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The LifeSpan Fitness TR1200-DT7 treadmill desk is an upgrade of the TR1200-DT5, now offering electric desk height adjustment instead of manual.
But with so many other similarities, including motor power, height settings, warranty coverage and belt speed, is this feature alone worth what’s usually a $200 price difference?
In this review we’ll be making more in-depth comparisons between the TR1200-DT7 and other LifeSpan Fitness treadmill desks, to help you decide which model would be best for your office or home.
We’ll also take a look at the treadmill desks offered by other leading fitness equipment companies, such as NordicTrack and ProForm, to determine whether TR1200-DT7 really represents good value for money.
Design and safety features
As one of LifeSpan’s DT7 treadmill desks, the desk height adjustment is electronically controlled via the console. That’s compared to the manual height adjustment for the DT5 models, and having no workstation at all with the DT3.
This electronic height adjustment has a number of benefits.
If the treadmill desk will be used by more than one person and they require different desk height settings, you can store up to 2 heights in the console memory. Alternatively, if you’re going to be the only person using the desk, you have the option to roll the treadmill out from under the desk, lower the height, and use a chair instead.
However, due to the weight of the treadmill (approx. 114 lbs), rolling it out from under the desk on a regular basis isn’t very practical. You also need the space to be able to move it safely out of the way, and have an office chair that’s tall enough to reach the desk surface (40″ minimum height).
The desk height can be adjusted from 40″ to 53″ at a speed of 25mm per second, supporting users between 4’10” and 6’8″ tall. Because the TR1200-DT7 uses a TR1200 treadmill base, you also have the same 350 lb capacity as the TR1200-DT3 and TR1200-DT5.
The running deck itself has a low 4.6″ step-up height, and contains 6 impact-absorbing shocks to help protect your knee and ankle joints. These are distributed across the 20″W x 50″L walking surface, which also contains a feature called Intelli-Step™.
Intelli-Step™ works as a form of pedometer, tracking when your foot strikes the treadmill belt and displaying the total step count as part of the workout feedback on the console screen.
In terms of belt speed, it’s the same range that we’ve seen on all LifeSpan Fitness treadmill desks, of between 0.4 and 4.0 mph. This is powered by a 2.25 HP continuous duty motor made of high quality components to suppress noise and vibrations.
Having a motor this quiet is hugely important for focussing on your work, but it also makes it easier to forget when it’s moving, particularly in a noisy office environment.
Safety features
That’s why LifeSpan have built-in 3 types of safety feature. The first is a marked 2-ply tread belt, which gives a clear visual indication of when the belt is in motion. The second is a feature called Intelli-Guard™, which automatically pauses the belt if you step off the treadmill for 20 seconds or more.
You also have the option of using a safety key, which is the same safety feature that you’ll find on most high-end treadmills. It’s essentially a short length of cord that connects the console to an item of your clothing. If you move too far from the console, the clip detaches and the belt is quickly brought to a stop.
LifeSpan Fitness TR1200-DT7 – Features Summary
- Comfortably fits users from 4’10” to 6’8″ tall
- Bluetooth-enabled to wirelessly sync your data to your computer
- 2.25 HP motor
- 20″W x 50″L walking surface
- Electric desk height adjustment
- 350 lb weight capacity
- 0.4 to 4.0 mph belt speed
- Up to 6 hours of continuous use
- 4.6″ step-up height
- The built-in Intelli-Guard automatically stops the belt if you step off during your walk for added safety
Display console features
In terms of workout feedback, the console for the DT7 treadmill desk is exactly the same as the DT5, displaying your time, step count, distance, speed, and number of calories burned.
It’s also Bluetooth enabled for wireless workout data sync between the console and the Active Trac app on your smart device. This app is designed to provide an overview of your workout progress and transfer activity data to your LifeSpan Club account.
As well as performance tracking and goal setting, you can also use the Active Trac app to view historical data for the past day, week, month, or year. You can even share your results to Facebook and Twitter, as well as combine your treadmill desk walking data with other activities throughout the day.
To ensure that the console doesn’t get in the way of your work, you only have the most essential button functions, such as speed adjustments and an LED display. You also have the controls for adjusting the desk height, which are unique to the DT7 console.
