If you're looking for a true 'commercial' treadmill, Star Trac is one of the brands you'll want to consider.
You've probably seen several Star Trac treadmills in high end hotel gyms. They were the treadmill of choice the last time I visited the famous Wynn hotel in Las Vegas.
And it's not hard to see why. These treadmills are kind of like the 'Porsche' of the treadmill world - expensive and sleek - and out of the price range for many buyers.
But man, are they fun.
First of all let's talk about the construction on these machines. With up to 5.0 HP motors, thick 1" decks and 500 lb user weight capacities, these treadmills are built to stand up to extreme commercial use.
So you can pound away on it and the treadmill will not budge - it won't even break a sweat.
But when you start to sweat you can turn on the 2 - yes 2 - adjustable console fans.
And unlike some cheaper department store treadmills, these fans aren't just for show. They work as hard as you do - even if you're running for long periods of time.
Most Star Trac treadmills also come pre-wired for Star Trac's optional S Series entertainment system, which includes a 15-inch LCD screen, NTSC/ATSC digital tuner, coaxial cable port for connecting to your cable or satellite set-top box, and integrated control keypad.
You have to buy this as a separate option from Star Trac but even if you want to add it on later, it's nice to know your treadmill is set up and ready for it.
Star Trac programs and electronics also pack a punch. The Personal Trainer Studio creates and saves up to 250 custom programs. The Polar Heart Rate System gives you constant heart rate tracking so you can stay in your target fat-burning zone.
Buying Tips:
With models starting around $4000 up to $7000, these treadmills are not for the mainstream treadmill shopper. They're more suited to the high end, commercial gym or showpiece home gym.
However if you hunt around you can often find a remanufactured Star Trac for less than that - sometimes even half off the regular price.
It's worth noting that Star trac is now making a more 'affordable' line of treadmill -the ST series for the home that sits around $2000. However these aren't as well made as the commercial line and the user feedback has not been great so far. I wouldn't recommend these treadmills over the Sole treadmill.
Where To Buy:
You can get find Star Trac treadmills at Amazon Fitness. They sell through third party sellers so you can usually see the latest models and even some older remanufactured classics like the Star Trac Pro treadmill.
