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Our ProForm 350 treadmill review would conclude that this is one of the cheapest treadmills on the market – but is it any good?
Well, if you’ve read any of our exercise equipment reviews you’ll have gathered that we’re not exactly fans of budget treadmills.
With prices coming down and quality going up, there are now some decent treadmills under $1,000 available, but under $400?
It’s great that manufacturers are catering for this end of the market, but can you really make a decent treadmill at this price? Let’s find out.
ProForm 350 Treadmill Review – Features…
As far as the essentials go, the 350 has a 2.25 THP motor, which actually delivers just 1.5 HP continuous duty. 2.25 HP is the peak power output, 1.5 HP the continuous power output, which is more important.Make no mistake, as our ProForm 350 treadmill review confirms – this is a pretty basic machine. Costing between $399 and $599 depending on where you look, you can’t really expect anything else.
This is really only adequate for walking, not jogging or running.
The treadmill reaches up to 10mph – but it’s straining at that speed – and has a power incline of up to 10%.
The belt is a mere 50″ by 17″, which is a very compact running surface and really only suitable for people around 5’6″ or 5’7″ to stretch out on. Even then it’s going to be tight.
What also concerns me is the cushioning on the deck. The ProSoft Impact Absorption seems to absorb very little of the impact and with continuous use may become uncomfortable for your joints.
The build quality is actually not bad for this price range and there are far more flimsy budget treadmills around.
But even so, the 350 doesn’t feel particularly stable and I’d question its durability in the long term.
Whilst ProForm claims that it’s suitable for users up to 250lbs, I’d be a little bit more conservative in my estimates! Especially as this is a folding treadmill.
Front View:
The electronic features and controls are limited to a power and incline control, cooling fans, some grip pulse sensors and a MyCalories center with an LCD display. No workout programs at this price!
I am impressed by the three year warranty on the motor, although the parts and labour warranties only run to 90 days.
Again, you’ve got to remember that this is a budget treadmill retailing for under $400 and you get what you pay for, so I don’t want to too hard on ProForm!
