In the interests of full disclosure, I received this item through Amazon Vine. However, I try extremely hard to write my reviews as if I had paid the full purchase price, for I think this is only fair for those who read and rely on reviews.===Before the Treadmill Arrives===
First off, you''re going to need a few things handy before you begin to assemble your treadmill. Although the majority of tools needed are included, you will need to have a Phillips screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and scissors. In order to run your treadmill, you''ll need a single outlet surge suppressor (I''d recommend buying one on Amazon so you don''t end up running all over town to find one like I did). The surge suppressor must have a UL suppressed voltage rating of 400 volts or less and a minimum surge dissipation of 450 joules. The surge suppressor should be rated for 120 volts AC and 15 amps. I paid $12 for mine at Radio Shack, but you can find cheaper ones on Amazon. Finally, this treadmill is a heavy machine and I would strongly recommend some sort of mat to place under it to protect your hardwood floor or carpet. I already had some interlocking padded mats and ended up using those (which work well), but I know there are pads specifically made for treadmills that might be even better.
===Delivery===
I was pleased that the shipping service used made it very clear when the treadmill was to arrive. I received two automated messages telling me when it was scheduled to arrive (and to press 1 if that was acceptable), and I had a real person call the day before the delivery to confirm. The woman who called told me it was the delivery policy to have the treadmill be delivered inside your front door (so for those of you in apartments, they should bring it up to your unit). The box was huge, which is to be expected given that this is a very large and very heavy machine. I live on the second floor of an apartment building and the poor delivery men had quite a time getting the box up the stairs.
===Assembly===
Now the part that everyone dreads putting the darn thing together. I can''t stress enough that this thing is heavy the delivery guys said it was listed at 300 lbs. but "felt much, much heavier." This means you''re going to need to have at least one other person help you move it to your desired location (I had two friends help me). Putting the treadmill together was, all things considered, not too bad. The instructions are fairly detailed and they include helpful illustrations next to each step so that you know what you''re doing. I only have two complaints regarding the assembly process.
First, there are a lot of screws and they''re fairly similar in size, which makes them a bit of a pain to sort out (though quite doable). Second, Pro-form included an insert that added an additional step that had been excluded from the manual. It''s a fairly important step calibrating the incline so that the safety bar can be attached properly so be sure to keep an eye out for that. Speaking of the safety bar, the treadmill does fold up, but it does not fold up completely and it will stick out at an angle.
I had my two friends help me and we were able to have the treadmill assembled in less than two hours (and this was at a very leisurely pace). Like moving the box, you''ll need at least one other person to help you assemble the treadmill. Unlike another reviewer, I was lucky enough to have no missing or damaged parts, so the treadmill went together without a hitch. Therefore, I have not had the pleasure (ha!) of dealing with Pro-form customer service, so I can''t comment on that. However, I did visit their Facebook page and saw that they had one representative posting that was very helpful regarding problems, so perhaps that would be an option. Also, I am aware that while my treadmill may be running perfectly now, the real question is one of durability. I will update this review if I run into any problems.
===Features===
Now the fun part describing the actual treadmill. This treadmill has a lot of really cool features that help justify the price tag. First, you can change the speed in increments of .1 mph up to a maximum speed of 12 mph. As I am solely a walker myself (to save my downstairs neighbor''s sanity and to also protect my fickle knees), I use it mostly at slower speeds and use the incline to boost the intensity. The incline feature changes the incline from 0% up to 15%. There are several modes that allow you to change the workout information displayed (shown on the console''s seven-inch touchscreen display). You can see your elapsed time, calories burned, distance traveled, incline level, speed, a ¼ mile track that shows you the time it takes to complete one lap and the number of laps completed, time remaining, calories burned per hour, vertical feet climbed, your pace in mph, or your heart rate. You can measure your heart rate using the handgrip pulse sensors, though I don''t think they are terribly accurate. I prefer to use a heart rate monitor and I am a bit disappointed that the treadmill doesn''t sync with my heart rate monitor, but it''s certainly not a deal breaker for me.
