Pro form treadmills are a subsidiary of ICON Health and Fitness, one of the largest fitness equipment manufacturers in the world.
They also manufacture brands like Nordic Track, Healthrider, Epic, Image and Reebok.
Proform is probably the best known name in home treadmills since they've been around for years. And they usually range from $400-1000, making them a popular budget buy.
Although Proform units used to be made quite poorly, they have steadily improved their treadmill construction over the past few years.
Keep in mind that some of the economy units still lack the core essentials of a value treadmill (high motor power, extensive warranty, large walking space, good cushioning, etc.)
Overall, we would recommend the higher end models with stronger motor powers, larger walking areas and better warranties.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can save on Proform home treadmills by buying direct from the manufacturer. They have a special closeout page where you can save up to $800 on their most popular models.
You can also save on shipping and sales tax.
The main benefit of these treadmills are that they are affordable if you're on a budget. They also offer some very popular fitness tools that buyers like.
Strengths:
1) Affordable - Obviously one of the main strengths of these treadmills is their affordability since they range in price from around $499 to $1300.
Many treadmill buyers these days are on a budget and Proform offers a huge range of affordable options to choose from.
2) Improved Models - Many of the new Proform models have improved from the old days of 90 day warranties and tiny belt sizes.
Overall, motor powers have improved, belt sizes have gotten bigger, and warranties have gotten longer - a testament to better construction. Even buyer Proform treadmill reviews have grown more positive.
3) Bells and Whistles - Proform home treadmills offer a lot of amazing "extras" like iFit compatibility (where you can download new treadmill workout programs from the Internet), built-in TV's, iPod docks with built in speakers, workout fans and handweights.
While these don't replace the core features of a good value treadmill, they do get many people enthusiastic about exercising and actually using their treadmill.
Weaknesses:
ICON has a lot of resources and they can probably build a better budget treadmill than anyone else. However a cheap treadmill is still a cheap treadmill.
Any treadmill under $600 is not recommended for runners and/or frequent use. It just won't give you the kind of cushioning and construction quality to last under heavy and/or prolonged use.
Overall, we would stick with the newer, higher end Proform models which offer stronger motor powers, better cushioning and longer warranties.
Conclusion:
Proform makes a wide range of treadmills that are affordable for the buyer on a budget. Plus they come with some 'bells and whistles' you won't find on other brands.
They have also vastly improved in terms of construction, motor power and warranty over the years.
