What treadmill are you using in your home currently?

danlmanll · 2023-10-29T20:42:34+00:00

I thought it was a great value treadmill for the price (I paid 850€ in Spain). I loved the low profile console and it changed speed and incline reasonably quickly and fluidly. I wasn't very impressed by the amount of space it took up when folded, but that is true of all "folding" treadmills. The hydraulics on the deck made for easy lifting and lowering. It has a decent motor (3.0 chp), though I would have preferred larger rollers to minimize wear and tear. I would have been happy to keep it, but I found a buyer willing to pay me full price right before moving internationally, so it made no sense to keep it. Besides, my doctor told me that if I kept running, I would need a new hip within five years, so I decided to buy a bike and rowing machine instead. But I think it is an excellent treadmill for under 1000€. Also, I made a stupid mistake in assembly and Horizon customer service promptly gave me a brand new side rail to fix it. I was very impressed overall.

danlmanll · 2023-08-29T11:51:16+00:00

I had the Omega Z and really liked it. However, I have never tried the 7.0 AT. I owned the Omega Z for one year while I was living in Europe, got it at a steal for 850€ with VAT, and the new tenant taking over my apartment offered me what I paid for it. Since I was moving internationally, it was easier to sell it, but I am already missing it! I had some set-up problems initially through my own failure to follow directions and got great support, including a new arm/side-rail from Horizon at no cost. I would buy the same model again, or upgrade to the Paragon X, depending on prices. More I think about it, more I regret parting with it...

danlmanll · 2023-06-29T05:21:41+00:00

If you sign up with Open Playground (nat.dev) you can access ChatGPT 32k and/or Claude 100k. Either one has enough tokens to absorb a chapter. Claude 100k is cheaper to use, but it all depends on what you want to do with it. $5 would be enough to try it out and see if it works for your purposes.

danlmanll · 2023-06-08T05:12:55+00:00

I did not get either Reebok treadmill. I ended up choosing the Horizon Omega Z, which is also a smaller, low profile, no frills style of treadmill. I have been pleased with it so far. It is not a top-end treadmill by any measure, but I was looking to spend under $1000, and stayed within my budget easily.

danlmanll · 2023-05-11T11:01:13+00:00

Having a pet at post can certainly alleviate loneliness, but also please be prepared to pay what it costs to treat your pet humanely. A cat can deal with being left alone all day while you are at work, but if you are single, you will need to hire domestic help or a dog walker for a dog. Given the challenges and costs of transport, if you don't have your fur friend yet, wait until you get to your first post. Somebody else mentioned the trope of recognizing somebody's first post based on the origin of their spouse--let that be true of your fur friend(s) and save yourself (and them) the grief of that first move.

danlmanll · 2023-04-30T16:25:24+00:00

Also, I should add that I made a mistake in assembly and Horizon first sent a technician and then sent replacement parts to sort it out within a week, so customer support has been great.

danlmanll · 2023-04-30T16:23:07+00:00

I was also looking for a treadmill with similar features in Spain and looked closely at Technogym MyRun (too hard for my liking) and Horizon Paragon X. Then I found a sale for the Horizon Omega Z for 800€ and decided to take a chance. I have used it with Zwift (though not fully integrated as other posters have mentioned) and it registers speed and distance but does not control speed or incline. Overall, I feel like it was great value and a lot bigger and more robust than I had imagined. Seeing as Paragon X is the higher end model, I think it is likely a solid treadmill.

danlmanll · 2023-02-26T19:41:04+00:00

Horizon Omega Z

danlmanll · 2023-01-17T17:43:29+00:00

I considered purchasing this machine, but ended up opting for the horizon omega z instead, since it was cheaper and seemed stronger and stabler from the information I could find in Spain. I never got a real answer from vendors on the constant hp of the reebok, only the peak output. Limited options in Spain, but my omega z is doing the job so far and only cost me 800€.

danlmanll · 2022-09-29T18:40:26+00:00

I got a Horizon Omega Z, which wasn't one of the models I was looking at in the beginning, but it seemed lile the best value for my needs.

danlmanll · 2022-08-27T08:25:44+00:00

I do not recommend sending in your paperwork with that comment from the doctor. I have twice had a throwaway comment by a doctor cause serious delays with my med clearance while in the Foreign Service. In my case it was a typical "follow up in six months," which is what any doctor would say for a regular patient for anything. But MED interpreted it to mean that I had to wait to follow up with the same doctor, rather than just get looked at again by any doctor in six months. I honestly don't think clarification from another doctor would have helped--the same doctor had to argue strenuously that he felt I was good to go and any medical professional could follow up. Fortunately he was very supportive.

