While I wish I could echo the comments on here, I took a gamble on the Smooth Fitness 7.35 treadmill in mid-February and have so far lost my bets.Upon arrival in early March (3 weeks from order), the treadmill was incredibly easy to put together. The console is nice and large, speakers decent, the deck plenty long and wide with a solid feel. Unfortunately, that''s where the positives stopped. While I bought this treadmill partially for its warranty, I did not expect to use it the first day.
The initial problem: The treadmill speed is unpredictable to the point of dangerous.
Upon the first attempt, I set the treadmill on its base speed (0.5 mph) and proceeded to stand on the belt... and it stops! At 6''2" and 180 lbs, the motor and belt shouldn''t be stopping by any means. I proceed to stand on the side rails and increase the speed to 1.0 mph. It starts... and stops... and starts... so I decide to reset it as is usual logic with most electronics.
Again, I place the console on the base speed and just let it run underneath as I stand on the side rails. *Without touching anything*, the treadmill ZOOMS from 0 to top speed with absolutely no notice or gradual lead-up. Just sudden, instant top-speed.
Now, had I been standing on this, let alone my wife, either of us could have been seriously injured given there was zero notice and nothing was touched. Sure enough, every time from there on, the treadmill exhibited the same problem over and over rendering it unusuable.
I called Smooth Fitness technical service and to their credit, the technical support person was very friendly, returned calls promptly, and admitted he hadn''t seen this type of problem before. He also stated this is a new model and that may be a contributing factor. He suggested having the treadmill replaced; however, customer service wasn''t so willing. They gave two options -pay the $300 shipping to have it returned or the treadmill must be serviced with replacement parts from a local fitness service center. They do *not* exchange units, despite hardware failures.
The cliche "between a rock and a hard place" comes to mind. As I wasn''t looking to spend $300 on top of the $1,500 I already spent on a brand new machine, I reluctantly agreed to have a service rep come out. Two weeks later, a service technician came out (now more than a month after purchase) and suggested a new motherboard. The technician left and another two weeks later the part arrived and a technician was back out to install it.
For the time being, the treadmill worked alright. It inclined, declined, increased and decreased in speed consistently . . . or at least for the next couple weeks.
Problem #2: E1 -Speed Errors
The console turns on, you can set your programs, and then... nothing. No treadmill movement, just the error code.
I''m waiting on a resolution on this -I''ll update this review once I hear back from Smooth Fitness, hopefully tomorrow.
As a final note, I did write a review on Smooth Fitness'' website that was honest to the unfortunate facts, but positive to the structural feel and prompt response of technical service. Given it was not the stellar review like their others, they chose not to publish it, to which I can only assuming because it was not glowing.
In the end, I do believe their treadmills should be quality based upon Consumer Reports and Runner''s World; however, when you''re given a lemon, how many times should your product need to be repaired before they finally replace it? Particularly when you just paid for it brand new?
UPDATE on 5/10/10: Smooth shipped a new motherboard and had a technician come and install it per the warranty. After 24 hours, it is running okay. I have increased the rating from 1 to 2 stars as while I still have reservations about the product, the technical services response on the phone has been good at returning my phone calls.
UPDATE on 1/28/11: It''s been awhile, so I thought it worthy to post an updated review. I have increased the total review to three stars -having had this treadmill for about a year now, I did have one more service call in June of last year. The technician explained at the time his fixes that day addressed some of the problems prevalent in this early model. Since then, the treadmill has been running smoothly on the 2-3 mile/three days a week runs I''ve been undertaking (usually... admittedly, the holidays may have been a lapse). Since then, I''ve noticed the following:
+ I do like the large LCD display on here. While I don''t find myself using the customized programs, the display itself is bright and the calorie counter and distance tracker tends to be within a +/20 calories as well as +/ .1 miles when I compare it to the Nike+ running on my iPhone during the same runs. I''m glad to see at least the two different sources tell approximately the same story.
+ I do regularly use the incline features and this has never been an issue -perhaps a better tell, the treadmill does feel very solid while running.
+ The main selling feature for me, outside of the high praise from running websites for Smooth (without spending over $2k), was the length of the frame. I was always a bit paranoid of running on treadmills prior to this one being about 6''2". The extra length this treadmill has for the price is appreciated and may be the deciding factor if I had to re-purchase.
