Xterra Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill Review: an excellent value solid treadmill

For the past few years, Xterra Fitness has started to make a significant impact in the low-price cardio gear market, they are out selling Sunny Health and fitness, even Schwinn, and the reason for this is they offer value for money. Their treadmills are solid, and they don’t feel cheap. The Xterra Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill weighs 108lb, a hefty amount for a treadmill in this price range; it tells me this machine is made from quality materials.

First a quick look at the Xterra Fitness TR150 product specs!

Why Do We Like The Xterra Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill?

I already mentioned one of the things I liked most about Xterra Fitness is the build quality of their gear, they go one step further than the majority of companies in this price bracket. The solid feel of this treadmill and its weight is its best feature.

But Im sure what most people will love about the TR150 treadmill is the length of the running belt at 50″ is impressive. Usually, in this price range, we see belts around 45″ in length, only a few treadmills like the TR150 offer the larger 50″ belt.

A 50″ running belt isn’t huge, and it’s still a long way off from something you’ll see in your local gym, but it’s long enough for walking and jogging for users up to 6’2″. Most users under 6″ who have shorter strides can actually run on a belt this length. However, I’d be carfell using this machine for more intense running sessions because the belt is rather narrow.

Narrow 16″ Belt

The width of the Xterra TR150 running belt is only 16″, which is about as narrow as they come. A treadmill belt this size is okay for light cardio sessions, but when you start to run on a narrow belt, there is more of a chance of stepping off the side of the treadmill, which can be dangerous. If you are going to use this treadmill for intense cardio sessions? Start slow for your first few sessions and get used to the width of the running belt.

Click here to check price of Xterra Fitness TR150 on Amazon

3 Way Incline – Great For Strengthening and Toning Hard To Train Leg Muscles

I feel an incline is an essential feature when looking for a treadmill. Walking or jogging on an incline burns twice as many calories as walking on a flat surface and it strengthens and tones those hard-to-train muscles like your calves, hamstrings, and quads.

We need to remember this isn’t a high-end treadmill. This is Xterra Fitness’s lowest-priced electric treadmill, so don’t expect a power-adjustable incline. The TR150 uses a manual 3-way incline. Even in the highest setting, the incline isn’t particularly steep, with a 5% max. Still, it is better than nothing and it’s easy to adjust. Manual inclines are at the back of the treadmill.

Some people may be upset that there’s no power adjust incline or that there are only three levels. This is normal for a treadmill in this price range. You’ll have to pay an extra couple of hundred more if you want to benefit from a power-adjustable incline and want a treadmill that can boast similar quality to the TR150.

Monitor With 12 Workout Programs

You won’t find HD Screens VR and tons of features on a treadmill monitor in this price range. Most are pretty basic.

Basic isn’t a bad thing, as they’re easy to set up and use.

The more features a monitor includes, the higher the price tag, and most people who buy treadmills with advanced monitors never use half the features, and it’s a waste of money.

While the Xterra Fitness monitor is basic, it is of the better ones I’ve come across. The LCD is large and easy to read, but what’s impressive are the one-touch buttons. There’s no need to scroll through a load of menus. You can access everything with a single touch of a button.

The good news is that there are 12 workout programs that will help challenge you and keep you coming back for more, and they’re handy for keeping away the monotony of long cardio sessions.

Other monitor features include speakers, a water bottle holder, and pulse sensors. The pulse sensors are built into the handlebars. The TR150 monitor also tracks all the essential workout data, such as speed, time, calories, and distance.

There’s no BlueTooth with this monitor, which is a shame. It’s something I’d expect to find, but it’s only a minor drawback.

How Easy is it To Fold and Move?

Treadmills have large footprints, so many of you will want to fold this machine after use. Unfolding and folding this treadmill is simple and can be done with just one person. All you need to do is pull a knob and then pull the running deck down, and the same goes for folding it. Pull the same knob and lift the running deck until its locks in place. Takes 30 seconds.

