LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-N-Stor Compact Treadmill

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Priced as the entry level machine in their 2014 ‘TR’ range of treadmills, the LifeSpan Fitness TR200 offers many of the benefits from machines later in the range, but at a more affordable price.

For this review, we wanted to take a look at the range of workout programs available, design features, and display console functions to help you decide if this is the best treadmill for your own home gym.

Design features

Compared to the treadmills LifeSpan Fitness class as ‘commercial’, this is a running machine designed more for light to moderate home use.

This is made clear by taking a look at a number of important features.

Firstly, the size of the running area. At 48″ in length and 17″ wide, this won’t provide a large enough space for taller users to build up to their full running stride without worrying about their feet slipping off the back of the belt.

That being said, most entry level treadmills will tend to offer a running area that’s roughly the same size, which can still be effective for walking, jogging, and running for users up to 5ft 4ins.

The next feature we wanted to take a look at was the motor and running deck.

Despite providing excellent stability and a weight capacity of up to 250 lbs, the LifeSpan Fitness TR200 only comes fitted with a 1.5 HP motor.

This will tend to limit the speed that the running belt can maintain with higher user weights and inclines (10 settings to choose from).

For under $1000 there are treadmills available that provide a much more powerful 3.0 CHP motor and wider range of inclines, but admittedly they aren’t as compact.

This compact design and small footprint are really what set this treadmill apart from the rest. Whereas many claim to be fold to reduce space, this is one of the only machines we’ve come across that folds almost completely flat.

There’s also no need to worry about lifting a heavy running deck, as the display console and hand rails simply fold down to lie against the running belt.

Display console design

Similar to other treadmills in their range, the LifeSpan Fitness TR200 features a display console that provides all the basic functions you need, while still being intuitive to use.

A clear difference over the earlier TR100 model is that you now have the option to ‘quick select’ between different incline settings.

Similar to the ‘quick select’ speed options, these can be used to automatically adjust the machine to a pre-determined incline, altering the intensity of your workout.

In terms of the LCD display, this has been backlit to keep your workout information easy to read even in low light.

This includes the duration of your workout, calories burned, distance, speed, and current incline level.

You’ll also want to ensure consistently high performance and a longer life for your machine.

This is why LifeSpan have added a set of visual indicators on the screen to let you know when you need to apply silicone lubricant to the belt.

Workout programs

When you’re thinking about buying a new treadmill, one of the most frequently asked questions is: “How many preset workouts are available?”.

The LifeSpan Fitness TR200 offers a total of 6 workouts, split into 2 categories; speed and incline.

Which program you choose will depend on a combination of your personal preference at the time, and your current fitness level.

Despite the fairly limited number of options, LifeSpan still do an excellent job of varying the program composition.

As soon as you start to walk on the machine, you can choose from any one of the ‘rolling hills’, ‘uphill climb’, or even ‘interval’ workout options. You can even create your own personalized program, or choose to workout according to your current heart rate level.

With heart rate hand sensors built into the hand rail, the TR200 uses a combination of speed and incline to automatically maintain a challenging enough workout to keep you within your target heart rate range.

How easy is it to assemble?

If you’ve had experience in the past with assembling larger pieces of fitness equipment, such as treadmills or ellipticals, you’ll know how invaluable a good set of assembly instructions can be.

But because of its folding design, the LifeSpan Fitness TR200 actually requires very little assembly at all.

Although you are provided with a detailed user manual, there’s really only 3 steps that need to be followed before you have the machine setup and ready to start your first workout.

Arriving completely pre-assembled, you simply need to slide the treadmill out of its packaging, use quick release levers on the end caps at the front, then lift the display console into position. That’s all.

If you find that the ground you’ve positioned the machine over is slightly uneven, you can also use the adjustable feet at the back of the running deck to adjust the height at key points.

What’s included with the warranty?

It’s worth bearing in mind that for any of the above warranties to apply, you must be the original owner of the machine. That means that if you purchase a refurbished or used TR200 then it won’t be covered against any faults.

Customer reviews

Pros:

Cons:

• Lower maximum belt speed compared to some similarly priced treadmills
• Built-in speakers tend to distort the sound quality if used at louder volume settings
• Shorter running area makes it unsuitable for users over 6ft tall that want to regularly run on the treadmill