ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill Review

The ProForm Carbon T7 is a compact treadmill with some great features. Note, the T7 comes for FREE when you buy 3-year iFit Family Membership - see more below. ProForm are a trusted name from the Icon Fitness brand, so you know it has a good track record in the home fitness market. 

The Carbon T7 can be looked upon as an entry-level plus machine in my view. If you're an experienced runner, the top speed of 10mph may not challenge you, but it's a sprint for a beginner. So I would say the T7 is a good model for beginner up to just about the intermediate level runners. It's a compact model so the belt is slightly narrower than what you'd get on a treadmill you'd find at a gym. But at a width of 20" and a length of 55", it's a manageable size for most.

But what makes the Carbon T7 a contender for your attention is iFit. It comes with a huge selection of workouts (over 15,000!!) that will easily take your fitness up a notch or three,  See Console & Workout Program section below for more detail.

So onto the nuts & bolts...

Carbon T7 Review

ASSEMBLY

​Assembly is pretty straightforward as it's mostly pre-assembled. But it's recommended that two people do this as it makes it a heck of a lot easier and quicker. I once spent an hour piecing together an elliptical trainer that seemed to need a degree in electrical engineering and the skills of a key-hole surgeon! But this is a piece of cake in comparison :0)

FEATURES & FUNCTIONS

The 2.6 CHP motor is pretty quite, smooth-running and responsive. It's seems capable of maintain speeds of up to 8mph for a long workout, but its top speed of 10mph maybe for 10 minutes at most. So if you're into long runs at speed, this probably isn't for you, and you'd be better off with something like the LifeSpan TR4000i with a top speed of 12mph.

The deck has good shock absorption that's kinder to your joints. But as mentioned above, this is a compact model so some may not be comfortable sprinting on a 20" wide deck.

The 7" HD color screen is good quality if a little small. Some may find it not so easy to see if you're sight is impaired. You can change speed and incline using the screen, but when running at pace it can be a little challenged. But there are one-touch controls for both speed and incline settings below the screen which are much easier to use. When using iFit pre-set programs, the workout will adjust these settings automatically.

The handles at the sides a long and in a good position if you need to grab hold to steady yourself, or hop off the belt for any reason.

The ProForm Carbon T7 is a foldable model so when you're finished you can fold and wheel it out of the way using the built-in transport wheels. The deck folds up to almost vertical which means it requires only a small footprint and takes up little space - well for a treadmill.

However, this is a manual lift and fold/lower and hold but has no hydraulic mechanism. It's not a heavy deck, so for most this is not an issue. But bear in mind if your back isn't as reliable as it used to be, you may want to look for a machine with a hydraulic assist.

And finally, there's a built-in fan in the console with two settings comparable to a gentle breeze, or a breeze :0) Like most treadmills, the fan will only take the edge of your sweat, but still welcome on a warm day.

NEED HELP?

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For more info on consoles, pre-set programs and user profiles, click here >>>
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CONSOLE & WORKOUT PROGRAMS

iFit workouts were one of the first built-in programs to come with home fitness equipment. But they haven't sat on their backsides as the competition followed and caught up. iFit have moved with the times and offer a great variation of workouts to keep you motivated. From couch to 5k, interactive, trainer-led sessions and outdoor runs from across the world - I really like these!

There is a staggering amount of workouts - getting close to 16,000 now, with almost 200 personal trainers to choose from, so you should find at least one to your liking :0) You can also select between indoor studio classes, or go on an outside run with a trainer. And again, the choice is amazing as you can choose runs all over the world. With these runs, the console will adjust the incline to match the scenery so you get the look AND the feel.

Another great feature is the use of Google Maps. You can select a start and finish location and the distance and route is displayed, and while running, Google will pop up the odd image of where you are - neat or what!

As well as running workouts, there are off-machine sessions including HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) for strength, flexibility and weight loss. 
ProForm Carbon T7: Rating 7.5 Stars

CARBON T7 REVIEW SUMMARY:

QUICK REFERENCE

Speed / Incline
ProForm Carbon T7 specification
Top Speed: 10 mph / Incline: 10%
Click images to enlarge
ProForm Carbon T7 treadmill side view
ProForm Carbon T7
ProForm Carbon T7 treadmill console and display
7" HD Color Touch Screen
ProForm Carbon T7 one-touch controls
Controls for speed/incline
ProForm Carbon T10 treadmill folded
A folding model
The ProForm Carbon T7 has some great features that will keep most runners challenged and interested. The iFit workouts are perhaps the game-changer as they have an excellent range of programs to suit all ability levels. This machine is a great option for those new to treadmill training as the trainers will take you through the stages of improvement. But as I said earlier, if you're an experience or elite runner, this won't match your ability so check out the 'Alternatives' section below.

All-in-all, the T7 is an attractive treadmill offering good value for money for beginner to intermediate runners.

PROS:

  • Good, well-cushioned deck
  • BlueTooth enabled
  • Good motor - pretty quiet and responsive
  • iFit programs are well-designed
  • iFit tracks your performance and progress over time
  • One-touch controls for speed & incline
  • Heart monitor compatible - but not included
  • Good ​7" HD Color Screen - but would have been much better if bigger
  • Screen tilts for ease of viewing
  • Off-treadmill HIIT workouts (note you need a tablet - not provided obviously)
  • Streamed outdoor, trainer-led workouts good for motivation
  • Workouts from all over the world
  • Good quality speakers (x2)
  • Rack for phone and devices
  • Built-in air fan to keep you cool(ish)
  • Folds up to compact size - but see below
  • Built-in transport wheels
  • Reasonable warranty

CONS:

  • A 10" screen would make it easier to use
  • Tall runners may find deck feels short at high speeds
  • Manual folding - no hydraulics

BOILERPLATE STUFF:

Motor: 
Speed:
​Incline:
​Belt size:
Dimensions:
Weight:
Max. User weight:
Warranty:
2.60 CHP - see components to see what this means
1 - 10 MPH ​(0.5 mph intervals)
0 - 10% - 1% intervals
20" W x 55" L
Unfolded: 73.5" L x 35.2" W x 57.5" H
223 lbs
300 lbs / 136 kg
Frame: 10 years / Motor: 2 Years / Parts: 1 Years / Labor: 1 Year

ALTERNATIVES:

For a similar price you can choose from the NordicTrack T6.5Si, or for a little less the LifeSpan TR1200i has comparable features.
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