Ask most people in the fitness industry and they’ll tell you: Precor is simply the top of the line…the Cadillac of treadmills. For good reason too. They’ve built a solid reputation for quality products and excellent customer service. Precor has been around since 1980 when they introduced their first piece of fitness equipment–an ergonomically designed rowing machine for home use. Today they make a variety of fitness equipment including treadmills, ellipticals, weight machines and more.

The Precor 9.33 Premium Series Treadmill is on the upper end of the Precor treadmill offering. And to put it simply, this machine is a runner’s dream. It’s clear when you step on this machine that someone has put a lot of thought into the overall design and the feature set. But more than that, the treadmill itself just feels nice and sturdy. We put a 180-lb tester on this machine at a flat sprint and throughout the test the unit never wobbled,  shook or bounced excessively.

One feature that’s light years ahead of anything else on the market is Precor’s Integrated Footplant Technology. Sounds complicated–and it is. But the results are pretty astonishing. When you’re running on the Precor 9.33, Integrated Footplant Technology measures your foot speed and re-calibrates the belt velocity over 100 times per second. The end result is a treadmill that adjusts and supports your natural stride rather than interrupting it. Brilliant idea.

Another bit of engineering that we really loved was the Ground Effects Technology. This integrated cushioning system is very simple, yet ingenious in its design. Essentially the Ground Effects Technology cushions your foot at the point of impact for less stress on your joints. The system then adds rigidity at the back or your stride for a firm push-off and greater overall stability. The result is a cushioned running surface that doesn’t feel squishy or spongy.

The Precor 9.33 features a full 3.0 HP continuous-duty motor that provides ample torque for any walking or running workout. Plus a host of club-quality features like a 15% incline range, 16 built-in workout programs, a bio-feedback center with integrated pulse monitor and a warranty that covers every single part for 10 years.

Of course all this technology doesn’t come cheap. If there is a downside to the Precor 9.33 treadmill, it’s the price. At around $4200 this machine is certainly on the upper end of the price spectrum. But if you’re a serious runner or simply someone who demands the best–the Precor 9.33 fits the bill and receives our highest recommendation.

Learn more about the Precor 9.33 Premium Series Treadmill