Didn’t think Reebok made treadmills? You were right. This treadmill is actually manufactured by the folks at Icon Health & Fitness under a Reebok licensed name. The Reebok 8050 ES Treadmill is an entry-level model in the Reebok line. It features a 2.25 HP motor, 20″ x 55″ running surface and a ton of bells and whistles common to Icon-built machines.
The powerplant on this model is listed as a 2.25 HP TRX™ Commercial Motor. We’re here to tell you this isn’t a commercial-grade motor. In fact, it’s smallish even for home treadmill use. That brings into question the 300-lb weight rating for this model. We put a 220-lb tester on this machine at a medium jog and the motor was definitely straining to keep up. If you’re 220-lbs or more we’d reccomend you look at a differnt treadmill with a larger motor.
At the risk of beating a dead horse, we also thought the 12-year motor warranty on the Reebok 8050 ES was fairly stingy. Quality treadmills usually come standard with a lifetime warranty on the motor and the frame. So 12 years is a bit short…especially for something that’s supposed to be “commercial-grade.”
So what did we like about the Reebok 8050 ES? As mentioned before, these machines come with a slew of gadgets designed to make your workout funner and more efficient. We can appreciate that seeing as treadmill workouts aren’t always action packed. The Reebok 8050 ES features 11 pre-programmed workouts, including 2 that can be customized by the user. The console is well planned and features a 1/4-mile track display that lets you check your progress at a glance. There’s also a built-in workout fan and an integrated pulse-monitor that’s fairly accurate. Last and definitely least are the included 2-lb hand weights complete with their own little cubbies on the console. Cute, but really worthless.
TTR Recommedation
Priced at $799, we feel like the Reebok 8050 ES Treadmill is about $200 more than it should be. What you’re getting for the extra $200 bucks is simply the Reebok name. We feel like the Reebok 8050 ES comes up short in all major performance categories including motor, weight rating and warranty. Yes, you’ll get some nice electronics and a good looking machine, but that’s all a moot point if your treadmill doesn’t perform up to snuff.
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