Cursor Fitness Treadmill – Compact and Sturdy

The Cursor Fitness treadmill is a budget treadmill. It’s not a heavy-duty machine, and it’s not packed with the latest features. And we wouldn’t expect it to be at this price point.

I’ve been reviewing budget treadmills for many years, and the best you can hope for is a well-built machine with a decent monitor, a motor with enough power for walking and jogging, and a folding system that works.

And I’m happy to say the Cursor Treadmills boasts all the features I was hoping to find. What I loved most about this low-cost treadmill was the motor. It’s surprisingly powerful at 2.5 horsepower, and it’s a brushless motor, which means it’s very quiet in operation and is going to last much longer than a brushed motor.

Cursor has done well with the C70. They’ve managed to build a low-cost treadmill that’s sturdy, simple to use, and an excellent choice for people who only need a treadmill for light cardio, such as walking and jogging.

Yes, there are a few drawbacks, which I’ll get into later, but overall, this is one of the more impressive treadmills I’ve reviewed in this price bracket.

Lets take a quick look at the product specs then we’ll take a closer look at Cursor’s budget offering.

Why Do We Like The Cursor Fitness Treadmill?

As I already mentioned, what I like most about this treadmill is the motor, it’s great to find something with enough power for both walking and jogging in this price range. Also, it’s a brushless motor, so it’s nice and quiet; you won’t disturb anyone around you with the sound of your workouts, which is always a good thing.

And it’s good to find a sturdy machine in this price bracket, so many are poorly made and only last a few months. This thing feels great when walking or running, there isn’t too much movement which can be off-putting.

I was expecting a cheap, unstable machine, but it actually feels more mid-level than budget. Many users have mentioned its sturdy feel despite its light weight.

Of course this isn’t a machine for serious runners, it doesnt have the deck size the power or the build for a running machine, but it is perfectly suited to those of you who just want to shift a few pounds of weight and increase your overall cardio fitness.

Light cardio is what this treadmill has been designed for, so if you’re a beginner and you want a decent treadmill that doesn’t break the bank, the Cursor C70 is one of the best choices out there in the low cost price band right now.

Click here to check price of Cursor Fitness Treadmill on Amazon

Is The Running Belt Too Short?

The main drawback of a compact treadmill like the Cursor Fitness Treadmill is the size of the running belt.

All compact treadmills suffer from short running belts. 

The size of the running belt is so important as it determines who can use the treadmill and for what. The shortest running belts I’ve come across on budget machines are 36″. Thankfully, the Cursor can boast slightly more at 40″.

A 40″ running belt will allow users up to 6ft to walk and jog on the treadmill, taller users will need a longer belt if they want to use a treadmill for faster paced cardio.

The faster you walk, jog, or run, the longer the stride you take; therefore, you’ll need a longer running belt. So there’s no running on this machine as the belt is too short.

Another drawback of compact treadmills is the width of the belt. At just 15″, this belt is quite narrow, you risk stepping off the side of the running belt, which can be dangerous, especially if you’re exercising at pace. Short narrow belt are designed only for light cardio. walk/jog

Simple but Easy To Use Monitor

Treadmills costing under $300 will come with basic monitors; you won’t find advanced features like VR, wireless heart rate monitoring, large HD screens, and high end fitness apps.

What you have here with the Cursor Fitness treadmill monitor is a simple, easy to use control console. It tracks all the essential workout stats, such as time, distance, calories, and pulse rate.

Personally, I have no issues with the basic monitors. I like them because they’re uncomplicated. You don’t have to spend hours trying to work out how to use the monitor. You can just get on this treadmill, select your speed, and start jogging—it’s that simple.

Also, with this monitor, you have some built-in workout programs, which is impressive at this price point. There’s 12 workout programs for you to choose from. It’s always useful to have a few built in workout programs, as walking or jogging for long periods can be a little boring. The workout programs will challenge you and keep you coming back for more.

And lastly you have the pulse  sensors built into the handle bars a handy feature for anyone who wants to track their heart rate whilst exercsing.

To adjust the speed of the treadmill there’s two large buttons. The top speed of this treadmill is 7.5mph, adjustable in 0.5mph increments.

There’s No Incline Feature!

Okay, I wasn’t expecting to find a power adjustable incline or anything that advanced, but I was hoping to find a manual incline feature.

It’s a shame not to see a manual incline featured with this treadmill. An incline will add something extra to your cardio workouts.

Walking or jogging on an incline burns twice as many calories as jogging on a flat. Also, incline jogging works, tones, and strengthens those hard to train muscles such as your calves, hamstrings, and glutes.

