The Proform 5.0 CrossTrainer treadmill is a great little budget buy that Proform has brought back for the holidays. Overall, it gives you more than most treadmills at the under-$600 price point.
You get a decent 2.0 HP motor, larger walking area, a pair of 2 pound handweights to work your upper body, individual weight input for accurate calorie burn results, EKG heart rate monitors, and workout fan.
Is it right for you? Here's a quick review to help you decide:
Quick Stats:
Price: $549 (Regular $799)
Motor: 2.0 CHP Commercial Drive Motor
Speed: 0-10 MPH
Incline: 0-10%
Treadbelt: 19 x 55"
Folding: Yes
300 lb Weight Capacity
Warranty: 12 year motor warranty, 1 year parts and labor
Strengths:
2.0 HP Commercial Drive Motor - At this price point, a 2.0 HP motor is quite good and it's covered by an excellent 12 year motor warranty - a huge improvement over older Proform motors. An internal fan cools the internal parts and can help extend the motor's life.
Roomy 19 x 55" Belt - This is a large sized belt for a treadmill at this price point. Many economy treadmill belts are around 18" x 52" or smaller, so this is a nice surprise to find on the 5.0 treadmill.
ProShox Cushioning Reduces Joint Impact up to 28% - Good cushioning is important as poor cushioning can damage your back, hips, knees and ankles. The ProShox Cushioning cushioning system reduces impact on your joints up to 28%, as compared to road running.
This probably isn't the ideal cushioning system for runners, however for walkers it's better than most department store treadmills.
8 Built-in Workouts - You get 4 Crosstraining workouts which control the speed and incline of your treadmill, occasionally prompting you to perform a variety of strength-training exercises.
You also get 4 Weight Loss workouts which were designed by a Certified Personal Trainer. There are 2 calorie-burn workouts (400, 500 calories) each equipped with 2 time options.
Free Pair of 2 lb Handweights for Upper Body Training - You can increase your calorie burn by building in upper body exercises while you walk. These handweights may not build serious muscle but they do challenge your body to work harder and give you a more total body workout.
Weaknesses:
While the Proform 5.0 Trainer has a lot of great things going for it, it's still an economy treadmill and not recommended for runners or heavier users.
We would have liked to see a longer parts warranty (they're only covered for 1 year). But at this price it's a lot better than most. Plus you can buy extended coverage on checkout.
Overall Conclusion: Best Proform Under $600
Without a doubt the Proform 5.0 treadmill is one of the best treadmills for under $600.
It gives you way more than any treadmill under $600 should - including a decent powered 2.0 HP motor, several advanced interactive workout programs, decent cushioning, fair sized 20 x 55" belt and 2 pound handweights for your upper body workouts.
It could compete with many treadmills in the $870 range. If you're on a strict budget, grab this treadmill while you can.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can save on the Proform 5.0 when you buy it direct from the Proform Closeout Store. They've brought it back on sale for a limited time and you can also get Free Shipping.
