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The Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up Manual Treadmill doesn’t have a motor like most treadmills. Instead, your own walking, jogging, and running movement powers the running belt and increases its speed.
This review takes a look at more of these design features in more detail, together with a summary of the hundreds of customer reviews available, and a comparison with the later 98516 model.
Design features
If you’re looking to buy a new treadmill for use at home, there are really two main categories to choose from; manual and powered.
The Phoenix 98510 falls into the ‘manual’ category, meaning that you don’t actually receive any motor or quick select speed settings on the console like you might be used to.
Instead, the speed of the running belt is generated entirely by your own running movement, with the assistance of a heavy duty flywheel.
The main benefit of a manual treadmill over the electric designs is the price. With most electric treadmills often costing thousands of dollars, the Phoenix 98510 is usually available for less than $150.
If you’re more used to the larger commercial treadmills, the hand rails will probably look a little different as well.
This is because you need to constantly hold onto the rails and push against the belt with your feet to build up and maintain the belt speed.
Although you don’t have the powerful continuous motor, the heavy duty flywheel still manages to keep you moving at a steady pace once you get moving.
This can be useful for a variety of fitness levels, and lets you find your own workout pace, whether that’s walking, jogging, or running.
Phoenix 98510 – Features Summary
- Single-button electronics display tracks speed, distance, time, and calories
- Lets you achieve maximum walking/jogging speed via self-powered workout
- 1-year frame warranty
- Heavy duty weighted flywheel offers a smooth, quiet operation
- Spring loaded pull pin securely locks the unit in the upright (storage) position and makes it easy to release for operation
- Water bottle included
- Walking surface: 41″ x 13″
Lightweight folding frame for easy storage
If you plan on working out at home alone, another benefit of the manual design is that it’s considerably lighter to lift and move around.
After you complete your workout, you can even fold the running deck away and store the treadmill somewhere that doesn’t take up too much space.
Sliding out the spring loaded pull pin that holds the running deck in its upright position will allow you to return the deck to the ground, ready for your next workout.
This is certainly a feature that’s popular among the Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up treadmill reviews, and also helps to free some space for some resistance training equipment if required.
Running belt size and stride length
One final important feature worth mentioning is the size of the running area.
The available running area on the Phoenix 98510 measures 41″ (L) x 13″ (W). To put this in perspective, some of the top-end range of designs offer up to 62″ (L) x 22″ (W).
It’s important to understand how much space you have to walk, jog, and run. Generally speaking, if you’re taller than 6ft and want to be able to build up to a full sprint, you’ll need a machine that offers up to 58″ of running area length to accommodate your natural stride.
This makes the 98510 better suited to walking and jogging workouts, although running is an option for users closer to 5ft in height.
Workout programs
Similar to the lack of motor, another area where you will have to make sacrifices if you want a low priced treadmill is in the workout programs.
Unfortunately the Phoenix 98510 doesn’t provide you with any preset training options, leaving you to create your own workouts based on your own personal strength and fitness levels.
Where many treadmills offer a range of auto power incline settings, due to the price, you only have access to the 12 degree incline that comes as standard (no flat running deck settings).
Display console design
Although most higher priced running machines will offer a much more intricate display console design, the Phoenix 98510 cuts down on any unwanted functions and only includes the essentials.
This has been cut down to just the display screen itself, and a single ‘Mode / Reset’ button.
Despite its simple design, you can still keep track of the information relating to your current workout, including speed, distance, scan, and time.
Phoenix 98510 vs. 98516 Treadmills
|  |
|
| Model | 98510 | 98516 |
| Weight capacity | 250 lbs | 250 lb |
| Warranty | 1 year frame, 90 days parts | 1 year frame, 90 days parts |
| Running area | 41.5" x 13.5" | 41.5" x 13.5" |
| Type | Manual | Manual |
| Workout programs | No | No |
| Product Dimensions | 46.5" (W) x 50" (H) x 21.1" (D) | 46" (W) x 50" (H) x 21" (D) |
Assembly instructions and user manual
Another great benefit of buying such a lightweight, compact treadmill, is that there’s very little assembly required.
Although there are some basic instructions to follow, the entire assembly shouldn’t take any longer than 30 minutes.
There’s also no need for any heavy lifting when lifting the parts out of the boxes, reducing the time you have to wait until your first workout.
What’s covered by the warranty?
- Frame: 1 year
- Parts: 90 days
Customer reviews
Despite its comparatively small range of features and the fact that you have to essentially power the running belt with your own movement, the Phoenix 98510 has quickly become one of the most reviewed treadmills online.
While many reviews praise the low cost as one of the main reasons for buying this treadmill, we also wanted to find out a bit more about the reliability of the flywheel over time, and if existing customers have experienced any issues.
Although we would recommend you find the time to read as many reviews as possible, with hundreds available on Amazon alone this isn’t always practical.
That’s why we’re happy to provide a quick overview of the pros and cons that we gathered when reading these reviews ourselves, to provide you with a quick reference guide.
Pros:
- Foldable design makes for easier transport and storage between workouts
- Quick and easy to assemble
- Lighter frame due to no motor or cushioning system under the running deck
- Low cost design
- Still manages to provide an LCD display with important workout statistics
- Large flywheel creates a smoother and quieter walking, jogging, and running motion
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Some parts require unscrewing to fold the treadmill away, which can be time consuming
- Only one height setting available, with no flat running option available
- Lack of preset workout programs
About Phoenix Health & Fitness
Established in 1998 as a wholesale distributor of fitness equipment, Phoenix Health & Fitness offers a complete line of high-quality exercise equipment to the in-home and light commercial markets.
Phoenix Health & Fitness develops many of its new concepts and products in conjunction with its sister company, Reflex Design, and enjoys a reputation for delivering high quality products.
Review Overview
Overall Review Rating
4 / 5
If you're looking for a low cost treadmill to help you get started with your first fitness program, the Phoenix 98510 would certainly be an attractive option.
Lightweight and compact enough to move around and use safely on your own, you avoid having to pay for extra display console functions and programs that you probably won't have much use for initially.
Over time, you can then start looking at upgrading to one of the more advanced treadmills. Once you're sure you will be getting consistent use out of the machine with frequent workouts, this will often workout much better value for money in the long run.
Product dimensions: 46.5" (L) x 50" (H) x 21.1" (W)
Product dimensions (folded):
22" (L) x 50" (H) x 21" (W)
Weight capacity: 250 lbs
Product weight: 45 lbs
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