AssaultRunner by Assault Fitness, Black Frame/Charcoal, 2" x 16.4'

As another reviewer encourages: If you are seriously considering, stop waiting, and just buy it. I have had (and still have one) a couple of other treadmills, motorized of course, with screens and connected this or that, but nothing compares to this machine.It is incredibly sturdy, but still not cumbersome, and the lack of motor makes it lighter and easier to move around than I expected. Assembly was easy and instructions were clear. Operation is smooth and quiet.It’s magical - operating is simple and has caused me to run much, much more than I would have ever imagined - just so friendly and inviting!Sometimes we don’t realize the small obstacles we might use as excuses (real or imagined), and this has taken all of those away. Just hop on and go, seamlessly vary speeds, making intervals a breeze - no waiting on the machine to speed up or slow down, no buttons to press, workouts to create, or leaving the belt running and trying to hop on. The ability to just hop and go, sometimes I think it might be 10 minutes is all I want, but then go for an hour and 10 minutes. With a conventional treadmill, the time is set up front, and I never realized how often I would have maybe have gone longer, but was anchored to the time set when starting the machine.This has a console with metrics, but I haven’t really used it as I have interval timers set on an app I will start, and sometimes will use the distance for those type of intervals, maybe I will use it at some point, but at this point it adds nothing, nor takes anything way.I love just being able to run, not mess with anything at all, never realizing how much of a distraction and annoyance pressing buttons or choosing workouts and then watching a running clock or virtual environment or track is just so distracting and annoying. So, the console does all I need it to do.As has been mentioned in other reviews, the distance measurement you need to calibrate, but I assume the distance is measured just by belt revolutions, and so it makes sense you aren’t going ‘push’ as much ground behind you compared to the distance traveled when all forces and energy (with good form) are propelling you forward. This also doesn’t matter much, you can calibrate based on your running effort vs running a measured distance outside, etc. and figure out the conversion (or obviously with any number of running/smart watches that will do the same).And, monitoring is all that matters; so if you are running more in less time (or vice versus), then it doesn’t really matter if the number is not the same as if you are outside, all that matters is the mechanism is consistent for measuring and you can track and compare over time. Then even better if you can figure out the equation to convert top an outside effort.Perhaps the original and primary purpose of considering the AirRunner when I first started looking, it reinforces good running mechanics where a motorized treadmill does not.When running trails or streets, whether meditative, stress relieving, or even specific training runs, constantly thinking of body posture or foot strike is not only difficult for extended periods, but admittedly just distracts and detracts from the running experience. But I find paying closer attention is not as difficult, which when not navigating rocks, branches, uneven surfaces, or cars, pedestrians, gutters, etc. makes sense, but also less annoying and more natural, and if you get out of line, start ‘pulling’ to one side or the other, stride or strike starts to break down, you get rapid feedback from the machine itself.I love to run outside, but weather and severe allergies limit my ability to do it consistently, I have tried other treadmills, but nothing has compared to the manual treadmill.If I knew then what I know, I wouldn’t have waited nearly as long to purchase. If I had the money, I’d buy one for every runner I know that uses a treadmill - and I still might gift one to a close friend and family member someday - I think it is that much of a game changer.Not everyone will feel the same and if I lived in a climate and location (and discounting allergies) where I could just as easily, any time of night or day, just hop on a trail and just go, this would probably not be quite so precious.Alas, that is not, not every likely to be, the case. This is the next best thing - and in some ways (aforementioned paying attention to form), adds some compensatory benefits.Anyhow, the AirRunner is magical and if it sounds like I am in love, you wouldn’t be the first to think it, as my wife has mentioned my affection for the AirRunner and is clearly jealous.

I have only run on this Air Runner and the Woodway Curve. I liked the Curve, at local fitness center, but found that it was way expensive to consider owning one for home. I read online reviews of the various curved manuals and found this one to be at the almost tolerable price point. It arrived well packaged and undamaged. I had opted for the $19.99 pick your room option that includes "one fligt of stairs", but the delivery fellows declined on that option and suggested I uncrate the parts and take them up separately. I did that, and although heavy, the base is one piece and was put on a standard dolly and 62 year self and 21 year son got it up stairs without major mishap. Assembly easy, attach the uprights and grab bar / console. I placed it on an anti skid painted 0.5 inch fiber board to have a solid surface. The initial impression was that it was more "slippery" than the Woodway unit, with the initial setup being back adjustable foot plates being pretty close to fully threaded (short height). I then adjusted the foot plates to nearly as tall as they would go while still having good thread engagement in the base unit. The run was less slippery, as the rear was elevated. The curve is a larger radius than the Woodway and felt like more natural running stride length, but still a bit "slippery". I then experimented with further elevation at the back with some shims. I settled with the nearly full length threaded adjustment and 0.5 inch board under the feet, using some double side tape to keep the feet from sliding off the board. This setup is "better", in my opinion, than the Woodway Curve at the fitness center, that I have no ability to tune - it is what it is. I still do not run at all near the front edge of the tread, even with interval sprints, and, with the less severe curve, allows for running mechanics more like flat ground. The front wheels are just on the deck, and the rear are elevated which makes the last tread slat that is parallel to the floor 16.125 inches vertical above the deck. Some reviews questioned why the times were different than real running over the same distance, so I measured the distance traveled on the belt using a calibrated rolling wheel method. The readout on the display, after 4 half mile measurements and 1 full mile measurement done while walking, was under stating the distance traveled on the belt surface by 0.1 mile per one mile on the digital read out. This is no big issue to me, as I use the Air Runner for HIIT work. In the future, I might try a wee bit higher in the back to see how that feels, but for now just plan to enjoy the convenience of such a nice piece of equipment at home. For a triathlon brick workout, having a smart cycle trainer and the Air Runner side by side allows for year round / all weather training. As for quality and stability, I really can not appreciate any difference between the Curve and the Air Runner, and I absolutely would not go in an extra $5k+ for the Woodway. I also prefer the digital display on the Air Runner.

The Assault Fitness Runner is an amazing product. Great quality, sturdy and durable.Unfortunately, the product is way overpriced. The same treadmill on the manufactures website is priced MUCH less than here on Amazon. This is unfortunate and very unexpected, as I always believed Amazon had prices comparable to the rest of the marketplace.Great product, Do some research prior to purchase.

Very solid design and all the components are easy to put together.The main tread system comes fully assembled and you’re really just installing the, I guess you would call them handles? And some cosmetic covers plus the included workout electronic device ( which also conveniently acts as a place to put a phone or tablet).Price wise it’s very high end considering you can buy a very nice motorized treadmill from Costco for about $800.Comes with 150,000 mile tread guarantee. It’s an absolute beast at 280 lbs so put it together where you intend to use it cause that baby is not fitting though doorways or even hallways really.It’s very quiet but certainly not silent but I can’t hear my wife pounding away on it from the next room so definitely a plus.Very cool that you can go from walking to full out running back to walking with no buttons to push. Great for those HIIT workouts.