Smooth Fitness 5.45 Folding Treadmill

List Price: $1497.99
Price: $1199.00 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
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Special Shipping Information: This item can be shipped only within the contiguous United States.

Read Customers Reviews

(41 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Many people simply opt for the least expensive treadmill or opt for the one that’s exactly middle of the road. However, the best way to choose a treadmill is by evaluating how you’ll use it. For example, if you’re only going to walk, you have a limited amount of space, an inexpensive treadmill will be just fine, and you can likely find one that’s light and compact. On the other hand, if you’re an endurance runner who works out nearly every day, you need a serious, high end treadmill.

There are many people, however, who fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. They walk or jog on a regular basis, though not daily. They want enough features to challenge them, though they’re not in serious training. And, they may need a treadmill that can accommodate the needs of more than one family member.

The Smooth Fitness 5.45 folding treadmill may be a good choice for these middle to higher end users. The price, at around $1200 is low to mid range. But, the treadmill has a good warranty and enough features to satisfy the regular user who wants to challenge himself even as his fitness improves.

The Smooth Fitness 5.45 comes with a 2.5 horsepower continuous duty motor with a lifetime warranty. The speed ranges from .5 to 10 miles per hour and the incline adjusts 15 levels (not 15%). The running deck is 20×55 inches, which makes it long enough and wide enough to be comfortable and to accommodate the stride of runners and taller people. The shock absorption on the running deck appears to be adequate for minimizing impact to joints and knees.

The features on the Smooth Fitness 5.45 are impressive, too. There are five pre-set programs, including, heart rate control, interval incline, interval speed, weight loss and 5k training. The intuitive LCD console allows you to track your time, distance, heart rate, speed and calories burned as you work out. You can store user information for up to nine people, making this a great treadmill choice for a family. The weight capacity is 250 pounds, so this is not a treadmill for the very large user.

All in all, this is a good quality treadmill, though it is a budget model. Higher end treadmills comes with a bigger motor (important for running and for durability) a longer and wider running deck, more features, more incline, higher speed and a better warranty. However, for the low to mid range user, this treadmill may be a good value for the price.

The chief complaint about the treadmill is the display. Rather than constantly showing you your speed and distance, the two alternate. This means that when you end your workout and press the stop button, you’ll be seeing one or the other, but not both. This is bothersome to some users who want to ensure that they see their distance at the end of their workout.

Another complaint with this treadmill is the weight and difficulty of assembly. Unless you elect to pay extra for the white glove delivery service, your treadmill will be delivered to your door and you’ll be expected to get it in the house and assembled. The treadmill weighs over 200 pounds, so it’s a good idea to have help around to get it in the house and get it assembled.

Some other users have complained about the incline adjustment. Most treadmills give their incline statistics in percentages, but Smooth shows theirs in levels. The incline on the Smooth Fitness 5.45 adjusts 15 levels, but this does not equate to a 15% incline. It is as best a 10% incline, and some users felt that this was misleading.

There have also been complaints about customer service responsiveness during problems.

All in all, we would rate this an ok treadmill, but not likely the best in its category. It has good features, and can be stored, though many users report that it’s really too big to be stored even though it can be folded. The warranty is pretty good. In addition to the lifetime warranty on the motor, there is a lifetime warranty on the frame, 3 years on parts and electronics and 1 year on in home service.

If you’re considering the Smooth Fitness 5.45, you should also check out the Sole F63, which is comparable in price and features, but which gets better user reviews. You may also want to consider the Schwinn 840, as well.

Treadmill choice is completely personal, and what works for one person is completely unacceptable to another. Setting a budget and then finding the best treadmill you can afford within that budget is a great way to narrow down your choices. Though features do contribute to the making of a great treadmill, what will keep you happy in the long run is a sturdy frame, a tough motor, a good warranty and good customer service. Once you’ve satisfied these requirements, you should then be able to further narrow down treadmill choices by selecting the features most important to you and your workout.

Buying a treadmill online is often a wise choice. It is simple and eliminates having to determine how to get the treadmill home. With most online retailers, shipping, at least to the driveway, is included in the price. But, even if you plan to buy online, it’s a wise idea to check out any treadmill you’re seriously considering at a local retailer, first. That way you can take a walk on it to ensure that it feels stable and durable to you, and that you like the features and display.

Having a treadmill at home is a great way to ensure that you stick to your fitness routine regardless of your schedule and the weather. You’re certain to be glad you added a treadmill to your home fitness equipment.