This treadmill boasts transport wheels which makes moving the machine that much easier. Once folded, just tilt and roll the machine to a corner of a room to store.

2.25HP Power Motor – Not Suitable For Serious Runners

So far, everything about this treadmill has impressed, but the motor is its only real drawback. A 2.25HP is pretty weak for a treadmill with a 50″ running belt. I’d hoped for a 3HP motor, but you can’t have everything. 2.25HP is powerful enough for walking and jogging; however, if you were thinking of using this treadmill for more intense sessions, a 2.25HP motor wouldn’t last long. You’ll find they burn out fairly quickly, especially if you weigh over 200lb.

Which is another thing I wanted to mention, even though the guys at Xtrerra rate this treadmill with a 250lb max weight, a more realistic max weight would be around 200lb. 2.25HP motors are not designed for heavy users and running.

Do I Need a Treadmill Mat?

Treadmill mats are great if you live in an apartment because they soak up a lot of vibrations from your cardio sessions. Another reason people buy a treadmill mat is to keep the treadmill stable as they do prevent slips. Still, this is quite a heavy treadmill, so that weight should help keep it planted to the floor.

I recommend you buy a treadmill mat only if you live in an apartment and want to be respectful to your neighbors or if you have polished floors and want to protect them.

Xterra Fitness makes their own treadmill mats, and Sunny Health and Fitness make some excellent cheap treadmill mats. I’ll leave the links to both below.

Xterra Treadmill Mat Amazon

Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill Mat Amazon

Deck Cushioning – Reduces Stress on Joints By 40%

All good treadmills should provide an anti-shock system. Xterra Fitness has its desk cushioning system they call the XteraSoft it is a decent system and should reduce the impact of each foot strike by around 40%. Additionally, I’ve found cushioning systems really help to keep the noise level down. Great news if you like watching TV or listening to music while you jog.

Alternatives

Sunny Health Asuna Space Saving Treadmill

I reviewed the Asauna treadmill a few weeks ago, and I was impressed with its design. This machine not only looks great but comes with some impressive features.

The best feature of Sunny Health’s Asuna treadmill is that it folds completely flat for storage. After you’ve finished your workout, you can simply push it under a bed or table or store it against a wall. And folding it is a breeze just turn a key and push the handles down. It’s one of the easiest to fold and store treadmills I’ve ever reviewed. And people seem to love it.

Still, it’s not just how easy this thing is to store that sells it. The Asuna also boasts an impressive running belt which measures 50″ by 18″. This is an excellent size for such a compact machine; It means most users will be able to use the Sunny treadmill for walking and jogging. Plus, the belt isn’t as narrow as the Xterra Fitness TR150  belt, so there’s less chance of stepping off the treadmill in the middle of a session.

The monitor isn’t quite as impressive as the Xterra Fitness treadmill, as the Asuna doesn’t include any workout programs or pulse sensors. Still, the Sunny monitor is easy to use and comes with a remote control saving you the hassle of leaning forward and changing the speed from the monitor.

Overall this is an excellent treadmill from Sunny Health & Fitness. It’s surprisingly solid for a compact treadmill and boasts one of the longest-running belts I’ve seen on a fold-flat design—a great choice for anyone whos tight on space.

To Sum Up

The Xterra TR150 Treadmill is one of the best folding treadmills I’ve reviewed under $500. It is well made, the running belt is a good length, you have an incline feature, it folds easily for storage, and the monitor is fuss free and simple to use. These guys have got all the essentials right.

And the drawbacks aren’t deal-killers; yes, the belt is narrow, and the motor lacks power, but if you’re only going to use this treadmill for walking and jogging, the width of the TR150 belt shouldn’t be an issue nor should the power of the motor. 

For maintenance, try and keep the belt clean as it will prevent debris from getting into the motor, and keep the running belt lubricated as per instructions in the manual.