ProForm doesn’t make high-end treadmills; they never have. What they do make are a lot of impressive mid-level treadmills, and the ProForm Smart Pro 2000 treadmill is the best one they make.
Yes, you have the ProForm Pro 9000, but it basically shares all the same features as the Pro-2000; its another mid-level treadmill, just with a larger screen than the Pro 2000, and I don’t think it’s worth paying an extra $300 for a larger screen. The 10″ on the Pro 2000 is easily large enough for iFit.
Designed For Jogging and Light Running.
So this isn’t a commercial/high-end treadmill. If you want one of those, you’d have to pay over $3k for the privilege. What you have with the Pro Series from ProForm are treadmills designed for jogging and light running. They’re not for serious runners. Still, they’re packed full of the latest tech, and they deliver on the essentials like large running belts, great inclines, and heavy stable builds.
The Proform Pro 2000 has been a favorite of mine for years. It’s one of the best mid-level treadmills on the market; this is the recently updated version you’re looking at today, which comes with improved speakers, and a larger screen and now includes a power decline as well as incline.
In today’s review, we’re taking a close look at everything this treadmill offers and any drawbacks. I’ll also compare the Pro 2000 with NordicTracks Commerical 1750.
Product Specifications
Product dimensions – 35.3” Wide x 77.3” Deep x 59.6” Tall
Weight – 235lb and inbox 262lb
Speed – 0 – 12mph
Max user height – 6’1″ for running 6’3″ for jogging
Anti-shock system
Folds for storage
Motor – 3.25CHP Mach Z
Weight capacity – 300lb
Running belt size – 20” X 60″
Why Do We Like The ProForm Smart Pro 2000?
The reason you’re going to love this treadmill is that it has it all. There just aren’t many treadmills in this price range that can boast large running belts, incline decline, a solid build, a powerful motor, and come with a 10″ smart tilt touchscreen. This is a treadmill that’s not going to leave you wanting.
And it’s the size of the belt that impresses me most with the Pro 2000. This is a near commercial-size belt. If you’ve been training in your local gym, you’ll come across treadmills with 22″ x 60″ belts. 22″ x 60″ is generally considered commercial size. And the ProForm Pro 2000 isn’t far off with its 20″ x 60″ belt.
A 60″ belt will allow users up to 6’1″ to run on the treadmill and users up to 6’3″ to jog on the treadmill without feeling restricted.
Belt Width is Important Too
And the belt width is impressive too. I always recommend at least a 20″ width for runners. Runners need that little bit of extra width for the belt because not only does it give you the extra confidence to run at pace on the machine, but it’s also something that will prevent you from stepping off the side of the belt in the middle of a workout, which is a common problem with narrow belts.
Impressive 12% Power Incline
Hill running burns three times more calories than running on flat. Also, it’s great for building and strengthening those hard to train muscles like your glutes, hamstrings, and calves, which is why a decent incline feature on a treadmill is essential if you want to get the most from your sessions.
The ProForm Pro 2000 comes with a 12% power adjustable incline which is more than enough for hill running. 10% is what we normally look for in this price bracket, so you get an extra 2% with this treadmill, and they throw a decline option in as well.
Auto Adjust – Let the Trainers Adjust Incline And Speed For You
To adjust the incline, you can either use the quick speed buttons on the monitor or let the iFit trainers auto-adjust the incline for you depending on the terrain or workout you have chosen. It’s a cool feature that lets you focus fully on your workout without having to reach the monitor to adjust incline or speed. Auto adjust can only be used with iFit.
An Advanced Easy To Use Monitor With iFit and BlueTooth
The good thing about this monitor is that it’s easy to use, the buttons are large, and one touch, you can basically access everything with a single touch of the button. The quick speed buttons for incline and speed save a lot of time.
Without a doubt, it’s the touchscreen that sells this monitor. The graphics are crisp, the screen tilts to match your height, and I think it’s big enough. You don’t need a larger screen than 10″ on a treadmill.
Trainers Run Alongside You With iFit
The monitor also includes BlueTooth, an adjustable cooling fan, and of course, iFit. I won’t go into too much detail about iFit. It’s a paid fitness app, and it includes 1000s of workouts. There are Trainer-led workouts where trainers push to your limits, and you have Global routes where you can run across deserts, the streets of New York, pretty much anywhere you like, and view it through that loverly screen.
You also have Google maps, where you can design your own routes, and the Auto Adjust feature, which I mentioned earlier, will automatically adjust the speed and incline depending on your workout terrain, etc.
iFit is an excellent app, but it costs over $1 a day, so might be too pricey for some.
You can, however, use this treadmill without iFit and take advantage of the 40 built-in workout programs. The only thing I was disappointed about is that there’s no 1/4 mile track option without iFit, and you can’t use the auto adjust feature without iFit.
