The best treadmill reviews you can trust
If you need to stick to a budget but want a treadmill that has training programs and supports a little running, this treadmill might be for you. Continue reading our XTERRA TRX1000 Treadmill review to find out more.
Updated: February 5, 2024
The XTERRA TRX1000 Treadmill is incredibly affordable. It’s quite small and compact, but it may not be roomy enough for all users. Its size is more appropriate for smaller users. This treadmill includes all of the absolute necessities but not much beyond that. It’s an excellent treadmill for walkers or new runners who want to jump on and go. Despite its utilitarian design, the XTERRA TRX1000 treadmill impressed me with what it offers at its low price. This treadmill review of the XTERRA TRX1000 gives my expert opinion on this budget-friendly treadmill for walking and running.
Affordable doesn’t equal poor quality, but there are many differences between a high-end treadmill and one priced below one thousand dollars. The XTERRA TRX1000 is more compact, has a lower weight capacity, and is not as sturdy as pricier machines. I knew all of this before I ever stepped on the TRX1000, so my hopes were pretty low. However, this little treadmill surprised me with its decent quality.
The TRX1000’s frame is covered by a lifetime warranty. The motor is covered for one year, and the deck, parts, and labor are all covered for 90 days. The frame warranty is nice, but the other warranties are pretty short.
The frame is smaller than pricier treadmills. It weighs only 103.6 lbs and can support a user weight of up to 250 lbs. The uprights are thinner, but the console is pretty lightweight, so it is well-supported. The handrails are small, but they were able to support my weight. The footrails are quite narrow. I had to be very careful with my foot placement to ensure I was on the rails and not touching the belt.
While I walked, everything felt pretty sturdy. Running revealed some of the weaknesses of the XTERRA TRX1000. It wasn’t as stable as higher-end treadmills, but I never felt like I was going to fall off. The treadmill didn’t feel like it was going to fall apart or anything. However, I suggest the TRX1000 for petite users rather than those closer to its 250-lb weight capacity, especially for running.
The motor is 2.25 horsepower. We typically consider a treadmill with a 3 horsepower rating as a running treadmill. So, the TRX1000 falls a little short of that classification. The maximum speed is 10 miles per hour, so it can go fast enough, but I do not recommend it for running. At most, smaller runners may be able to log two miles are less per day. While the TRX1000 won’t blow up if you run more, it’s just not the best fit for dedicated runners.
One reason the XTERRA TRX1000 has a lower maximum user weight capacity is the thickness of its running deck. Most of the running treadmills we test have a treadmill deck thickness of 0.75 inches to 1 inch. The TRX1000’s deck thickness is only 15 mm or 0.6 inches. A thinner treadmill deck is not as strong and cannot handle higher forces as well.
The running surface is 16” x 50”. The typical home treadmill is 20 to 22 inches wide and about 60 inches long. Thus, the TRX1000 is significantly smaller. Runners with long strides may run out of room on the TRX1000. I did not feel comfortable attempting the 10-mile-per-hour maximum on the TRX1000 and limited my speed to 7 miles per hour or less.
The deck is very low to the ground. It is only about 5 inches tall. This makes the TRX1000 a great option for users who struggle to ascend higher steps.
The XTERRA TRX1000 folds manually. Despite its smaller size, the deck feels pretty heavy when you lift it. The lock mechanism is also manual, fixing the deck into place with a lock and pin. It’s easiest to fold the treadmill using two hands, because you have to hold the deck up while locking the pin into place.
The XTERRA TRX1000 has a compact folded footprint of only 28.7” x 29.5” x 60.8”. Because it weighs only 103.6 lbs, it is easy to move around. Depending on the floor beneath your treadmill, you may be able to push it short distances, but be careful not to scratch your floor. The treadmill can also be tilted onto its two transport wheels and rolled around.
While the XTERRA TRX1000 has 3 levels of manual incline, they don’t feel very different. You have to adjust the incline feet on either side of the treadmill while it is folded. You cannot adjust the incline during a workout. The difference between one level and another is so slight that I don’t think it is worth the hassle of making the adjustment.
