Schwinn Fitness Equipment
http://www.schwinnfitness.com/catalog/product_comparison_results_print.

Treadmills

Schwinn 860 Treadmill Price: Performance Features Number of Workout Programs 16 Maximum Speed 12 mph / 19 kph Maximum Incline 12 Horsepower 3.0 HP (CD) Heart Rate Monitor Grip heartrate sensor; telemetry-enabled with chest strap Details & Warranty NA Details & Warranty Surface Size 20" x 58" / 51 x 147 cm Belt Thickness 1.4 mm Frame Type Folding SoftDrop System Machine Weight 345 lbs / 156 kg Maximum User Weight 300 lbs / 136 cm Display Type Multi-color backlit LCD, Dual window Integrated Features
Schwinn 840 Treadmill Price:

10 mph / 16 kph

2.5 HP (CD)
Grip heartrate sensor; telemetry-enabled
20" x 55" / 51 x 140 cm

1.4 mm

Folding SoftDrop System

285 lbs / 129 kg

300 lbs / 136 cm
Multi-color backlit LCD, Dual window
SoftTrak deck suspension, Water bottle holders, SoftTrak deck suspension, Water bottle holders, Switchable from miles to km, Blower fan, Magazine rack, Switchable from miles to km, Blower fan, Magazine rack, Transport wheels Transport wheels Warranty Frame: 10 years, Motor: 10 years, Electronics: 1 year, Parts: 2 years, Wear parts: 90 dayss Not Found NA NA Frame: 5 years, Motor: 10 years, Electronics: 1 year, Parts: 6 months, Wear parts: 90 days

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10/21/2010 6:16 PM

BAREFOOT TREADMILL REVIEW

March 19, 2011

Tina Dubois is the Editor in Chief of LivingBarrefoot.info and the Producer of The LIving Barefoot Show
Treadmills and Barefoot Running 20 treadmills tested for your feet

By Tina Dubois

Treadmills are ubiquitous in the home and gym. Its only logical to want to take your new enthusiasm for barefoot running indoors and onto the nearest treadmill. In fact, many of you will want to try barefoot running on a treadmill before you ever hit the pavement. Doing so is certainly possible but, as Ive discovered, even on a treadmill
there are some careful considerations that should be given when used for barefoot running. If you want to run indoors but want to maintain your form and avoid getting burned, this review is for you. Although I prefer to run outside on trails (and in minimalist footwear), there are times when I would rather run
indoors: when the weather is bad or when the trails are too dangerous for my current skill. Sometimes I just want to do a short run and dont feel like getting all dressed up for appropriate weather conditions. During these times, I would like to run indoors but barefoot. Thats what led me to nd the best barefoot appropriate treadmill.
BAREFOOT TREADMILL REVIEW By Tina Dubois
This treadmill review will not be about specications, console options, incline heights, motor horsepower, noise level, or programs available. For this type of comprehensive information, Treadmill Talk Reviews has extensive technical reviews of 34 major brands and over 240 models of treadmills. This review rates and describes 20 of the most readily available treadmills for barefoot running comfort. I went to tness facilities and supply stores as well as department stores to nd the treadmills that the average consumer would be exposed to and put them through their barefoot paces, taking careful measurements as I went. Barefoot running calls for special consideration of features that might otherwise be far less important. There are three things that must be considered when purchasing a treadmill for barefoot running: heat, texture, and suspension. The belts installed on treadmills vary considerably in design and texture. These design differences make a big difference for a barefoot runner. Belt texture can be so rough that barefoot running becomes ver y uncomfortable or even impossible, and the heat generated by some treadmill designs makes running barefoot equally as difcult. Barefoot running is, at least in part, aimed at improving form and learning how to run naturally. The deck suspension system makes a considerable difference in feedback generated when running and thus is another crucial detail that must be taken into consideration when selecting a treadmill for barefoot running. Secondary considerations include the running surface size (belt size) and price. Running surface measurements were found either on the company website or through Treadmill Talk. Prices are listed in USD when available and CAD when the particular model is not available in the U.S. The prices listed are MSRP from the manufacturers website or online prices from retailers. The price listed is always a regular price,
although I did nd many models prices have signicant savings when on sale. To measure the temperature of the belt, I used a noncontact, infrared, laser-sighted digital thermometer with a range of -32C300C (-25.6572F) and an accuracy of +2C (3.6F) (accuracy is increased the closer the unit is to the target surface and was usually taken at approximately 10 cm or 4 inches). I measured the temperature of the belt before and after 10 minutes of running at 6.4 km/h (4 mph), a slow but easily maintainable pace for me. I tried to run in approximately the same location on the running surface and took temperature readings from this area both before and after running. For the belt texture, I have taken pictures of each of the treadmill belts. Each picture includes the belt, the deck (if applicable) and some of the side rail. I tried to take every picture at the back, right end of the treadmill from a 30 cm (1 foot) distance. I have rated each belt texture on a 05 scale: (1) too rough to run on barefoot, (2) barely comfortable enough to run on barefoot, (3) slightly less comfortable than the average, (4) a midrange smoothness and much like running on a concrete sidewalk, (5) slightly more comfortable than average, and the smoothest belt texture and the most comfortable to run on barefoot. People who spend considerable time barefoot may nd that the belt texture is not as important a consideration as it is to me as their foot soles and pads are tougher than mine. For the suspension, I nd a harder suspension better for barefoot running. A soft suspension can lead to bad form, in my experience, so harder is better for me. I found two general types of suspension: an independent deck suspension unconnected to the frame structure and a combined deck and frame suspension. I rated the suspension of each treadmill on a 05 scale: (1) the softest and very uncomfortable to run on with considerable energy lost in bounce, (2) slightly harder than the softest suspension, (3) slightly less hard than

