Fuel home treadmills are a relatively new brand to the market. They are a discount line from a highly respected name in the fitness industry.
Starting around $599, one of the main strengths of these treadmills is that they are affordable. They also pack some decent value into a small price.
They're a great option if you want an alternative to the ICON brands (Proform, Reebok, Image).
Strengths:
1) Decent Motor Powers - The motor is the heart of your treadmill and you want a motor that's strong enough to keep the treadmill running without overheating or wearing too quickly.
Ranging from 2.25 HP to 2.5 HP these are decent motor powers at this price point. Many economy treadmills will give you 2.0 HP or less.
2) Excellent Warranty - For an economy brand, Fuel warranties are quite good. You get a lifetime on the frame and motor, 1 year on parts and service.
Again, since the motor is the heart of your treadmill and often the most expensive part to fix, it's nice to know you have a lifetime warranty on it.
3) Mp3/iPod Hookup with Built In Speakers - This isn't a necessary feature, however it's one that's popular with buyers.
It can make your workouts more enjoyable to listen to your favorite music or audiobook while working out.
You also get 5 built-in, pre-set workout programs and 2 customizable workouts.
4) Larger Walking Surfaces - Fuel treadbelts are quite spacious starting at 20" x 55" up to 20" x 58". The 58" long belt will be especially useful for taller exercisers.
5) Positive Fuel Treadmill Reviews - While there aren't a lot of reviews out there yet, the few customer reviews we did find were positive.
Many users liked the overall value of what they got for the price. They also commented that the treadmills were easy to assemble and gave a solid feel when walking on them.
Having walked on them ourselves, we agree that they do feel very solid. The deck is surprisingly strong on these treadmills.
Weaknesses:
While the price on these treadmills is great - they are still economy units. They may be well built, but they're still not recommended for running or heavy use. We would recommend that runners spend a bit more and look at the Sole brand first.
Also, the consoles are very simple, with pressure pad (hard to push) buttons. There's not a lot of bells and whistles that you get with similarly priced Nordic Tracks.
Conclusion:
Fuel home treadmills, while relatively new to the market, show great promise. For under $1000, you get high motor powers, large walking surfaces, strong decks and goodies like mp3 hookups with built in speakers - all covered by a decent warranty.
While they are a little light on the bells and whistles, they are well constructed machines - especially at this price. As their reputation grows, they'll probably give other economy brands a run for the money.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can save on Fuel treadmills by buying direct from the manufacturer. You deal with them directly and can save on shipping costs and sales tax.