Overall you won’t find a more impressive monitor on a mid-level treadmill; it’s just a shame some of the best features can only be used with iFit
Stability – Build Quality
The weight of a treadmill tells us a lot about the machine. Heavy treadmills are stable; they feel solid when you exercise on them. Also, the heavier the treadmill, the higher the quality of materials used in the build.
The Pro 2000 weighs 230lb unboxed, which is pretty heavy; it’s not commercial heavy, but it’s heavy for a home treadmill, this thing will feel solid, and you won’t get much movement.
Quality? For under $1500, don’t expect amazing quality. It is no secret that both ProForm and NordicTrack have had issues with quality and things breaking down, but that’s more with their lower-priced machines.
This is one of Proform’s best sellers and one of their most expensive treadmills. It has a good track record when it comes to durability, as do most of NordicTracks’ more expensive treadmills.
ReBound Pro™ Cushioning System Protects Joints By Up To 40%
Every treadmill over $1000 will come equipped with a deck cushioning system; some are better than others. ProForm has used its rebound system for years, and it works well. It protects your joints from the impact of each foot strike by up to 40%, which is great news for most of us.
I say most of us, not all, because this system isn’t adjustable. Not all of us need an adjustable system, but it is a useful feature for road runners who want to replicate road conditions as an adjustable cushioning system allows you to choose either firm or soft. I mention this because runners who are used to running on roads may find the Rebound Pro cushioning system a little bouncy.
The only company currently offering adjustable deck cushioning is NordicTrack, but Im sure ProFrom will follow in their footsteps soon as they are both owned by the same company.
Easy Assist Folding System (hydraulics)
The best folding systems for treadmills use hydraulics that you can manually fold yourself. You want to avoid the electric folding systems as they are just something else that can go wrong.
The Pro 2000 uses a hydraulic folding system they call Easy Assist. The hydraulics do all the work for you. You can fold the running deck with one hand. It’s that easy. And once folded, the overall footprint is almost halved.
3.25CHP Motor – Is It Powerful Enough For Running?
The minimum power I’d recommend for running is 3HP. This treadmill uses a 3.25CHP which means it can produce a continuous 3.25HP for as long as you want, and it will peak at a much higher HP when needed. So yes, this treadmill can be used for running.
Try and keep well below the max capacity of the treadmill, something like 250lb, which will add years of life to the motor. Motors can struggle with heavy weight. It’s what will cause early motor burnout.
Read Next: Best Treadmill 350 Pound Weigh Capacity
Assembly
The most challenging part of the assembly is getting the treadmill in place and unboxed because it’s a large, heavy machine. It’s best to have two people for assembly.
The rest of the assembly is fairly straightforward. A detailed instruction manual is included, and so are the tools for the job. For maintenance, you need to keep the belt clean to prevent debris from getting into the motor and keep the belt lucubrated. Instructions for lubrication are in the manual. Average build time 1-2 hours.
The Good
Updated model with improved sound system and larger screen
Nice and heavy, users have mentioned how stable this treadmill feels
Impressive 12% power incline and 3% decline
Free month of iFit 1000s of workouts, including Global routes, Google maps, and Auto adjust
Large running belt – suitable for users up to 6’3″ for jogging
Cushioning system to protect joints
Hydraulic folding system – hydraulics do all the hard work for you – easy to fold
Built-in transport wheels, fan, speakers, BlueTooth
The Bad
Not suitable for serious runners
ProForm known for slow customer service
Fairly short warranty for a mid-level treadmill
Alternative
NordicTrack Commerical 1750 Treadmill
The NordicTrack Comercial 1750 is sort of the next grade up from ProForms Pro Series. You get a more powerful motor with the NordicTracks 1750, a full-size running belt measuring 22″ x 60″ an even better incline of 15%, a 14″ touchscreen, and the overall build is more heavy duty. This thing weighs 310lb.
Yes, this is a treadmill better suited to runners than the ProForms Pro series, and it doesn’t cost that much more. It retails at around $1999, which is a great price for how much treadmill is on offer here.
And you get the adjustable deck cushioning system, another feature that’s useful to runners.
Just like the ProForm treadmill, the 1750 comes with a hydraulic folding system, built-in cooling fans, transport wheels, and iFit, which means you also have the cool auto-adjust features with this treadmill.
There’s no doubt this is the best treadmill under $2000 on the market right now. It’s still not commercial grade, but it’s close.
To Sum Up
There isn’t much not to like about this treadmill. It’s a full-featured treadmill for under $1500. I love the large running belt, the power incline, the ultra-quiet but powerful motor, and the heavy stable build. These are the most important essentials, and ProForm got them right.
To have a 10″ HD touchscreen is just the icing on the cake.
I don’t think there’s any need to spend more money on the ProForm 9000; a larger screen doesn’t make that much difference, and it’s not worth the extra $300. If you’re after a mid-level treadmill that can handle jogging and light running and has all the latest tech? The ProForm Pro 2000 is one of the best choices out there.
If you want something a bit more serious, then the next level up is NoricTracks 1750
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