I Found You a 5 Star $500 Treadmill!
Written: Nov 28 '05 (Updated Dec 04 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The price, programs, folds.
Cons: Can't input weight or age.
The Bottom Line: This isn't the machine that will last a lifetime but it certainly would fit my needs for my basement. Great price; decent programs, decent tread.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Proform 595 Pi Treadmill |
If I were you I would be looking at the ProForm 595 Pi Treadmill and comparing it to the ProForm’s 350 Treadmill. After all they are both part of ProForm’s Crosstrainer series and the 595 Pi is only $100 more than the 350. Based on feedback from you I will compare these two since comparisons seem to be what are most helpful to you.
The Basics:
There are several important features about a treadmill that I will start off with.
The 595 Pi weighs 275 which is 150 pounds more than the 350. Both models are space saving models. This means that they fold. Once it is folded with the same latch as the 350, the 595 Pi can then be rolled. You should not be rolling or moving this if you cannot lift forty five pounds.
The maximum user weight for the 595 Pi is 275 pounds which is 25 pounds more than the user weight for the 350.
It measures about 68 inches long by 25 inches wide by 56 inches high. It is a longer, higher machine than the 350.
The warranty is 90 days on parts and labor and 5 years for the motor. The motor warranty on the 595Pi, which I am reviewing, is 2 years longer than ProForm’s 350. ProForm is owned by ICON, which also owns brands such as Weider and NordicTrack.
The Belt and Deck: Unless you are very short the size of the deck and belt should be something you look at carefully. I do. If one is too narrow or short it can make walking or running on it uncomfortable and even dangerous. The ProForm 595 Pi’s belt is 18 inches wide by 52 inches long. This is one inch wider and two inches longer than the 350. The 350 was within my rule of thumb guidelines for the size of a belt (at least 17 inches by 50 inches) but I think it is nice if you have that little bit of extra room to go with the longer, wider belt
Both models have what ProForm calls ProSoft Impact Absorption which we are told reduces impact on joints by up to 15% as compared to running on the road. Just as a reference ProForm’s CX18i has what they call Pro Sox Impact Absorption which the company says reduces joint impact twice as much as the 595 Pi. The CX18i is $200 more than the 595 Pi. I didn’t feel a significant difference after using the 595 Pi several times. I climbed hills and power walked for an hour at least. My feet tend to hurt me. I don’t think they will invent a treadmill that will help. However I can tell by how much my ankles and feet hurt after my workout.
The belt on both models is the same and I would say that I wasn’t uncomfortable. I felt some soreness in my ankles but if you have no feet problems then going with the more expensive Pro Sox Impact system may not be necessary.
The machine isn’t terribly noisy. I could hear my feet as they touched the tread especially when power walking but nothing I would consider annoying enough to be a deal breaker. Remember this is a $500 machine, not a $1500 machine.
The Design: The console is nicer on the 595 Pi due to the features which are a major point I will be making below. Both machines have accessory trays for my water bottle and cell phone.
I always talk about the placement of the handles. I got an e-mail from a physical therapist who wanted to buy a treadmill with rails. I searched and found her two but it took me quite awhile. The treadmills of the past with railings are just not made. This is too bad because side railings are important for older people. The 595 Pi’s handles are different than the 350 handles. Most people won’t care but since I am reviewing this I will go out on a limb and say I think the 595 Pi’s are safer. They make a loop rather than being straight rails. You might be wondering why even bring that up. The reason for my liking the loop handles is a safety reason. If a person loses his/her balance there is more handle to grab onto.
They both have grip bar sensors on an additional bar below the console. This is where I put my hands when I want the machine to read my heart rate.
There is a key clip on both machines which is a safety feature. A cord is attached to the machine and the other end clips to your clothes or finger. If you fall the cord pulls and the machine stops immediately.
A closer look at the console::
I found the same built in CoolAire fan on the 595 Pi as I did on the 350 and as I am finding on other models. The ProForm's I have recently reviewed have one fan. Some more expensive models have two. The fan has two positions- high and low. If you like air blowing on you then this is a great feature although if you are very tall it will not hit you in the face.
The595 Pi has a few more features than the 350. These features really make the machine. Although the 350 has no programs and that might be a plus for some, for another $100 you will be able to get a treadmill that has programs if you want to use them.
The 595 Pi has a 4 window 6x6 LED Matrix console that showed me my time, speed, distance, incline level, calories burned and my pulse. What the Matrix means is that it showed me a 1/4 mile track that monitored how many times I went around the track. Some find this annoying and cover it; some don’t care; some like it. I don’t care. I don’t use it because that isn’t how I monitor my progress. The 6 x 6 is the size of the Matrix which lights up.
The 350 has a calorie counter which allowed me to put in how many calories I wanted to burn and then stopped when I reached that goal. The 595 Pi doesn’t have that counter but it does have 4 pre-set programs. You will be able to custom make your program, use the manual setting or pick 1 or 2 Trainer Programs. However I could input my weight for the calorie counter on the 350, I can’t input my weight or age on the 595 Pi. That isn’t a huge issue for me because the readouts are about 20% off but certainly with that information they are more accurate. Perhaps they are less than 20% off!
For $700 ProForm’s CX18i treadmill gave me six programs. Four of them are the same as those on the 595 Pi. To use a custom program what I do is press either program 1 or program 2. The machine then says custom program and I set what I want. This information is not necessary for the review but just to know there are segments in my workout and when the first segment is over I hear some sounds and the settings I originally set move over and then the second segment with my second settings appear and the machine adjusts to that.
The 595 Pi has what I am getting quite used to and love this feature. They are the Quick Features. QuickSpeed allows me to increase my speed or decrease it immediately. I don’t have to push the incline or decline button for each tenth of a mile per hour faster that I want to walk or for each level of incline I want to walk. . If I am walking at 3 miles an hour and want to go to 4 rather than pressing the up arrow, which is what is usually done, I just press 4 and it immediately jumps to 4. The buttons from 1 to 10 are at the base of the console. There are QuickIncline buttons that do the same thing. The machine will adjust the incline from 2.00-10% (Others start at 0; the 350 started at 1.5.) at the touch of a button on the incline and 0 to 10 miles per hour on the speed. For those of you looking for a gift let me assure you that 10 miles per hour is more than adequate unless you are buying this for a marathon runner and most likely you won’t since they usually run outside. I can also use the arrows at any time during my workout if I prefer.
My thoughts:
Please check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Please do not allow your children on or around your treadmill and that includes pets!
The 595 Pi versus the 350.
The 595 Pi
~is a heavier machine.
~has a better warranty.
~can handle more weight.
~has .25 less horsepower but at 2.50 is more than adequate.
~has programs.
~has better handles.
~has a track to monitor your workout.
In my opinion the 595 Pi is super. If I didn't spend hours a day in gyms I'd consider it for my own basement. Sure I wouldn't get a commercial quality machine. I wouldn't get lots of programs that I find fun to use. But I would get a decent machine that folds, is sturdy enough for every day use and is only $500!
My treadmill reviews:
ProForm 350 • ProForm CS17e Treadmill • ProForm CX18i • ProForm 840 • Proform 540
How to Choose a Treadmill • Nordic Track ViewPoint TV • Nordic Track Incline Trainer • Landice Treadmill • Star Trac Pro Treadmill • Cybex Pro Teadmill • Cybex 900T Treadmill
Thanks for reading. jo
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Jo
Location: On a bluff overlooking the ocean.
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Spent one glorious day on the beach. The sun came out!
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