LifeSpan TR 500 – 2008
Overview
IMPORTANT: This model is obsolete. In the same price range you can buy the Lifespan TR800 or TR1200i.
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If you look at the technical specs first, the LifeSpan TR500 doesn’t look too good. The motor has 1.75 CHP and the belt is too short for our taste. After you try it you realize this is a decent machine, even if it only walkers and joggers can enjoy it.
TR 500 comes with enough built in workouts to make training various and fun. Unfortunately, since this is a budget machine, you don’t receive a sound system, an mp3 dock or at least a cooling fan.
Overall, this LifeSpan is not such a bad machine and it can be a reliable solution for those interested in walking exercises.
Specifications
Click Specifications to see detailed model info
Speed : 0-10 mph Speed is controlled by 2 standard up/down buttons or with 4 preset buttons designed to automatically change values at 3, 4, 5 or 6 mph.
Incline : 0-12%
Motor : 1.75 HP Continuous Duty
Belt : 18’’ x 52’’
Warranty : lifetime warranty for frame & motor and 1 year for parts and labor.
Features
Handlebars Controls
LifeSpan did a great job at installing speed and incline controls on the handlebars, making them easy to access while exercising.
14 Preset Programs
With this machine you get 14 built-in workouts: 6 Incline Based programs, 5 Speed Based workouts, 2 Custom User and 1 My Zone Heart Rate Control.
My Zone Heart Rate Control
My Zone Heart Rate program is designed to monitor your heart rate. It ensures that speed and incline are automatically adjusted to keep your pulse in the targeted zone (these are still theoretical estimations).
The following are also included: a heavy-gauge steel-welded frame, EZ Drop folding system, over sized blue backlit display and an EKG Pulse Grip system.
Conclusions
LifeSpan TR 500 is a budget treadmill. It comes with a limited 1.75 CHP motor that doesn’t have the necessary power to sustain long running sessions. However, this motor is enough if you plan to walk or jog an hour a day.
The belt size is small for tall people. The walking space is only 52 inches long, a low value for those who like running at full stride.
What we like at this machine is the variety of training features. From this point of view, LifeSpan has a different approach than other companies we’ve reviewed so far.
Others companies install workouts focused on weight loss, fitness or performance. LifeSpan offers incline and speed intervals.
The console has a nice design (the blue display is cool), but there are no entertainment features or built in fans. The warranty is not good, but it’s the same value that budget machines have in general.
As a conclusion for this review: the machine is definitely built for walkers and for those who have less than 1k to spend. Overall, this treadmill is not a bad deal. If you plan to walk or do light jogging, consider this model. If you have higher expectations … choose a different LifeSpan.
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