ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 Treadmill | Never Miss a Run
Reviewed by TreadmillReviews.com
The power, space, and training that you need to crush your next run.
The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The power, space, and training that you need to crush your next run.
Updated: February 19, 2025
I pride myself on getting out for my runs even in the roughest conditions. I’ve post-holed (angrily) through the snow. Forty-mile-per-hour winds have tried to turn me around, but I’ve pushed on. Still, there are some conditions that even I won’t brave: hail storms, hurricanes, and late-night runs through dangerous parts of town. In those cases, I have to turn to the treadmill.
Not just any treadmill will do when it comes to logging a run. You need a powerful motor, enough space on the deck, and sufficient performance specs. When I’m logging a long run, I want entertainment or training to keep my mind off the endless miles, too.
The ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 Treadmill is a good fit for bad weather. Read on to see if it has everything you need to avoid a rain check.
ProForm has come a long way over the years. Two years ago, I was running regularly on a secondhand ProForm treadmill that was 10+ years old. While both that ancient machine and the Carbon Pro 9000 carried me through double-digit long runs, the experience—especially on the console—was quite different.
The ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 may be one small step in treadmill innovation, but it’s worth millions of steps along your fitness journey.
With a 350-lb weight capacity, the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 Treadmill beats industry standards in terms of sturdiness. The steel frame reduces most of the console shaking to ensure it won’t interfere with your running experience.
The frame comes with a 10-year warranty. Parts are covered for two years. Labor, repairs, and the tablet are all covered for one year.
Be sure to keep your treadmill stored in a climate-controlled environment to keep your warranty from being voided. You should also regularly wipe down the frame and perform other routine maintenance to keep your treadmill in working condition for as long as possible.
The 3.6 CHP motor is more than enough for regular running. It supports everything up to marathon training, though households with more than one marathon runner might want to consider a more powerful treadmill (4.0 HP and higher).
We tested the Carbon Pro 9000’s motor responsiveness. Our tests demonstrated that the speed adjustments are moderately fast while the incline is much slower. If you want to do a HIIT workout, fast intervals are doable, but hill repeats might be more challenging. However, the slow incline adjustments make the Carbon Pro 9000 feel smooth and safe.
The ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 has a standard-sized treadmill deck at 20” x 60”. This size gives you plenty of room to run up to the 12 mph maximum speed without feeling like you might step off the treadmill. I didn’t have any issues with hitting the low-profile motor hood, which made me very happy.
Some walkers and runners may be disappointed to find that the running surface is not very cushioned. It’s pretty firm, though maybe a little more cushioned than running on the pavement. If you want a treadmill that more closely resembles running outside, it’s a good option, but not so much if your goal is to reduce impact.
We evaluate tons of folding treadmills, but there are a few key differences that set them apart. For one, the Carbon Pro 9000 has hydraulic assistance that allows the deck to drop softly to the ground once released, and it locks the treadmill into place without you needing to secure it beyond pushing it upright far enough.
The deck is light enough that folding it and unfolding it daily shouldn’t be a problem for most people. I can do it with one hand, which is my go-to test for how easy it is to fold a treadmill. For example, the NordicTrack commercial series treadmill and the Sole treadmill decks are much heavier.
Hill training is an important part of becoming a stronger runner and building strength as a walker. The ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 has an incline range of 0 to 12%. It does not decline, sadly, so no downhill running.
Because the treadmill takes a while to incline, I don’t recommend it for hill sprints unless you are okay with stepping off the treadmill or just slowing down while still at an incline. Just keep this limitation in mind when creating your own workouts.
You’ll find a mixture of high-tech features and familiar basics on the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000. It has the buttons you need and the standard safety key almost all treadmills provide.
I was content with what the treadmill had to offer and impressed with the tech for its price. However, I wish there was an operational tablet rack—my only and long-standing complaint against most subscription-based exercise equipment.
While most of the controls are found on the screen, there are a few essential buttons off the screen. These include the start and stop buttons. There are also controls for the speed, incline, fan, and volume. When you subscribe to iFIT, training hands-free is easier than ever with automatic adjustments, so I rarely used any of these buttons during my training.
Note: The speed adjusts by 0.1 mph, and the incline adjusts by 0.5%.
The 16” touchscreen is the premier feature on this treadmill, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is one of the key reasons you are interested in it. The screen is easier to see and interact with than the smaller screen on the Carbon Pro 2000, but the screen does not tilt or pivot. It is set at a permanent angle, which may not be the best for taller walkers and runners.
You need an iFIT subscription to access most of the onscreen content. The screen acts as your connection to the iFIT platform, not a traditional tablet or TV.
This treadmill has front-facing speakers with a decent volume range. You can control the volume of the iFIT class and entertainment audio separately, allowing you to create a custom audio mix. I had no problem adjusting the volume to the way I preferred and hearing it over my foot noise.