The treadmill did seem to get a ''squeak'' after a couple months use. It is lubricated which I''ve been careful to maintain, and it is on even ground (with a mat cushioning between it and the floor). It''s not a big deal (although I do find myself unintentionally running to the squeak rhythm eventually), but it is noticeable.
All-in-all, would I recommend it again? Perhaps if you''re over 6''0" and need a longer surface, I would. The solid-feel of the machine is there and I didn''t see any machines at the time that could match the HP, warranty and price. If you don''t think you need the extra surface though, I might encourage you to compare it against some of the same priced competition (i.e. Sole).
UPDATE on 1/18/13: While the majority of my running has transitioned to outdoors, I have been using this treadmill in the past year mostly for 1) minimalist running build-up and 2) whenever it''s raining during my typical run days. The frame definitely is holding up well -the only real wear that you can see if the start button plastic has chipped now as opposed to just bubbled up as mentioned previously. The only other noticeable change is that the start key seems to fall out on occasion mid-use (possibly wear?). This would be more irritating if I relied on the treadmill display for the distance/speed given it resets every time you plug in the key -however, I have been using a Garmin 610 plus pedometer to track all distances run the past couple years.
Once I got the machine set up, I could hardly wait to give it a trial run. I couldn''t have been more disappointed with the performance--specifically, the length of time it took for the treadmill to slow down from a fast pace. I timed it, and it took at least 45 seconds (perhaps up to a minute) to slow from 10 MPH to 6 MPH. This is detrimental for any interval workout (such as Troy Jacobson''s "Runervals"), where your rest time is precious. I''ve run on many treadmills over the past 15 years and had never encountered one that operated in such a deficient manner. Needless to say, I called Smooth the next day, figuring that perhaps my machine was defective. To my utter dismay, I was informed that the 7.35 models and lower were designed to operate like that; evidently, this was a new "enhancement" added to the current-year''s model--if I wanted one that didn''t function in such a manner I''d have to upgrade to the 7.6 model or above. I was so disappointed with the 7.35 that I was ready to purchase the 7.6 on the spot...that was, until customer service informed me that I''d have ship the 7.35 back at my own expense. They wouldn''t budge at all on that point, even after I explained the aforementioned shipping fiasco that was no fault of my own. After that conversation, I was ready to send the machine back for a full refund and take my business elsewhere, but I couldn''t do that either, since I''d prematurely disposed of the original box (Smooth said it could only be returned in the original packing). I guess I gave to much credence to the many positive reviews I read while researching this purchase.
Other disappointments include:
The digital-distance meter doesn''t display hundredths of miles; e.g., it displays "1.2" but not "1.25" ... I''ve never seen a quality treadmill that doesn''t let you know when you''ve run a quarter mile.
The fan is worthless. Airflow is entirely undetectable from a mere 12 inches away.
On the plus side, the treadmill operates well when it gets to the desired speed: very smooth and solid. Unfortunately, however, the pros don''t outweigh the cons in this case and therefore I cannot recommend this product.
Best wishes in your treadmill search and fitness goals.
Buy Smooth Fitness 7.35 Folding Treadmill Now
I researched treadmills the best I could, but found the available online information to be more generic or more suspicious than, say, car reviews.Nevertheless, I did trust them enough to narrow down the range about three manufacturers/models. The Sole F80, the Nordic Track C1750, and Smooth 7.35R. [NOTE the 7.35R replaces the 7.35, the console is different, and it has true 15 percent incline.]
Prior to the review proper, just a quick note about the competitor''s models that I tried:
I was able find a Nordic Track C1500 (previous model to the 1750) and a Sole F80 at Sears, and tried them out first. I was disheartened to find that I could only try a Smooth by actually ordering one.
While the Nordic Track was impressively better on features and specs, and worked great, it also had the highest deck (probably necessary for negative incline feature) which was for me a negative. Another big negative is that once released from the folding position, it had no slow soft descent (you have to hang on and lower it carefully).
The Sole F80 was also very good, and very easy (too easy?) to move once folded up. But when looking for independent reviews, videos, etc., I encountered so much self-promotional material it crowded out nearly everything else. Amazingly, I decided to buy the Smooth sight unseen, based on the scant reviews, and the longer (7 year) warranty. I also believed that, based on proximity, I could get parts faster, should I need them in the future.
