Lots of people buy gym memberships that rarely get used. There’s always an excuse: there’s no time to go, you’re too tired, the weather is bad…If you’re beginning to exercise and you know that the call of the couch is stronger than the urge to work out, why not get a treadmill? These two treadmills are ideal for people who want to get started walking or running and would rather do it at home. Let’s review their features and see which one will help you get fit.
Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill
The G 5.9 treadmill is manufactured by Weslo Cadence, a division of ICON Health & Fitness. (ICON also owns NordicTrack.)The G 5.9 is made for beginning-to-intermediate level walkers and runners. It’s a lot less expensive than the pro level treadmills in commercial gyms but it gets the job done. It has convenient features for home users.
First off, Weslo points out that this treadmill folds up for storage. Once folded it takes up about two feet width of space. But you’re not going to leave it in storage, right? It’s more than a coatrack.
The G 5.9 has a 50-inch belt. That’s its length. If you’re well over 6-feet tall it might be too short for your average stride. Most people will find it long enough for walking or running. The belt is cushioned to cut down on injuries in case you plan to really rack up the miles.
Besides a manual mode in which you choose what you want to do, there are 6 pre-programmed workouts designed by personal trainers. If you find that the workout is too fast or slow for you, you can change the speed using the plus and minus buttons on the display. The G 5.9 can go up to 10mph, a fast pace for most runners.
If you prefer kilometers over miles, you can change the display to reflect that. You can see readouts of your speed, distance, time spent on the machine, and calories burned. There’s also a heart rate monitor. To use it, stop walking or running and stand on the side rails. Press your thumb against the heart on the display. That way you can see if you are reaching your goal for an aerobic workout.
So far the G 5.9 is looking pretty good. There’s even more to mention. You can do more than just run on a flat surface. The treadmill can be inclined to two other positions if you adjust the feet underneath it. It also has wheels so it’s easier to move out of the way. If you only want to change speed a little, it increases and decreases by a tenth of a mile at a time when you press the buttons on the display. The treadmill has a safety stop. That works by way of a key on a cord with a clip. The clip goes on your waistband and the key goes into the treadmill to start it. If the key comes out of the machine, the treadmill slows and stops.
There’s a few other things to consider about the G 5.9. You’ll need your own Phillips screwdriver and needle-nose pliers to assemble it along with the hex wrenches Weslo puts in the box. They also recommend a surge protector for use with the treadmill. And if you weigh more than 275 pounds, you’ll want to look for a different model.
More features of the Weslo Cadence G 5.9
- Measures 5-1/2 by 2-1/2 feet and weighs about 117 pounds
- Motor is 2.25 horsepower
- The display is backlit so you can use it in dim lighting
- Tread belt is 16 inches by 50 inches
- Weslo offers a 90-day warranty on parts, labor, and the motor
Weslo Cadence R 5.2 Treadmill
Another favorite Weslo home treadmill is the R 5.2. It is almost exactly like the G 5.9 except for the maximum allowable weight of the user. It accepts up to only 250 pounds instead of the 275-pound limit on the G 5.9.
Another small difference is that the tread belt motor is listed as 2.5 horsepower. Finally, it weighs in at 1 pound more than the G 5.9 for a total of 118lbs. But it is foldable for storage and has wheels for transport just like the other treadmill.
The R 5.2 inclines the same way the G 5.9 does when the user moves the position of the two front feet. This allows for a tougher workout at a steeper angle. You can view your speed, distance, calories burned, and heart rate all on the backlit display just as you can on the G 5.9. The top speed is again 10mph and can be changed in tenth-of-a-mile increments.
The tread belt is cushioned and measures 16 inches wide by 50 inches long. There are 6 pre-programmed workouts to follow, or you can choose a manual mode. If you’ve worn the key attached to your waistband and inserted into the machine, the treadmill will come to an emergency halt if the key is pulled out. This is a nice safety feature in case you’ve really overdone it on the treadmill.
If for some reason you want to show off the treadmill’s features or how many miles you’ve run since you bought it, the machine has both a demo mode and an informational mode.
More features of the Weslo Cadence R 5.2
- You’ll still need to assemble it yourself but Weslo provides the hex wrenches (if not the screwdriver and pliers) (and don’t forget the surge protector)
- Weslo offers a 90-day limited warranty on parts, labor, and motor
Recommendation
The choice between these two treadmills comes down to exactly one thing: the user’s current weight. If you happen to weigh more than 250 pounds, go with the G 5.9. If you weigh 250lbs or less, you can use either the R 5.2 or the G 5.9. Happy exercising!
Click here to Check out Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill Price on Amazon!
Click here to Check out Weslo Cadence R 5.2 Treadmill Price on Amazon!