the average suspension, (4) a mid-range or average suspension, (5) slightly harder than average, and the hardest with very little to no bounce in the suspension. Each treadmill tested includes a paragraph explaining my experience, the measurements taken, and the ratings given. The average rating is the sum of three 5point scales for temperature increase, belt texture, and suspension stiffness. A summary table at the end of the review compares all treadmills together in addition to their belt size, price, and an additional 5-point scale adding the price rating in order to determine the best valued treadmill. Each treadmill is additionally divided into three categories based on use: residential, light-commercial, or commercial. For the purpose of this review, residential treadmills are built specically for home use, light-commercial treadmills are built for 35 hours of daily use (for example, a treadmill that could be used for a hotel and similar types of usage), and commercial ones are built for many hours of daily use and are capable of supporting signicant weight. The type of treadmill determines the duty cycle and price.
There are two signicant factors which I could not control for in the process of this review: the amount of previous use for each treadmill and the ambient temperature where the treadmill was tested. For commercial treadmills, I tested daily use treadmills in gym facilities. For the light-commercial and residential treadmills, I tested a store oor model. There was no way for me to determine how old each treadmill was or how much each of the treadmills had been used. The ambient temperature of these locations ranged from 17.4C to 28.4C (63.3F to 83.1F). For each treadmill, I include the temperature of the deck before running on it to give a good indication of the ambient temperature and in order to calculate a temperature differential after running for 10 minutes. Please note that the treadmill model used for the review is not necessarily indicative of the barefoot appropriateness of the entire brand. Many of these brands offer a large selection of models with a variety of features and price ranges. I tried a total of 20 treadmills for this review and they are listed below in alphabetical order by brand.
TREADMILL REVIEWS EVERLAST EV 400
Scaled Temperature Increase Rating (TI) = 3/5, Belt Texture (BT) = 3/5, Deck Suspension (DS) = 3/5, Average Rating = 3.0 The residential Everlast treadmill, which I tried at Sears and is priced at $2300 CAD, is manufactured by the Maurice Pincoffs Company Inc., a large manufacturing company of various products including tness and recreation equipment. The EV 400 belt temperature increased from 27.3C to 33.2C (81.1F to 91.8F), so a differential of only 5.9C (10.7F), the lowest difference of all the conventional treadmills. It also included a diagonally patterned belt with a mid-range softness. The frame suspension was of medium stiffness but the construction of the unit seemed solid and there was little shaking in the console area while running.

