ProForm SMART Performance 800i Treadmill Review – Pros & Cons

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The ProForm SMART Performance 800i treadmill is an innovative addition to the excellent treadmills produced by ProForm. This treadmill combines an affordable price point with the latest fitness technology such as the extra-large, tilting touchscreen, the ability to decline and incline, and other engaging features that help you to enjoy your treadmill workouts.

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There are similarities to the other ProForm Performance series treadmills, such as the similar frame and shock absorbers, as well as having a tablet holder so that you can enjoy your entertainment as you workout. But the SMART Performance 800i brings more to the table than the other Performance treadmills.

For one thing, you can benefit from the larger, 2.75 CHP motor that this treadmill has included to provide you with the power to push your exercise limits. You can also use the decline feature to simulate outdoor running as well as the incline function, which most treadmills in this price range don’t offer the ability to decline.

Another standout feature on this treadmill is clearly the touchscreen. As the SMART Performance 800i comes with a free 30 days of iFit membership, the touchscreen helps you to access the workout video programs so that you can greatly expand the types of workouts you can do on your treadmill. Along with that, you will always have the fifty built-in exercise programs that come pre-installed in the SMART Performance 800i treadmill.

All of these benefits and more are packaged in a compact bundle that can fit in a corner of your living room if you don’t have a dedicated home gym. To learn more about the various features that come with the ProForm SMART Performance 800i treadmill, we have detailed the rest below.

Pros
  • This treadmill comes with a huge touchscreen for more immersive workouts.
  • There are tons of available workout programs on the SMART Performance 800i treadmill.
  • You can decline and incline the slope of your treadmill deck on this machine.
  • This treadmill is a compact treadmill that can fit into most homes
  • With the ProShox cushioning, you can significantly reduce the pounding your body takes as you exercise.
  • You get a free membership to iFit to try out for 30 days.
  • There is a strong, well-positioned fan to help you cool off as you exercise.
  • When you purchase the SMART Performance 800i, you receive good warranty coverage.
  • There is a tablet holder to secure your device as you exercise on this treadmill.

Cons
  • Slightly restrictive treadmill belt width.
  • Tough to track heart rate accurately.

FeaturesSpecifications
  • 14” HD Smart Touchscreen

When you bring the SMART Performance 800i treadmill home, the huge touchscreen will likely become one of your favorite features. This touchscreen is high-definition, so you will have crisp images as you exercise and use the various workout videos to enhance your exercise routine.

Also, a benefit that not many treadmill manufacturers have considered is the ability to tilt the touchscreen. If you aren’t the average height the SMART Performance 800i was made for, you can simply tilt the screen and not have it at just the wrong angle.

  • 30 Day Membership To iFit

If you have never heard of iFit, you are missing out. iFit is a training program you can use to reach your health and fitness goals, bringing you innovative fitness ideas right to your SMART Performance 800i treadmill.

One of the fan favorite aspects of iFit is the video workouts with the iFit personal trainers. These trainers can lead you through a variety of workouts, such as in-studio treadmill workouts, outdoor running videos shot in hundreds of beautiful locations around the world, and a multitude of cross-training videos. As you should be doing cross-training to supplement your workouts on the SMART Performance 800i, you can utilize iFit to bring you excellent exercise routines ranging from ab-toning workouts to fast HIIT exercises.

And if you decide that iFit isn’t for you, at least you were able to use it for a whole year before you needed to pay for a membership!

  • Max Weight Limit

There is more wiggle room with the SMART Performance 800i max weight limit than your average treadmill. Its weight max limit goes up to 315 pounds, making this compact treadmill a more versatile tool.

  • 2.75 CHP Motor

The SMART Performance 800i treadmill is equipped with a 2.75 CHP Mach Z commercial motor. This motor operates relatively quietly, though it can become louder the higher the speed level. Also, when a treadmill motor is under 3.0 CHP, it is generally recommended that you stick to walking and jogging, not intensive running.

  • Good Warranty

For your overall peace of mind, as you and your household use your treadmill, ProForm provides a strong warranty with the purchase of the SMART Performance 800i treadmill. There is a lifetime warranty that covers the frame of the treadmill as well as the motor. The parts are covered for 3 years, and the labor to care for the treadmill has a 1-year warranty.

  • Plenty Of Workout Programs

Everyone has had a day where they stepped on their treadmill and not really known what to do for their workout. Well, you can take the workout quandary out of your hands and choose one of the 50 exercise programs that come with the SMART Performance 800i.

