I’m not going to sugar-coat this; becoming healthier and getting in shape is hard work.
I knew this highly personal journey was one I wanted to take on in the comfort of my own home as much as possible.
Having the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill would have really helped as I got going on my new lifestyle.
Before I even started, I had a moment where I looked in the mirror and just wanted to give up as I imagined the worst-case scenario of going to the gym, starting to jog in my neighborhood, or even taking a beginner’s class.
I already felt judged.
But I made a choice to put my health, current and future, before my insecurities.
Before You Get A Treadmill
Home workouts are a great choice for many people.
You’re essentially putting in a tiny 24-hour gym in your home.
And with a treadmill, you’ll be getting cardio exercise, which has some amazing benefits.
Cardio exercise can boost your mood, improve your sleep, and help control your appetite among other benefits.
There’s a lot to love about having a treadmill in your home, and it’s the right move for many people.
Introverts like me will probably love it, but parents who are constantly needed might not have the time to workout at home, and those fun videos of kids who like to exercise with mommy and daddy are cute but not realistic.
Other people might find it hard to stay motivated all alone at home instead of a class with lots of other people’s energy to tap into to keep them fired up.
Aside from lifestyle, there might just not be enough space in your home for a treadmill.
While many fold up, most can’t just slip under the bed with the dust bunnies or hide behind the couch unseen.
Also, a good treadmill is an investment, not an impulse buy- you need to consider if the use you’ll get out of it is worth the price.
And if you hate cardio with a burning passion, maybe look at some weightlifting equipment instead if you want a home gym.
Introducing the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill
The 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill is made to fulfill its company’s promise of simple and effective fitness equipment.
This treadmill’s banner feature is the oversized running platform with an orthopedic belt.
The elite runner’s console, built-in speakers, and the one-touch incline are the other primary features.
The 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill comes with a comprehensive warranty.
This is the most heavy-duty treadmill from 3G Cardio, and consequently the largest.
Unlike the Pro Runner, Lite Runner, and 80i Fold Flat Treadmill, the Elite Runner model does not fold up.
However, the Elite Runner is rated for up to a 400lbs user, about 100lbs more than the top-selling treadmill on Amazon.
Unlike many high-end treadmills, including the Amazon top seller, there is no built-in screen on the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill, but the Elite Runner has a higher top speed for dedicated runners and connects easily to your tablet or phone to make up for the lack of its own screen.
Pros
- Orthopedic Belt
- Large Running Platform
- Pre-Programmed and Programmable Workouts
- Connects to Your Phone or Tablet
- 10 Year Parts Warranty with 2 Years of In-Home Service
Cons
- Non-Folding
- Only Holds 2 User-Created Workouts
- Heavy
Features & Benefits of the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill
One-Touch Incline
As an asthmatic trying to stay active, daily running isn’t the best choice for me, but I still want to do the most impactful workout I can.
Using the often-ignored incline function on a treadmill is a huge boon to me, though the inconvenience of the buttons on most treadmills present their own problem.
The one-touch incline controls on the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill would be so helpful.
With the Elite Runner Treadmill, it’s even easier to adjust incline manually.
Most treadmills don’t have the ability to change the incline with one touch, meaning you’re compelled to divide your focus if you want to adjust incline as you go instead of using a premade program.
Our bodies burn calories (and fat, too) faster when we raise and lower our heartbeat repeatedly, like if you were walking up and down several steep hills- or adjusting the incline of the treadmill as you work out.
Adding incline is also a good way to up the intensity of your workout without adding to the wear and tear the exercise puts on your body, making incline walking better for people with knee issues.
Orthopedic Belt
Probably the biggest feature for the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill, the orthopedic belt, and shock system is a major upgrade compared to other treadmills, making the Elite Runner stand out from the crowd.
This belt is thicker and more comfortable to exercise on and reduces wear and tear on the body.
By providing a metaphorical cushion to run on thanks to the shock-absorbing system and thicker belt, the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill makes for a more comfortable exercise experience and is less damaging to your body.
The shock absorbers and belt can have a side effect of more ‘give’ in the belt than a standard treadmill belt, so it may throw runners used to other treadmills off a bit.
A good workout keeps you coming back for more, so having the equipment set up to keep you as comfortable as possible is important.
Being too sore to keep going makes fitness feel more like a chore than a journey or part of self-care.
Having an orthopedic belt might also be great for someone older who wants to balance getting active with keeping pain levels low.
Entertainment System
Our bodies are affected by what our ears can hear.
Faster music can increase the heartbeat, and who doesn’t feel like getting up and moving when their favorite song comes on?
The 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill connects to your phone or tablet, so it can project your own music or TV shows over the built-in speakers of the treadmill.
