The reviews for the product at Amazon.com have been very positive and it
currently has a review rating of 4.7/5 stars.

CLICK HERE to find the best price available for the treadmill through
Amazon.com. You can currently save 33% off the list price and get free super
saver shipping.

The Negative Reviews

The feedback for the LifeSpan TR 1200i Folding Treadmill has been very good
with 78% of reviewers giving it a five star rating. It has received a small amount
of criticism and we will briefly summarize some of the complaints made by
reviewers so that our readers can make a more informed decision.

A common complaint made about the product is that is quite heavy. This is
something to consider if you need to move the product around often.

Other criticisms of the product that have been made by reviewers include the
fact that the treadmill doesn’t have any fans, that the speakers aren’t that great,
and that it doesn’t charge an iPod when it is plugged in.

We want to point out that such negative reviews constitute only a small portion
of the overall feedback.

CLICK HERE to read the customer reviews for the product in more detail.

The Positive Reviews

There are a huge number of features of the LifeSpan TR 1200i Folding Treadmill
that reviewers have expressed appreciation for.

The most common compliment made seems to be for the quietness at which
it operates. It functions very quietly even when used at a fast pace and it is
therefore ideal for those who want to watch TV at a normal volume while they
exercise.

Customers also appreciate that it is quick to assemble, simple to fold, and very

easy to use due to the convenience provided by the handlebar controls.

Safety is also provided by the fact that the treadmill automatically stops when
you’re no longer stepping on the belt. The USB port that allows you to track your
results is also a popular feature.

Customers also really like the free membership to the Lifespan Fitness Club that
you get with this product that is valued over $99.

Conclusion

Would we recommend the LifeSpan TR 1200i Folding Treadmill to our readers?

Absolutely, and here is why:

It has had overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 93% of reviewers rating
it at least 4/5 stars. Some customers have mentioned that it’s hard to find a
better treadmill than this one and for these reasons we are very confident in this
recommendation.

CLICK HERE to get this product for the best price available through Amazon.com,
to find out more about the features in detail, and to read some more customer
reviews for the treadmill.

With treadmill prices ranging up to $5000 for the most expensive models used in health centers many people are looking for treadmills under $500. Some other excellent quality treadmills under $500 are the Horizon T91 and the Horizon T101. Or you can read our review of the Top 5 Treadmills Under $500

You should be wary of buying treadmills under $500 as some of them are really bad quality and will break down quickly. The Merit Fitness 725t  Treadmill is one of the bestselling treadmills on Amazon.

After  reading the customer reviews of the Merit Fitness 725t Treadmill you will notice a pattern of people saying how much they love this treadmill and how they are impressed by its quality.

Merit Fitness 725t Treadmill – Walking or Running?

When trying to reach your fitness goals it is important to be able to exercise and keep your body moving. This motion and increased heart rate will help you to burn fat and lose weight.

The Merit Fitness 725t Treadmill is a walking treadmill. It is not really designed for fast running and has a weight capacity of 250 pounds.

The motor is a 1.25hp continuous motor which is not really powerful enough to sustain fast running speeds. The running deck is comfortable and soft when used for waking. Staying in shape by adding a number of brisk walking sessions per week is very easy.

Merit Fitness 725t Treadmill – How Much Room Does It Take Up?

Some treadmills are so big that it feels like you have a tank in your house! The Merit Fitness 725t treadmill is a folding treadmill which is great news for those people living in an apartment or anyone who wants to store the treadmill away after use. Unless of course you want to use it as a clothes hanger

What if it Breaks?

When choosing a treadmill the Warranty should always be a important factor. Its a fact of life that sometimes things will break , so in the case of our shiny new exercise machine we want it to last for a long time! The Merit Fitness 725t treadmill comes with a Lifetime warranty on the Frame which we think is very cool!.

The motor has a 2 year warranty and then parts and labor is 90 days. There are companies that offer 3 year warranties for the whole treadmill for about $70 which is great piece of mind in case some of the parts break down after the first 90days.

We think it is a good idea to get one of these warranties if you are buying a the Merit Fitness 725t treadmill because of the limited 90 day warranty on parts other than the motor.

Two companies that offer fitness equipment warranties are Squaretrade and a company called National Electronics Warranty you can find their list of warranties here

What are people saying? Customer Reviews?

We have done the research for you and looked around numerous websites to see what the customer reviews are saying. The general consensus is very positive except for people who bought the Merit Fitness 725t treadmill and tried using it for running. As we said earlier this treadmill is better suited for walking !

The reviews on Amazon are positive . Here are a few.

“I’m really happy with this treadmill. I can’t tell the difference between this one and much more expensive models. “ By J. Fontenot SilverHoney

“My husband and have been using this machine for about a month now and are still in love with it. “ By D Jenkins

“I love this treadmill. It was delivered very quickly. I was able to assemble it with only some minor help, and I don’t have a mechanical bone in my body. The treadmill itself works well. I didn’t know much about them, but it’s very user friendly. I highly recommend it.” By R Gallman

“The machine is great. It took little more than an hour to unpack and assemble.Parts fit well with no surprises. Use a GOOD Phillips Screwdriver and follow the instruction book (easy to read-good pictures) We are 72 yr old seniors so this machine is perfect with it’s 7 programs and many manual capabilities.” By Eric Erlybird

“We received this treadmill about one month ago, and have used it nearly every day since then for light jogging (6-7 mph).

