Spirit Z500 Treadmill Review

Good question, and one that must keep competitor brands like ProForm and Bowflex awake at night.

Whilst I'm not complaining, having tested and reviewed the Spirit Z series I'm not sure that I can answer that.

Spirit offers great value for money as a brand and with the performance and build quality that treadmills like the Z500 demonstrate, manufacturers of $3,000 plus treadmills ought to be worried, too.

It's not quite commercial quality, but the home user looking for a cost effective treadmill on which to do some serious running would do well to check out the Z500.

Why is it such a strong option to consider?

Spirit Z500 Treadmill Review - What's it Like...?

This is where Spirit and Sole, another Dyaco brand really excel.

Spirit treadmills eschew many of the gimmicks and gadgets that other brands employ to stand out in the highly competitive $1,000-$2,000 market and provide the discerning consumer with a quality treadmill that will exceed average expectations and is built to last.

The Spirit Z500 treadmill is a case in point. It boasts a hefty 3.0 HP motor and 12 mph top speed that will cope with the most arduous of workouts. There's a 15% power incline if more resistance is needed.

Our test treadmill had no problem providing an intense and varied workout involving interval training and a few hilly runs and was composed and assured throughout our review.

The motor powers the large 1" thick, 2 ply belt with no apparent effort at all and the spacious 58" x 20" running surface was plenty big enough to accommodate my modest proportions.

The running surface itself is responsive and comfortable under foot thanks to the impressive Cushion Flex Deck and oversized 2.75" rollers, bigger than average in this price range.

I really appreciate large rollers as they facilitate the smooth travel of the belt, minimising friction and 'grab' and in the long run they extend the belt's life. Belts aren't cheap once the warranties run out.

Most home users will want to fold their treadmill away when not in use and the the Z500's power fold up feature makes this a practically effortless operation.

I found the user interface on the Spirit Z500 treadmill a big improvement on models lower down the range and the tri-colour, six window dot matrix display was clear, functional and easy to use with its 16 character message window.

There are 10 workout programs - do you really need any more? - six of which are pre set, two user defined and two heart control programs.

The latter adjust the belt speed automatically, ensuring you stay in your chosen training zone.

Heart rate monitoring is via pulse grips in the handles and a hands free chest belt that is essential to get the best out of the heart control programs and heart rate autopilot feature.

I liked the 10 one touch program keys built into the handles along with the 12 quick speed and elevation controls - easy to reach and operate when in full flight.

If on board entertainment is a feature you value, the Z500 has an MP3 interface and stereo speakers.

Finally, Spirit excels on the warranties that come with their treadmills - you get a lifetime warranty on the frame, 30 years on the motor, five years on the parts and electronics and one year on the labour.

The Z500 lists at $2,199, but our Spirit Z500 treadmill review found it for a discounted $1,699 at Elite Fitness Equipment.com with free shipping within the US.

Spirit Z500 Treadmill Review - The Bottom Line...

I tend to recognise a bargain when I see one and the Spirit Z500 treadmill represents just that at the discounted price of $1,699.

Even at the list price, I'm not really sure why it's not selling for more?

You could well spend $1,000 more and get something marginally better, but why would you? The Z500 offers such a lot for the money that I struggle to understand why people would look further for a $1,700 treadmill?

For the current price and more information on the Z500 visit Elite Fitness Equipment.com

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