Crosswalk Treadmills
What exactly is a crosswalk treadmill? Most people shopping for home fitness equipment today are shocked to find that there are a lot more options than they ever imagined. One of the newest design features for treadmills is to add moving arms onto the machine. This is the basic concept behind the Crosswalk models.
The moving arms do not extend very far so you cannot expect to get complete full range of motion when using them. That may be possible with later models in the future, but for right now you have to walk more toward the front of the walking belt to use the arms. The benefit is that including the upper body significantly increases your heart rate, and thus the number of calories you burn.
One of the best crosswalk treadmills is the ProForm Crosswalk 480 Treadmill. It sells for well under $1,000 today and offers a 2.75 HP motor. This is enough power for walkers under 275 pounds and may work with very light jogging on occasion. There are other models from ProForm that are better suited to runners.
This model comes with 6 preprogrammed crosswalk workouts plus 6 preprogrammed personal trainer workouts and the handlebars include built-in heart rate sensors. The walking belt measures 18” x 55” which is a reasonable length for most walking strides. It will go up to 10 mph and does not incline. The warranty includes 7 years on the motor and 3 months on parts and labor.
ProForm Crosswalk 3.0 XT Treadmill reviews are now highly recommending this updated model. It has a 2.5 CHP motor which keeps the walking speed more consistent and much smoother. This model also adds in a maximum 10% incline which increases the intensity that can be achieved with the machine. The preprogrammed workouts are better designed as well.
The only drawback to this newer model is that it doesn’t fold up as compact as the 480.
Another reasonably priced option is the Gold's Gym Maxx Crosswalk 650 Treadmill. It can only be purchased through WalMart stores, but offers a low price under the $1,000 mark. It has a 1.75 CHP motor which is powerful enough for walkers, but not a good pick for runners. This isn’t the most powerful or best crosswalk treadmill, but it does come with an attractive 25 year warranty on the motor.
The belt measures 20” x 55”, delivering ample space for most walkers to achieve full stride length comfortably. It has an incline of up to 10% and comes with 6 preprogrammed workouts with audio instruction and 4 preprogrammed personal trainer workouts.
Consumers who purchase a crosswalk treadmill are looking to burn more calories while walking and incorporate their upper body for a more complete workout session. They are not serious runners or fitness enthusiasts who demand top-of-the-line features or quality.