Smooth Treadmills are made and sold through Smooth fitness. Smooth Fitness was the first treadmill manufacturer to primarily sell over the Internet:
"The Internet is our primary sales medium (over 90% of sales). We are geared towards the sale, service and fulfillment of cyber customers. "
By selling factory direct and online, Smooth can sell their treadmills considerably cheaper than a normal brick-and-mortar store (up to 45% off).
This is partially what has made these treadmills so popular since people can buy a higher quality treadmill for less than they'd pay at a store.
Smooth also has a great website that makes it easy for people to compare, review and see their products before buying.
Strengths:
1) High Expert Reviews - Smooth treadmills are some of the best rated treadmills in the industry.
Their treadmills have received high ratings from experts like Runner's World, Prevention Magazine, About.com, GearAwards and Consumer Guide.
Smooth Fitness itself has been named a top 10 Fitness Equipment Retailer in the 2008 Internet Retailer Top 500 list. They've also received high customer satisfaction ratings according to Bizrate surveys.
2) Strong, Stable Feel - While many cheap department store treadmills can shake or wobble when you pick up your pace, Smooth units are known for being very stable.
One of our own reviewers has a Smooth and she swears it feels like a commercial unit. Smooth machines tend to be heavy which also contributes to their stable feel.
3) Swing Arm™ Shock Absorption Cushioning - This is a higher end cushioning system that Smooth is starting to incorporate into many of their treadmills.
Separate, heavy-duty base and deck frames – similar to health club treadmills – help stabilize the deck for shake-free running.
4) Excellent Warranties - Smooth warranties are some of the best in the business and most include a lifetime motor warranty with a lifetime frame warranty. This helps to protect your investment over the long run.
5) Sound System With mp3 Hookup - Several new Smooth models now come with built in speakers and mp3/iPod hookup. This is becoming fairly standard in the industry however it's still nice to have.
6) Well-Designed website - The Smooth website reflects the fact that they specialize in online sales, covering all the information you would want to know before investing in a treadmill including:
- Detailed descriptions & Pictures
- Easy Treadmill Comparison Tools
- Expert Smooth treadmill reviews
- User Smooth treadmill Reviews
- Secure Ordering & Service Information
As an added bonus, Smooth also has one of the fastest shipping times with approved orders shipped within 2-4 business days. Shipping usually takes between 5-10 business days depending on location.
Conclusion:
Smooth treadmills are stable, well built, solid feeling machines. They offer strong motors, high inclines, great warranties and excellent reviews.
Several models also offer unique features like power-folding (where you press a button and the treadmill folds itself) and motion control (where you wave your hand over a sensor to increase or decrease speed).
If you're looking for one of the best rated treadmill brands on the market, Smooth is definitely one to consider