It arrived in good time, and set-up was very simple.” By G Barber

“I bought this treadmill about a month ago and I believe it was a good buy. The assembly was completed with help from my fiance in under an hour.” By Stacey Limhof

“Great Treadmill.

High quality components at a surprising price.

Installation took me about an hour” By Drew R

Please leave a review below on the Merit Fitness 725t Treadmill to help out other people in making a decision, thanks!

I did some research on the most popular rated treadmills on Amazon and below I compared a number of different models and point out what I think is the
best buy for a treadmill under $500.

My #1 Pick is The Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill

In my opinion the best treadmill under $500 is the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill. See below for the reasons and the other treadmills that I compared.

There are a few different models in this range with the Merit Fitness 725T Plus coming a close second only due to the warranty on parts being only 90 days compared to 1 year with the Horizon Evolve treadmill.

Both of these two models are bestsellers on Amazon and are very popular with readers of this website. The Horizon Evolve is a smaller compact model treadmill at only 99lbs while the Merit Fitness is quite a bit larger at 150lbs.

Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill

Merit Fitness 725T Plus

6 Features To Look For When Choosing a Treadmill

When looking at all the different models I compared a number of features that are very important when buying a treadmill for under $500

• Price

This is a major concern for many people as they may have a budget in mind when shopping for a treadmill. With treadmills in particular if you spend slightly more you
can usually get a better product. I looked at  some treadmills around $200-$300 like the Stamina InMotion II Manual Treadmill and the Phoenix Denise Austin 98510 Easy-Up Manual Treadmill but felt they were not as good as the Horizon Evolve SG Compact because they were manual treadmills and seemed to lack the quality that the Evolve treadmill has.

• Warranty

Most Treadmills under $500 have a very limited warranty because they generally are not designed to last as long as a more expensive treadmill. The length of warranty
should give you an indication of how long they think the treadmill will last. Warranties usually are 90 days- 1 year on parts and 1 year to lifetime on the frame.

• Customer Service

Are they contactable via phone or email? This is important because you dont want to be waiting weeks or having to find your own replacement parts if customer service
decides to slack off. Sometimes things will break or you just need some advice about the product. A website and customer service that respond is important.

• Easy to Assemble

I know it can get frustrating if the installation process is difficult or takes a long time. Clear instructions and an uncomplicated installation process is important for most people.

• Good Parts/ Quality Company

This is related to the warranty. A good company that is confident in their product will have a strong warranty that shows they are willing to back up their product. They will be sure
that their treadmill will run without problems. As with all electronic equipment they may break down eventually but if you have a good warranty and a quality
company providing support then you have nothing to worry about

• Positive Customer Reviews

This is one of the most important things of when buying something online. Reliable reviews from customers, the Horizon Evolve SG was reviewed very highly on Amazon.com as was the
Merit Fitness 725T Plus

Why The Horizon Evolve SG Treadmill Is So Popular

• It is very small and compact weighing in at only 99lbs. It is very popular for people who have a condo or live in an apartment because it can be folded and moved away under a bed or out of the way after it has been used.
• When you get the treadmill you dont have to assemble it. It already comes assembled in the box. You just need to open the box and the treadmill is ready to go!
• It has a shelf for placing a book, magazine or ipad so you can read while using it.
• Good customer service from a company called Johnson Fitness who are one of the worlds largest fitness equipment manufacturers. They also make the Merit Fitness 725T Plus.
• It has a 10 year warranty on the Frame, 5 years on the motor and 1 year parts and labor warranty.

What is the Buzz surrounding the Horizon Evolve SG Treadmill

The buzz is what other people are saying about this on sites around the web, you can often get a good idea about products by reviewing the comments found on the internet. This is what we have found.

Pros: What do the good reviews say?

Here is a list of positive things we have found said about the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill

• prompt customer service, respond quickly to phone calls
• light and compact can be store away easily
• easy to move around and fold (even for an older 50 year old lady)
• great for walking or light jogging
• use it every day without problems
• very quiet even in an apartment and neighbors don’t complain

Cons: What are the Negative reviews saying?

• too heavy for some people (it is 99lbs has wheels and is actually one of the lightest treadmills available.)
• no incline
• max 6miles per hour speed
• the belt does not stay centered (there is instructions on how to fix this and many have had no problems with the belt)

The Competition Of The Horizon Evolve SG Treadmill

• Merit Fitness 725T Plus
• Merit Fitness 725T
• Merit Fitness 715T
• Stamina Inmotion II Manual Treadmill
• Pheonix 95816 Easy Up Treadmill

Under $500 Treadmill Competition

[divider]

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Horizon Evolve is the best treadmill under $500 for people who need a compact treadmill for walking or light jogging. It has the longest warranty and is made of quality parts
from a popular treadmill company that has good customer service and good customer feedback. The cheapest place to get this treadmill is currently at Amazon.com.

What if I had $100 more?

The Merit Fitness is also a very good treadmill although the warranty is only for 90 days on parts and labor. If you want to spend just over $500 i would get the Merit Fitness 725T Plus and buy a Squaretrade 3 year warranty. This would come to around $550 . This is another option you can consider.

The main different between the Horizon Evolve SG and the Merit Fitness 725T Plus is the warranty length and the Merit Fitness 725T Plus is about 50lbs heavier. Because of this extra 50lbs moving the Merit Fitness 725T Plus treadmill will most likely be more difficult than the Horizon Evolve. So if space is not a concern then I would recommend the Merit 725T Plus with the upgraded warranty.

Click here for more information, customer reviews and pricing for the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill

If you found this review helpful then please like/share or comment below