Weslo Treadmills
Weslo treadmills are produced by Icon Health and Fitness. Icon are by far the biggest manufacturer of exercise equipment in the world. You'll recognize some of their other brands like Weider, Reebok, Proform and Image to name a few.
Of all the treadmills produced by Icon, Weslo is the lowest priced. In fact of all the treadmills produced by anyone, these are the lowest priced. For the uninitiated, treadmills designed for home use range from $500 to $5000. Just to give you an idea the most you'll pay for a Weslo is well under $1000 and you'll even find one model for under $200!
But for such a small price how much can you expect? These are entry level treadmills designed for lighter use. They lack the power of more expensive brands and are built with smaller running areas. If you're a serious runner, either invest in a treadmill over $1000 or stick to the roads – most of these are not for you. So who are they aimed at?
Well, as popular and as effective as treadmills are, not everyone can justify paying thousands of dollars for what is still just a piece of fitness equipment. For power walkers and recreational joggers a Weslo treadmill for under $500 might be a more sensible choice. So too for the keep fit enthusiast who just wants an alternative to running outdoors on rainy days and during winter months.
Ideally you should opt for the most expensive treadmill you can afford, what ever your fitness level and running experience. And if $500 is your limit then your best choice is probably going to be a Weslo treadmill.
One criticism of any low priced treadmill is the short warranties offered on parts and labor. Unfortunately, this is something you have to accept -- a kind of trade off for the low price.
You could extend the warranty when you first purchase a Weslo treadmill (an extra year will set you back about $80). However, some consumer analysts see this simply as a profit making scheme for the manufacturer with the majority of goods outlasting their extended warranties.
Let's take a look at some specific models in more detail...
Weslo Treadmills to consider
Weslo® Cadence C44 TreadmillAlthough there are many more Weslo treadmills on the market than those below, they are all quite similar in specification. Weslo's strongest selling point is their price and the treadmills below reflect that.
This is the lowest spec treadmill any half reasonable runner should consider. The top speed is ample at 10mph and the incline is electronically adjusted. The C44 monitors heart rate through a thumb pulse and the running area is more accommodating to running.
Motor Size: 1.3 continuous duty
Running Surface: 50in x 16in
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Maximum Incline: 10%
Heart Rate: Yes
Folding: Yes
Weslo® 50SE Treadmill
At just $500 this is one of Welso's most expensive models, would you believe it! Despite being $100 higher than the C44 it offers very little extra. Improvements are a slightly larger belt and iFit technology.
Motor Size: 1.3 continuous duty
Running Surface: 50in x 17in
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Maximum Incline: 10%
Heart Rate: Yes
Folding: Yes
To sum up, Welso treadmills are about the lowest priced motorized treadmills on the market. Don't expect great power or a huge running deck, these machines are not aimed at competitive runners. As an affordable, entry level treadmill Weslo are about your best choice.