With the speakers, you don’t have to worry about headphone cords tangling you up or expensive Bluetooth earbuds that might end up falling out of your ears at exactly the wrong time.
I once had an earbud from an $80 set fall out and go down the drain, so I shudder to think what would have happened had I tried to get on the treadmill with them.
But with built-in speakers, you’re suddenly free and clear to give your workout your all without worry and with your favorite tunes or shows.
The more streamlined the workout process is, the better it feels.
Warranty
I’ve mentioned the warranty already, but it’s worth it to go in-depth.
The motor on the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill, arguably the most important part, has a lifetime warranty.
The frame has a lifetime warranty too.
The other parts have a 10-year warranty, which means you get a lot of bang for your buck, as well as two years of free work in your own home if something does break.
When making a big purchase like a treadmill, the warranty is always a big consideration since this is something that will probably be in your home for years.
A good warranty also acts as a signal that a company really believes in their product and will stand by it.
Runner’s Console
The console is the command center for everything on the treadmill.
It’s where you access the pre-programmed workouts, adjust speed and incline, and monitor your heartbeat.
There’s an area just for your smartphone and two huge water bottle holders.
The 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill‘s console even has a matte finish so you can still see what you’re doing if you put your machine by a window for the sunlight.
Having this console set up for ease of use is majorly important.
A lot of people don’t want to fiddle with settings for twenty minutes before they start their run, they have other things to do that day, after all.
Do People Like The Elite Runner?
The short answer is yes.
I hunted down several reviews to find out what people think of the 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill, and what they said left me feeling very optimistic.
One customer, Chris LaPalm had an initial issue with the treadmill but was very pleased with how quickly customer service got it fixed.
Another customer and their husband were very pleased with how sturdy their treadmill is.
Yet another customer,Jeff, started by looking at commercial treadmills like the ones at his fitness club and was very happy to find this instead for a better price!
Other Choices
The 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill may not be the right choice for everyone.
Your home may need a smaller or foldable model, or you may have a lower budget to work with.
Luckily, there are a lot of different treadmills out there, for example:
Nautilus T614 Treadmill
The Nautilus T614 Treadmill is in the top 100 treadmills on Amazon.
It’s cheaper than the Elite Runner, and it also folds up.
This treadmill might be better for a beginner or someone who needs help structuring their workouts.
It comes with 22 pre-programmed workouts as opposed to the 8 offered by the Elite Runner.
On the other hand, the Nautilus T614 Treadmill has a lower maximum incline and a less powerful motor than the Elite Runner.
The belt is also thinner on the Nautilus, so if you need the cushioning the Elite Runner provides, this may not be the model for you.
T614 vs. Elite Runner
- Thinner Belt
- More Pre-Programmed Workouts
- Less Expensive
- Folds Up
- Shorter Warranty (10 years motor and frame, 1 year labor)
ProForm 705 CST
The ProForm 705 CST also has built-in speakers like the Elite Runner but again falls short of the incline potential of the other machine- just 12% as opposed to 15%.
However, it can do something the Elite Runner can’t, which is connected directly to iFit, which provides trainer-led workouts in your own home.
The running deck is smaller on the ProForm 705 CST, and the control console only has a 5″ screen to display all the data instead of them being separate like the Elite Runner, and it’s a backlit screen so you won’t see much if the light hits it at the wrong angle.
705 CST vs. Elite Runner
- Connects to iFit
- Smaller Runner Console
- Smaller Running Deck
- Less Incline
- Lifetime Frame and Motor Warranty, 1 Year Labor
NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill
If you want a more modern tech feel to your treadmill, you might want something like the NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill.
It has a built-in touchscreen and a whopping 32 recorded workouts made by trainers.
The cushioning is adjustable so you can choose if you want to be cushioned as you run or feel like you have the open road beneath you.
If the ability to go online is going to be too much of a distraction, you might lean more towards the simple Elite Runner controls, and like all the other models here, the NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill is a little smaller than the Elite Runner.
It also only has a 3-year parts warranty instead of the 10-year warranty attached to the Elite Runner.
C 990 vs. Elite Runner
- Built-in Touchscreen
- 32 Recorded Workouts
- Adjustable Cushioning
- Smaller Running Deck
- Shorter Parts Warranty (3 years vs. 10)
The Final Verdict
If you’re sick of the trek to the gym or the unpredictability of the weather for outside jogging, a treadmill is the solution.
Being able to work out in your own home no matter what’s going on in the outside world makes it so much easier to be consistent in your efforts.
The 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill is a great way to make exercising from home a reality.
It’s a simple, comfort-optimized solution for meeting your fitness goals.
The incline controls make it easy to get an intense workout in a short amount of time, and the long warranty gives you peace of mind.
The Elite Runner could be a great addition to your home, and to your life.
