Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Update: I experienced several of the same problems that people mentioned with the treadmill randomly stopping while exercising. Not going to lie, it hurt a few times because the belt just stops abruptly (doesn't just slow down). I was ok with dealing with that, although I was constantly nervous about it. Then a few weeks ago, while walking, I felt a crack and then felt a "give" in the tread. I checked, and the platform of the treadmill had cracked. I'm about 210 pounds, so it shouldn't have done that, and it's not like it was getting a ton of use. I'm leaving it at 4 stars. The product is nice, I like that it can function with the rail folded down so I can have it tucked under my desk and walk. When working, I liked it. The good: Customer service, once I sent them the issue, they refunded my purchase. I sent a couple of pictures of the damage and they credited my account. The bad: The product broke under normal use conditions. The tendency to just stop in the middle of a workout is a liability. It could have easily resulted in injury. The remote, honestly I never figured that all the way out. It's a cheap remote, feels cheaply made, but I was able to use it to increase the speed when I was walking and it was folded down. Eventually, I was just using it with the rails in the upright position. I have been fortunate to be able to work from home for the past 360 days, and have realized just how much we sit during the day. On meetings that drone on, and on, and on... and calls that should have been emails, and zoom meetings that should have been emails, and Microsoft Teams video calls that should have been emails, and skype sessions that should have been emails... and as boring as that sounds, it is at least 37% more boring and tedious than that. So, first I purchased a rising desk so I can stand. That helped, for a bit, but still didn't quite have that "hamster in a cage" feeling down pat. So, while maintaining about a 50-60 hour productive work week, I thought "how could I fit more into my day without actually doing much else". Then I saw a coworker walking on a treadmill during a meeting. So, I asked and she told me the type she purchased. I figured, why not, right? Bought this, with not much expectation, but it's actually great! If I can convince myself that I'm actually a productive member of society and not that hamster I had when I was 11 that would run in his wheel aimlessly for hours at a time, and if I can burn calories from the mindless pandemic eating habits I've picked up, then all the better! This thing works great. I can fold down the bar and slide it under my desk, and huff and puff my way through all those "should have been email" meetings. And it's light enough that once I'm sufficiently sweaty, I can move it out to the living room for my other hamster...er, I mean my wife, can do the same. We've had this product for a couple of weeks now, and each target 5 miles a day. The only actual product complaint I have is that it will randomly stop. It's happened to me 2 times, but happens to my wife more frequently. I like to think that's because I walk on a treadmill better than her, but don't let her know I said that. Seriously though, if anyone knows why it happens please let me know. It's not cool to be in a video meeting, showing off my "work life balance" and "well being", when my 3.8 mph brisk walk suddenly stops and I step waist first into my desk and 'oooomf' as the breathe is knocked out of me, and then have to explain to everyone watching that no, no, no, I'm fine. It's all good, just gotta adjust myself off camera. Other interesting note, one that I don't think will matter to me, but this thing has a "step counter" and if you step off the treadmill to grab some more water or look in the mirror to really evaluate your life for a second, the step-counter knows your lies and stops counting. The miles keep trucking along, but if you're a step counting person, this thing doesn't let you cheat. Distance wise, sure. I can turn it on and let it churn out 15 miles and point at it to my wife and say "look, see how fit I am", but if it cycles to step counts, she'll see that judgy "47 steps" and then I'm sleeping on the couch for trying to cheat on our pandemic-fitness bet. So, now I have a standing desk with a treadmill under it, a second monitor so I can keep all 218 excel and powerpoint files open, and crippling depression and anxiety as we enter the 26th "2-week shutdown" to curb Covid. Oh, and homeschooling 3 kids from elementary to high school at the same time. What was I talking about? Oh, a treadmill. Yeah, the treadmill is great. The remote is cheaply made and confusing, but I mean it's a treadmill remote, so (shrugs apathetically). I'll also call BS to the smiling fit female running on the cover of the ad. Switch your marketing. Show me, in my button up shirt and umbro shorts, trudging along at 3.5 mph, fake smiling into my camera while slowly dying inside. That's your target demographic right now. Not the marathon-training fitness expert, the 40-something analyst, consultant, and business operators who are trying to stop their muscles from atrophying when we pass the one-year mark in a few days. *Note the judgment from my dog. You can see the "just take me for a walk" in his face. 5/5 for the treadmill. 2.5/5 for the remote, and 0/5 for a year in isolation.