Spirit Z9 Treadmill Review

Well, first off the Z9 is a well specified treadmill and delivers far more than most of the competition - check out the big motor, roomy deck and class leading warranties.

The build quality is robust and the components made to last. As far as the hugely competitive mid-price market that the Z9 is pitched at, Spirit certainly appears to offer an affordable treadmill that should hold up well.

Let's face it, we all want a bargain, don't we? In the Z9, Spirit has built yet another treadmill that over delivers and represents great value for money.

The Spirit treadmills range is full of quality models, so why should you consider the Z9?

Spirit Z9 Treadmill Review - What's it Like...?

For a little more money, you get a little bit more treadmill. As such, the Z9 has very similar dimensions and components as its slightly cheaper stablemate the Z88. But there are a couple of major upgrades that for me justify the small price hike.

Principal of these is the powerful 3.0 HP continuous duty motor, which is rare amongst treadmills that you can get for less than $1,300.

The motor makes the Z9 a cost effective option for serious runners on a budget that can't stretch to a commercial quality treadmill.

The motor can also cope with heavier users - good for people on a weight loss program - and should easily handle day to day intense workouts.

The motor showed little evidence of strain during our test and its quiet efficiency left us suitably impressed when we cranked it up to its 12 mph maximum speed.

If any added intensity is needed, the deck inclines to 15% at the touch of a button so you can run up a few hills if you're a glutton for punishment!

We also liked the wide belt, which at 55" x 20" is a spacious enough running surface for all but the tallest runners.

We've waxed lyrical about the Cushion Flex Deck in our other Spirit treadmill reviews and the combination of the big 2.5" rollers and 2 ply, 1" thick belt certainly ensures a comfortable ride.

The large rollers will also reduce belt friction and tension and prolong the life of the belt, so cutting down on potential maintenance costs in the future.

In fact, our Spirit Z9 treadmill review would suggest that the overall build quality of the Z9 should ensure that breakdowns are rare and repair costs low over the life of the treadmill, saving you money in the long run.

As you would expect for a treadmill aimed at the home fitness market, the Z9 has a folding deck that makes storage easy in homes where space is at a premium.

The only minor criticism I levelled at the cheaper Z8 and Z88 was the display console. The user interface and electronic features were somewhat rudimentary but this has been addressed with the Z9, which comes with a much improved LED display that provides you with clear, easy to read workout information.

There are also 10 exercise programs, five of which are standard, with a further three user defined programs and two heart rate control programs.

The latter is particularly useful as it automatically adjusts the treadmill's belt speed to keep you in your chosen training zone. Very user friendly!

There's a pulse grip heart rate monitor and a chest belt for hands-free heart rate monitoring that works well with the heart rate control programs.

As for the warranties, Spirit's are extremely generous and demonstrate great confidence in its products - there's 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 warranties mean that if anything does go wrong with the treadmill soon after purchase, you won't end up paying for it!

The Z9 usually retails around the $2,000 mark, but there are some huge online discounts around. For example, our Spirit Z9 treadmill review found it for a discount price of $1,299 at Elite Fitness Equipment.com with free shipping within the US.

Spirit Z9 Treadmill Review - How Does it Rate...?

As a brand, Spirit treadmills are certainly on the right track when it comes to building and marketing treadmills. It's refreshing to find a company that are serious about consistently turning out affordable, high quality machines.

You'll struggle to get the same value for money from popular brands like NordicTrack and ProForm.

Our Spirit Z9 treadmill review would conclude that at a bargain $1,299, you'll get a durable treadmill that should exceed your expectations of a treadmill in this price range.

For further information and the current price check out Elite Fitness Equipment.com

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