The Merit Fitness 715t Plus treadmill won the ‘The Best Buy Runner-Up’ award in 2012. It is an affordable treadmill that offers a lot of functionality for the cost. It is also a very stable machine that can handle a user weight of up to 250 pounds. If you are looking for an entry level treadmill to use at home that offers reliability and stability, then the 715t Plus may be the ideal option for you.
If you are a high level runner, and you need a treadmill to run hard on for many miles each day, then this will not be the best model for you. But for the average user that likes to walk at pace, or use it for light jogging then this is ideal. The motor is strong and shows no signs of stress when being used, even if the user is of a heavier weight (as long as they are under the 250 pound weight capacity).
Although the running platform is not quite as big as some of the bigger treadmills, it still offers adequate running room. It is not as small as a lot of the models in this range either, so you will find the Merit Fitness 715t Plus treadmill to have one of the best platforms in this price category. The belt also uses their Aerosoft cushioning system that makes impact as soft as possible so you do not jar your knees when running on it.
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A closer look at the Merit Fitness 715t Plus treadmill
Motor
715t Plus has a 2.5 horsepower motor (1.5 continuous motor) that produces a powerful belt drive that remains consistent throughout a workout. The motor is very quiet, you will be able to listen to your music or watch the television while working out and the sound will not get drowned out.
Whether you prefer to do a slow paced walk or a faster jog, the motor will be able to give you a very stable and consistent workout. The belt will not slip, no matter what speed you are going at. This will give you confidence during your workout and give you the stable platform you need to work on.
Speed and incline capabilities
The speed range of the Merit Fitness 715t Plus treadmill is from 0 to 10 mph. This is plenty of speed to cater for those that want to do more intense workouts. But if you prefer to just walk for longer periods then this will also give you that ability too.
There is no automatic incline feature on this machine. But you can adjust the incline manually, and this takes just a few seconds to do. The downside to this is that you cannot adjust your incline while you are actually walking or running on the treadmill, so you will need to start your workout with the incline set. The incline range is 0 to 5%.
Preset programs
There are four preset programs to work too. These include a weight loss program, a rolling hills program, an interval program and also a manual one too so you can work to your own requirements. The number of preset workouts is fairly limited when compared to a more expensive treadmill, but you will also find many models in this price range that do not have the program choices that the 715t possesses too.
Control panel
The control panel on the Merit Fitness 715t Plus treadmill has three LED windows that indicates your current resistance level, your speed, time, calories burned and distance too. The panel is very easy to navigate and can easily be changed during your workout if required.
There are two drink bottle holders either side of the control panel. They are okay if you have a smaller bottle, but they will not fit a larger bottle which is a bit of a pain. There is also a reading rack to hold your book, magazine or even iPad if you want to watch a movie while working out.
Product dimensions
The 715t Plus can be folded away when not in use. So if space is limited in your home, or you simply do not want the treadmill taking up so much space when it is not being used, then you can easily fold it up and store it in the corner of the room.
The running platform is 18 inches wide and 47 inches long. This is not the biggest size platform you can get, but for the average user it will give you enough room to work out. These are the full dimensions for the treadmill:
- Length = 61 inches
- Height = 52 inches
- Width = 29 inches
- Weight = 108 pounds
- Weight Capacity = 250 pounds
Overall thoughts on the Merit Fitness 715t Plus treadmill
For the average user that does not want too many features and functions, and needs a good quality treadmill at a low price, then the Merit Fitness 715t Plus is ideal. It is well made, holds up to heavier set people without flinching and provides a range of speeds and workout programs to use. Considering you can get the 715t Plus for under $35o on Amazon, you are getting very good value for money there with this machine.
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