How Good is an Image Treadmill?

The image treadmill is produced by Icon Health and Fitness, on of the leading companies in exercise equipment. It is also the manufacturer of Nordic Track and Reebok treadmills. Though not as popular as its more expensive cousins, The image treadmill brand gives a lot of value for your money. This is one of the best picks in the $400-800 price range for treadmills. The quality of construction, as well as its performance is quite good for a treadmill at this price range, which is known as “budget” territory.

Image treadmills offer a good number of features that will keep people glued to their treadmills for a long time. These are some of its prominent features:

1. It has built in iFit technology. This is a plus in all Image exercise treadmills. This program can give you different exercise programs that will keep you motivated. You can get more exercise programs from the internet, as well as from CD’s and instructional videos.

2. It has a wide treadmill belt. It measures 20” x 55”, more than the recommended dimensions. This gives a good sense of space and makes walking and jogging comfortable.

3. It is a folding exercise treadmill. This means that it can collapse into place for space-saving purposes.

4. Some models offer 3-2-1 warranty. This means 3 years for the motor, 2 years for the parts and 1 year for the labor.

Some models of image treadmills offer a 90 day warranty. This is quite disadvantageous to you since you can’t expect to get a quality product with this warranty. Most other treadmills offer better warranties so you should think twice before buying an image treadmill or any other treadmill for that matter that has a 90-day warranty only. Better yet, get an extended warranty. It will only cost you an extra couple of hundred dollars, but you’ll have more peace of mind with that.

Also, don’t let the impressive looks of the image treadmill fool you. It looks very sturdy, and the electronics are very impressive. Remember that this is a budget treadmill. Most of the parts are of lower quality, and the real deal of the treadmill is beneath its exterior. This is not for serious runners or athletes. This is made for walking and some light jogging, and is targeted at the low-end consumer. If you are pretty serious with your exercise routine, you have to get a more durable machine. These machines usually cost more, but you’ll also get more from them.

Basically, an image treadmill is a good treadmill especially if one is on a tight budget. For all its shortcomings, image exercise treadmills give a lot of value for what you pay for. This has features that are quite useful, and its parts are quite better than average. But if one can afford a more expensive treadmill, it is recommended that you in invest in a better treadmill. Also, if you are serious with your workout, better get a more durable kind of treadmill. You won’t regret it since you’ll get more features, better construction and parts and also a longer warranty.

IMAGE TREADMILLS:

Image 19.0 Q folding Treadmill

Image Advanced 1400 Treadmill

Get your workout moving with the Image Advance 1400 treadmill. The unit is outfitted with a commercial-grade 2.25 CHP (continuous-duty horsepower) motor that's more powerful than an ordinary drive system, letting you exercise for longer periods while still maintaining a smooth, consistent operation. Users will also dig the AirShox Plus system, an air-based, shock-cushioning system that reduces the impact on your joints by up to 30 percent compared to traditional road running. And folks who want to take the guesswork out of training can turn to the treadmill's iFit.com personal training system--a series of interactive CDs, videos, and MP3s available by phone or over the Internet. When loaded into your treadmill's console, the interactive workouts automatically control the speed and incline of your treadmill while providing motivational music and encouragement from a personal trainer. It's the perfect technology for people who want to keep their workouts interesting and fresh.

Other details include a roomy 19-by-55-inch tread belt, a backlit ClearView display that tracks your speed, time, laps, distance, calories burned, and more, a dual-grip heart rate monitor, and an EasyDrop shock system that makes it easy to fold your treadmill deck for storage. The Advanced 1400 treadmill measures 61 by 34 by 22 inches (W x H x D) and carries a 12-year warranty on the motor.

Image 17.0 R Treadmill

Get your workout moving with the Image 17.0 R treadmill. The unit is outfitted with a powerful 1.5 CHP (continuous-duty horsepower) motor that's engineered to maintain its strength for long-term use, making it ideal for both light and intense workouts. Users will also dig the precision-response impact-absorption system, which reduces the impact on your joints by up to 15 percent compared to traditional road running. And it's a breeze to instantly jump to the velocity and incline you want thanks to the QuickSpeed (0 to 10 mph) and Power Incline (0 to 10 percent) controls. The Power Incline control is particularly valuable, as it helps you burn more calories at a lower speed while also further reducing joint impact. Perhaps the handiest feature, however, is the MyTracks step counter, which not only keeps track of the steps you take while exercising, but also offers an interactive program that allows you to customize your steps according to your goals (experts recommend taking 10,000 steps per day for maximum fitness).

Other details include six preprogrammed personal trainer workouts that automatically adjust the intensity to focus on aerobic, weight loss, or performance goals; a patented Motivational RaceTrack that follows your workout progress on a 1/4-mile track; an upgraded Smart Controller that delivers pure, strong energy while reducing wear and tear on the motor; a large, blue-tinted LCD display that tracks your speed, time, distance, calories burned, and pulse; a CoolAire workout fan that's built right into the console; and a roomy 18-by-52-inch non-slip tread belt. The Image 17.0 R treadmill, which accommodates up to 275 pounds, measures 72.8 by 61.8 by 33.2 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a three-year motor warranty and a 90-day warranty on parts and labor.