Closed captioning is also available for iFIT in English and a variety of other languages.
If you don’t want to listen to the audio out loud, I don’t blame you. The Carbon Pro 9000 pairs with Bluetooth headphones, so you can train quietly. Bluetooth also allows you to pair a compatible heart rate monitor. My Garmin connects, but Apple watches do not.
So, the tablet rack doesn’t work too well on the Carbon Pro 9000 because the angled screen is in the way. There are two cup holders for storage, which work fine. I can store an oversized water bottle and my phone in them.
The fan has three speeds: low, medium, and high. It also has an automatic setting that allows the fan speed to adjust with your change in intensity. If you are training hard, the fan will speed up. I found the fan power and angle to be effective for cooling me off while I was training.
When I first started testing treadmills professionally, I didn’t love super cushioned treadmills. They felt too bouncy and overly “helpful.” While I have since found a use for the extra cushioning, the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 reminds me of what I initially loved about firm treadmills. My workout effort feels like my own, and my paces are reflective of what I can really run outside.
Though it is a firm treadmill, the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 is still more forgiving than running on the pavement. It feels smooth and stable, which is another thing I really appreciate. I can happily do speed workouts and long runs on this treadmill.
The 16” touchscreen is more enjoyable to look at than the Carbon Pro 2000’s, so if you want to log a long run while watching Netflix, I think this treadmill is a better option.
ProForm is an iFIT brand. What is iFIT, you might ask? It’s a subscription-based fitness platform with thousands of trainer-led classes. There are over 100 coaches who lead these classes, and you can follow them on their journeys around the world as you train on the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000. They will be with you every mile of the way as you walk, hike, and run.
iFIT costs $39 per month or can be purchased on a yearly or multi-year plan for a discount. You can have up to five profiles, so the whole family can join. You can use one account on all compatible iFIT equipment, so if you want a treadmill, rower, exercise bike, and elliptical, one membership works for them all!
I’ve been exploring a few new locations on the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000. One of my most recent runs took me to Playa Carillo in Costa Rica with iFIT trainer Tommy Rivs. Since iFIT has filmed on all seven continents (yes, they have been to Antarctica!), there are endless opportunities to explore foreign roads and trails.
With SmartAdjust, the incline and speed adjust according to your fitness level. Any time you override the preset levels of the workout, iFIT remembers and adjusts your current and future workouts accordingly. ActivePulse is even better, in my opinion, because it uses your heart rate monitor to adjust the speed to keep you in the right heart rate zone for the workout.
The incline in iFIT workouts tries to replicate the terrain shown on the screen as closely as possible. You’ll conquer the same hills as your onscreen coach. Unfortunately, the Carbon Pro 9000 does not decline, so you will be at a flat grade whenever your coach runs downhill.
If you want to run a familiar route from around your hometown, preview a race course, or create a route iFIT hasn’t yet visited, try the Google Maps option in the “Create” tab. This feature lets you draw your own route. The incline automatically adjusts to replicate your route, but you retain control of the treadmill speed.
The Create tab also has additional custom workout options. You can set up a custom interval workout or program a distance, time, or calorie target goal. There are several template workouts to choose from, too. These workout options automatically adjust the speed and incline while showing the manual training screen.
Want more entertainment? If you have an iFIT account, you can log in to your Netflix, Prime Video, or PlutoTV accounts to watch TV shows and movies. You can also listen to music through Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. iFIT also has a built-in radio, Feed.FM. You can use any of these entertainment apps inside an iFIT class, custom workout, or manual workout.
iFIT also has one feature still being beta tested as of the time of writing this review. It is their AI Coach, Tailor. I’ve been using Tailor for a few months. Tailor is useful for scheduling workouts to your iFIT calendar, but the texts you receive (if you have opted into the program) are a little repetitive and not always the most helpful or applicable. I hope future refinements to Tailor make the feature even more useful!
If you choose not to subscribe to iFIT, you can access the manual training mode. iFIT will not store your workout history on the treadmill. I recommend not connecting the treadmill to Wi-Fi if you do not want to connect with iFIT at all. If you do connect to Wi-Fi, I recommend creating a free iFIT account so you can access a featured iFIT class and a few basic onboard programs.
Overall, I enjoy the iFIT platform, and I recommend this treadmill to anyone who wants a subscription-based service.
The ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 is the brand’s top running treadmill. It has a more powerful motor and a larger touchscreen. With an iFIT membership, you unlock thousands of trainer-led classes and entertainment apps so you can train and be entertained.
I enjoyed the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 for everything from short and easy runs to long and fast runs. The cushioning is firm. While I didn’t mind it because it replicated road running better, it may not be as soft as some walkers and runners prefer.
The folding frame makes storing the ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 convenient, while the lighter deck makes it easier to lift into place. The ProForm Carbon Pro 9000 should fit right into your fitness routine.
