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A quick look at the reviews for the Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill or later R 5.2 models will show just how popular these treadmills have become amongst home gym users.
It’s the reasons behind these high ratings that we’ll be taking a look at in our own review, together with the design features, console options, and a comparison between the two models to determine which is best.
Design features
Finding a balance between price and features can be difficult no matter what new piece of fitness equipment you are looking at buying. But it can be even more difficult when there’s such a range of options, as there is with treadmills.
Often available for less than $300, the Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill is well placed to compete with the entry level machines from Confidence, while still offering some of the features you would only expect to find on mid-range machines.
One of these features is the collection of 6 preset workout programs, while the other is the combination of incline options and a larger running area.
Unfortunately the incline is still classed as ‘manual’ rather than ‘power’, which means you have to lift the running deck to the required level before starting your running.
But the fact that you do get some form of incline means you can enjoy a more effective calorie burning workout.
Another of the important design features you should be looking for on any treadmill you intend to buy for home use, is a safety key.
If you haven’t come across one of these before, it’s essentially a length of cord that joins two clips together. One of which joins to the display console and the other to an item of your clothing.
This way, if you do happen to slip or fall when running, the clip detaches from the console, and the belt will quickly come to a stop.
Although they are a little shorter than the set on the Confidence GTR Power Pro, You also have the extended hand rails to provide additional support if needed.
Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill – Features Summary
- 6 preset fitness programs
- 2.25 HP and 1.5 continuous horsepower drive motor
- Comfortable 16 x 50 in. running surface
- 275 lbs. user weight capacity
Foldable running deck and transport wheels
If you’re looking to create your own home gym, one of the biggest constraints on your choice of equipment selection will be the amount of space you have available.
The only option is to make the most efficient use of the space you have, which is exactly why the space saver design of the running deck has been added.
Weighing in at roughly 45 lbs and without any piston assisted ‘soft locking’ mechanism, the deck does take a little more effort to raise than some of the more expensive models.
But this is generally to be expected based on the price, and can still be held securely in its locked position through the use of a latch pin attached to the main uprights.
With the treadmill in its folded position, it becomes much easier to tip the machine onto its transport wheels and roll the machine to wherever it needs to be stored or used.
Display console design
If you’re not looking to pay extra for all the added technology that often gets loaded onto higher priced treadmill displays, the Weslo Cadence G 5.9 could be for you.
Despite not having MP3 connectivity, a cooling fan, or speakers, you do still have all the essentials you need to track and adjust your workouts.
There are two large storage areas moulded into the main console, which are designed to hold water bottles, your phone, and even MP3 players if you want to listen to your favourite music via headphones.
In terms of button functions, these have again been kept as simplified as possible, but you do still have a variety of quick-select speed options.
You can use the display screen to keep track of your speed, time, distance, and even your progress around a 400 meter track using a virtual running track indicator.
If you’re a fan of heart rate workouts, the console does make it possible to measure your pulse, but this isn’t available as feedback while you are running, or as a constant stream.
Instead, you will need to stand on the foot rails and press down on the heart rate button for several seconds.
We don’t believe this to be a particularly effective way of tracking your heart rate during a workout, and would instead suggest that you also invest in a heart rate chest strap from a company such as Polar.
Preset workout programs
If you prefer to workout according to a set plan, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Weslo Cadence G 5.9 does actually provide you with a selection of pre-programmed workouts.
Each workout profile will be different, varying in terms of the amount of time the belt moves at a certain speed.
Your current progress through the program is constantly displayed on the display screen, with the speed varying up to once per minute.
With the running belt operating up to a top speed of 10 mph, this can lead to some highly effective calorie burning workouts, particularly when combined with an incline setting.
Ease of assembly
Another great feature of the Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill is the fact that it features such a simple design.
This is partly why the assembly is so quick and straightforward, with the running deck and uprights arriving already pre-assembled.
Although it can still be useful to have another person on hand to offer assistance with lifting the machine onto its side, there’s actually very little heavy lifting involved.
