: Proform XP 690T Treadmill
Treadmill Rating: 1/5 for feeling like a trampoline
Price: $1300

I tried out the Proform XP 690T Treadmill at a Sears store at the West Covina Plaza. My time on the Proform XP 690T Treadmill left a very strong impression on me and now I’m ready to share what type of impression that was. The rest of my Proform XP 690T Treadmill review to find out if this treadmill is worth buying.

Have you ever been on a trampoline? If you have, know that it’s kind of hard to run on it. Oh sure, if you time the bounces right you can catch some speed, but a trampoline is built for jumping more than it is built for running. If you ever have a chance to try out the Proform XP 690T Treadmill like I have noticed that the deck of this treadmill is a lot like a trampoline. It’s very bouncy. I’m sure there is a small segment of population would enjoy the feel of running on a trampoline but not me and probably not you. I do not like to feel of the Proform XP 690T Treadmill one bit and I would rather go with something from Sole or Horizon Fitness. I’ve tried several treadmills from these two companies and they rarely seem to let me down when it comes to quality.

The features built into the Proform XP 690T Treadmill are pretty average considering the price tag. The Proform XP 690T Treadmill comes with a 2.5 hp motor, but for the same amount of money you can get a 3.0 motor which is going to be able to handle users that are much heavier at higher speeds without any performance issues.

Starr couple features I like. Proform tends to do a lot of the extra features like iPod compatibility very well. When I tried this treadmill out I had my iPod shuffle with me and I can attest to how well the speakers work. If you’re looking for a treadmill with iPod compatibility I doubt you’ll find too many other treadmills with better speakers than the Proform XP 690T Treadmill.

Final Analysis
I suppose I could go into more details about the features but I really see no point. The feel of a treadmill is the most important aspect to consider in a treadmill review and the Proform XP 690T Treadmill feels like a trampoline. If you’re looking for a good treadmill and willing to spend $1300 please buy something by Sole Fitness
or
Smooth Fitness Sole and Smooth consistently put out some of the better fitness equipment out there.

Elliptical Trainer Review: NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer
Elliptical Trainer Rating: 4/5 for a great feel and excellent features
Price: $999

Hello Readers,

A lot of people have been wondering about the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer. It seems to be one of the more popular elliptical trainers out there right now and I have tried it! Before you buy anything read this elliptical trainer review. I used it, tested it, and I can tell you if the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer is worth buying.

Before even stepped on the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer I was very impressed with the large rear flywheel. A good rule of thumb is the larger the flywheel the better known and smoother motion and stride of elliptical trainer will be. When I finally stepped on the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer my rule of thumb held up. The NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer was very comfortable the workout on even at faster stride rates. If only onto moving arms is in your thing you can hold onto the much more stable and sturdy handgrips built into the console of the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer. Clearly, the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer is built for smooth striding and stability. In terms of mechanics, the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer is one of the best elliptical trainers in the NordicTrack lineup right now. If you took this elliptical trainer home he would not be disappointed.

The NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer is also coupled with some amazing features. First, the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer has an adjustable stride length from 18 inches to 20 inches. It really would’ve been nice to see a full 21 inch stride but this is more of a wish list than a complaint. Unlike many adjustable stride systems the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer’s adjustable stride system actually works and works very well. Add to the adjustable stride an adjustable ramp back in increase or decrease difficulty and you have yourself the potential to create very customized workouts. As users build cardiovascular and muscular endurance just flip a switch and you’ll instantly have a more challenging workout.

If that wasn’t enough users can plug in an iPod and listen to music or podcasts without having strap on headphones. Being able to run and listen to music without an extra set of wires around is very liberating.

If you do decide to buy the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer I also highly recommend the iFit system especially if you’re plugged into a social network. The iFit system can connect to social networking sites like Facebook and even let you compete against your friends in marathons. It’s also great for tracking goals calories burned and a lot of other interesting data that you will want to know once you’ve committed to a serious cardiovascular routine.

Final Analysis
The NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer is one of the better deals offered by NordicTrack. If you come across the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer at a Sears go ahead and try it out and you’ll see that everything I said is true. This was one of my favorite elliptical trainers for both feel and features. I strongly recommend the NordicTrack Pathfinder Elliptical Trainer!
If you want something to compare the Nordicrack Pathfinder to che out the Sole E25 Elliptical
. It’s another elliptical trainer I highly reccomend.

Hello Readers,
Elliptical Trainer Review: NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer
Elliptical Trainer Rating: 1/5 for a lot of rattling and squeaking
Price: $589

Have you ever had a set of speakers that rattled? I have. My first car was a 1991 Honda Civic hatchback and about a year after owning a car the speaker started to rattle. It nearly drove me insane! Every time a good song came on the radio there was that pesky rattle completely distracting me from enjoying the ride. Whenever I listened to a news station that pesky rattle stop me from hearing that an exit I needed was closed in force you to take a 25 minute detour.

When I tried out the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer I heard that rattling noise. There was also a lot of squeaking. It was almost as if someone had attached a mouse stuck in a mousetrap to the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer somehow and every time you took a stride you woke up that mouse and assorted squeaking in banging the mousetrap all over the elliptical trainer. A good elliptical trainer should not be squeaky. Whether complaint with the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer is that I had somewhat of a wobble to it. If there wasn’t any squeaking I probably could overlook the wobble and recommend people to stick some paper underneath the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer to balance it out, but the squeaking noises were just too much for me.

When it comes to features the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer is pretty good. You get the iFit system which allows you to buy memory cards that have it professionally created and sometimes celebrity narrated workouts. The display was really easy to see and very very bright. A lot of manufacturers of fitness equipment overlook the console in a make the display way too small, we too dim, or much too overwhelming. The NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer console was very easy to work with. If you have an iPod or another MP3 player you can buy an auxiliary and cord and plug your iPod directly into the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer. It has built-in speakers and the speakers work very well, that is until the squeaking from the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer starts to drown out the music or podcast.

Despite the excellent features on the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer I have to strongly recommend against buying the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer. The squeaking in wobbling was just way too much for me to handle and frankly there are way too many good elliptical trainers in the $600 price range for me to even think about recommending people by the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer. If you are looking for good elliptical trainer I do suggest you check out Sole Fitness
. The Horizon Fitness EX-58 Elliptical Trainer is an excellent alternative to the NordicTrack E7SV Elliptical Trainer and sells for $600 delivered.