Treadmills, the classic workout machine.
They’ve been around forever and probably aren’t going anywhere soon.
When I first started working out, I really had no idea what I was doing, I just knew I couldn’t go on being unhealthy.
I got the hang of it eventually, but I think having something like the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill would have given me a serious advantage.
Is a Treadmill Right for You?
Treadmills are basically the bread and butter of cardio exercise – meaning exercise that raises your heart rate for extended periods of time and increases your oxygen intake.
Cardio exercise is great for people trying to slim down, improve endurance, boost mood, sleep better or build lean muscle.
Treadmills are also more versatile than they may seem at first glance.
Changing up the incline can activate different muscle groups more intensely, and varying speed/incline can be a simple way to do interval training, which is great for beginners or more advanced fitness enthusiasts.
If you want to do strength training, a treadmill isn’t going to give you the kind of exercise you want to do or the results you want to see – try a bench press machine, pull up bar, or resistance bands instead.
Treadmills are a high impact exercise, meaning people with joint issues may be putting too much strain on their body by using this machine.
A stationary bike or elliptical is going to serve them much better.
Exercise equipment of any kind is an investment, so it’s a good idea to carefully consider anything you may want to get; and think about testing out various machines at a gym before settling on one for your home.
Essential Questions to Ask
- Is this the type of exercise I want to get?
- Do I have room for this in my home?
- Will I use this enough to justify the cost?
Presenting the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill
There’s no denying the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill is big, with a 20″ by 60″ running surface that gives you plenty of space to move.
The 3.0 horsepower motor can go up to 12mph, and there are 15 levels of incline to choose from.
There are also preset workout programs to help you keep variety in your workout or meet goals.
This is the one of the most robust treadmills that XTERRA has to offer, with only the TRX4500 beating it for horsepower.
While it doesn’t have the most preset programs of the lineup, there are still seven of them to choose from along with two controlled by your heart rate, and two slots for custom workouts of your own.
Pros
- High Weight Capacity (350lbs)
- Lifetime Frame & Motor Warranty
- Large Running Deck
- Goes up to 12mph
- 15 Levels of Incline
Cons
- Large Footprint When Unfolded
- No Bluetooth Connectivity
- Small Number of Preset Programs
XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill Features & Benefits
Frame
It’s almost standard that treadmills designed for in-home use fold up, but the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill takes it one step further with two features; lift assist to make it easy to fold up, and safe drop to make sure the running deck is lowered without damage to the machine or to you.
Running Deck
With a 20″ by 60″ running deck, the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill can accommodate a huge variety of running styles and make sure you’re not constantly worried about catching your shoes on the sides or falling off the back.
The belt is made to last from 2-ply Duraweave. Under the belt is XTERRA’s premium XTRA Soft cushioning system to help absorb the impact of your workout and protect your joints.
Console & Display
The console can make or break how good a treadmill is, because ease of use is a huge factor for many people.
The console on the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill has a 7.5″ display that shows pulse, speed, distance, calories burned, and time.
Good sized buttons let you change speed and incline easily, select a preset program, change between user profiles, and easily start or stop the treadmill.
Speakers
I always love workout machines with built-in speakers.
First of all, because I love having constant music in my life, and second because after a while, my earbuds or headphones can bother me.
It’s also a lot easier to get my attention if I’m listening on a speaker rather than with my noise-cancelling headphones.
You don’t even have to fuss with Bluetooth or wireless connection to play your music.
Simply plug your device into the MP3 jack on the console and enjoy your music, podcast or show as you work out.
Heart Rate Monitoring
There are two options to track your pulse on the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill; the hand grip pulse sensors on the handles and the included heart rate chest strap.
The chest strap is great for people who like to constantly monitor their hearts while exercising or are using the heart rate programs on the treadmill, and for those who just like to check in occasionally, they can simply grip the handles whenever they want to see their heart rate.
Preset Programs
Having preset programs on a treadmill are absolutely wonderful because it can keep you from getting stuck in a rut or working out at too low an intensity to get the benefits you want.
There are 7 preset programs on the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill, 2 heart rate programs, 2 Custom Programs you can create yourself, and manual mode.
Fan
I overheat easily.
If I still have all my blankets on me when I wake up in the morning, I’m surprised.