Being mounted on the edge of the desk keeps these controls within easy reach, but has also allowed LifeSpan to integrate padded arm rests for added comfort. This also helps reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel, which can occur as a result of compression on the median nerve that runs from your hand to your forearm.
Workout programs and user profiles
Most treadmills designed for cardio and high intensity workouts include a selection of fitness programs, which are split into segments with varying levels of incline and belt speed.
But because treadmill desks combine walking with working, steady-state cardio where the belt speed has very little variation is more effective for maintaining your productivity. That’s why LifeSpan treadmill desks don’t include any preset workout programs.
However, they do have a range of affordable and bestselling cardio treadmills, which include programs for heart rate control, weight management, sports training, and healthy living. One of the best examples is the LifeSpan TR1200i folding treadmill, with 21 easy-to-use exercise programs, 15 incline settings, and a top belt speed of 11 mph.
Although you don’t have user profiles to enter personal information such as age, weight, height, and name, you do have the option to store up to 2 desk height settings in memory.
Ease of assembly and maintenance required
LifeSpan do an excellent job of pre-assembling the majority of parts, including the entire treadmill base and much of the desk frame. But for the parts they can’t pre-assemble, they provide detailed step-by-step instructions in the user manual.
The assembly process itself is fairly straightforward, but due to the weight of the equipment (approx. 102 lbs for the desk), it’s easier if you have someone to assist you.
Each step is clearly explained using a series of exploded diagrams, parts references and written instructions. These are designed to guide you from attaching the base feet to the lift frame, through to connecting the console and levelling the desk.
Professional assembly services
Although the instructions are well written and easy to follow, you can always choose a professional assembly service if you don’t have time to complete the setup yourself.
There are a couple of services now available for the TR1200-DT7, one being from LifeSpan themselves and the other from businesses local to you via Amazon.
The full ‘white glove‘ service from LifeSpan usually costs around $200, which includes delivery, carrying the boxes to your room of choice, assembly, and disposal of packaging.
But if you select Amazon’s home equipment assembly and installation, you can choose from a selection of local businesses (depending on your location), who can complete the assembly once the treadmill desk is delivered. You can even browse through a selection of local companies and read reviews from other customers based on the quality of their work, to help you find the best deal.
Maintenance
The LifeSpan TR1200-DT7 user manual has a section dedicated to the treadmill and desk maintenance, including a daily and monthly routine for keeping your new treadmill desk in its best condition.
The steps aren’t complicated and it’s a similar process to what we’ve found with most modern treadmills. There’s also no need to use any expensive cleaning products or special solutions to keep the treadmill running smoothly.
One of the recommended maintenance tips is to keep the belt lubricated, which helps prolong the life of the belt as well as internal components. The walking belt actually comes pre-lubricated from the factory, but you need to apply a 100% silicone spray every 3 months or every 50 hours of use, whichever comes first.
- Daily cleaning – Wipe the treadmill down after each use, including the belt, painted parts, and display
- Monthly cleaning – Remove the motor cover and clean around the motor and electronics. Tighten all parts and check for any part or power cord damage.
The user manual also provides you with clear instructions for how to correctly tension and align the belt, with full video demonstrations available on their website.
What’s covered by the warranty?
- Frame: Lifetime
- Motor: 3 years
- Parts: 2 years
- Labor: 1 year
Review Overview
Overall Review Rating
5 / 5
In our opinion the TR1200-DT7 is designed more for multi-user environments, such as offices or family homes, where the desk will be used by people of different heights. Apart from this feature, there's really no difference between this treadmill desk and the TR1200-DT5.
The motor power, belt speed, warranty, size of the walking area, deck suspension system, and weight capacity are all identical, and you can choose from 2 different desk widths with each design.
That's why if you're going to be the only person using the desk, we would recommend saving $200 and choosing the bestselling TR1200-DT5 over the TR1200-DT7.
Product dimensions: 68.5"L x 38"W or 48"W
Product weight : 114 lbs. Desk: 102 lbs.
Weight capacity: 350 lbs
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