Proform is part of the Icon Health & Fitness group, and they have been making exercise equipment since 1977. They now specialize in products such as treadmill, elliptical trainers and exercise bikes. They certainly have a lot of knowledge and experience in this market, and understand what the consumer wants and needs. This is quite evident in the Proform 505 CST treadmill, and in this article we will be taking a closer look at this model to see if it is up to their usually high standards.
The Proform 505 CST is a mid priced treadmill suitable for home use. It does have quite a good array of features and functions to help you vary your workouts, and this also makes it a good treadmill for people of all fitness levels. One thing that is impressive straight away is the sturdiness and stability of this treadmill. Even with a heavier person running hard on it the treadmill doesn’t flinch. So if you are of a heavier weight (the weight capacity is 300 pounds), this machine is going to hold up well.
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A detailed look at the Proform 505 CST
Innovative features
The 505 CST gives you a lot of innovative features that have been cleverly thought out to really help your training sessions. Starting with the iFit® compatibility; this wireless compatibility, which has workouts powered by Google Maps, allows you to create your own fitness program and draw up a map to follow. Or you can select a course already available online and work to this.
This allows you to really vary your workouts and fine tune your training sessions. Your results will be uploaded to your iFit.com profile so you can keep track of your workouts and get regular statistics so you can see your progress. It will also allow you to run races or design any kind of workout you would like to train too.
Note – To use the iFit® technology to its full extent, you will need to purchase the wireless adapter, which is sold separately
Number of workout apps
There are 15 different workout apps built into the Proform 505 CST. They have all been designs by a certified personal trainer, so you will find a variety of programs to target different goals such as distance, calories burned, speed, time, weight loss, cardio and more.
Control panel
The display on the control panel is very clear to read, no matter what light you are in. This is great, as many displays on other treadmill models really let themselves down in this area, but the 505 CST is very good here. All of the controls are well laid out and it is very easy to change your speed, time etc on the fly.
One area of the control panel that is not the best is the two drink holders. They are not ideally shaped and the bottles don’t tend to sit in them very comfortably. That being said, there is no vibration from the treadmill, even when running at full pelt, so the bottles are not being bounced around. But it would have been a bit better if they were of a different shape.
There is a jack for an iPod or MP3 player, so you can plug it in and play your music through the built in speakers. The sound from the speakers is okay, perfectly acceptable for a treadmill and you can hear your music very clearly through them even when running hard.
Speed and incline capabilities
With a top speed of 10mph, most people will not get near the top end speed for their workouts. This leaves plenty of room for improved fitness growth, and allows you to really tailor your workouts more. There is also an incline capability of up to 10%. This can be achieved on the fly using the quick incline control. A very handy feature to have, and a workout on an incline will help you target different muscle groups.
Product dimensions
The belt on the Proform 505 CST is 20 inches wide by 55 inches long. This is plenty wide enough to run comfortably at any speed, without having to worry about falling off the side or end. With the excellent stability and the size of the belt, you will gain a lot of confidence when running on this machine.
We have mentioned that the 505 CST is a very sturdy machine, but to make it so sturdy there needs to be some weight behind it. This is quite a heavy treadmill, and moving it around is quite a task. But you do not expect a machine of this size to be light, it is better to be strong and last you a few more years. Here are the actual product dimensions:
- Length = 70 inches
- Width = 34 inches
- Height = 59.5 inches
- Weight Capacity = 300 pounds
For storage purposes, you can fold the running platform up too. This is ideal for those with not much room, so they can wheel the treadmill into the corner of the room when not in use.
Considering that you can purchase the 505 CST for as little as $599 (on Amazon), you are getting a very good quality treadmill with a lot of innovative features. Suitable for people of all levels of fitness, you will find it very difficult to find a treadmill in this price range that is more stable than this one.
Perfect for home use, the Proform 505 CST treadmill does provide an excellent platform for your training needs. It has been well made, and should last you a very long time. It also has a massive 25 year motor warranty, which proves the confidence that Proform has in its product.
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