Best for Home Use
Best for Serious Runners
Best for Walkers
Best for Seniors
TruPace M120 Review
This unit costs about $800 when on sale, making it a relatively low-priced treadmill. But buyer beware: This treadmill is made in China, which matters to many potential customers, and parts and labor protection are included for just one year. The Smooth 5.65 is a similar but more reliable option.
What We Like:
- Compact design: The M120 requires 72″ L x 36″ W of floor space, which is pretty standard, but it can be folded to save space.
- Workout programs: The TruPace M120 includes manual mode and 13 workout programs. These can be used with an incline.
- Inclined track: The track can be adjusted to 15 levels of incline. Incline workouts enhance muscle tone and speed up your metabolism. Thanks to a handlebar control, it’s easy to alter the incline in the middle of a workout. Some other cheap treadmills only let you change the incline in manual mode.
- Audio: Play your MP3s and listen through the console’s sound system.
- Handrail controls: Buttons on the handrails let you change speed and incline during workouts.
- Heft: This machine weighs 210 pounds. This makes it considerably more stable than the cheaper M100, which weighs in at 130. It weighs the same as the M150, which is the most advanced treadmill in this series.
- Water bottle holder: A bottle holder is included on the console.
What We Don’t Like:
- Jerkiness: Customer reviews indicate that the track jerks as you accelerate.
- Low-power motor: The 2.0 CHP motor isn’t so powerful by 2013 standards. You can buy a treadmill with a quiet 2.75 or 3.0 CHP motor for the same price as this unit.
- No heart rate monitor: For the same price as an M120 you could find a treadmill with a built-in heart rate monitor to help you maximize workout benefits.
- Short warranty: The TruPace M120 is short on customer protections. You may return the machine within 60 days. The frame and motor have lifetime protection, but parts and labor are covered for one year. For comparison, if you opt for a higher quality treadmill you could get five years of parts coverage or more.
Our Verdict:
The TruPace M120 treadmill is a bit sub-par. It has a few nice features such as an automatic incline and water bottle holder, but it fails to stand out from the competition. Plus, there’s no need to settle for a treadmill that accelerates jerkily! For a similar price you could get the Smooth 5.65, which has better cushioning, a longer warranty, and a much better promise of smooth and reliable operation. On the other hand, bumping up to the TruPace M150 won’t make much difference. You’ll get you a two-year parts warranty, a heart rate monitor and a 2.5 CHP motor.
Best Alternative
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill: A Home Gym Powerhouse?
I always enjoy getting on a NordicTrack Commercial 1750. Each season, we hop aboard treadmills manufactured by every brand...read more
See best price »
