Fuel home treadmills are a relatively new brand to the market. They are a discount line from a highly respected name in the fitness industry.
Starting around $699, one of the main strengths of these treadmills is that they are affordable. They also pack some decent value into that small price.
Plus they are a viable option if you want an alternative to the ICON brands (Proform, Reebok, Image).
Strengths:
1) Decent Motor Powers - The motor is the heart of your treadmill and you want a motor that's strong enough to keep the treadmill running without overheating or wearing too quickly.
Ranging from 2.25 HP to 2.5 HP these are great motor powers at this price point. Many economy treadmills will give you 2.0 HP or less.
2) Excellent Warranty - For an economy brand, Fuel warranties are quite good. You get a lifetime on the frame and motor, 1 year on parts and service.
Again, since the motor is the heart of your treadmill and often the most expensive part to fix, it's nice to know you have a lifetime warranty on it.
3) mp3/iPod Hookup with Built In Speakers - This isn't a necessary feature, however it's one that many buyers like.
It can make your workouts more enjoyable to listen to your favorite music or audiobook while working out.
You also get 5 built-in, pre-set workout programs and 2 customizable workouts.
4) Larger Walking Surfaces - Fuel treadbelts are quite spacious starting at 20" x 55" up to 20" x 58". The 58" long belt will be especially useful for taller individuals.
5) Positive Fuel Treadmill Reviews - While there aren't a lot of reviews out there yet, the few customer reviews we did find were extremely positive.
Many users liked the overall value of what they got for the price. They also commented that the treadmills were easy to assemble and gave a solid feel when walking on them.
Having walked on them ourselves, we agree that they do feel very solid feel. The deck is surprisingly strong on these treadmills.
Weaknesses:
Because the Fuel brand is so new, it really hasn't had the time to prove itself.
Also, the consoles are very, very simple, with pressure pad (hard to push) buttons. Plus they do not give you the bells and whistles of similarly priced Nordic track models (iFit workout cards, adjustable cushioning, etc.)
Keep in mind also that these are economy treadmills. They may be well built, but they're still not recommended for running or heavy use. We would recommend that runners spend a bit more and look at the Sole brand first.
Conclusion:
Fuel home treadmills, while relatively new to the market, show great promise. For under $1000, you get high motor powers, large walking surfaces and goodies like mp3 hookups with built in speakers - all covered by a great warranty.
While they are light on the bells and whistles, they are well constructed machines - especially at this price. As their reputation grows, they'll probably give other economy brands a run for the money.