FREEMOTION T5.2

TI = 3/5, BT = 0/5, DS = 5/5, Average Rating = 2.7 FreeMotion treadmills are manufactured by ICON Health & Fitness, a very large manufacturer of various brands of exercise equipment based in the United States. The FreeMotion T5.2 is a residential treadmill priced at $2500, although FreeMotion also offers commercial and light commercial models. The temperature of the belt increased from 20.6C to 29.8C (69.1F to 85.6F), so a differential of 9.2C (16.5F). The belt texture was too sharp for me to run on barefoot so I had to wear a pair of minimalist footwear in order to collect the temperature data, this being a pair of Vibram FiveFingers Performa Jane shoes. The pattern of the belt texture was horizontal and vertical lines and was both sharper and deeper in comparison to similar belt patterns on other treadmills. The T5.2 comes with an excellent feature: adjustable cushioning. You can choose the level of support with a sliding adjustment along the outside of the rails. I found that the stiffest setting was indeed very rm. Because I could not run on the FreeMotion T5.2 treadmill barefoot, I consider it a fail for barefoot appropriateness.
FREESPIRIT 2.25 HP FOLDING
TI = 2/5, BT = 4/5, DS = 2/5, Average Rating = 2.7 FreeSpirit treadmills are residential models built for Sears by the Maurice Pincoffs Company Inc. The model that I tested, a 2.25 HP folding model, priced at $2000 CAD, was in the middle range of available oor models at the Sears retail store where I tested a number of brands. The belt temperature increased from 28.4C to 42.0C (83.1F to 107.6F), so a differential of 13.6C (24.5F). This differential isnt as big as some but the 42.0C (107.6F) felt uncomfortably hot to my soles. Thankfully, the diagonally patterned belt felt reasonably smooth and not sharp. The frame suspension was soft and there was a bit of shaking in the frame while running.

GOLDS GYM TRAINER 480

TI = 2/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 1/5, Average Rating = 2.0 Golds Gym treadmills are manufactured by ICON Health & Fitness. The Trainer 480 is a residential model and priced at only $500 online. The treadmill belt temperature increased from 26.6C to 38.1C (79.9F to 100.6F), so a differential of 11.5C (20.7F). It included a diagonally patterned belt with a medium softness texture. The Trainer 480 model features an Airstride Plus Cushioning suspension, which I found very bouncy to run on. It felt like the deck was absorbing a lot of energy in the bounce of the deck and frame with every running step.

HORIZON SC2250T

TI = 2/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 3/5, Average Rating = 2.7 Horizon Fitness is owned by Johnson Health Tech, a large exercise equipment manufacturing company based out of the United States. The residential Horizon SC2250T, which I tried at Sears, appeared to be an older oor model and is priced at $1600 CAD. The belt temperature increased from 25.5C to 38.5C (77.9F to 101.3F), so a differential of 13.0C (23.4F). The belt was patterned with a standard diagonal pattern and was a mid-range smoothness. The frame suspension was also a midrange stiffness. I did nd that the console frame was not securely fastened to the deck frame, which produced quite a bit of shaking in the console and handle area of the treadmill while running.

LIFE FITNESS CLUB SERIES

TI = 1/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 1/5, Average Rating = 1.7 The Life Fitness brand of treadmills is very popular in gyms and health clubs in my area. The model I tried is a commercial model and is priced at $5500 online. The belt heated up from 20.4C to 40.2C (68.7F to 104.4F) during my 10 minute run, so a differential of 19.8C (35.7F). The temperature difference was more noticeable to my soles because the belt texture was a little rough. I would say it has a medium texture: not smooth and not rough. I noticed that the temperature increase of the belt is more noticeable the more rough the belt texture is. I also noticed, however, that of the four Life Fitness treadmills at Cochrane Health & Fitness, three had the same medium belt (which I tried) and one was very rough. The rough belt was new as it had just been replaced with a clearly different texture as the original. This is something I had not considered before and would probably not be an issue for residential use but may be a concern for commercial use. The independent deck suspension of the Life Fitness treadmill was soft. It bounced approximately 1 cm with every step.

LIFESPAN TR1200

TI = 2/5, BT = 1/5, DS = 4/5, Average Rating = 2.3 LifeSpan treadmills are manufactured by PCE Fitness based in Utah, U.S. The residential LifeSpan TR1200 is priced at $1500. The belt temperature increased from 22.4C to 33.0C (72.3F to 91.4F), so a differential of 10.6C (19.1F). The belt texture was not comfortable to run on and I was only barely able to run on it barefoot. The suspension was quite stiff, however, and was provided by the frame design and not a suspended deck.

