The Nautilus T516 Treadmill is one of Nautilus's home treadmill line (they are more known for their $3000+ commercial health club line)
While it's definitely not the same quality as the Nautilus commercial units, the T516 does show promise for the home market.
You get a sleek look, strong motor, quiet running operation and a bright, backlit console. The speed/incline controls on the side handrails and the console fan help to add a little more comfort to your workout.
Is the T516 treadmill a good buy for you? Here's a review to help you decide.
Quick Stats:
Price: $1398
Motor: 3.2 HP Motor
Speed: 0.5 -15 MPH
Incline: 0-15%
Treadbelt: 20 x 58"
Folding: Yes
350 lb Weight Capacity Deck
Console Fan
Built-in Workouts: 26
Warranty: 15 years on the frame and motor, 1 year on electronics, 2 years on parts, 6 months on labor, 3 months on foam/rubber grips/belt
Strengths:
1) Stable Feel
The Nautilus T516 is quite heavy and feels very solid and stable when you run on it.
You definitely want a stable feeling treadmill that stays solid when you pick up your pace (however be aware that this also makes it very heavy when you want to move the treadmill and fold it up).
2) Up to 15 MPH Speed Limit
This is one of the highest speed limits you'll find at this price point and worth mentioning. If you're a runner or really like to do sprints - you'll probably appreciate this feature as many treadmills only give you up to 10 MPH.
3) Side Handrail Incline and Speed Controls
You can change your speed and incline with the side handrail buttons instead of reaching up to the front console to do it.
Many people like this option as reaching up to the console can often break your stride. However note that this feature if also found on treadmills like Sole and Livestrong as well.
4) 26 Built In Programs
To keep you challenged there are 26 built in workouts including 4 heart rate programs (you get the wireless heart rate chest strap included). These help keep you in your target heart rate range by monitoring your heart rate and adjusting the treadmill speed or incline to keep it in that range.
There are also time/distance courses, calorie goal, 2 custom programs, and pre-set 5k and 10k courses.
5) Folding With Softdrop Assistance
The Nautilus T516 folds up to save you space, which is fairly common but still a popular feature with buyers. Plus it comes with what Nautilus calls Softdrop technology which basically makes it easier to fold and unfold the treadmill - a nice touch since the deck is so heavy on this machine.
6) Workout Fan
While it's a little thing, it's still a nice thing. The workout fan built into the console is quite powerful and enough to keep you cool while you run.
Weaknesses:
The Nautilus T516 Treadmill has a fairly short warranty. You only get 15 years on the motor and frame, 1 year on electronics, 2 years on parts, 6 months on labor and 3 months on foam/rubber grips/belt.
Other brands like Sole Treadmills and Nordic Track have much longer warranties with lifetime motor and frame warranties and up to 2 years on labor.
Also note that you don't get some of the toys that comes with other treadmills at this price point (like iPod docks, console speakers, Wifi connections, etc.) which may or may not matter to you.
Overall Conclusion:
The Nautilus T516 Treadmill is one of the home models from Nautilus. And it offers you some great value. You get a strong motor that runs pretty quietly (great if you're watching TV), a strong deck, lots of workout programs and a high speed limit.
Plus it's chalked up some decent reviews from users at Amazon.
However be aware that the warranty is not the best and the treadmill is fairly new to the market so it doesn't have a lot of experience behind it (not a good combination).
It also doesn't come with some of the bells and whistles other brands like Nordic Track give you for the same price.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can get the sale price on the Nautilus T 516 from Amazon Fitness. They're also throwing in Free Shipping which will save you about $150 also.
