Quick Overview
The Trueform Trainer is a leading curved treadmill with great performance. This motorless treadmill is user-controlled with immediate feedback by simply running faster or slower. The curved deck is slightly shallower than others, reducing momentum and providing a great running experience.
Who It’s Right For
Things to Consider
I have a confession…
I’ve never been a big runner.
I’ve always found it to be a bit boring, the thought of running in the elements never excited me, my form was suspect, and the idea of a stationary motorized treadmill was borderline gag-worthy.
Well in 2020, I got on my first curved manual treadmill: the Trueform Trainer. I heard great things about this style of treadmill, and the Trueform treadmill in particular, so I thought “what the heck.”
Fast forward to today, I’ve owned and tested several of the best manual treadmills from Trueform, Assault Fitness, GetRX’d, and more.
The Trueform Trainer is my favorite curved treadmill for running long distance.
In this review, I’ll cover everything you need to know about the Trueform Trainer. I’ll share the pros and cons and compare it to the Trueform Runner and AssaultRunner Elite.
Let’s dig in.
The Trueform Trainer
The Trueform Trainer is a well-spec’d curved treadmill that bypasses some of the optional accessories and aims for optimal running performance.
I legitimately love the ergonomics of the curve and find the lighter belt to require more effort.
However, compared to some, I wish it had more features. The monitor is very basic and there aren’t any areas to easily store things like water bottles, phones, etc.
Then again, its compact footprint is excellent for smaller spaces, especially in home gyms.
Specs
- Dimensions – 64″ x 31″ x 63″
- Weight – 270lb
- Max Weight – 400lb
- Frame – Steel
- Covers – Single Formed Reinforced Polymer
- Tread Surface – Molded Thermoplastic Elastomer
- Bearings – 112 Sealed Steel Ball Bearings
- Pulleys – Injection Molded Polymer
- Display – LCD – AA Battery
What is a Curved Treadmill?
A curved treadmill is exactly what it sounds like… a treadmill with a curve. The purpose of a curved treadmill isn’t quite as obvious. Essentially, a curved treadmill eliminates the need to have any motorized components – it’s entirely self-propelled.
Woah, ok, that’s cool… but why?
It improves your form
The biggest benefit of a curved treadmill is that it naturally and seemingly instantaneously improves your running form. Because of the arc on the front of the treadmill, you’re much more inclined to strike with your mid-foot, which leads to a more efficient and more joint-friendly stride. You’re also naturally placed in a more vertical, stacked posture, which additionally creates a more optimal running pattern.
It forces you to work harder, recruits more muscles, and burns more calories
Another major benefit of the curved treadmill is that it’s simply a better workout. Think about a traditional motorized treadmill… the tread is moving underneath you – you’re just trying to keep pace. This isn’t very natural. On a self-propelled curved treadmill, you’re pushing the tread down and back. That is, it’s your force that’s producing the movement. Since you’re not forcing the tread on a motorized unit, you recruit more muscles and you burn more calories on a self-propelled curved treadmill. Trueform actually claims that users can burn 44% more calories on their treadmills, while others claim 30%+ improvements over motorized treadmills.
It puts you in control
Unlike motorized treadmills with button controls that can be sluggish and annoying to operate, on Trueform treadmills and curved treadmills in general, you’re in total control of speed. Everything is commensurate with your level of effort. That is, the harder you run the faster you go, and vice versa. Similarly, you can stop and go as you please without having to ratchet up speed via buttons.
In addition to these benefits, you have total control over where you want to put a curved treadmill in your space. This is especially nice in a home gym setting. Take my garage for example. If I wanted to buy a motorized treadmill, I’m limited to two areas that have electrical outlets. While I could add another outlet, it’s a lot easier to not have to worry about it all! Now as my gym evolves and things get shuffled around, it’s a non-issue where the Trueform goes.
The Body and the Curve
The Trueform Trainer, and Trueform treadmills in general, offer a smaller body relative to some of the other curved treadmills. The Trainer has a total length of 64″ whereas competing treadmills offer lengths of ~67″-71″. This equates to roughly 57″ of actual running space since there’s some rounded fall-off on the front and back of the treadmill.
One of the benefits of having a shorter treadmill is that it takes up less space. In the home gym, and even in larger facilities these days, space is king. 7″ may not seem like a lot on the surface, but in a space with a lot of equipment, it can be quite meaningful. The downside to having a shorter treadmill is that you have less physical surface to run on. If you’re a really tall runner, then this could affect your stride, but for the overwhelming majority of people, it should pose no concern. Zack Nagle, Trueform’s fitness director, is a very tall runner and he manages the treadmill without a problem.
As mentioned above, the curve of the Trueform treadmills is shallower than competing brands, which reduces momentum and requires more force to move the belt. This is probably why they’re able to claim a greater caloric burn compared to those competing brands since it makes it more challenging.
The frame of the Trueform Trainer is built with solid steel but it includes a heavy-duty plastic covering around it. This is one of the main differences between the Trueform Trainer and the Trueform Runner, which I will detail more in the comparison section below. I understand why plastic was chosen (lighter and cheaper) for the Trainer and, while I do prefer steel in general, I have little concern over the durability of this machine. Unless you’re training with reckless abandon or you’re grossly abusing the max weight limit (400 lbs), the likelihood of the plastic failing is low.
