Epic treadmills

Epic treadmills are manufactured by one of the leading fitness exercise producers Icon Fitness. You may know Icon through their other treadmill brands which include Proform, Reebok and Nordic Track.

With a huge production capacity and commercial distribution network Icon Fitness can use these economies of scale to provide the consumer great value fitness equipment in terms of price and features.

Epic treadmills could be considered a budget machine rather that at the top end of the market. In the past the Epic had an image of being built with cheap components and not very sturdy construction. It was certainly not the best choice for the serious athlete or fitness fanatic.

However, they have cleaned up their act over the years by using better quality components that could be sourced cheaply abroad. This now makes the Epic one of the best designed machines that are using better quality drive motors but still at an affordable price. This change in direction led a well known consumer magazine to their give their electric treadmill  a "Best Buy" in 2009.

Epic Treadmill Reviews

Epic 550 view treadmill

 One of their new models is the epic view 550 folding treadmill which has already received high praise on it stylish looks and many features. The first thing you will notice with the Epic 550 is the 7 inch color flat screen TV. That's right, a TV! Running on a treadmill can get boring so tuning into your favorite soap will keep you entertained and fit at the same time. This comes with an on screen display facility, which allows you to switch from your workout program to the TV.

Another cool feature is the Intermix Acoustics Sound System. If you get tired of watching the TV you have your very own integrated music system. Although a treadmill stereo can never match a stand alone stereo they are getting a lot better in terms of sound quality.  The sound system also has a music port feature for you to plug in your MP3 so you can listen to your favorite tunes and monitor your speed during workouts.

If you live in a small space then you will be glad to hear that the Epic 550 is a foldable machine which takes up less of your valuable real estate when you are not using it. Epic treadmills have worked hard to improve their folding mechanisms after having mechanical issues with a few of the epic t60 treadmill models.

Probably one of the standout features on the 550 icon epic treadmill is the built in Coolair workout fan. This blows cool air on you to keep your body temperature down as overheating can be dangerous especially if you have poor air conditioning in your home.

As standard the 550 comes with a dual grip power pulse handle handle bars which measures your heart rate while you are working out. Impressive workout program range with up top 28 individuals settings for plenty of variety.

As well as great features this Epic treadmills machine  does not let you down in the technical department. One of the main criticisms of treadmills is the noisy motor belt. However, the Epic 550 has a unique cooling system that prevents the motor from over heating, and this combined with smooth precision rollers and a wide 60 inch low impact running belt makes this one of the quietest on the market.

This comes with a very good warranty that includes a life time guarantee on the frame, 1 year  on all parts and labor and a 12 year motor warranty. The weight capacity is 350 pounds making this a strong sturdy machine.

Stay tuned for another review this time on the Epic 425mx treadmill.