Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Treadmills

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill Review (iFit Enabled)

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Marking one of the main improvements over the earlier 995c model, the ProForm Power 995i Treadmill now comes with iFit enabled, rather than simply being iFit compatible.

It’s upgrades like these that we want to look at in more detail in our review. We also want to find out how easy the treadmill is to assemble, summarise existing customer reviews, and provide a detailed guide to the workout programs available, to help you decide if this should be the next addition to your home gym.

Running deck and treadbelt features

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill

Although many treadmills may look similar in their style and design, there are actually a number of important features to consider before making a final buying decision.

Running area is certainly high up the list, and with the ProForm Power 995i offering a belt that’s 60″ in length, it certainly shouldn’t be an issue with this machine.

Even on full commercial treadmills, the most you can expect to find is around 64″, but you’ll usually have to pay closer to $5000 for such a machine.

The second feature to look for is the design of the running belt itself. You’ll typically find that a belt is classed as either ‘1 ply’ or ‘2 ply’.

Unfortunately this is one of the reasons for the slightly lower price on the 995i, where you will only find a 1 ply running belt.

If you’re unsure of the difference, 2 ply belts will often provide some extra cushioning to your foot fall, doubles the thickness of the belt to help it last longer, and tend to be quieter to run on.

Should the treadbelt become worn out after a few years of use, this doesn’t mean you need to replace the machine. ProForm actually sell replacement treadmill belts on their own, but if you’re looking at one for the 995i, this will cost you close to $100.

When you take into account this potential extra cost of replacement, you’re actually not that far off the price of the ProForm Pro 2000, which provides the 2 ply belt as standard.

Back to the ProForm Power 995i, and the final feature to think about in terms of the running deck, is the cushioning system.

Although having a treadmill at home is incredibly convenient and cost effective compared to a commercial gym, one of the main benefits is the lower impact nature of the exercise vs. running outside.

This is why ProForm have included their ProShox cushioning system under the belt, to cushion the impact of running and jogging on your hip and knee joints.

Not only does this keep you injury free, it can also help prolong muscular fatigue, allowing you to workout for longer and see quicker results.

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill – Features Summary

  • 3.0 CHP drive system
  • 20″ X 60″ non-stretch 1-ply commercial belt
  • ProShox cushioning
  • Space saver design
  • Easy lift assist
  • 2.5″ precision machined and balanced non-flex roller
  • 7″ backlit iFit display
  • iFit workout apps matrix
  • iFit enabled
  • iPod compatible audio (2-2″ speakers)
  • Digital quick speed control 0-12 MPH
  • Digital quick incline control 0-15, 30 preset workout apps
  • Coolaire workout fan
  • EKG grip pulse

Safety and storage

Despite not having the same potential for accident or injury as resistance training with free weights, running on a treadbelt does require some basic safety features, particularly at higher speeds.

That’s why the ProForm 995i provides you with a collection of safety features, most importantly the safety key.

While the emergency stop button and extended length hand rails are great for providing planned assistance, you probably wouldn’t have time to reach for these in the event of a fall when running.

This is why you have the safety key.

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill

A popular feature among ProForm treadmills, this is where one end of the ‘key’ connects to your clothing, and the other to the display console.

The plan is that if you do trip or fall, the clip disconnects from the console and the running belt comes to a quick stop.

As well as benefits to your safety, the 995i also makes it much easier to store the machine away between workouts.

Unlike Precor treadmills, a popular feature amongst the ProForm models is the ability to fold the running deck.

Using a simple storage latch and lengthy support barrel, the running deck can then be held in place until you’re ready to start training again.

Display console design

Whether you choose to walk, run, or jog, it’s always best to make sure that your chosen treadmill also has an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing button layout and LCD screen.

Even though the running deck and treadbelt design are equally as important, you’ll probably be spending most of your time watching your statistics update on the screen, or switching between your favourite workout programs.

Fortunately, the ProForm Power 995i provides all of this and more, with a combination of quick select incline and speed functions, CoolAire fan controls, and their navigation buttons for preset workouts and iFit.

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill

The screen itself is much larger than on most treadmills available for under $1000, measuring an impressive 7″. This will also benefit your workouts when choosing to follow a virtual running route with iFit.

Even with its most basic settings, the display screen for the 995i still provides you with a comprehensive set of workout statistics. These include speed, incline, approximate number of calories burned, distance, time, and even your current position in a virtual running race if you choose to set one up.

If you love to run early in the morning or late at night, there’s also no need to worry, as the LCD display is backlit to clearly show the information in low light conditions.

Ease of assembly

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill

The last thing you want to do after waiting for your new treadmill to arrive is spend most of your day setting it up.

Although it’s not quite as straightforward as some designs, there’s really not much to worry about when it comes to assembling the ProForm Power 995i.

As soon as you unpack all the parts, you’ll notice 4 main pieces; 2 are the side uprights, one is the running deck, and one is the display console.

At around 200 lb in weight, it’s advisable to have an extra pair of hands available to help you lift the running deck onto its side for attaching the uprights.

Once these are attached and the base cover fitted, you’re able to stand the machine on its base, which is really all the heavy lifting complete.