Underneath the Trueform are two wheels up front and two adjustable feet in the back. If you have an uneven floor like a garage that slopes down and out, this can help you achieve a level surface. In the back is a long handle that can be used to maneuver the Trueform around the gym, which is great considering it weighs 270 lbs. It does move quite easily.
The Belt and Mechanics
The belt on the Trueform Trainer, like other curved treadmills, consists of a slatted surface that allows it to freely rotate. The surface is a textured & dense molded rubber that is comfortable and durable. I’ve run on the tread with and without shoes and, while I do run with shoes the majority of the time, it’s nice to be able to go barefooted. The tread itself measures 17″ wide, which provides plenty of room for most people and which lets you jump off quickly – something that’s useful after all-out sprint efforts.
Perhaps the most important feature of the entire treadmill is the way in which the belt operates. There are four large pulleys (two on front and two on back) that facilitate the belt’s movement. These pulleys are one-directional, which prevents the belt from spinning in the opposite direction. Between these pulleys sit 112 steel ball bearings that help to create a very fluid and smooth running experience.
The Monitor
The monitor on the Trueform Trainer is where there is the most room for improvement, in my opinion. It’s not that it’s bad – it’s functional and it tells you important stats – it’s just kinda blah. The feature set isn’t very rich and it looks boring in comparison to some of the other monitors like the Woodway Curve and AssaultRunner.
From the top-down, the Trueform Trainer display will show pace, speed, distance, and time. It will also give you a heart rate reading if you own the Polar Heart Monitor T31. There are also two mode settings where you can set your time or your distance goals. A reset button clears everything.
At the very least it would be nice to see a calories-burned readout. Time splits or even the ability to log and track training sessions would also be nice to have similar to the Concept PM5. I also think it would be cool to see things like average speed/pace, high/low speed/pace, etc… after each session to monitor performance.
Trueform Trainer vs. Trueform Runner
In the Trueform treadmill collection, there’s the Office Cruiser (low), the Trainer (mid), and the Runner (high). Most people are going to be deciding between the Trainer and the Runner. While these two models have similar dimensions, there are few key differences that should be considered.
The biggest difference is that the Trueform Runner uses a heavier-duty steel body and a single aluminum surround that’s molded and hand-welded in the USA. Compare this to the plastic surround on the Trueform Trainer, which is made in their Korean factory. If made-in-the-USA is important to you, then the Runner is the way to go.
This beefier body creates a treadmill that’s 70lbs heavier than the Trainer. Another distinction is that the Runner has a slightly shallower curve than the Trainer, which makes it a bit more difficult. Couple that with a heavier tread and you get a more challenging experience overall. The tread itself is also a higher-quality material that can be customized to include various Ecore toppers. This could include various colors of turf as well as a unique track surface that can accommodate actual cleats.
Another difference between the two is the arm positions. As you will notice on the Trainer, the arms extend up from the top of the side rails. On the Runner, they’re affixed to the side of the side rails. This gives you more landing area for your feet, but it does add five inches to the overall width of the treadmill. Again, if space is a big consideration, this favors the Trainer. Conversely, if you like to perform weighted carries on the treadmill, this favors the Runner.
The monitors produce similar stats, but the Runner has a more attractive display in my opinion.
These differences aside, price is the biggest distinction. If you’re someone who wants the best of the best or you’re buying for a commercial facility with a lot of activity, the Runner is likely the best choice. If you’re just someone looking for a solid curved treadmill at a more affordable price, the Trainer is a great option.
Trueform Trainer for AssaultRunner Elite
Assault Fitness makes some of the most popular manual treadmills on the market. The AssualtRunner Elite version is the most comparable to the Trueform, but there are some key differences.
The biggest difference is that the Trueform is more compact, making it a better option for small spaces. It’s roughly 6″ shorter in length, so if you’re training in a tight space, this may be a consideration. On the flip side, it has a shorter running surface, so long striders and ultra-tall lifters may prefer the extra length of the AssaultRunner Elite.
Another difference is that the Trueform Trainer has a slightly smaller front curve and a lighter belt. This requires more user force since it doesn’t build as much momentum as the Assault. For longer-distance runs, I prefer the Trueform for its natural feel. However, those who vary intensities and perform max-effort sprints may prefer the faster Elite.
The monitor is an area where I feel the AssaultRunner is noticeably better than the Trueform Trainer. The Assault has a stylish monitor that includes some features not available on the Trueform such as more programs, split times, etc. It’s also easier to operate and looks more professional.
As far as price goes, you may find either one to be less expensive than the other based on current sales. They’re both durable, high-quality treadmills with excellent warranties.
If you’re wanting extra features, a better monitor, and a faster experience, it’s hard to beat the AssaultRunner Elite. However, distance runners will likely prefer the slightly flatter curve and lighter belt.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Trueform Trainer is one of the best curved treadmills that you can buy. It’s a strong performer and has a solid warranty.
If you want the absolute top-of-the-line, the Trueform Runner may be more suitable, but for most people, the Trainer is a solid choice.