The console includes a fan that has three levels, though the fan is honestly pretty weak. Don''t rely on it as your only source of air; I prefer to use a little Vornado that I aim right at me! The console also includes built-in speakers. These are not Bose-quality speakers, but I think they''re fairly good for their small size. The console has an audio jack and includes an audio wire that you can use to plug into a jack on your mp3 player, CD player, etc. There are volume buttons on the console itself, so you''re not constantly fumbling for the volume on your iPod.
Now my favorite part! This treadmill has wireless capabilities (a snap to connect to my wifi network, I might add), so you can download and use your included one-year iFit membership. While I think the iFit service and site are a bit clunky, this is iFit''s fault and not the fault of the treadmill.
For example, you arrange your workout schedule on the iFit site and the next workout on your list is downloaded when you start your iFit workout. As of yet, there is no way to choose another iFit workout from the treadmill console if you don''t feel like doing the next workout on your list. You have to sign in online and rearrange your workouts so that the one you want is on top, which is kind of annoying. However, other than that I love, love, love the iFit workouts. They have several pre-programmed workouts you can choose from (Central Park, etc.), and you can also make your own using Google Maps, which I think is an awesome feature (I''m currently "hiking" the Inca trail to Machu Picchu!). They also have competitions, trainer workouts and many more features. Check out their site it you want to know more.
Of course, if you don''t want to use an iFit workout, you certainly don''t have to. You can use your treadmill the normal way by selecting speed and incline, you can select one of the workout settings the treadmill offers (calorie-burn workouts, all-terrain workouts), or you can select a set-a-goal workout, which allows you to set a time, distance or calorie goal.
===Overall===
I''ve only had my treadmill set up a few days and all seems to be working well so far. I''ll certainly update if I have problems in the future.
The bottom line is that I think this is an excellent treadmill for the price. The features available on this treadmill make it a joy to use, and I find myself actually looking forward to my next walk.
+++++UPDATE+++++
I am still enjoying my treadmill immensely! It''s been about five months since I received it and I use it, at minimum, three times a week. I''ve recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and am trying very hard to keep exercising as I was before this treadmill allows me to do so, no matter what the time or the weather. I only had a problem once (the incline was off and not changing); recalibrating the incline was a simple procedure and fixed the problem. I look forward to many more months on the machine and will update if any problems arise! Happy treading!
Enter the Proform Power 1080 First of all, this treadmill is sturdy. I weigh 220 and run on this thing and it feels rock solid. My Reebok treadmill used to shake the console a bit when I ran, this one does not move. The frame appears to be a much heavier duty than your standard home treadmill, and it is apparent in the size and weight of this unit. Contrary to some of the other reviews, I did not have that much issue getting it together. I spent roughly an hour and a half putting it together at a slow pace. The only time that it would have helped to have had a second person assembling is the very last step, which was installing the deck lowering hydraulics. I managed to do it by myself, but would recommend doing this with a second helper. Other than that, everything went together as expected, with instructions that were pretty good, but nothing to write home about. As other have mentioned, assemble this where you want it to stay, it is big and heavy and once in place, I would not want to be moving it through doorways and up stairs.
Treadmill features This treadmill is on the forefront of some of the newer features that are coming out, including the wider and longer belts, which I do find to be very helpful (I always felt like I was about to go off the end of my Reebok treadmill if I slowed down the least little bit), bulkier frame construction, longer warranties, and of course, the increased use of electronics. The console includes a fan, which I find is almost a waste of time and space, as it is very small and did not seem to do a whole lot for me. I ended up placing a small fan in front of the treadmill for a decent breeze. The speakers are pretty good for their size and can blast out a respectable amount of volume while maintaining decent sound quality, and can be easily heard over the motor and belt while running. I still prefer to wear headphones when I use it though. The controls are positive and easy to use for quick incline and speed adjustments. The heart-rate monitor leaves a lot to be desired, which is my opinion on most hand-grip heart-rate monitors. I''m sorry, but I just don''t want to stand on the side rails for 30 seconds to get my HR information, it throws my workout off. It is amazing to me that Proform and some of the other manufacturers do not place some sort of wireless HR device in these units. I would gladly pay an extra $50 for a HR strap to get an accurate reading all throughout my workout. As a side note, Proform does not have the accessory unit for this purpose for this treadmill (the Accu-rate wirless HR monitor). You would think with a wifi connection and a USB port, adding a bluetooth HR monitor would be no big deal (hint, hint 3rd party companies).