These programs target different goals, such as calorie burn, incline, high-intensity, mixed workouts, and speed. There is plenty to choose from, so it’s not likely you will need to do the same program again unless you really want to do it.

  • Quality Treadmill Belt

ProForm says they test all of their belts for a million cycles to help provide quality control when it comes to their treadmill belts. So, you can feel pretty secure when you step on your SMART Performance 800i treadmill.

The only drawback is the measurements of the SMART Performance 800i treadmill belt. As the belt measures 18” wide by 60” long, the width isn’t what you would normally see from a treadmill at this price point.

  • EasyLift Assist

When you don’t need the SMART Performance 800i treadmill, it is a simple thing to fold up this treadmill. All it takes is you lifting the lightweight deck up high enough, and it will lock into place. A quick press of the release latch and the deck will come back down, without you needing to hold it.

This feature, along with the SMART Performance 800i treadmill’s overall compact size, make this treadmill ideal for people who lack the space for a larger treadmill but still want one with plenty of features.

  • Speed

On the SMART Performance 800i, you can go from speeds of 0.5 MPH to 12 MPH. With this speed range, you can cater to a range of fitness needs, from the walkers in the household to those who like to put in their quick, daily 3-mile run.

  • Incline Range

An interesting and unique feature among the more affordable treadmills is the ability to decline as well as incline, and with the SMART Performance 800i treadmill, you get this unique feature. This treadmill can decline to -2% to allow you to mix things up with your treadmill workouts, and it can incline up to 10% incline. By utilizing this feature, you can add difficulty to your treadmill routine without having to go outside for hill workouts.

  • ProShox Cushioning

With ProShox cushioning built into the deck of the SMART Performance 800i treadmill, you can reduce the shock of both walking and running. While no treadmill cushioning can take away all of the effects of high-impact exercising, by using the SMART Performance 800i, you can benefit from the reduction of running or walking on the tougher surface like concrete and asphalt.

  • Motor: 2.75 CHP
  • Incline: -2% to 10%
  • Speed: 0.5-12 MPH
  • Dimensions: 76.23” L x 33.5” W x 57.64” H
  • Folding: Yes
  • Running Area: 18” W x 60” L
  • Max User Weight: 315 lbs
  • Treadmill Weight: 223 lbs

Benefits

One of the benefits of having this particular treadmill in your home is that you have easy access to cardio workouts. Whether you are looking to support your cardiovascular health or are looking to lose weight, running is one of the most effective ways to reach these health goals. But running outside can lead to problems all on its own, depending on where you live and what surfaces you are running on.

By using a treadmill like the SMART Performance 800i, you can enjoy the protection of the cushioned deck that helps to prevent your joints from taking a jarring impact as you exercise, unlike on concrete and asphalt, which is what most people run on outside. Also, you can do a variety of supporting workouts with the coaching of an iFit trainer since you have a free month of access to iFit. And if you decide that you don’t need iFit at the end of your trial year, you still have an excellent treadmill to use when you choose to bring the SMART Performance 800i treadmill into your home.

Final Verdict: ProForm SMART Performance 800i Treadmill

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While the ProForm SMART Performance 800i was a new treadmill from ProForm as of 2020, it is clear that it has a lot to offer future users and is sure to become a top pick. It already is on our Best Compact Treadmills list, as it has a small footprint without compromising the quality of features this treadmill includes. The combination of the extra large touchscreen along with access to the iFit workout video library increases the usability of this machine, as you can engage in a wide variety of workouts and enjoy feeling as if you are running outside from the comfort of your own home.

Add to your workouts the other quality features like the workout fan, ProShox cushioning that assists in protecting you as you exercise, helpful incline range, the quiet motor that powers you through your treadmill workouts and many other features, it is clear that the SMART Performance 800i should be a treadmill that you consider adding to your home gym.

What We Like

  • Higher than average weight capacity
  • Compact treadmill size
  • Effective workout fan
  • Easy to fold up and unfold
  • ProShox cushioning
  • Extra large touchscreen display
  • Incline and decline functionality
  • Good coverage warranty
  • Lots of workout programs onboard
  • Free iFit for 30 days

What We Don’t Like

  • Somewhat narrow treadmill belt
  • No chest strap for heart rate monitoring

Conclusion

It can be challenging to find the right treadmill. But if you are looking for an affordable treadmill that comes with the latest fitness technology and is a compact size, then the ProForm SMART Performance 800i treadmill is an excellent option.

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