Image home treadmills are manufactured by ICON Health and Fitness, one of the largest producers of exercise equipment in the world.
Icon also manufactures names like Proform, Weslo and Reebok.
Image produces economy treadmills and you can generally find them in discount department stores. They generally run under $600 which makes them very affordable for the home gym on a budget.
Image are one of the brands we get emailed about the most - both customer reviews, complaints and questions.
Are these treadmills a good value for you? Here's a brief review to help you decide.
Strengths:
#1) Affordable - Most Image units are under $600 which make them affordable for the home gym on a budget. They're also quite plentiful on the market and easy to find.
Image has recently introduced some higher priced, higher quality machines as well to compete with the mid-priced market.
#2) EKG Heart Rate Monitor - Most treadmills have grip pulse sensors that allow you to monitor your heart rate and stay in your target heart rate zone.
#3) Folding - Image models fold to save space and are generally pretty compact - which can be useful in small spaces.
Weaknesses:
These treadmills - especially the ones under $600 are very basic and don't give you a lot. Many have very low motor powers and not much of a warranty to back them up (which tells you something about the quality of construction).
The Image treadmills we've tried did not feel very stable or substantial when using them.
Also, user Image treadmill reviews in general are quite poor. Image treadmills - as of this writing, get about from 2.5 stars out of 5 from places like epinions and Amazon.
We have also gotten several emails from customers who have had problems with their Image units breaking down (or not working to begin with). We've listed a few of the most helpful ones below - scroll down to read them.
Conclusion: Not Recommended
While Image treadmills are definitely affordable, they are weak in the areas of motor power, cushioning, display consoles and warranty. While there are some limited positive reviews, the majority of reviews are poor.
While the new higher end Image models ($700+) may fare better (they have longer warranties and higher motor powers), for that price, you might want to look at a Nordic track which run at similar prices, offer better construction and give you more for the money.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
If you do decide to buy an Image, you can usually get them quite cheap through Amazon
They sell through third party sellers so you can often get a discount price as well as read more user reviews before you buy.
"I did all the proper research! I studied every treadmill review that could be found for two months. I narrowed my selection to two highly recommended treadmills in the $1,000 range (Sole F63 and Smooth 5.25).
Then it happened! I suddenly received a case of cheap-fever. I saw the Image 19.0R on sale for $549 and wanted to save 50%.
I knew it was an ICON product with a documented non-favorable history associated with their display panels and electronic components. I thought I would take a chance since there were some (very limited) good comments about this product.
I purchased it and three (3) days later the display panel went out just as stated in the reviews. There was no need to debate or display frustration because I knew better.
Back to the store it went for a full refund....
- Mr. Knew-Better
Review of the Image 19.0 Treadmill:
"Customer service is an essential component of any treadmill purchase--- particularly given the short warranty of treadmills under $1000.00. In the case of the Image 19.0, the warranty is 90 days (parts and labor).
When I opened the packaging of the treadmill, I noticed that the right foot rail (part #17) was cracked (about 3"). The box was not damaged, so I can only assume that the treadmill was dropped (or at least damaged) prior to packaging.
Additionally, they included only three of the four bases (part #82), on which the treadmill sits. I called (and emailed) Icon Fitness, the manufacturer, to report the damage and missing part. I did not receive a returned call, and I did not receive an email.
Eight days later, I called again, and finally was told that the parts were going to be shipped and would arrive in 4-6 days. They offered no explanation as to why I was not contacted and did not offer to replace the treadmill..."