Technology Package The 7" touchscreen is gorgeous and responsive to touch. When reviewing between this treadmill and the 1450 with the 10" screen, I was worried about the bad reviews about the touchscreen being terrible and unresponsive. I do not find that to be the case on this 7". One downfall on this treadmill is the incredibly long boot-up time of the console. Upon flipping the power switch, it take between 30 seconds to 1 minute for the unit to boot up and be usable. While doing this, it goes back and forth between black screens. At first, I thought I had a DOA unit, be patient! This becomes more of a drag as the instructions clearly tell you to turn off the switch and unplug the unit after use to avoid pre-mature wearing of the electronic components. I did find that if you simply leave the unit on, and remove the key, it goes into a sleep mode that recovers in a few seconds when the key is reinstalled. I am still debating whether or not to continue this practice. The built in wifi works amazingly smooth, and I was connected to my wifi in a few seconds, with no tendency to drop the signal yet. Upon linking to your network, you download and install a firmware update that was pretty self-explanatory and took about 10 minutes. When actually using the treadmill during a workout, the screen displays various information in a very easy to follow and entertaining way. You can see a graphic display of the lap, elevation and speed graphs, countdown timers, and depending on the mode, a terrain or satellite map of the path. Unlike the 10" models, there is no Google streetview on these 7" screens.
I-Fit The built in Ifit software is pretty cool, although I would not say it is ready for prime-time yet nor is it worth the $120 per year they are asking, but just right for the 1 year free trial that comes with the purchase. With Ifit, I was able to set up an account for my wife and myself on the computer. When I came back to the treadmill, it welcomed me with my name and asked which one of us would be working out. Very simple. On the ifit.com site, I was able to download a half-marathon training program for myself and a different workout schedule for my wife. It keeps track of my workout, and the next time I get on the treadmill, it knows to progress me to the next training program. It''s very user friendly and really helps change the pace up each day. You can also use their google maps feature to draw out a course anywhere, and then load the map and elevation data onto the treadmill as a workout. I mapped out a particular run I did in the hills of Pennsylvania and it was pretty cool to watch my little runner icon move around the satellite map, and right where I remember a killer hill, sure enough the incline jacked up to 11%. Apparently, you can also do race competitions, although I have yet to try it. All in, Ifit is a pretty cool program with some entertaining features and a nice mix of workout programs. I will not pay $120 a year for this service though, as I cannot see the value. I am waiting until more people get into this technology, as I imagine this would be a very easy program to emulate with freeware/mobile apps.
Overall, I find this to be a very good treadmill in the $1000 price point. The machine itself is solid, it has a terrific warranty, and the electronics/technology package are where treadmills will be going in the near future. This equipment marries together the fitness and entertainment aspects quite well. Some aspects that I have loved to see in this equipment would have been a browser to be able to access things like Hulu or Netflix in the event that I wanted to watch a program over my wifi, and they are starting to get into this with the 10" Android models, but apparently have some bugs to work out, and the option for wireless HR readings.
Buy Proform Power 1080 Treadmill Now
I''m a first time treadmill buyer who wanted to get a treadmill that I could start running on. One that will hopefully last. I looked at Sole and Livestrong in a local sporting goods store, but ultimately decided to buy Proform Power 1080 unseen and to set it up myself. The iFit with Google maps was something I really wanted to try.The box is a beast, it''s huge. It weighs over 300lbs. We were able to slide it on a blanket and use the blanket to pull it safely over the wood floor. The set up instructions were clear. It was missing a necessary screw for the first step, but it was easier to just go to the hardware store and get another rather than to wait for the company to send an extra. Having an extra person around does make the set up easier especially on the side where the cords run to the console, but the extra person really only helps for about 5 or 10 minutes, mostly to hold the console while it''s screwed in and to hold the left support for the console so the wiring isn''t pinched. To install the bottom bar it says to set the incline properly, not being used to the treadmill I wasn''t sure at first if it had inclined, and so ended up putting it up and down, but finally settled on putting the incline up what looked like all the way and installed the bar. It works fine. The screws and bolts: I''ve never seen anything like them, despite having put together a lot of furniture. They were extremely hard to tighten, they just did not want to turn. They got tighten eventually and hopefully won''t loosen at all since there is that much resistance, but you might need your own Allen wrench and will definitely need patience.
