I have been selling treadmills for almost two years while working for a major sports-store chain. Since I am never paid on commission, I have the benefit of being honest to my customers and selling them a good product that fits their needs. With that said, lets move on...

Of all the brands I have sold, ProForm has had the greatest number of total sales and the least number of returns. Although their warranty period (a skimpy 90 days on many models) is less than some other manufacturers, they certainly produce a quality product. Lets look at the features of the 995 SEL and what they mean to you.


- The Motor (2.75 HP PEAK on 995 SEL) -

Motors are are all rated in horsepower, but different models use different rating systems. There is the PEAK horsepower that a motor can produce, and then there is the CONTINUOUS DUTY power that a motor can produce. The peak power is the power you will get from a treadmill when you are using it at the "right" speed and incline. The continuous duty rating is the power which the motor ALWAYS produces. Continuous duty ratings are always significantly less than peak horsepower ratings, and you usually only find continuous duty ratings on more expensive models. In my experience, I have found that a 2.75 HP peak motor is about equivalent to a 1.75 HP continuous duty motor.

A motors power is very important. If you have a motor that is too weak, it will have to strain and use all of its energy to do a simple workout. This stress on the motor creates added noise and added wear, contributing to a shorter lifespan. Think of it as a cars engine. To get up a hill in car with a weak engine, you need to floor it and make the engine work as hard as it can, which is both stressful on the engine and noisy. In a powerful V8 engine, however, you only have to use the throttle lightly which means less noise and less wear on the engine.

The 995 SEL has a 2.75 HP, which is enough for walking, jogging, and running. If you plan on running, you shouldn't consider anything less than this model.


- The Belt (20" X 55" on 995 SEL) -

The belt is another important part of the treadmill. A belt that is too narrow will be difficult to jog or run on as your feet tend to stray left and right a little bit. A tread that is too short means you risk running off the end of the treadmill. The 995 has a 20" wide belt, and it is one of the least-expensive treadmills on the market with this size belt. A "small" belt is about 16", and a "medium" sized belt is about 18".

In addition to a good wide belt, the deck of the 995 SEL also has variable cushioning. You can vary how much "bounce" the treadmill has so that you can make it more appropriate for your style of exercise.



- The Electronics -

These days treadmills come with lots of different electronics, made to make your workout easier, safer, and more enjoyable. The 995 SEL comes with an easy-to-read LCD display (good for darker rooms). The various windows tell how many calories you have burned, the distance you have run, the speed you are at, and lots more. The center display shows a 1/4 mile track, so you can "see" how far you are running and how far you have left to go. I feel this is a very handy visual reference.

The 995 SEL also comes with a number of built in performance programs. These programs last anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes and make your workout more interesting. These programs automatically vary the speed and incline of the treadmill to simulate various road or trail conditions. The center console displays your current position on the program, and allows you to see what "terrain" is up next.

Most ProForm treadmills also come with iFit.com compatibility. This allows you to use videos, audio cd's, and the internet to change the way your treadmill works. You can download new performance programs off the internet, and watch footage of a run through a canyon as the treadmill changes speed and incline to the video.

Also, the 995 SEL has the EKG2 heart rate monitor. This takes your pulse using both of your thumbs and displays it right between your thumbs. Using two thumbs is far more accurate than devices that use only one.



Recommended: Yes