Reebok, the brand name known for athletic apparel and sports accessories, is licensed to ICON Health and Fitness for use with home fitness equipment. ICON’s newer Reebok treadmills and elliptical cross trainers are regarded as relatively durable equipment for the budget and middle markets.
A Reebok Brand Advantage: iFit Live
iFit Live is included on many ICON Fitness products, including the newer Reebok treadmills and cross trainers. iFit Live’s main feature is virtual personal training, which is provided by the celebrity personal trainer Jillian Michaels and other experts. Workouts are designed in accordance with each user’s weight and goals, and the user hears encouraging messages during exercise.
iFit Live also lets users virtually experience trails from all over the globe. By interfacing with Google Maps, the technology makes treadmills and ellipticals automatically adjust to mimic real terrain. People can virtually run through their favorite local neighborhoods or visit famous destinations like the Grand Canyon.
With iFit.com, members can automatically upload their workout data, get personalized advice about exercise and diet, and compete in virtual races with friends who use Facebook.
Special Features of Reebok Fitness Equipment
» Good quality – These are good, middle-of-the-road machines with some nice extras. Reebok treadmills and ellipticals last longer than budget equipment, but not as long as expensive equipment. They don’t have “whisper-quiet” operation, but they aren’t terribly noisy either. Customers can expect to use these products for at least a few years before serious maintenance is needed.
» Wide distribution – Reebok cross trainers and treadmills are widely distributed, so it should be relatively easy to find a qualified technician if needed. Brand recognition also helps in the resale process.
» Extras include built-in personal trainer workouts, iFit Live, workout fans, heart rate monitors, and iPod docks with integrated speaker systems.
Note: This brand has improved its warranties. Reebok once had very short warranties, offering just 90 days on parts and labor. The newest Reebok treadmill includes a 25-year motor warranty and a year of parts and labor. The new Reebok elliptical trainer has a one-year warranty on parts and labor. For both machines, an extended $179 warranty package is available. This extends the parts and labor warranty to four years, and labor is in-home.
Reebok Equipment Lines
Treadmills – The brand’s treadmill offerings for 2010 include just one model, the V 8.90. It has a SpaceSaver design, which means that the deck can be folded up for storage. At the same time, the machine is sturdy and can support about 250 pounds (not necessarily 350 as advertised). It has a 2.25 HP motor.
Elliptical Machines – Elliptical machines are ideal for low-impact exercise that burns a lot of calories. They’re used to simulate walking or running without putting undue pressure on joints. Legs move in a smooth cyclical motion instead of repeatedly hitting the ground.
Reebok currently promotes just one of its elliptical trainers, the RL 1500. It’s a significant improvement over the 645 and 725 models, which are known for their noisiness. The RL 1500 has a 20” stride, letting most people use a full range of motion. Fifteen training programs are built into the console and resistance can easily be adjusted mid-workout with the touch of a button. Unfortunately, iFit is not included.
This machine gets great customer reviews for its quiet operation, comfortable ride, and efficient training programs. However, other brands offer better overall value.
Drawbacks of Reebok Fitness Equipment
Customer service – In this reviewer’s experience, Reebok customer service has been friendly enough but slow and disorganized. Many customers have also reported poor service; customers are put on hold for an extended period of time, calls are routed incorrectly, etc.