NAUTILUS T514

TI = 2/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 4/5, Average Rating = 3.0 Nautilus treadmills are manufactured by Nautilus Health & Fitness Group, a manufacturer of a number of treadmills and other exercise equipment. The Nautilus T514 treadmill is a relatively inexpensive residential treadmill priced at $1200. The belt temperature increased from 20.8C to 33.7C (69.4F to 92.7F), so a differential of 12.9C (23.3F). The belt texture was a medium smoothness with a diagonally patterned texture, although not deep was a bit sharp. The frame suspension was relatively rm, although not the rmest of the conventional treadmills. The rmness is probably due to the relatively short deck of only 140 cm (55) of this model.

NORDICTRACK A2550 PRO

TI = 2/5, BT = 4/5, DS = 2/5, Average Rating = 2.7 NordicTrack treadmills are also manufactured by ICON Fitness. The NordicTrack A2550 Pro is a relatively entry-level, residential treadmill for NordicTrack priced at $1300. The belt temperature increased from 27.1C to 38.0C (80.8F to 100.4F), so a differential of 10.9C (19.6F). The non-patterned, sand-paper texture of the belt was much more pleasant to run on than most of the patterned belts and was comfortable to run on barefoot. The frame suspension was quite soft, however, and there was a lot of bounce in the deck while running.
PACEMASTER SILVER SELECT XP
TI = 3/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 2/5, Average Rating = 2.7 The PaceMaster Silver Select XP treadmill is one of American-made PaceMasters mid-range residential models priced at $2300. The belt temperature increased from 22.4C to 29.2C (72.3F to 84.6F), so a differential of 6.8C (12.3F); one of the lowest differentials of the conventional treadmills. This may be due in part to the orthopaedic belt, which is very thick compared to most of the other treadmill belts and thicker than the regular PaceMaster belt featured on the Bronze model (the lowest range model). The orthopaedic belt texture, however, was only a medium softness to run on due to the raised horizontal/vertical line pattern. It was more comfortable than the Bronze model belt, which I tried running on briey and found especially sharp on the soles of my feet. The frame suspension is PaceMasters Triex TM Impact Shock Management, which I found to be quite soft to run on.

PRECOR 9.33

TI = 2/5, BT = 5/5, DS = 3/5, Average Rating = 3.3 Precor manufacturers commercial, light-commercial, and residential treadmills with great attention to detail as well as research and development. The Precor model that I tried, the 9.33, is ofcially the residential model but the components are the same as the light commercial except for the console and programs (according to Lowell Adamson, Store Manager at Fitness Depot). Therefore, Im placing it in the light commercial category. The Precor 9.33 is priced at $4500. The belt temperature increased from 21.2C to 32.0C (70.2F to 89.6F), so a differential of 10.8C (19.4F). The belt texture is delightfully smooth compared to most of the residential model and felt fantastic to run on. There is a little bit of texture for grip but no raised, patterned lines or bumps. The soles of my feet were very happy to run on such a smooth texture. The belt suspension is Precors Multi-zone Shock Absorption TM system which absorbs shock at the point of impact and provides variable absorption along the length of the deck. The deck is suspended from the frame and felt quite soft, although not as much as the traditional commercial treadmills.

PROFORM XP TRAINER 580

TI = 3/5, BT = 1/5, DS = 1/5, Average Rating = 1.7 ProForm treadmills are manufactured by ICON Fitness. The ProForm 580 is an entry-level, residential treadmill priced at $600. It did not have a high-quality feel to it, for example there was quite a bit of frame shaking while running. The belt temperature increased from 28.2C to 37.4C (82.8F to 99.3F), so a differential of 9.2C (16.5F). The belt was deeply patterned and very sharp and I was barely able to run on it barefoot and probably should not have considering the pain in my soles afterward. The frame suspension was very soft and indeed, the entire treadmill shook with every step.

PROGRESSION T400

TI = 2/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 2/5, Average Rating = 2.3 The Progression T400 residential treadmill for $2000 CAD is manufactured by Flaman Fitness and may only be available in Canada as I could not nd U.S. pricing for it. The belt temperature increased from 20.4C to 30.7C (68.7F to 87.3F), so a differential of 10.3C (18.6F). The belt texture was a medium smoothness and not only looked but felt exactly like the Nautilus and Schwinn belts. The suspension was very soft to run on with considerable bounce in the deck although not quite as much as the commercial treadmills.