It is a very quiet treadmill, our five year old bathroom ceiling fan is louder. It feels very solid to run on, there was no shaking or rattling. I''m 5''9" and the running surface is more than long enough. I can''t imagine that anyone would ever need a longer surface. It also adjust in between speeds and incline very smoothly. I found myself checking the console to see if it has adjust to the proper speed because it is so smooth.
At its highest incline this treadmill gets you high off the floor. It is in our basement and someone 6''2" could not run on it without hitting their head on the 2x4s in the ceiling. I''m fine on it at 5''9" at the 15% incline, but it is something you may want to consider if you are taller, depending on where you would put the treadmill.
The speed buttons are conveniently located going up the right hand of the center of the console going all the way up. They and the incline buttons are easy to see and hit when you run. The incline is a little bit louder than I would have expected, especially when contrasted with the quietness of the belt, but is very smooth. While walking on it I didn''t notice it going up and down at all, except for the feeling in my legs after a little while and the noise of it going up and down.
The fan is comfortable for a fast walk, but for running it''s not going to be much help, even at the highest it isn''t that fast. I thought the positioning was very good actually, but I''m running toward the front of the belt, though not close enough to step off the belt. If you''re going to be able to make any use of the fan it may depend on where you walk.
The mp3 connect: Connecting the mp3 cord to the audio jack on my iPod was disappointing. I was barely able to hear it and it was distorted, the ipad does connect and play, but it wasn''t consistent at first, it seems fine now.
The console and side support arms would definitely be comfortable for someone around my height, it''s much higher that the Sole treadmills I tried. Probably comparable to the height on the Livestrongs I tried at the sporting goods store. I can comfortably grab it without having to lean forward at all, I would think it would be good for a taller person as well.
The touch console is set up very clearly and is responsive to the touch. It did seem to take a little while to start up at first, but I turn off and unplug the treadmill after using it every time (hopefully it will save on electricity and protect from any power surges if we ever lose power and forget to unplug it before it comes back on) and when I go and plug it in, turn on the button and go stand on the treadmill, it''s ready to go by the time I get onto the side rails.
As soon as you press start on the screen, the belt starts moving very, very slowly, maybe 1/2 a mile an hour. The side foot rails are raised some on the outside and tilt in toward the belt, which has been a little uncomfortable to step on and off at first, but I expect that it wouldn''t be too hard to get used to. It probably wouldn''t even bother most people. As I''ve used the treadmill more it stopped bothering me.
The magazine book rack is big and set up right in the middle of the console, so it should be very convenient. It''s great for watching tv with an tablet or laptop.
All in all, for exercise the treadmill seem like it will be great for running. If there are any problems with durability I''ll update this review.
6/30/12 it started with a squeaking noise while running, when I took a closer look the belt had slipped a little to the right. After googling a fix it and finding an Allen wrench, fixing it took only a few minutes. It is now running very quietly again. It is probably worth your while to keep the Allen wrench that came with it for assembly nearby. After 9 months, only one simple piece of do it yourself maintenance and it still runs perfectly.
1/18/13 it is still running well. I don''t notice the raised side rails anymore. It took me awhile to get a firmware update correctly loaded in, and the fan didn''t run for that time. The fan makes a lot bigger a difference than I thought. The difference between being drenched and just sweaty. Fortunately after re-reading the manual I was able to correctly reset everything so the firmware finished installing.