There’s also very little additional assembly required, with just the base supports, hand rails, and display console needing to be connected.
Taking into account the pre-assembled parts, well-written assembly instructions and clear diagrams available in the user manual, the G 5.9 can be setup and ready to use within 20 minutes of unboxing.
Weslo Cadence G 5.9 vs. R 5.2
The truth is that there are a number of treadmills that we wanted to compare to the Cadence G 5.9, and in particular the models by Confidence Fitness.
Despite its slightly higher price, their GTR Power Pro does stack up surprisingly well, providing twice the number of workout programs and all the same manual incline and speed settings as the Weslo design.
If you do want to take a look at the Power Pro by Confidence Fitness, we’ve already created a review for you.
However, for now we are going to make a detailed comparison between the two treadmill models available from Weslo; the Cadence G 5.9 and the R 5.2.
Model | G 5.9 | G 5.2 |
Weight capacity | 275 lbs | 275 lbs |
Max. belt speed | 10 mph | 10 mph |
Incline settings | Yes, manual | Yes, manual |
Running area | 16" (W) x 50" (L) | 16" (W) x 50" (L) |
Workout programs | 6 | 6 |
Product Dimensions | 64" (L) x 29" (W) x 55" (H) | 75" (L) x 29.6" (W) x 55" (H) |
Customer reviews
One of the reasons why some products have considerably more customer reviews than others, is the fact that they were able to build up a base of high quality reviews quite quickly.
This is generally due to the product’s high build quality and performance, and can be a great indication that the product you are thinking about buying is amongst the best in its class.
That certainly seems to be the case with the Weslo Cadence G 5.9, where you can currently find hundreds of reviews, with the majority rating the treadmill at the full 5 stars.
If you happen to have a specific question that doesn’t seem to be answered by any of the reviewers, you can even ask your own over at Amazon, so that you can have complete peace of mind before buying.
But having so many reviews can be both a blessing and a curse. Yes it shows that you have an excellent product on your hands when the average rating is so high, but it also makes it difficult to put together a clear list of the most relevant pros and cons.
That’s why we’ve done much of the reading for you, and put together the following lists based on the comments left in reviews on several major ecommerce sites.
Pros:
- Quick assembly time – most reviewers report taking less than 45 minutes
- Compact footprint
- Motorized running belt
- Folding running deck preserves space
- Incline running deck settings available
- Well suited to walking and jogging
- Safety key and hand rails ensure a safe workout
- Quiet motor
- Quick-select speed settings
- Sturdy base frame design
- Combination of effective workout programs (3 for weight loss and 3 for high intensity)
- Well packaged prior to delivery
Cons:
- Some people found it difficult to assemble on their own
- Width of the running area is a little narrow for taller users (6ft+)
- Limited belt speed and shorter running area make it difficult to build up to a full sprint
- Timer on the display console doesn’t reset once it reaches 99 minutes, requiring you to re-enter the safety key to trigger the console to reset
What’s included with the warranty?
- Drive motor: 1 year
- Parts and labor: 90 days
It’s worth noting that warranty coverage only extends to the original owner, starting from the date of purchase. So if you do plan on buying a used machine, you won’t be covered by any warranty.
Review Overview
Overall Review Rating
4 / 5
Considering the fact that you essentially have a folding treadmill that offers a range of speed and incline settings, plus workout programs for under $300, the G 5.9 does feel like good value for money.
The warranty is fairly limited though and only extends to the parts, labor, and drive motor (not the frame).
That being said, we didn't come across any reviews that had something bad to say about the warranty, and the vast majority praised the machine's low price and range of high quality essential features.
Overall, if you're a fan of preset workouts, the treadmills from Confidence Fitness will be your best option. Otherwise, the Weslo Cadence G 5.9 looks to be an excellent choice for a mid-range treadmill.
Product dimensions: 64" (L) x 29" (W) x 55" (H) Weight capacity: 275 lbs
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