SCHWINN 860

TI = 3/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 3/5, Average Rating = 3.0 Schwinn treadmills are essentially rebranded Nautilus treadmills as Schwinn Fitness is owned by Nautilus Fitness. The Schwinn 860 is a residential treadmill priced at $1400. The console and mouldings look exactly the same as the Nautilus treadmills; even the belt is the same, therefore it is a medium smoothness. The belt temperature increased from 21.4C to 31.0C (70.5F to 87.8F), so a differential of 9.6C (17.3F). The suspension of this model I found to be softer than that of the Nautilus, however. I thought they would be the same, until I realized that the deck of the Schwinn 860 is 7 cm (3) longer than that of the Nautilus T514. The longer deck increases the bounce. Therefore, for a rmer suspension, I recommend the shorter decked conventional treadmills.

SOLE F63

TI = 3/5, BT = 4/5, DS = 4/5, Average Rating = 3.7 Sole Fitness treadmills are featured in Hilton and other worldwide hotels. The residential Sole F63 felt like a high-quality, sturdy machine, had a great warranty at the Sears store where I tried it, and is priced at $1850 online. The belt temperature increased from 27.8C to 37.4C (82.0F to 99.3F), so a differential of 9.6C (17.3F). The diagonally patterned belt was reasonably smooth to my soles, too. It did not have as deep a grip depth as most of the other diagonally patterned belts. The frame suspension felt relatively stiff for a traditional treadmill, despite not having an adjustable suspension. It was a pleasure to run on this machine barefoot. After compiling all the data from the conventional treadmills, the Sole was the best conventional treadmill including all the residential, lightcommercial, and commercial treadmills. This is the treadmill I would recommend if you are looking for a relatively inexpensive, traditionally decked treadmill.

STARTRAC TR4500

TI = 0/5, BT = 5/5, DS = 3/5, Average Rating = 2.0 StarTrac commercial treadmills are also popular in gym facilities in my area. I ran on both the StarTrac Pro Series and the StarTrac TR4500 but only had the chance to measure the temperature of the StarTrac TR4500 so this section will be about it, although the Pro Series treadmill has the same belt and suspension. I found an online price for the TR4500 of $6680. The TR4500 treadmill increased from 18.2C to 40.8C (64.8F to 105.4F) during my 10 minute run, so a differential of 22.6C (40.6F). I could denitely feel the increased heat on my feet but it didnt seem like

that big of a difference to my soles. It might be because the belt texture is so smooth. The belt texture is exceptionally smooth and my feet really enjoyed that aspect of the treadmill. The independent deck suspension is quite soft on this unit. While I was running, I could see the deck bounce at least 1 cm with every step. I prefer a harder suspension so this aspect was not great.

TRUE PS800

TI = 3/5, BT = 1/5, DS = 4/5, Average Rating = 2.7 The True PS800 treadmill model that I tried featured an orthopaedic belt, being thicker than the regular belts on other True models. The PS800 is a residential model priced at $3700. The belt temperature increased from 20.9C to 28.2C (69.6F to 82.8F), so a differential of 7.3C (13.2F), one of the lowest differentials of the conventional treadmills. This seems to be the case with the orthopaedic belts as their increased thickness provides some insulation from the friction created by the belt circulating on the deck. This orthopaedic belt, however, was not comfortable to run on because the belt pattern was not only sharp but had a deep grip depth that was difcult to stand on in bare feet and I could just barely run on barefoot. The PS800 features an adjustable suspension and I ran on it at the stiffest setting. This level of suspension, although stiff in the deck, caused quite a bit of shaking of the frame, which was very visible while running on it.

VISION FITNESS T9200

TI = 1/5, BT = 0/5, DS = 4/5, Average Rating = 1.7 Vision Fitness treadmills are also manufactured by Johnson Health Tech along with the Horizon brand. Vision Fitness offers a number of models primarily for residential use including the T9200, which is priced at $1800. The temperature of the T9200 belt increased from 19.2C to 36.6C (66.6F to 97.9F), so a differential of 17.4C (31.3F). The belt texture, however, was far too rough for me to run on it barefoot, having both a sharp and deep pattern. I initially tried walking on it and found it difficult but doable. When running, however, it was painful so I put on Vibram FiveFingers Performa Jane shoes and, with that minimal amount of sole protection, was capable of completing my 10 minute run. I could feel some heat through the Performa Jane sole but it was not uncomfortable. The frame suspension was a medium softness. Because I could not run on the T9200 treadmill barefoot, I consider it a fail for barefoot appropriateness.

