Product: XTERRA TRX2500 folding treadmill
Price: £799 / $1066 USD (with 11% discount)
Best Place to buy: Best Gym Equipment website
Guarantee: 10 year warranty on motor, 2 year warranty on labour and parts
My rating: A solid 8 out of 10
The XTERRA TRX2500 Folding Treadmill, Product Overview
Although this site is predominately about strength and resistance training, cardio forms an important part of my weekly workouts and I often use a treadmill to help warm up at the beginning of a strength workout or on my active rest days. I was fortunate enough to try out the XTERRA TRX2500 folding treadmill recently and so thought it appropriate to include a review of my experience here for those that also like to incorporate some running into their weekly fitness regimen. It may also be useful if you’re interested in introducing a treadmill to your home gym. So here are my thoughts.
Despite the often hefty price tag of many treadmills on the market today, there are exceptions out there perfect for those with a limited budget and where space at home is at a premium.
The XTERRA TRX2500 folding treadmill is both space-conscious and doesn’t cost a small fortune so it’s ideal for home use. Made especially for strolling and power-walking, but also a fairly capable model when it comes to running, the treadmill comes with a 20 x 55 inch track and an electronic incline of up to ten percent for added challenge. The motor provides speeds of up to 10 mph so if you want to take your speed and intensity level up a notch further then you can. An LCD console display with 24 preset programs means there’s a level suitable for users of most fitness abilities. It also folds up for space-saving efficiency with a Lift Assist frame design and a safety drop feature. There are even speakers for your music and a fan to keep you cool.
A Quick Overview Of The TRX2500 Folding Treadmill
Main Features:
- Speed and incline controls on the handlebar
- XTRA soft cushioned shock absorbing deck
- Large LCD blue backlit display
- Lift Assist frame design for easy fold up and storage
- Audio jack and built in speakers
Product specification:
- 2.25 HP motor
- Speed up to 10mph
- Incline up to 10%
- 2 ply duraweave walking belt
- 24 preset programs
- Heart rate program (heart rate chest strap sold separately)
- Cooling fan
- Jack and speakers for MP3 devices
- 5.5 inch blue backlit LCD screen
- Plastic side rails
- Handlebar speed and incline controls
- Direct access speed and incline
Dimensions:
Length: 183.5cm (72.3”) x Width: 90cm (35.5”) x Height: 142.5cm (56.1”)
A Closer Look At The Features
Programs
The XTERRA TRX2500 has 22 preset programs that determine the speed and incline of the treadmill. The default is 30 minutes program length but you are able to customise this anywhere between 5 minutes up to 99 minutes duration. The default setting for the heart rate control program helps you train at around 116 bpm but this too can be adjusted to match any recommendations you may have from a personal trainer or health professional. In addition to the 22 custom preset programs you can create and save a further two new routines.
Display
The data window on the XTERRA TRX2500, although not massive, is still nice and clear due to the blue back lighting which makes it easy to read the display in any light – having used it in both daylight, artificial light and low light conditions I can vouch for this. Next to the display are ‘quick’ controls that adjust both the speed and incline which can raise to up to 10%. There’s also a handy jack input for you to plug in an MP3 device as well as inbuilt speakers, and a cooling fan.
Motor
Although the motor is only 2.25 HP (the standard for most home treadmills is around 3.0) it’s still pretty quick at the top setting offering up to 10mph. This may not be enough for some of the more seasoned treadmill users, or if you’re wanting to add quick bursts of sprinting into your workouts, but it’s enough to get a pretty decent pace up.
Belt
The belt is 20 inches wide and 55 inches long which offers enough room for a typical adult to walk plus a bit extra. Comparatively, slightly pricier models in this range such as the TRX3500 and TRX4500 have 20 x 60 inch tracks for those with longer strides. I’m 5″.11′ so I felt I was probably at the limit here in terms of track size – any smaller and I would have felt slightly too big and started to catch my feet on the front edge of the belt.
Other Features
Something that impressed me about the TRX2500 is how relatively quiet it is compared to other models due to the two-ply workout belt. As is standard, the belt requires lubrication every so often, with 180 miles recommended between applications.
The suspension of the TRX2500 isn’t bad and comes in two settings which you can adjust with a slider. Again, because it’s a more ‘budget’ treadmill the cushioning is quite light so you still feel like you’re running on a fairly firm surface on either setting – which may suit some people. For those with joint problems this may be too firm and so an alternative model may be better.
As is standard with most treadmills, pulse sensors are built into the crossbar for easy measuring of your heart rate, but you can also purchase a chest strap in addition for wireless monitoring and heart rate control.
I particularly like how easy it is to fold the frame to stow it after use. The treadmill comes with a hydraulic feature called Lift Assist which automates the folding, allowing you to minimise space at home when it’s not in use.
Pros and Cons
- Easy to assemble
- Foldable frame for compact storage
- Good size belt with thick tread that minimises noise
- 24 workout programs, including heart rate control and a manual mode
- MP3 player and port speakers
- Inbuilt cooling fan
- 300 pounds / 136 Kg max weight capacity
- Warranty included
- Not the fastest or most solid treadmill so not suited for everyday running/jogging
- Motor is slightly less powerful than other models – 10mph max speed
- Warranty and free parts only valid for a year
Warranty And Guarantee
Frame and motor: One year
Deck: One year
Parts: One year
There’s a 60-day money back guarantee with all new XTERRA treadmills.
The Final Verdict
The XTERRA TRX2500 folding treadmill is a good, affordable option if you’re looking to get aerobic exercise at home and you’re limited on budget and space.
For the price, it offers quite a lot with advanced cardio training (if you buy the wireless chest strap) and a pulse-controlled workout setting. It also has a decent incline and a good variety of pre-set workouts with the option of creating your own.
The slight downside for me is the relatively light frame and components, as well as a slightly shorter track and less powerful motor which gears this model more towards walkers than serious runners, although I still felt the top speed of 10mph was enough to get my heart rate elevated to around 135bpm and give me a decent workout. If you’re looking for something more powerful then the TRX4500 is a more advanced version and may offer you better value over time coming in at just under £1000 ($1300 USD).
Of course when you buy equipment for the home you tend to make concessions in terms of budget and space and you’re not necessarily looking for something all singing and dancing. The TRX2500 is a good compromise between the lower end treadmill with limited functionality and the top end commercial gym standard. It includes a solid set of features and its foldaway feature means it doesn’t take up a huge amount of space when not in use. If you’re just looking to get in some cardio at home to save driving to the gym or running outside in the rain then it’s a great middle man.
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Have you tried the TRX2500 or any other XTERRA models in the range? What are your thoughts? Perhaps you’d recommend another comparable make or model over and above this one. If so comment underneath and let me know.
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