Good if you have limited needs
Written: Dec 09 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good for smaller people who walk, inexpensive
Cons: Short warranty, probably wont last if you're >200lbs and/or want to run on it.
The Bottom Line: Good for smaller people who wont run on it, or use it for more than 30-45 minutes a day.
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| tfharper's Full Review: ICON Fitness Image Treadmill IMTL1290 |
We've had one of these for about a year and a half after using a pro-form unit that was about twice the cost for 5 years.
The quick and dirty on treadmills:
At $500 you get a basic well made unit with a good warranty...these lower end wal-mart image units are below $500, and you get a very short warranty and somewhat less beefy construction than a no-frills $500 unit would buy you...which isnt necessarily a problem depending on your use.
If you weigh more than 200lbs, plan to use the treadmill for more than 30-45 minutes a day (ie, have more than one person using it), want to run on it instead of walk, or want it to last 10 or more years...add about $500 to each of those 'extras' for cost. That amounts to a better motor, better 'deck', better belt, and stronger overall build construction.
Consumer reports has picked out a few $1300-1400 units that will allow 250lb people to run on them for an hour a day. The january/'05 issue lists them. According to their reviews, spending 3-5k on the units didnt buy you much over their best-buy selections.
However, if you're smaller (my wife is about 125lbs and she's the primary user), walk briskly rather than run (we do), and you arent overusing the unit, these low end Image treadmills will do you nicely. Its probably the cheapest/lowest end unit I'd buy though.
The 10.0 aka 1290 has a bunch of built in 'programs' that let you experience a varied workout of speeding up, slowing down, going up and down hills, etc. You can also download new programs onto a PC, or buy cd's and video tapes that can be connected to the treadmill with an audio cable, which allows the recorded program to control the treadmill. Fairly cool. You can even buy video tapes or dvd's that have you walking or running through exotic places like hawaii, so you see the path you're on and the treadmill is controlled to suit the terrain you're 'walking on'. Nice if you want to position a television set in front of the treadmill and buy a bunch of tapes or disks.
Treadmill maintenance is almost as important as the original build quality. You should wipe dust and dirt from the platform and deck every week or two, gently lifting the edge of the belt to remove as much as possible. Once a month use a treadmill belt cleaner and conditioner to clean the belt. Every year or two (depending on frequency of use), buy a tube of the correct lubricant and apply as directed to the area under the belt. You can get belt cleaner and lubricants from Treadmilldoctor.com if you cant find them in local stores. Prices are pretty fair. I also take the top off the motor housing every few years and apply a little heavy grease or silicone spray to obvious moving parts and rub points, and spray a little automotive 'belt dressing' onto the rubber drive belt.
We got 5 years of daily use out of our cheapo pro-form and sold it when we moved, replacing it with this Image unit. The pro-form was still in great condition, so I'm sold on good maintenance as a way to extend the life of a cheap treadmill.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tfharper
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Reviews written: 35
Trusted by: 2 members
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