WOODWAY CURVE

TI = 5/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 5/5, Average Rating = 4.3 The WOODWAY Curve is a non-motorized treadmill with a curved design running surface. It is a non-traditional treadmill in every sense. The Curve is a commercial model priced at $6000. The running surface is a WOODWAY-patented slat belt made of trapezoid-shaped vulcanized rubber-coated aluminum slats that glide over two ball-bearing transportation system rails on either side of the belt. Due to this design, there is very little friction and no belt slippage compared to conventional treadmills. The running surface temperature did not increase at all after running on it for 10 minutes. The slat surface is texturized with excellent traction for bare feet that, although looks deep, is made of a relatively soft rubber. The suspension is hard despite the lack of a deck under the running surface. The Curve is my rst choice for a barefoot appropriate treadmill for many reasons, which I will elaborate on in the next section.

WOODWAY DESMO

TI = 5/5, BT = 3/5, DS = 5/5, Average Rating = 4.3 The WOODWAY Desmo is a motorized, at-deck treadmill built with the WOODWAY-patented slat belt technology instead of a traditional rotating belt on a hard deck. The Desmo is a commercial model priced at $10,000, the most expensive of all the treadmills. The running surface is the same slat system as the Curve except the running surface is at as opposed to the non-motorized curve shape. The belt temperature did not heat up at all after 10 minutes of running. I found that the belt ran very smoothly along its ball-bearing rails. The texture of the slats provides a lot of traction but is not rough on the soles of the feet and I found it similar to running barefoot on concrete. The suspension is hard. The only movement I found was in the individual slats upon landing and it is very minute. Of the at-decked treadmills, the Desmo is my preferred model for barefoot running. The lack of temperature increase is delightful to run as is the stiff suspension. The running surface may not be the smoothest of the treadmills but it is comparable to running on concrete sidewalks.
TREADMILL COMPARISON CHART
Brand Model Use Surface Temperature * Temp Scaled Belt Deck Average Belt Size Difference Temp Texture Suspension Rating (W X L) Increase ! (cm, in) Rating
5.9 oC 10.7 oF 9.2 16.5 oF 13.6 24.5 oF
Price Price (USD Rating unless " otherwise indicated) $2300 CAD $2,500 $2000 CAD $500 $1600 CAD $5,500 $1,500 $1,200 $1,300 $2,300 $4,500 $600 $2000 CAD $1,400 $1,850 $6,680 $3,700 $1,800 $6,000 $10,000
Average Rating Including Price Rating
Everlast FreeMotion FreeSpirit Golds Gym Horizon LifeFitness LifeSpan Nautilus NordicTrack PaceMaster Precor ProForm Progression Schwinn Sole StarTrac TRUE Vision Fitness WOODWAY WOODWAY
EV 400 T5.2 2.25 HP Folding Trainer 480 SC2250T Club Series TR1200 T514 A2550 Pro Silver Select XP 9.33 XP Trainer 580 TF63 TR 4500 PS800 T9200 Curve Desmo
Residential Residential Residential Residential Residential Commercial Residential Residential Residential Residential LightCommercial Residential Residential Residential Residential Commercial Residential Residential Commercial Commercial
27.3 / 33.2 oC 81.1 / 91.8 oF 20.6 / 29.8 69.1 / 85.6 oF

