Merit Fitness 735T Treadmill

List Price: $599.00
Price: $499.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
You Save: $100.00 (17%)

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Special Shipping Information: This item can be shipped only within the contiguous United States.

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(268 votes, average: 0.05 out of 5)
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Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of home workout equipment. And, they are also one of the few pieces that people tend to really use over and over again. Today, there are plenty of choices in treadmills. It pays to shop around, because if you look carefully, you’ll find that you can likely get a very good quality treadmill with the features you want and a price you can afford. Here’s a review of the Merit 735T treadmill, along with some things to look for when buying any treadmill.

The Merit Fitness 735T treadmill is priced for the home exerciser who wants a moderately priced treadmill. It’s priced at around $500, so it’s affordable for almost any budget. There are many online stores that sell this model of treadmill; just be sure to get free shipping so that you don’t blow your savings.

The motor on the Merit Fitness 735T is 2.75 horsepower. This makes it perfect for walkers and joggers alike. The serious runner, however, might find it a bit weak, even though the speed ranges from .5 to up to 10 miles per hour. The weight capacity, at 275 pounds, is about average for medium duty treadmills.

This treadmill has a lot of the features you’d find on higher end treadmills, which is what makes it such a popular choice for many walkers looking for a budget priced piece of equipment.

The treadmill includes computer programming and a display panel that shows time, speed, and distance and calories burned. There are six programs, including weight loss, rolling hills, manual, fat blast, cardio burn and endurance challenge. There is also a heart rate monitor right in the handgrips. Unlike lower end Merit Fitness treadmills, this unit also has a cooling fan, though some users report that they can’t get it to point at them when they’re exercising. The incline feature on the treadmill is powered and goes up to 10%, which is about average for medium duty treadmills.

The Merit Fitness 735T comes with Aero soft cushioning on the walking surface. This is valuable for anyone who has joint issues, and needs to minimize the pounding during their workout. The walking surface is 18 inches wide, which also makes for a more comfortable walk. The ride on this treadmill is quite smooth when walking; though some users reported it to be a bit bumpy for serious runners.

The Merit Fitness 735T folds away for storage. However, at around 150 pounds, it is quite heavy; so many users find that they want to leave it in a stationary spot rather than folding it away all the time.

Assembly is one of the chief complaints among users of this product. Many report assembly to be difficult, and screw holes not being properly aligned. Another complaint about this unit is that the power switch is located in an inconvenient spot.

The Merit Fitness 735T comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, and on the motor.

All in all, this is a great treadmill for walkers who don’t want to spend a ton of money. While it might take a little while to put together, it’s perfectly suited to give a good basic home walking, or even light running, workout. And, at the price, it’s a very good value.
We particularly recommend this treadmill for those who are older. The wider walking belt and the Aero soft cushioning beneath the belt make the treadmill safe and comfortable for even the oldest walkers.

We would probably not recommend this treadmill for the serious endurance runner. It is not designed for runners and it would likely not last very long from the pound that such heavy users give.

However, if you’re on a budget, and you don’t need a heavy duty treadmill; this is a great choice. This is one of the best treadmills available for around $500. Merit Fitness is known for having some of the most rigorous quality testing in the industry.

Of course, you’ll want to compare the Merit 735T to other brands and other Merit treadmills before you make a purchase. We recommend that you seriously evaluate the following things before you buy any treadmill.

• Your needs in a treadmill – Runners need a heavier duty treadmill than those who only walk.

• Budget – Know how much you can spend and then buy the very best treadmill you can find at this price point.

• Motor and Warranty – Find the biggest motor and the best warranty on it in your price range. The motor is the most expensive part to the treadmill, and the one most likely to give you trouble.

• Speed – Some treadmills only go up to 6 or 7 miles per hour. This is not likely to be sufficient for most runners. Runners should buy a treadmill that goes up to at least 10 miles per hour.

• Weight capacity – Some treadmills have a weight capacity of just 225 pounds, which isn’t sufficient for a lot of people.

• Features –There are lots of features available, particularly as you go up in price. Determine which ones you really want, and don’t pay for the ones you don’t.

• Portability – If you have a room you use solely as a home gym, then you can afford to buy a very heavy treadmill, since it will likely stay in one place forever. However, if you need to be able to fold your treadmill and store it, say in a closet or under the bed, you need one that folds easily and has wheels. Keep in mind, however, that many treadmills are too wide to fit through standard doorways once assembled. So, it’s best to at least plan for it to reside in the same room all the time.

Buying a home treadmill is a great investment in your health and fitness. Working out is so much more convenient when you can do it at home. Just be certain to do a thorough evaluation on the Merit 735T and other treadmills before you make a purchase.