When comparing treadmills these days there are lots of things to take into consideration. Unlike the treadmills of just a few years ago, today’s treadmills are loaded with features and functions that you need to think about before you buy. Two of the most in-demand treadmills for at-home use are the Bowflex Series 7 and the LifeSpan TR 1200i. Each of them could be considered a higher-end treadmill, as they both sport lots of helpful features. Since these two treadmills are so popular we decided to compare them against each other to see which model would come out on top. After all, if you’re comparing two very similar treadmills, it helps to have a detailed comparison to make the right choice.
At-Home Treadmills
While each of these treadmills could realistically compete against the types that you see in professional gyms, they are still classified as at-home pieces of exercise equipment. The main feature that makes these at-home treadmills is their size. They are a bit more compact than the treadmills you find in most gyms. They are also easy to fold and store away when not in use. Both the Bowflex Series 7 and the LifeSpan TR 1200i, are real space-savers, so they’re perfect for jogging or running at home. Since you can fold each of them up when not in use, you’ll not have to dedicate a lot of full time space to either model.
LifeSpan TR 1200i Features
- 2.25 horsepower motor that runs quietly and smoothly during exercise sessions.
- Large 20 by 56 inch running surface gives you plenty of space to run comfortably.
- Treadmill deck is designed to handle up to 300 pounds.
- LCD is multicolored and tracks time, calories, distance, speed and more.
- Built in programs for variety and progress tracking.
- EZ drop system makes this treadmill easy to fold up when you aren’t using it.
The most popular feature of the LifeSpan TR 1200i treadmill is the large, multi-color LED display. This display is pretty darned smart, and it helps you to track all of your progress and stats. You can even plug in a USB flash drive to download your stats and upload them to the LifeSpan online software. That allows you to track your progress and print out reports to see how well you are progressing toward your fitness goals. This is an innovative feature that really sets the TR 1200i apart from the competition.
Bowflex Series 7 Features
- Features grip and telemetric heart monitors to help you measure how hard you’re working during your workouts.
- Running area is 20 by 60 inches, so it’s large enough for virtually any type of stride.
- Chosen as the top fitness product by a large consumer advocate magazine.
- Features a quick incline option to help you take the intensity of your workouts to the next level.
- 15 exercise programs to help you work toward different fitness goals and stay motivated.
- Quick change speed keys to let you run as fast as you want to go.
The Bowflex Series 7 may not have the computer-related features that you get with the LifeSpan treadmill, but it makes up for this shortcoming in many other ways. The built in telemetric features and heart rate driven programs are great for measuring your progress. And the built-in programs are perfect for keeping variety in your workout plans. You get lots of different options to choose from, so you’ll never get bored and stop using this treadmill. The running area is just a bit larger than the LifeSpan’s, but a little bit can make a big difference, so this is another key feature to keep in mind as you compare these two treadmills.
Customer Reviews
The ultimate decision about a treadmill shouldn’t be made on just published features alone. You have to take user reviews and comments into consideration when comparing treadmills. While doing research for this treadmill comparison, we took a look at the user reviews for each of these popular models. Take a look at what real life customers have to say when making your treadmill decision.
LifeSpan TR 1200i Customer Reviews
The LifeSpan TR 1200i has about 15 user reviews that we were able to find. The average rating for this treadmill is 4.9 stars out of 5, and that is pretty impressive. Here are some comments from the customers who wrote reviews for this treadmill:
- “Great features!”
- “Very pleased.”
- “Hard to find a better treadmill.”
- “Great treadmill.”
- “Exceeded expectations.”
As you can see, the customers who reviewed this treadmill had nothing but good things to say about it. It’s rare to find a piece of exercise equipment that is such a customer-pleaser, but the TR 1200i certainly seems to be one of them. A lot of customers have been really taken with the computer-related features that you get with the TR 1200i. More than a few people even called this the best treadmill they have ever used.
Bowflex Series 7 Customer Reviews
Bowflex is so popular that we were able to find hundreds of customer reviews for the Series 7 treadmill. The average customer rating for the Series 7 is 4.2 stars out of 5, so it’s a little lower than the LifeSpan treadmill’s scores. You have to keep in mind, though, that only a handful of people have reviewed the LifeSpan model compared to the hundreds who have reviewed the Bowflex model. With that being said, the solid build and built-in workouts seem to be the most talked about features of the Series 7 Treadmill. And people have raved about this model, calling it the best treadmill for the money.
- “Very happy with this treadmill.”
- “Good purchase.”
- “Just turned 1000 miles.”
- “Great treadmill.”
Who Wins This Battle?
OK. We’ve compared two of the best selling treadmills available today. We’ve laid out the features, and even taken a look at real life customer reviews. So, which of these epic treadmills will take top honors? After serious consideration, we have to give the higher recommendation to the LifeSpan TR 1200i. This treadmill’s breakthrough computer functions are just too nice to ignore. The battle was a close one, and the Bowflex Series 7 didn’t lose by much. It is a very worthy competitor, but the modern touch that users get with the USB capability gave the win to the LifeSpan treadmill.
If you’re ready to start a home workout program, you’ll do well with either of these models. But if you like to track your workout data and stats, you can’t beat the LifeSpan TR 1200i.
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