Read Best Reviews of Proform Power 1080 Treadmill Here
Proform Power 1080 Treadmill is a large treadmill with enough extra features to make workouts more enjoyable and more likely to take place. This treadmill is much more than a simple belt with readout of time and distance. Proform made this treadmill more sophisticated with multiple options, different workout plans, and added accessories to keep your workout running smoothly.The Proform Power 1080 Treadmill is a hightech machine and it has several different walking/jogging routines to suit your exercise needs. You can select what you want, tailored to your own needs, and perform your workout. The Proform Power 1080 Treadmill includes four main workout option categories: calorie burning workout, allterrain, set a goal, and iFit, which uses wifi. No matter which option you use, the treadmill provides you with a full report showing your distance, average speed, elapsed time, vertical feet climbed, heart rate, and more.
Those who have not worked out much should probably begin with the set a goal workout or the calorie burning workout. The set a goal option lets you define a goal based on distance, time, or calorieburning. The calorieburning workout goes straight for the gut, letting you select a number of calories you would like to burn using preset options which can be adjusted to your own desired levels. These two are selfdefined options make things easy through the use of defaulted settings, but you can still change them to suit your desires. For example, I may select a workout goal of 1 mile. The treadmill will default to a basic workout with inclines, varying speeds, etc. If I like, I can make a slight adjustment and, for example, change the time from 18 minutes to 12 and remove any percentage inclines. This is nice because the added flexibility lets you create a workout that is just right for you. Even after a workout has started, you can still make adjustments to the speed and percentage incline by pushing a button.
For the more advanced and/or more adventurous, this Proform treadmill has you covered. The iFit Live accesses more challenging workouts that are completely varied and the treadmill will change speed and incline on its own with greater frequency than you get with the calorie burning workout or other options. The idea is to make the experience similar to what you would go through if you were jogging through a place with varied hills, speeds, etc. It even accesses Google Maps to create a workout based on a specific location. The iFit feature requires accessing your wifi so it does take a little preparation, but the live action makes this one of the more enjoyable features of this treadmill. Once you setup an account, it remembers you and what you did the last time. It even keeps track of different family members and then reminds each of what they did before and what phase of the workout is next phase so that each person can pick up where they left off.
The Proform Power 1080 Treadmill is certainly a very cool, very modern treadmill, but is there anything that Proform overlooked or that needs improvement? Well, yes, there are a few things. One problem is the fan. The treadmill has a builtin fan and while this is certainly a good idea, the fan is far too weak to make it useful and there is no way to aim the air directly at your face. You need a second and better source of air than this to keep you cooled down and focused. Another surprising oversight is the lack of a holder for a water bottle. There are two squareshaped places where a beverage may be placed, but the shape isn''t round and thus it will not hold a round bottle very securely. A third possible problem area for some is the time it takes for the screen to boot up. I find that the touch screen is responsive and works well, but it takes up to a minute after the power is turned on before the screen responds.
Exercising is certainly important and the Proform Power 1080 Treadmill is a very good, very sturdy treadmill with many features that work to encourage exercise. It isn''t perfect, but with many cool and useful features like iFit, customized controls, sound systems for your iPod or MP3 player, and a solid warranty, this treadmill has much going for it and makes a very good choice for your next piece of exercise equipment.
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1 month, and no problems for me.Notes that may be helpful:
1. I broke the support bar that stands it up. No problem getting a new one for free from customer service. It is used in the last assembly step to attach to the underside of machine so it can stand upright. The bar has a tag that says something like "set incline". That cryptic tag means to set the incline per the LCD interface. There is an incline setup button. Do that before you try to screw in the bar. I broke my bar because I did not understand what "set incline" meant. Customer support told me that this is a common problem.
2. The machine does not connect through a cable. It works only wirelessly. You need a wireless router.
3. If you want to walk some of those iFit trails, then you need to login to iFit and be logged in *while using the treadmill* and while actually using the treadmill then an icon will appear within the iFit website that you click on to use "iFit Live" to use the google map trails.
4. I know IFit seems cool, however, I found out that I enjoy playing my game box (ps3) much more than watching google maps trails. I setup a PS3 in front of the treadmill and at a higher height and I can walk on the treadmill for hours at 1-1.6 miles/hr.
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