3.0 2.7 2.7 2.0 2.7 1.7 2.3 3.0 2.7 2.7 3.3 1.7 2.3 3.0 3.7 2.0 2.7 1.7 4.3 4.3
51 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 68
3.0 2.8 3.0 2.8 3.3 1.3 2.8 3.3 3.0 2.8 2.8 2.5 2.8 3.3 3.8 1.5 2.5 2.3 3.3 3.3
28.4 / 42.0 83.1 / 107.6 oF 26.6 / 38.1 oC 79.9 / 100.6 oF 25.5 / 38.5 oC 77.9 / 101.3 oF 20.4 / 40.2 68.7 / 104.4 oF 22.4 / 33.0 oC 72.3 / 91.4 oF 20.8 / 33.7 69.4 / 92.7 oF
11.5 oC 20.7 oF 13.0 oC 23.4 oF 19.8 35.7 oF
10.6 oC 19.1 oF 12.9 23.3 oF
27.1 / 38.0 oC 80.8 / 100.4 oF 22.4 / 29.2 72.3 / 84.6 oF
10.9 oC 19.6 oF 6.8 12.3 oF 10.8 oC 19.4 oF 9.2 16.5 oF 10.3 18.6 oF 9.6 oC 17.3 oF 9.6 17.3 oF 22.6 oC 40.6 oF 7.3 13.2 oF 17.4 31.3 oF 0 oC 0 oF oF

oC oC oC oC oC oC oC

21.2 / 32.0 oC 70.2 / 89.6 oF 28.2 / 37.4 82.8 / 99.3 oF 20.4 / 30.7 68.7 / 87.3 oF
21.4 / 31.0 oC 70.5 / 87.8 oF 27.8 / 37.4 82.0 / 99.3 oF
18.2 / 40.8 oC 64.8 / 105.4 oF 20.9 / 28.2 69.6 / 82.8 oF 19.2 / 36.6 66.6 / 97.9 oF
17.4 / 17.4 oC 63.3 / 63.3 oF 17.4 / 17.4 63.3 / 63.3 oF
* Before/After running for 10 minutes at 6.4 km/h (4 mph) 05 scale: 5 = no difference, 4 = 05 oC or 09 oF, 3 = 510 oC or 918 oF, 2 = 1015 oC or 1827 oF, 1 = 1520 oC or 2736 oF, 0 > 20 oC or > 36 oF difference 05 scale: 5 being the smoothest texture 05 scale: 5 being the hardest suspension ! Average of Scaled Temperature Increase Rating, Belt Texture, and Deck Suspension 5-point scales " 05 scale: 5 = < $1000, 4 = $1000$2000, 3 = $2000$3000, 2 = $3000$4000, 1 = $4000$5000, 0 = >$5000
BEST BAREFOOT PERFORMANCE
The best treadmills for barefoot performance were undeniably the WOODWAY treadmills. Running on the WOODWAY treadmills is unlike running on any of the traditionally decked treadmills. The slat belt technology on a ball-bearing transportation system of the Curve and Desmo is a far more enjoyable running experience than running on a conveyor belt rotating on a hard deck creating increasing amounts of heat through friction. Both WOODWAY treadmills had absolutely no running surface temperature increase, even after sprinting. The suspension of the WOODWAY treadmills is hard, which is exactly what I prefer. This stiff suspension allowed for the best
running form that I can achieve. Although they did not have the smoothest texture to run on, their hard suspension and lack of heat increase denitely make them the most barefoot appropriate treadmills that I tested. Of the two WOODWAY treadmills, I would choose the Curve as my favorite. Running on the Curve is different than running on the at-decked treadmills because of the non-motorized curve design. In less than 10 minutes of running, I could feel my glutes and calves burning and my heart racing from the extra exertion. The Curve design promotes a barefoot-style, natural running form simply with the design of the surface.