Fitting the display console itself can be a bit trickier due to the handrail covers, number of patch bolts required, and connecting of the console wire.

But again, this is to be expected with such a large piece of fitness equipment, and shouldn’t take you too long to complete.

From having the parts on the floor to having a full assembled and active treadmill shouldn’t take much longer than 45 minutes.

Workout programs

As well as being designed to support intense cardiovascular workouts from home in safety, the ProForm Power 995i also provides workouts from 3 separate categories.

Workout categories:

  • Preset workouts
  • Competitive workouts
  • iFit Live workout programs

Preset workouts – The 30 preset workout programs have been divided into groups tailored to specific training goals.

  • 20 calorie burning
  • 10 workout routes

Each of these 30 onboard workout apps differs in terms of the speed and incline settings during each segment, ensuring that there’s a program suitable for all levels of physical fitness.

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill

Competitive workouts – Although the more basic preset workouts are available on treadmills at all price points, Competitive Workouts are a much more unique training option.

These are technically a feature of iFit, but they’re so different to the other workout programs that they certainly deserve their own category.

Before you start running, these programs allow you to select up to four opponents to run against. You can even set their individual endurance levels, maximum speeds, and level of spirit.

As you progress through the race, your opponents will challenge you every step of the way, automatically adjusting their pace to suit different incline settings and running course profiles.

Throughout the race, you can even keep track of your opponent’s statistics as well as your own. This includes the amount of energy they have remaining, their recovery rate, and the tactics your opponents are using to try and win the race.

iFit Live workouts – If you haven’t heard of iFit before, it’s essentially a particular type of software that is loaded into an external module. This can then be inserted into the display console to enable access to hundreds of additional workout programs and indoor running experiences.

Whereas many of the higher priced treadmills in the ProForm range are simply classed as iFit compatible (meaning you need to spend $100 on buying the module separately), the 995i model actually provides this with the machine.

With so many unique training options available, we wanted to cover iFit in a bit more depth by creating its own section in our review.

Benefits of training with iFit

ProForm Power 995i Treadmill

If you have never owned or used one of the latest models of ProForm treadmills, the chances are you wouldn’t have experienced iFit.

The goal behind this unique training system is to help you to workout smarter, and see faster results as you work towards your fitness goals.

With the ProForm Power 995i, all the technology you need is built into the console, which isn’t the case with every iFit machine.

You can then choose to use Google Maps for creating a new running track in places all over the world, complete virtual workouts with top trainer Jillian Michaels, and compete in competitions.

To make it easier to track your progress and see just how much your fitness is improving, iFit also uses a historical archive to store your past workout information.

You can then review the various analytics and stats to determine which workouts were most effective for burning calories and improving your cardiovascular fitness.

Customer reviews

It’s fair to say that most fitness equipment will have some variation in the ratings it receives in customer reviews.

The key is finding a treadmill that has more of the 4 and 5 star ratings than it does the 2 and 3 star ratings.

Despite having a slightly lower average rating on Amazon than the popular ProForm 6.0 RT, we wanted to find out if these were legitimate concerns, or for reasons that actually had nothing to do with the quality of the machine.

The following list of pros and cons has been gathered from ProForm Power 995i reviews on a range of ecommerce sites, including Amazon.

Pros:

  • Quick and easy to assemble
  • iFit enabled gives you direct access to the Google Maps workout options
  • Free shipping on a 200 lb+ box weight is extremely good value for money
  • Stronger motor and longer running area than most treadmills in this price range
  • ProForm have an assembly service for setting up the treadmill if it’s not something you want to do yourself
  • Foldable running deck creates more free space when not in use
  • Although iFit does offer a monthly / yearly subscription for the full service, free workouts are also available online
  • High quality sound produced by the built-in speakers

Cons:

  • The running belt does need occasional adjusting and an application of silicone lubricant to keep it running smoothly
  • Customer support with a few missing part issues did take longer to resolve than expected
  • Despite providing some useful troubleshooting solutions, there’s no dedicated maintenance section in the owner’s manual
  • The power from the cooling fan is slightly lower than what some reviewers were expecting

What’s included with the warranty?

  • Frame: Lifetime
  • Drive motor: Lifetime
  • Parts: 3 years
  • Labor: 1 year

It’s worth mentioning that each of these warranties only applies if you are buying this treadmill new, and not if you plan to buy a refurbished or second hand model.

Review Overview

Overall Review Rating

4 / 5

With the ProForm Power 995i being in such a competitive price range, we really wanted to see something that made it stand out from the rest.

In our opinion this is certainly the variety of workout programs, with the 30 workout apps and iFit enabled console.

Both free and paid membership plans are available for iFit, so don't feel like you have to pay an additional fee on top of the cost of the treadmill for this unique training experience.

The oversized running area is ideal for a range of user heights (including to 6ft+) to build up to their full running stride in comfort, without constantly worrying about the position of their feet.

The 3.0 CHP Mach Z Commercial Plus Motor is also more than capable of pushing you to speeds of 12 mph, even at full incline.

When you combine all of these features with the lengthy warranty periods, what you have is one of the highest quality and most versatile treadmills available for under $1000.

Treadmill dimensions: 81" (L) x 37" (W) x 59.5" (H) Weight limit: 350 lb Product weight: 220 lb