This review was completed using a combination of first hand usage, owner feedback and online user reviews. There are several choices in this field, with two basic distinctions; professional grade or home user. For this comparison we looked at four models that span both of these categories. The key difference is durability in the build quality and duty cycles.

Landice and Noramco are both pro-grade brands that have a long, strong history of building quality products and are trusted and respected by fitness clubs and favored by career runners. Both of these units have an exceptionally good build quality, with Normaco's Super Treadmill ST4600HRT being the absolute top of the line in sturdiness. The Normaco may be the least attactive with its straightforward classic design but it has the highest duty cycle, highest weight and impact capacity, and strongest materials. The Landice L770 Cardio Trainer (Residential) is made with aircraft-grade aluminum and has a great 500-pound capacity which is the highest for home use units and also features a more modern design. The Landice L770 Cardio Trainer (Residential) is aimed squarely at runners with it wireless cardio heart-rate control and included strap, but falls short in the power category with 3-horsepower compared to the Normaco's 4-horsepower motor. Also, while the Landice L770 Cardio Trainer is considered residential, it's build quality and price push it up to the pro-grade level.

For home users we compare the Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill and the Smooth 6.25 Folding Treadmill. Both a these units have a decent quality of build but we did find that the Bowflex design was much more thought out, with bottle holders, good grips, a 3-speed personal cooling fan and well placed buttons. The Smooth 6.25 Treadmill is a folding unit and because of that it suffers some stability issues at high to moderate speeds under larger weights. The Bowflex Series 7 also has a stronger motor of the same 3-horsepower variety found in the Landice L770 which is $2600.00 more. The super modern design also reinforces Bowflex's good habit of listening to their customers to improve their products and the Series 7 has been highly refined over a few generations.

In deciding which of these units to purchase the two prime factors should be usage and price. If you are a serious runner or plan to be or, if multiple people will be using your treadmill, then the Landice and the Normaco should be your prime considerations, but be warned this is an investment with the Landice starting at $4000.00 and the Normaco ringing in at $5289.00. If however you want or need to spend less money then the Bowflex Series 7 is a great choice for runners and semi to frequent runners and has a strong warranty. If space is a concern then the Smooth 6.25 Folding Treadmill is worth taking a look at.