Customer Reviews

Smooth 5.25 Folding Treadmill

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have owned and used the Smooth Fitness 5.25 Treadmill for about six months. I've had lower-cost treadmills, and you do get what you pay for. (Though I don't see that spending $3000 gains all that much.) This one is definitely worth the price. It's comfortable and stable, and a pleasure to use. My significant other and I put around 30 miles per week on it, so we're not heavy users like runners in training. We both use the power incline and vary the speed a lot.

It does not have a built-in fan, or fancy programmed routines. I put a six-dollar clip fan on it and I don't miss expensive electronics to break. I just want to walk on it! And it fulfills that function very well.

The one feature I wish it had was a set of sideways wheels. I had a heck of a time getting it into my workout room because it only rolls forward, and I don't have 40" doors in my house. (Does anyone?) It's difficult to fold it up, keep it folded, and get it through normal doorways. Other than that, I am very satisfied with it.

==May 2007==
Still love it, still use it 3-5 times per week. No problems at all.

I recently purchased the 5.25 after doing the required research in trying to determine the best TM for my needs and my dollars. Overall, I am satisfied with my purchase of the 5.25. It arrived in a timely manner - two weeks after ordering - and the freight men moved it upstairs (definitely the best $25 I have spent in a while, as this is a heavy unit/box).
I bought the 5.25 for two reasons: 1) the strong warranty, and 2) its weight and size, as we didn't have room for a larger TM and I was thinking about when we would have to move it when that time comes. I also liked the Sole F63 and could have bought it for $100 less, but it is a few inches longer, 50 lbs heavier, and the deck may be a bit harder than the Smooth. However, there are things about the Sole I prefer.
Some reviewers, around the Net, mention that the 5.25 is best for walking. While I do that more than running now, I have found that this TM works just fine for an 8 minute mile - very solid at its weight of 195 lbs and very strong with the 2.5 hp motor. It is also fairly quiet in its operation, at least compared to an old Vitamaster that we had been using for about 4 years.
My complaints have to do with the console and readouts. First, they are quite small and in black, and therefore not as easy to pick up when running. What I really dislike is the fact that the MPH and Distance alternate back and forth on the same readout: MPH for 15 seconds, then Distance for 10 seconds. This makes it hard to determine your actual time for a mile or two. Secondly, I dislike that the Distance does not come in hundreths, but only tenths. This makes it near impossible to check your time on quarters. Even the old, probably 15 years, Vitamaster had separate feeds for MPH and Distance, and it showed hundreths for distance. Also, the console is way too large for the actual size of the computer read-out screen making most of it superflous and an obstruction for viewing a TV. That is a minor irritation.
Set up was relatively easy and instructions were good. Again, however, I found the directions for using the console/computer in need of clarity.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the Smooth 5.25. If the console was improved to give a better and brighter reading of the figures and there were two separate windows for the MPH and Distance, along with hundreths, I would give this unit 5 stars.

I've been using this treadmill for 6 months now. I love it. My experience with the product has been A1, beginning with a phone call to the company to ask questions, to the delivery, set-up, and through 6 months of use.

The treadmill is very responsive to inputs for changes in speed and angle of inclination. I use maximum incline and speeds up to 7mph. The noise is not obtrusive. If I'm watching television, I have to increase the volume about twice normal; for me that's acceptable. I have had no problems at all with this product and highly recommend it.

I did the set-up myself, which means taking the treadmill out of the box and attaching handle bars and a few other finishing pieces. Two people are strongly advised, however. The manual was incorrect in a couple places, so a little mechanical aptitude is necessary.

The computer functioning, usability, and readouts are excellent. I recommend seriously considering this treadmill.

19 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE:

Still flawless and I am using it more frequently. My best friend, just about!

2 1/2 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE:

It just keeps going. No problems.

Our last attempt at physical fitness was with an stationary bike. After an initial flurry of activity, it became an expensive clothes rack. We have had the treadmill for two months. I cannot explain it, but we use it regularly. The machine has functioned perfectly, except for the pulse monitor, which is not at all accurate. The various exercise programs make working out efficient and offer variety. Hopefully our resolve to get fit will give this fine machine an endurance test over the course of time. We cannot say that we put much strain on it, since we are relatively small people and we tend to do power walking rather than running.The treadmill was shipped promptly and arrived quickly. The assembly took about 1 1/2 hours. Oh, and if a clothes rack is needed, it functions much better than the bike for that purpose. A machine made in heaven.

I have owned a Smooth 5.0 for about 4 years. Even though the motor is warranted for life, it isn't the motor that goes out and renders the treadmill useless - it is the console. When it went out the first time, the TM was under warrantee and the company sent someone to fix it. The second time they sent me the part and only charged me about [...]. After 4 years they no longer carry the part for this model, so they referred me to [...'. Treadmill Dr. also did not have the part and they recommended a generic part, but the cost was [...]!!! I didn't pay almost [..]to have to put this kind of money into it every few years. I junked the Smooth treadmill and bought a used Proform. Time will tell with that, but a least I didn't put out that much money!

This is a great treadmill! It is very easy on the knees & has a great walking bed on it. I have extreme RA & I am able to uss this with no problems.

The Smooth 5.25 treadmill is great for home use. It seems to be very sturdy and it's pretty quiet. We don't use it for running, but for moderate walking exercise it is fine and we are very satisfied.
Be prepared to get some help when it's delivered because it weighs 200 lbs. and you really can't break it down into smaller parts to get it in the house. All the weight is in the base with the motor and negotiating stairs are a bit of a challenge. 2 strong adults are required.

The Treadmill was good in performance. It has nice inclination up to 15 deg and also good speed. It has very small noise when it was on hard floor(in our garage), but will be good when a soft was used.The assembly was easy, but little difficult to move the treadmill , after the assembly.

The wife ordered the Smooth 5.25 back in August '05. Late last year, Oct. '10, the incline stopped working. Due to laziness, I didn't check into it until Jan. of this year, '11. I took the top cover off and discovered the mounting bracket for the incline ball screw motor had ripped from the front square cross tube lateral frame support where it was mounted. The weld on the mounting bracket did not fail as I would have thought, the actual tube steel failed all around the mounting bracket. After several phone calls with Smooth Fitness customer service and emailing pictures of the failure, Smooth replaced the 5.25 with the newer 5.65 approx. 3 weeks later. S+H was free as well. I had to be persistent to get action but they did honor their warranty and I received a free replacement treadmill. The 5.25 still works minus the incline which I will work with my father in law and welding machine to fix. Smooth did not want the old treadmill back.