HomeTro Treadmill Review – Powerful 3HP Walking Pad

The 2 in 1 treadmills are becoming so popular that I seem to review more and more each year. While a lot of them lack any real quality, there are a few impressive ones. The HccSport Treadmill is one, the Goplus 2 in 1 is another, and I’m really liking the HomeTro Treadmill as well. The reason these 3 stand out from the crowd more than the others is the build quality.

The HomeTro 2 in 1 Treadmill doesn’t feel cheap. It has some weight to it, which keeps things sturdy, and the materials feel of higher quality than other walking pads.

And it’s quiet, HomeTro use a brushless motor to keep the noise level down. When walking, you can barely hear this thing, as many users have mentioned.

The HomeTro treadmill is an impressive machine. I like the quality, the power, and the monitor. It has a few drawbacks, which I’ll talk about later, but the pros certainly outweigh the cons, and today, I want to take a close look at everything this treadmill has to offer.

Before we get on with the review, let’s take a quick look at the product specs!

Why Do We Like The HomeTro Treadmill?

This isn’t a treadmill for serious runners, it’s not a heavy-duty machine. You don’t have to store it in a basement or garage. The HomeTro is small, it’s a compact treadmill, and that’s why many are going to love this walking pad.

It’s so easy to store because of its size. And you can use it in any room, even a small bedroom or office.

Its size is its selling point, especially if you don’t want a bulky, heavy treadmill. If you’re after something compact that can be moved and stored easily, a 2 in 1 walking pad like the HomeTro treadmill is the perfect choice.

What sells it to me is the power; it’s great to find a 3HP motor on a walking pad. Powerful motors last longer, can handle heavy weights with ease, and, of course, will have a higher top speed.

Also, this motor is surprisingly quiet, with a noise level of around 55DB when jogging. You won’t disturb others around you with the sounds of your workouts. Handy if you live in an apartment.

I haven’t taken this treadmill apart, so I can’t tell you with 100% accuracy that it uses a brushless motor, but it seems like it, well, it must do, considering how quiet it is. Brushless motors are much quieter than the brushed type and, on average, last 4 times longer.

Folding Handrail with Bars

One of this treadmill’s best features is the folding handrail.

When folded, use the treadmill as an under-desk walking pad . With a speed of 0 – 3mph, it is perfect for working while walking. And with the handles raised, the top speed increases to a max of 8.5mph, allowing for faster paced cardio such as jogging.

I love the little remote that comes with this treadmill. It’s certainly handy when the handrail is folded. When the handrail is unfolded, you can keep using the remote or use the handrail buttons to adjust speed mode and workout programs.

I’ve already mentioned that the build quality is higher with this walking pad than many I have reviewed, which is always nice to see and probably the most important thing about the Hometro treadmill.

Still, the quality should be high. This treadmill costs almost twice as much as some 2 in 1 treadmills, so we expect it to be well made, and thankfully, it is.

Click here to check price of HomeTro Treadmill on Amazon

Short Running Belt (40″)

The length of the running belt is so important as it determines who can use the treadmill and for what. The HomeTro walking pad is only equipped with a 40″ belt, which means user height is going to be limited to around 5’8 for jogging.

Taller users will be able to use the treadmill for walking but not for faster paced cardio such as jogging, as it requires large strides, and this belt is just too short.

Also, the belt is narrow, a common issue with compact treadmills like The HomeTro. With narrow belts, I always advise that you be very careful not to step off the side of the running belt when exercising. It’s easy to do on a narrow belt and can be dangerous, especially when jogging or running.

You won’t find large, wide belts on compact machines. This is a compromise you have to make if you want something easy to store and move and, of course, if you don’t have the space to house a larger treadmill.

Is There an Anti-Shock System?

All good treadmills should come with some sort of anti-shock system to protect your joints. I was surprised that the HomeTro treadmill deck doesn’t have a shock system.

Usually, even the low-cost treadmills have a few rubber shock absorbers under the running belt, but sadly, the HomeTro Treadmill doesn’t.

All you have is the multi-layered belt with a shock absorber layer in the middle. Its not going to provide much protection for joints but at least there’s something. Still I was disappointed considering the price of this machine.

Easy To Use Monitor With Remote

A pretty good control console/monitor with the HomeTro treadmill, you have the large LCD easy to read screens built in the front of the running deck, which track your time, distance, speed, and calories.

Also, you have a handy remote control to adjust speed, select workout programs, etc. And there are control buttons built into the handrail, which you can use when the handrail is raised for jogging, or you can still use the remote.