OK. The review: I have only just assembled and used this unit. I can''t attest to its durability yet, only the assembly, feel, and user experience.
Don''t do curbside delivery. Get this unit delivered to exactly where you want it, right side up, with the front, heavy end (marked on the box) in the right place. Don''t plan on moving it much. Unlike some others'' reported experience, my box--ordered direct from Smooth--was in pristine condition when I received it two weeks later.
This unit is really easy to assemble with a friend, as there are very few parts that are not preassembled.
The soft release feature is amazing and impressively slow and soft. More so than the Sole, which is also quite adequate.
This unit is very hard to move, or even figure out how to move (instructions notwithstanding) at least on my relatively thin carpet,or figure out how to move. (I am a strong large male, BTW.) Night and day difference from the Sole which is hard not to move once it is in the upright position.
I think the Smooth is the most aesthetically pleasing of the three treadmills I have tried, and it is quiet enough.
I weigh 235 lbs, and have run it so far up to 8mph. It was very solid and stable (and I''m out of breath).
The fan, when activated, is amazingly loud for a tiny little computer type fan. It has two settings, loud and louder. It actually does create a bit of breeze, so I wonder if in response to prior criticism on the weak fan maybe the company tweaked the speed to get better output at the expense of noisier operation. It has a fixed blowing angle however.
The console is pretty primitive. As another review noted, it only shows tenths of miles. I believe the lap feature counts quarter miles. There is support for five users, which AFAIK is only useful for computing calories burned (you enter each user''s height/weight/gender). That was just right for us, since we have a family of five. There is the ability to enter two custom programs (I believe two each, for each of the five users), but the process of entering the program is just way too tedious, and makes no allowance to go back to correct anything without having to start over.
The biggest drawback for me compared to the Sole are the available quick settings for speeds and inclines. The 7.35R has a key each for 4/6/8/10 mph. No quick access to anything slower. The inclines go from 2/4/6/8 percent. No easy access to 15%. (BTW, unlike the predecessor 7.35, the 7.35R goes up to full 15 percent grade, not "levels", though their website is still not up to date on this point).
The membrane keys are easier to keep clean, but harder to press than the Sole (there is no tactile feedback). But I wonder if the Sole buttons wouldn''t eventually break. The Sole has speed/incline increment/decrement keys on the handles which are easier to use than poking the plus/minus icons directly on the console.
All current treadmills have a safety feature, where you are tethered to a "key" so if you slip too far back, or trip, the unit will come to a halt. The annoying thing--at least on this unit (I didn''t check this out on others)--is that there is no way to resume your program in progress even after plugging the key back in. That can only be accomplished with the pause button provided the key stays in place. This could tempt some users to defeat an otherwise terrific safety feature.
I would say the Smooth console has a higher quality feel than the Sole. It is definitely "Smoother" overall. The entire top assembly (console and arms) are plastic, but very tough plastic.
Had I been able to judge the Sole F80 and Smooth 7.35R side-by-side, I probably would have purchased the Sole F80 for ease of movement, and easy to use buttons and adequate 5 year warranty, but I''d feel bad about its cheesier console construction. But then again, nobody walks or runs on the console.
Read Best Reviews of Smooth Fitness 7.35 Folding Treadmill Here
PURCHASE & DELIVERY: The transaction was "smooth," and the treadmill was delivered within the timeframe specified. I chose curbside delivery, but the delivery guys placed it inside my garage (which, as I understand it, they weren''t required to do).MOVING UNIT INTO RESIDENCE: I moved it from the garage into the basement myself (no stairs, THANK GOODNESS!). I''m a male, 5''8" 155 lbs. If you intend to locate this treadmill on an upper floor or up any stairs, be prepared to either pay the delivery guys extra, or have some "strong" friends on standby. At 271 lbs., this is no lightweight machine.
UNPACKING & ASSEMBLY: After unpacking the treadmill, I put it together in about 45 min. w/o any help. The instructions were pretty simple and clear. I would suggest you raise the deck and make sure it is centered between the arms before finally tightening all the bolts (I didn''t do this, and had to loosen the bolts and make a simple adjustment of the two front supports before tightening the bolts again --the problem I encountered was the deck came into contact with one arm when I raised it). That was the only problem I had with the assembly. All hardware is included along with the tools needed to put the treadmill together: phillips head, allen wrench. I used my longer phillips head screwdriver when installing the two plastic pieces to the base on each side.
