... I would like to preface my review by saying that I am in no way paid by Smooth Fitness to write this review, or have any connection or affiliation with the company.
I ordered my treadmill factory direct and it took about 2 weeks for it to come. Then it took me around 4 1/2 hours to put it together. It wasn't the directions that was hard to understand, it was just twisting in the screws and moving the treadmill around that took so long. The treadmill is extremely heavy and I put it together by myself. I do suggest you have a friend or significant other help. But since the treadmill is so heavy, it feels sturdier. After putting my treadmill together, I was excited to start using it.
I'm a 5'5" female and weigh 130 lbs, but the treadmill is a nice size and sturdy enough that I think it can easily accommodate heavier and taller runners. It says in the manual that users can be up to 350 pounds. This is definitely a good treadmill for running. If you're looking for a treadmill just for walking, you can spend around $400-$1000 for a fairly good treadmill. Jogging and running, expect to spend $1000 and up for a quality machine.
I've only went up to 6.o mph so far, but the belt runs very smoothly. There's no odd jerking and sputtering like on cheaper treadmills where you feel like you might be fall off and break a neck. This treadmill truly does feel like a quality treadmill like those found in fitness gyms. Lately I've been too busy to go to the gym so it's super convenient to have a treadmill at home. I love the no fuss aspect. I don't have to "dress up" and can easily shower as soon as my workout is done. For days when I really don't feel like listening to music, I can just pop in a movie and still get a good workout.
Before purchasing the Smooth 9.35HR, I did my research. I read up on customer reviews and reviews made by treadmill "gurus". The treadmill doctor has given this treadmill shining reviews, giving it a #1 spot for treadmills in the $1500-2000 range. In my search for the best treadmill for me, I wanted a quality machine that won't blow my budget, I wanted to be able to run comfortably on it, and most important it had to have good cushioning. A few months back I got a knee injury that now makes it difficult to run on hard surfaces or for long distances. The Smooth has this wonderful Hydra Suspension feature that allows you to adjust the cushioning level. It's easy to change for different users, depending on what you need. It works. I've used the treadmill with it "off" and it hurt my knees within 5 minutes. The next day I turned it "on" and I barely had a problem. The slight pain was most likely from the day before, but with the cushioning on, I did notice a huge difference. It was the Hydra Suspension feature that really made me go for the Smooth. I was deciding between the Sole F85 and the Smooth 9.35 HR. They were both the same price and both had raving reviews, but I chose the Smooth 9.35 HR for it's superior cushioning system. I don't know if you can say it's "whisper-quiet", but I can hear music over the motor. This might help, if you order from the website it's free shipping and free in-room delivery if you want to save a few bucks. With the purchase of my treadmill from the company, I also received 5 years parts and electronics and 2 years labor. Some treadmills only give you 1 year labor.
I give this treadmill a 4 1/2 out of 5 only because the console is in my way. Like I said, I'm 5'5", but the top part of the console comes up to my upper chest and when I'm swinging my arms during walking or jogging, my arms bump in to the console. I just wish the console was lower or could be adjusted to a different height, but no I'm stuck. So if you're tall, this would probably be best for you. If you're short, take that in to consideration. The console height is a bit of a problem, but not enough for me to want to return it. The strong motor and cool Hydra Suspension cushion far outweighs that minor problem.
The treadmill also allows you to input up to 9 user information and save it. Just input your height, weight, etc, one time and you can look up User 1, User 2, and so on the next time. I think this is really cool because the calorie burn reading is more accurate this way and being able to read how much calories I'm burning helps me keep going. There's also different programs, but I haven't tried them yet so I can't give a review about that. In addition, it comes with a Heart Rate chest strap. I use that to help me reach and stay in my Heart Rate zone so I don't work under my potential or over train.
Don't just read a few reviews and decide to buy it. Do your research. There are also sites that are paid by treadmill companies to write wonderful reviews for treadmills so don't believe everything. I haven't had a lot of experience with the Smooth's customer service, but the few times I have called they have been courteous and polite. I am pleased with my purchase and recommend it if you're willing to shell out the $2000. ...
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