Yes its a $300 treadmill and even a manual incline is a big ask in this price range, still I do feel an incline is one of the essential features to make the most of your time spend on a treadmill, is it a deal killer? Certainly not, you’ll still get a lot from this treadmill even without the incline.

Also, the Cursor treadmill’s running deck has a natural 2% incline, so at least that’s something. Plus, we have the powerful brushless motor, workout programs, and a sturdy build, features most treadmills in this price bracket are sadly missing.

Weight Capacity (265lb)

Although this is a sturdy well made machine, it’s still a long way off heavy duty. It’s a lightweight treadmill weighing just 57lb. This means it does not have the build to support heavy users running or even jogging at pace.

When buying a low-cost treadmill, it’s always best to keep well under the max user weight capacity.

This machine is rated at 265lb, so I’d recommend no higher than a 230lb max capacity. Also the motor will burn out quickly if you exceed the max capacity of the machine, try to keep well below it. If you weigh over 230lb, you should really be looking for something a little more heavy-duty.

Anti-Shock System – Protect Your Joints

Most treadmills include an anti-shock system, normally fitted under the running belt.

The shock system cushions the impact of every foot strike on the running belt. This will protect the joints in your knees, hips, and ankles. Anti shock systems are one of the main reasons many runners choose to train indoors on a treadmill rather than on hard impact surfaces like roads.

The Cursor Treadmill is fitted with 6 shoch absorbers plus 2 rubbers pads, impressive for a budget machine. This is going to reduce the impact of each footstrike by up to a whopping 40%.

Folds For Storage

There’s no hydraulic folding system with this machine, but considering it is so light, it doesn’t really need one. All you have to do is unscrew a couple of knobs and fold the running deck, which halves the footprint of the machine making very easy to store. Still its a compact machine and doesn’t take up much room even unfolded I’m sure many of you will be able to store this treadmill without needing to fold.

Assembly (less than 30 minutes)

Assembly is easy with the C70. Most people shouldn’t have any issues with assembly, and because it’s light, you can probably assemble the C70 by yourself without the need for a second person.

All you need to do is attach the two uptight bars, the console, and the handrails. Make sure to lubricate the belt before use even if the instructions say its already been lubricated. Centre the running belt and you’re good to go.

Alternative

SereneLife Folding Treadmill

Another one of my favorite treadmills in the under $300 price catorgory has to be the SereneLife Folding Treadmill. It’s a compact, lightweight treadmill, so a great choice for apartment use or for anyone tight on space.

Similar to the Cursor Treadmill, it’s very easy to assemble. This one takes just under 20 minutes. Also, it has a fairly short running belt at 43″, so again, like the Cursor treadmill, it’s been designed for light cardio walking/jogging with a height range of 5ft-6ft.

What I liked most about the SereneLife Treadmill is the build quality. It feels sturdy when jogging. There isn’t too much movement. For a $300 machine, the build quality surpasses most in this price range.

Another feature that really sold this treadmill for me was that it includes a 3-way manual incline, an essential feature to get the most out of your cardio sessions. As I mentioned earlier, incline jogging burns twice as many calories as jogging on a flat surface and is excellent for working and toning your calves, glutes, and hamstring.

The monitor is impressive for a budget machine. It has a large 5″ display, one-touch buttons, a tablet holder, cup holders, and 16 workout programs. And what’s surprising about this treadmill is that it also includes a second set of speed controls built into the handlebars, a handy feature that saves you reaching to the monitor in the middle of a workout. And a feature normally reserved for much higher priced treadmills.

Lastly, the folding system is hydraulic, it’s a soft drop system, which means you can fold the lower deck with just one finger and leave the hydraulic to do the lifting. Impressive for a $300 treadmill.

Overall the SereneLife treadmill is one of the best you’ll find in the budget catorgy perfect for light cardio, easy to use compact and boasts all the essential features you need. Its certainly worth some serious consideration.

To Sum Up

It’s hit and miss with treadmills in this price category. Out of the 40 or so treadmill under $300 there is just a handful of treadmill worth taking seriously and the Cursor fitness treadmill is one of them. Yes, it’s not suited for serious runners, but if you’re looking to burn some carries, increase your fitness levels, and you don’t want to spend a ton of cash. Something like the Cursor C70 is a good choice.

I loved the powerful 2.5 brushed motor, which is surprisingly quiet, and it’s great to see some workout programs included. Plus, you get a sturdy build. For the price, I think it’s an excellent choice.