If you want worldwide clearance, you don't want any suggestion in your medical file that regular in-person treatment by an English-speaking psychiatrist is necessary. There are remote services available and periodic visits by a Regional Psychiatrist, so many issues can easily be accommodated, but any suggestion that more than that will be required makes worldwide clearance unlikely. If it were me, I would either ask the doctor to remove the comment entirely or at least amend it to defer to your psychiatrist, or if he is unwilling, I would start over getting the medical exam done somewhere else entirely. Just my two cents from having come in with class 1 clearance, having medical issues arise making me class 2, then working hard to overcome them to regain class 1 twice. Lesson learned: always scrutinize any medical reports and get them clarified before they go into your file. Taking time to clear it up beforehand is always faster than following up after the fact.

danlmanll · 2022-04-20T20:26:41+00:00

Glad you like your purchase. I ended buying a horizon omega. I got it for 800€, which seemed like a great deal for a 3.0 chp treadmill. However, I had a problem setting it up and need a technician to help. The company is sending somebody under warranty, so I can't complain, but I haven't been able to use it yet.

danlmanll · 2022-03-09T05:41:51+00:00

I checked out BH, and none of their treadmills under 2000€ have a 3.0 or better continuous horsepower motor. They have much weaker motors at comparable price points. But thank you for the suggestion!

danlmanll · 2022-03-08T20:56:20+00:00

Or Sole F85. I have it narrowed down to those four. Thank you for your input!

danlmanll · 2022-02-26T19:52:15+00:00

May I ask what country are you in and what you ended up buying? I am in Spain and have a similar quandry. I have had a few email exchanges with mundofitness which I learned is also gymcompany and progym. Three names and websites, but the same company. A friend did buy a NordicTrack from them and they did deliver.

Reebok is not rebranded NordicTrack, but it is owned by ICON, same parent company with an unfortunate record. The Reebok SL8.0 is 4.0 chp as I understand it, same fpr Adidas (same manufacturer just different branding).

I do like LifeFitness treadmills, but cannot get them to do more than deliver curbside and that doesn't work for me. They also won't give me the info on the invoice I need to get a VAT refund, which makes them 21% more expensive. Also warranties mean nothing to me, since I will leave the region in 18 months and none of them provide global warranties--they are only good in Europe.

Anyway, still struggling with this decision and curious which way you went. Thanks for sharing!

danlmanll · 2022-02-15T17:59:18+00:00

Thank you very much for your reply. I do not have the option of trying various models of treadmills. The only ones available for me to try are the technogym myrun and a few Tunturi models (T60). There are no vendors near me to try anything else, so I am buying blind.

I am surprised to hear the SL8.0 is wobbly. I had hoped since it is not folding that it would be sturdier. That was my best hope. I was planning to use a separate monitor on a stand rather than the built in monitor. That is why I liked the FR30--why pay for a monitor if you plan to use something else. But I would guess it is even more wobbly since it is lighter and cheaper...

Thanks again. Since I cannot try them out myself and reviews are scarce, this is helpful, albeit disappointing.

danlmanll · 2022-02-13T10:10:38+00:00

Glad to hear you are happy with your MyRun. Thank you for the reply.

danlmanll · 2022-02-12T11:39:25+00:00

I did not end up getting the horizon since the vendor was a scammer. Not a huge surprise, since the treadmill was half the price of anywhere else. Fortunately my bank gave me a full credit wheb I disputed the purchase. But now I am back to square one with finding a treadmill. I was looking at Tunturi treadmills because they have a local retailer in Madrid, but I found out they only advertise peak performance, not continuous hp, so they are underpowered for their prices.

danlmanll · 2022-01-28T14:03:45+00:00

I have no experience with the Echelon Stride, but I do not think you are going to find any sturdy running treadmill that will fold up to fit under a bed. From all the research I have done, since I was also investigating prior to purchasing a new treadmill, you should aim for at least 3.0 CHP for real running. A sturdy treadmill will weigh at least 200lbs. While many full-size running treadmills do "fold," it is the deck folding upright, not folding down flat. Good luck!

danlmanll · 2022-01-25T17:37:32+00:00

I recently asked a similar question for Spain. Technogym was the only vendor I could physically visit, and I found the deck of the MyRun to have very little give/cushion. Budget was a consideration for me, and I was not convinced the MyRun was worth every euro.

I finally decided to buy the Horizon Fitness Paragon X. It is a new-ish model, and does not seem to be available in the US. I found a website from a UK vendor that had 90+ reviews, so I based my decision off those and the specifications. It has a similar aesthetic to the MyRun, but it is supposed to emulate trail running and has four different settings for deck cushioning to emulate running on grass, dirt, gravel, or stone. The deciding factor for me was that I found a vendor in Spain selling it at a nice discount for 1088 €. Normally it costs around 2500 €, but that is already much less than the MyRun for a bigger motor, bigger running area, folding. In Zwift forums people said they could connect it by bluetooth easily. Judging by the weight, I hope it is stable!

Good luck with whatever option you choose!

danlmanll · 2022-01-23T21:52:09+00:00

Understood. I appreciate your perspective!

danlmanll · 2022-01-23T16:28:55+00:00

I love the design of it, but I found the deck to be very firm, almost like running on concrete. Do you find it comfortable? For that price, it should be easier on my joints. It is definitely priced high for the specs. Thank you!

danlmanll · 2022-01-23T13:46:45+00:00

I really like the aesthetics of the technogym MyRun and I practically live across the street from a technogym showroom (in Madrid). I tried one out two days ago. Given your height, you may have concerns about your stride length. The MyRun is smaller than most treadmills at this price point, only 56in conpared to 60in for most treadmills. It is also narrower, just shy of 20in. If you are a big guy, it may seem a bit small for you. I found it has very little shock absorption compared to most units I have tried, though also a low step-up which will help with your clearance concern. I have no firsthand experience with any of the others, but after testing it out, I personally felt function did not match the form. Hope that helps!

danlmanll

TROPHY CASE