WORKING OUT ON THE TREADMILL: I had to adjust the belt a tad the first time. A T-shaped allen wrench is included for this adjustment. The console is visually appealing, and the pre-programmed workouts are sufficient; or you can manually set up your workout (speed, incline, time). The unit is fairly quiet, but I had to turn up the T.V. a tad to watch a program while working out. It does not include an option for my Ipod, but does have a slot for a memory stick. Just load your music on the memory stick, and it will play through the speakers on the unit. Not the best sound, but it''s a treadmill not a home theater unit. You can monitor your heart rate either through the supplied chest strap or by gripping the front rail. As I mentioned earlier, I''m not large so I had no trouble running on the deck. It is solid, and I experienced no unusual shaking or movement of the unit as I ran. This is convenient for me because I usually run on the streets in my neighborhood. I will continue to do that, but on rainy days I don''t have to worry about missing my run. I can just lower the deck (very easy to lower & raise), and take off. Lastly there is a fan on the console, but it''s not big enough to be helpful; the two holders for water bottles are on each side of the console and fairly accessible; the emergency cut-off switch is attached to a cord that seems long enough to accomodate most people
CONCLUSION: I looked at the Sole F63 / F80. I would not mind owning either of these. As a matter of fact, I almost purchased a used Sole F63, but the owner backed out at the last minute. I decided on the Smooth 7.35 because of the SPECIAL longer warranty: 7 yrs on parts, 2 yrs. on labor; the deck & motor have a lifetime warranty. Since treadmills are high maintenance machines, the extra warranty sealed the deal. So far, I have had a good experience with my Smooth 7.35.
Want Smooth Fitness 7.35 Folding Treadmill Discount?
This is a great treadmill. I''ve bought the $300 to $500 treadmills at Walmart and found that they do not last and are not stable. One particular problem I''ve found with those treadmills is the walking belts would often hesitate. Then I''ve also belonged to a gym a few times. After getting sick of the gym again, I decided to buy another treadmill and went with the Smooth 7.35R. I do not regret my purchase.First of all the treadmill is very heavy, as it should be, if you want something that is going to be very stable and not wobble around. Fortunately this treadmill folds and you can roll on wheels if you need to. I really did not see any difference in this treadmill as compared to a gym treadmill. When your running on it, there is no wobble, vibration, or anything like that. The treadmill belt run smooth with no hesitation. I''ve used it 3 or 4 times a week since Jan, so for about 5 months with no problems.
To be honest I have not used all the features of this treadmill, but what I have used I''m very happy with. I connected my wife''s Ipod Touch to the treadmill to see how that works and worked great. I don''t use that to listen to music, but just wanted to see how it worked. Don''t expect the same sound you get from your high end audio system, but seemed adequate enough to me to listen to some tunes if all you have is an mp3 player. Many have complained about the fan. Yes the fan won''t blow you away, but I think it does help to keep you cool. The incline works great. I''ve tried a couple of programs with no problems. I''m not a big features guy, I just buy a treadmill to run on. So sorry if I can''t go into detail on a lot of the features of this treadmill. My goal is just to let people know if you want a reasonably priced treadmill that is a lot like a gym treadmill, this is a great one. One other thing, I''m 6 ft. and there is more then enough room to stretch out my legs when running. So if your taller then me, you should have no problems with your stride length.
In reading other reviews a lot of people seem to nit pick about things and that''s their right, but keep in mind that this treadmill averages around $1500.00, sometimes lower with special sales. For the price, I''m telling you that this is a great treadmill that I think rivals much more expensive ones.
The company was great to deal with, providing a tracking number. Delivery was a little long, but worth the wait. The only problem you may encounter as I did, is that someone has to be home to accept delivery. And because it''s so heavy, you may want to pay extra to have the delivery people bring inside for you. If your wife or girlfriend is going to receive it, it may be too heavy for them. I can''t say how their customer service is, since I haven''t had any repair issues yet, but I have a feeling that there will be no problems. So if you don''t have a lot of cash to spend on a treadmill, but want a decent one, I highly recommend this one. My goal again, is to just let others know that I don''t think you can go wrong with this treadmill for the price and warranty that comes with it, and that I''ve had no problems so far.
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