Like most ProForm treadmills the ProForm 580 LT Treadmill is a mid-grade, residential unit designed for beginning to intermediate users. This particular treadmill features a Mach Z™ 2.8 HP Drive Motor. What is a “Mach Z” motor? According to ProForm the Mach Z™ motor “uses direct cooling, a self-cooling process that extends the motor’s life and allows you to exercise for longer periods of time.” This begs the question, if Mach Z™ technology extends the motor’s life so well, why is it only warrantied for 15 years versus the lifetime warranty many other manufacturers offer? I smell a bit of marketing fluffery.

One feature we’ve always enjoyed about Pro Form treadmills is the iFit technology. The ProForm 580 LT includes 8 of these built-in workouts that automatically adjust the speed and incline of the treadmill based on goals like fat-burning or athletic performance. Another nice perk is the built-in iPod® dock that plays your music and charges your mp3 player while you exercise.

One thing to note on the ProForm 580 LT Treadmill is the 18″ belt width. This makes for a fairly narrow running surface, so the 580 LT is best suited for smaller users. Another item to keep in mind is the 300-lb stated user capacity. We tested a 210-lb runner on this machine and the performance wasn’t great at speeds above a brisk walk. We would advise heavier users to opt for a sturdier unit with a higher horsepower motor.

Other basic features on the ProForm 580 LT include one-touch 0-10 mph speed control, one-touch 0-10% incline control, grip-style pulse monitor and SoftFlex™ Cushioning.

TTR Recommendation

The ProForm 580 LT Treadmill is a capeable unit. But at $1,199, the price tag is much higher than is should be in our opinion. We would reccomend the 580 LT only for smaller users looking to walk or jog lightly. Anything more than that and you should probably look at something with a higher weight rating and bigger motor. A couple of downfalls for this unit are the narrow belt size and lack of a solid warranty. The stated coverage is only 15 years on the motor…nothing else is listed as being covered.

Click here to learn more about the ProForm 580 LT Treadmill.