This extends to my exercise, so having a built in fan like the one on the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill is much less hassle than setting up one of my big, noisy fans just to try and keep cool on my morning run.
Handlebar Controls
If I could go back and give my first treadmill one more feature to improve my experience, it would be this one.
Buttons on the handles of the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill mean you can easily change speed or incline without reaching all the way for the console in the middle of an intense workout.
And if you hold on to the handles like I did at the beginning, it feels so much more secure when you don’t need to move your hand much to change speed or incline.
Warranty
XTERRA is a company that stands by their equipment, which really shows in their warranties.
This treadmill has a lifetime warranty on both the frame and motor.
The running deck is covered for 5 years, the parts for 2 years, and the first year of in-home labor is covered as well.
Customer Service
I can’t leave out the customer service when reviewing XTERRA products because I always find praise for them as I look at user reviews.
They’re known to be friendly, prompt, knowledgeable and helpful.
When I see customer service like this I always feel better about buying because it means the company wants to have a good relationship with their customers and believe in their products and mission.
What Other Buyers Are Saying
There are very few things- especially new things- that I will buy online without reading reviews first.
So I’ve gathered some user reviews to give you a good idea of what people are saying about the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill.
Review #1
Steven Smith likes what he got for the money he paid- and goes in depth for people who take research seriously.
Review #2
NC loves their TR 6.6- even the cons they listed wouldn’t stop them from buying again!
Review #3
This user said, “Wonderful Machine – Hire Moving Men!”
Other Treadmill Options
Sunny Health & Fitness Electric Folding Treadmill
If you’re looking for a treadmill that’s a little more high tech at a similar price to the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill, the Sunny Health & Fitness Electric Folding Treadmill may be the ideal option for you.
This treadmill has Bluetooth speakers, a device holder, and a USB charging port so you can power up your devices as you run.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Electric Folding Treadmill is slightly smaller than the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill, with a 52″ by 19″ running deck, and has a top speed of 10mph which is slightly lower than the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill, though it matches the 15 levels of incline exactly.
If you want more preset programs on your treadmill, this one offers 15 premade programs and 3 custom entries.
Like the XTERRA model, it has speed and incline control on the handlebars and the console.
Physically, this treadmill is only half the weight of the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill, but it has a lower max user weight of 265lbs.
There are pulse grip sensors to measure your heart rate, but this treadmill does not come with a chest strap for constant monitoring.
Sunny Health & Fitness Electric Folding Treadmill vs. XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill
- Smaller
- Bluetooth Speakers
- USB Charging Port
- Lower Top Speed, 10mph
- 15 Levels of Incline
- Lower Max. User Weight, 265lbs
Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Cadence Folding Treadmill
With the Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Cadence Folding Treadmill, you can take it or leave it with the tech.
While it will connect to your phone and purchase includes a 1-month iFit membership, you can also manually activate your machine and not deal with connecting your device to your treadmill.
This treadmill is smaller, with a 50″ by 16″ running surface, and has a maximum user weight of 275lbs.
The display on this treadmill is rather small, displaying time, distance and speed, needing to connect to your device to show more metrics at one time.
If you are interested in using the incline function on a treadmill, this one isn’t going to suit your needs because it only has two settings and you have to change the incline manually.
Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Cadence Folding Treadmill vs. XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill
- Lower Price
- No Automatic Incline
- Smaller
- iFit membership
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Large Console Shelves
3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill
Just when I thought home treadmills didn’t get any bigger and more durable than the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill, I am proven wrong.
The 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill has a 22″ by 62″ running platform, a 4.0 Horsepower motor and can hold up to 400lbs.
The tradeoff is that this is at a much higher price point.
While the higher price does get you some more room to run and a 10-year parts warranty, the top speed, incline levels, speakers, and wireless heart rate strap are all equal between this treadmill and the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill.
There’s only one more preset program on the 3G, though the fan is multi speed, which is nice. If you need a folding treadmill for space, look elsewhere.
3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill vs. XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill
- Slightly Bigger
- Higher Price Point
- Equal Top Speed/Incline Levels
- 10-Year Parts Warranty
- 4.0HP Motor
- Multi-Speed Fan
The Takeaway
There’s a lot you can do with a simple treadmill and a determination to get fit.
With great features to get you started and match you as your fitness improves, the XTERRA Fitness TR 6.6 Treadmill may be just right for you.