You have to be very conscious of your running form and pace at every step. The Curve responded very quickly to my pace and could reach sprinting or stopping speeds in as little as three steps. This treadmill is a high performance machine with no maximum speed. Being able to control my own pace instead of depending on the acceleration/deceleration of a motor felt more natural than running on the motorized treadmills. I also felt safer and more in-control with the responsive belt speed. It never outpaced me and it didnt go too slow. The forced use of good running form as well as the natural and responsive surface made the experience much like running outsideand isnt that the point of it all?
desire a treadmill to run on in conventional or minimalist shoes, however. There really is no way of knowing what the surface temperature will increase to while running on a treadmill unless you try it yourself. I would sometimes guess what the temperature increase would be before trying a treadmill based on the thickness of the belt. While this worked comparing a regular thickness belt to the orthopaedic belts, this did not work comparing regular belts to each other. There were four general types of belts that I found: 1) a patterned belt with diagonal lines, 2) a patterned belt with horizontal/vertical lines, 3) a thick orthopaedic belt with a deep grip depth and generally a horizontal/ vertical pattern, and 4) a non-patterned belt that I compare to a mild sand-paper texture. Of these four belt types, the non-patterned sand-paper-like belt was by far the most comfortable to run on. The patterned belts would range in low to medium comfort to run on barefoot depending on the grip depth of the pattern; the shallower the grip depth the better. The orthopaedic belts were not comfortable at all to run on barefoot because the grip depth was far too deep for my forefoot pads to handle. Different models within a brand can have different belts. If you nd a brand that you like, try to nd a model with a belt texture that is the most comfortable to run on. There were two general types of suspensions: 1) an independent deck suspension (like those of the commercial brands) or 2) a frame suspension. Of these two types, the deck suspensions were generally more bouncy than the frame suspensions. I also found that those treadmills with an adjustable suspension had the hardest suspensions of all the treadmills, when set to its stiffest setting. If a hard suspension is the most important feature for you, I would recommend trying to nd a treadmill with an adjustable suspension and keep it on its hardest suspension setting. Also with regards to suspension, I found that within a brand, models with shorter decks had less bounce. When you factor in price into the rating of the treadmills, the best of the models I chose becomes the Sole F63. It has a mid-range price, so averaged with its other above-average qualities, it easily becomes the highest rated treadmill. The next highest rated

BEST BAREFOOT VALUE

Although the WOODWAY treadmills are my favorite for barefoot performance, their expensive commercial prices exclude them from having the best value. I determined the best barefoot value as the treadmill with the highest average rating including the price rating. Therefore, the treadmill with the best value is the Sole F63 model. It had the second highest average rating of all 20 treadmills models and is priced under $2000. It felt to have a sturdy, high-quality construction, the increase in temperature was below average (which I calculated at 11.7C or 21.1F for the conventional treadmills), the belt texture was comfortable, and the suspension was relatively hard. I found that among the conventional treadmills, it was difcult to nd one that excelled at all three main criteria points; several of the treadmills were better than the Sole in one aspect but they would not be adequate overall. From the models that I chose to run on, none of the conventional treadmills were great to run on barefoot but there may be a model on the market that would succeed with a low surface temperature increase, a smooth belt texture, and a hard suspension, I just didnt nd it.

RECOMMENDATIONS

After running barefoot on twenty treadmills, I made several observations and am condent in making a few recommendations if you are in the market to purchase a treadmill specically for barefoot running. These recommendations probably do not all apply if you
treadmills include the Horizon, Nautilus, Schwinn, and both WOODWAY treadmills. The WOODWAY Curve is priced similarly to the other commercial treadmills (and can handle that kind of heavy-duty use) but the Desmo is considerably more expensive. If all I had to choose from were at motorized treadmills, and price was not an issue, I would choose the Desmo over any conventional treadmill without hesitation. As price is an issue for most people, the Sole is superior to the Horizon, Nautilus, and Schwinn models and is priced within the same $1000$2000 range. The feature that is most important will be a personal preference, so choose a treadmill that best ts your most important factor.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There are a number of people whom Id like to thank for making this review possible. Thanks to Kelsey Andries at Stenia Health & High Performance for the use of the WOODWAY treadmills and all her shared knowledge and expertise. Thanks to Nelson Chan at National Fitness Products of Canada for his helpful
information about the WOODWAY treadmills. Thanks to Patrick Gladue at Lifestyles Fitness & Wellness Centre for the use of the StarTrac treadmills. Thanks to Serge Tessier at Cochrane Sport & Physio for the use of the Visio Fitness Treadmill. Thanks to Stacey Broderick at Cochrane Health & Fitness Club for the use of the Life Fitness treadmill. Thanks to Flaman Fitness for the use of the FreeMotion, Nautilus, Schwinn, and Progression treadmills. Thanks to Lowell Andamson at Fitness Depot for his knowledgeable help and the use of the PaceMaster and Precor treadmills. Thanks to Go Mango Fitness Equipment for the use of the LifeSpan and True treadmills. Thanks to Lorne Cowan at Sears Northill Centre for his informative knowledge and the use of the ProForm, Free Spirit, Sole, and NordicTrack treadmills. Thanks to Ross Stirling for his invaluable advice and insightful knowledge. Thanks to Al Gauthier at Living Barefoot for his inestimable advice and support. And many thanks to Andrew Searle for his advice and patience.