The features on the XTERRA TRX1000 treadmill are quite minimal. The features address your most basic treadmill needs with only a couple of extras thrown in. To be fair, the TRX1000 does have a couple of features that higher-end treadmills have started to neglect in recent years (like a tablet rack). However, treadmill shoppers should not expect any smart features or connectivity from the TRX1000.
The console is plastic with clearly labeled buttons and graphs. This simple design is lightweight and practical. For those walkers and runners who are overwhelmed by the amount of features on pricier modern treadmills, the TRX1000 is a straightforward and affordable alternative.
There are buttons for every speed except 10 miles per hour. There are speed up and down arrow buttons to set your pace to the tenth of a mile. There are also buttons labeled ‘program,’ ‘enter,’ ‘start,’ and ‘stop.’ All of these buttons are push buttons and make a clicking noise when pressed. The buttons are large and easy to use. Most users won’t need to study the treadmill manual to use the TRX1000.
The 5-inch LCD screen is not backlit, so it may be hard to see in low light. The total time is a decent size, but the other numbers are a little small. I could see the display, but it may not be the best option for users with poor eyesight or low lighting. The display also shows your current speed, total distance, and calories or pulse.
There are two small cup holders. They are not recessed, but they are angled. While everything should remain secure within the cup holders during walking, I did notice more shaking and moving around of items while I was running.
There is also a tablet rack. The ledge is quite tall, so your device should stay put. The tablet rack can hold your phone or tablet while you train. The height of the tablet rack may be too low for taller users, but I was content with it considering the overall size of the XTERRA TRX1000.
There are EKG pulse grips on the handles. These won’t be as accurate as most wearable devices, but when I compared the reading to my watch, it was pretty close. The EKG pulse grips are a comfortable place to rest your hands when walking. The readout is pretty fast, too, so you can quickly check your heart rate while running if desired. The TRX1000 does not connect to external heart rate monitors.
There is a tethered safety key such as you would find on most other treadmills.
During my training on the TRX1000, I tried the preprogrammed workouts and completed manual activities. I walked, and I ran. Walking on the TRX1000 was just fine. There were no obvious cons. The treadmill felt stable and capable of everything I needed it to do. The only drawback for some users may be the inability to incline the treadmill. You can’t effectively perform incline workouts even with the manual incline options.
Running on the treadmill was a different story. The TRX1000 is capable of handling long-distance runs, but it is not the most suited to that type of training. The thin treadmill deck and weaker motor may need to be replaced earlier if you use it for running often. This is only our speculation, so your exact experience may vary.
The XTERRA TRX1000 is moderately cushioned. The deck has moderately soft shocks. The thinner deck also has more flex to it than a thicker running deck. It’s not quite as cushioned as the Horizon T101, a similar budget treadmill.
The TRX1000 comes with 12 preset workout programs. There are picture representations of the workouts. The pictures do not fully correspond with the speed progression of the workouts. You also can’t tell what the speed range will be before starting the workout. From my experience, the speed ranges from 0.6 miles per hour to 6.2 miles per hour. The drastic variation in speed felt a little strange to me, because I would not typically return to such a slow pace in the middle of a workout, but several of the workouts are designed that way. You can change the speed at any time during the workout, and you can set a time for the workout before starting. The default is 30 minutes.
In addition to the programs, you can train in a manual program. You could also follow along with a training program on your tablet from the tablet rack. But, the TRX1000 does not connect to any third-party apps. It does not have Bluetooth.
The XTERRA TRX1000 treadmill is a budget-friendly cardio machine. Its simple console is easy to use and makes getting into your activity fast. The TRX1000 is best for walking, but it can support some running. The low weight capacity, thinner running deck, and shorter belt length and width make this treadmill better for smaller users. There are 12 preset programs and a manual training mode. Two cup holders and a tablet rack allow you to keep your most important items nearby while training. The XTERRA TRX1000 is very compact with a manual folding frame and a small footprint, perfect for small homes.