There are 12 built-in workout programs, which is great to see. And you have Bluetooth which makes this treadmill compatible with running apps such as Zwift

Both the remote and handrail controls are very easy to use. There’s nothing complicated to work out. No annoying menus or anything like that.

Lastly, there’s no way to measure heart rate, a feature missing on nearly all 2 in 1 walking pads.

There’s No Incline!

One other major drawback of this treadmill is that it doesn’t include an incline feature, and at this price, I did expect one. All the walking pads over $300 I’ve reviewed include a manual incline.

The reason an incline feature is so important is that it brings something extra to your workouts. You can double the calories burned, and you work those hard to train muscles like your glutes, calves, and hamstrings.

It’s not a deal killer, but it’s something I know many people will want at this price point.

However, there is another version of this treadmill. The upgraded version includes a 7% manual incline, but the motor isn’t quite as powerful. The incline version comes with a 2.5HP motor, which is still easily powerful enough for a 2 in 1 machine. And it costs slightly less too. I’ll leave a link below.

7% incline version of HomeTro 2 in 1 Treadmill

Do I Need a Treadmill Mat?

Lightweight treadmills move around the most when used. That’s simply because they don’t have enough weight to keep them firmly planted on the floor. The HomeTro treadmill weighs just 51lb, so it’s fairly light compared to medium-size treadmills, which weigh around 150lb.

You’ll get some movement with this treadmill because of its lightweight; try it at home first and see before you purchase a mat. Mats will help prevent any unwanted movement.

Another reason people buy a treadmill mat is to protect their floors from scratches. So, if you have polished floors, a mat will be a worthwhile buy.

People who live in apartments might want to buy a treadmill mat as treadmill mats are excellent for soaking up the vibrations from your workouts, which is especially important if you want to keep your neighbors happy.

I’ve found that Sunny Health & Fitness makes the best cheap treadmill mats… link below.

No Assembly

You’ll be happy to hear there’s no assembly with the HomeTro Treadmill. You might need to adjust the running belt if it’s loose, which is easy, and they supply a wrench for the job. Takes a few seconds.

The box is quite heavy and awkward, so if the treadmill is going upstairs in a bedroom or office, you might need a second person to give you a hand getting the treadmill in place.

Alternative

HccSport Treadmill With Incline 3 in 1

The HccSport Treadmill has been a fav of mine for a while now. It’s a sturdy, well-built machine, and just like the HomeTro treadmill, it costs a little more than most walking pads. But it’s worth it! You have the build quality, all the features you need, and the power.

The HccSport treadmill boasts a 3.5HP motor. It is one of the most powerful walking pads on the market, so it can easily cope with jogging and even running.  And it’s quiet, thanks to the brushless motor.

The monitor/control console is very similar to the HomeTro, you have built controls for the handrail, and when the handrail is folded, you can use the remote control, a cool wristband remote.

Something else I liked about the HccSport treadmill was the detachable desktop. It’s large enough for a laptop, and it’s stable, so walking while working couldn’t be easier. Plus, the handrails and desktop are height adjustable, so you’ll be able to find the perfect position.

There’s 12 workout programs to keep you challenged, but sadly no Bluetooth.

The HccSport treadmill has a more impressive deck cushioning system, which includes a multi-layer belt plus 6 shock absorbers fitted under the running belt, which is great for protecting the joints.

Most importantly, you have a 2-way manual incline fitted to this treadmill with a max incline of 6%, so you’ll be able to make the most of each cardio session.

Overall this is a impressive  3 in 1 treadmill, it has all the features you’d expect on much larger more expensive treadmills yet its compact enough to fit just about anywhere in the home. Yes, it does cost more than most, but you get a lot of bang for your buck.

To Sum Up

The HomeTro Treadmill surpassed my expectations. The quality is there, which is great, it’s not a cheap, poorly built machine. Many users praise the sturdy build, which is what you want to hear. The remote control and monitor are much better than most of the walking pads I’ve reviewed, and I liked that it included BlueTooth.

The treadmill comes pre-assembled, which is always a big thumbs up, and everything about this treadmill is so easy to use. You just get on and go.

The drawbacks – the running belt is short, so if you’re over 5’8″, don’t expect to jog comfortably on this treadmill. It’s a compact machine.

There’s no incline, which is a shame. Still, there is an incline version of this treadmill, as I mentioned earlier.

Overall, for the price – yes, I feel it’s worth it (if you can live without the incline), you won’t be disappointed.