In the event you’re searching for a no frills treadmill that’s well-built, straightforward one-button controls, and a premium working really feel, the French Health ST100 is a good choice.
My working schedule has at all times been borderline obsessive in that rain, shine, sizzling, chilly I’m working outdoors 90% of the time.
I stay by the mantra, “it’s by no means too chilly or sizzling to run outdoors – you simply have to have the precise gear for the temperature.” However the actuality is there are many occasions it truly is simply too chilly or sizzling to run outdoors or my schedule doesn’t permit me to get outdoors on the pavement.
That’s after I want a treadmill I don’t dread and truly look ahead to turning on to crank out no matter mileage quick or lengthy I would like that day. I’m a fan of treadmills, however provided that they’re a premium expertise (learn steady and an excellent really feel for the legs).
I’ll pay the additional cash to ensure the occasions I’ve to run inside that I’m happy.
Our complete staff of testers at RunToTheFinish imagine within the flexibility nice treadmills give runners. And we all know that it requires we’ve got to present trustworthy evaluations so you’ll be able to resolve for your self which one is correct on your wants and finances.
The ST100 has been on our checklist to evaluate for some time due to the heavy-duty construct and reliability. However we acknowledge, it’s not as a lot of a family identify model you will have heard, so allow us to introduce you.
- Normal Health: Nice for all ability ranges of runners and health lovers. In case you are wanting a no nonsense treadmill that’s heavy-duty for all of your coaching wants that is it. Sturdy, easy, easy one-function buttons that make it straightforward to make use of. Given it’s a industrial construct high quality machine it could fairly actually run all day and never skip a beat.
- Heavier Customers: Maybe its greatest characteristic is that it’s constructed to deal with 440 lbs of weight load. The deck has loads of shock absorption however not an excessive amount of bounce like health membership machines have.
- Endurance: Excellent for runners doing longer miles given the mushy shock pad and high quality of the motor. It’s very snug for longer runs however it lacks any form of display screen or leisure which will be considered as a professional or a con relying on what you’re searching for.
- Intervals: One of many few cons of this machine is the motor isn’t as responsive for transitions between speeds. The controls are quite simple to vary your pace and the decide up shall be superb for all however quick actually intense intervals.
French Health ST100 Overview
I’ve been impressed testing the ST100 for a lot of several types of runs and logged over 50 miles throughout many alternative periods. If you unbox and have the treadmill setup it’s clear from the design and construct it is a industrial grade machine.
Clearly the important thing characteristic that’s going to excite most of you for this treadmill is the slat belt. We’ll dive into that under together with the way it compares to different well-known fashions.
We are likely to lean in direction of these treadmill fashions in our suggestions as a result of they last more, really feel extremely steady and normally have actually good elements ensures.
I’ve full confidence it is a treadmill you might use a number of occasions per day and seven days every week with no breakdown. And that’s big when wanting on the lifespan of a giant buy like this.
It was identified previous to ordering that this treadmill solely got here in kilometers per hour (KPH) and that was one thing I used to be snug translating in my head. Coach Amanda tells me they work with a number of 1:1 runners who practice in KM as a result of that’s what many of the world makes use of, so perhaps that is truly only a good time for me to transform for racing!
For some individuals it is a dealbreaker to not present miles per hour (MPH). For me personally, I truly appreciated realizing after I crossed the 5K, 10K mark as a result of as a rule these are the size of my exercises.
Why Slat Belt Treadmills are Higher
After testing dozens of treadmills, the distinction a slat belt makes is straight away noticeable the second you step on one. The place a conventional belt-and-deck setup can really feel barely springy or hole underfoot, a slat belt feels planted, nearer to working on an precise highway or observe.
That firmness and stability is a giant a part of why they’ve develop into the go-to alternative for gyms, studios, and critical house athletes who’re logging actual miles.
The explanation they command the next value comes all the way down to what’s truly beneath your toes. As a substitute of a single steady belt working over a flat deck, a slat belt is made up of particular person rubber slats linked collectively, each usually cushioned or textured independently. Extra elements, extra precision engineering, extra sturdiness and that each one provides up.
You’re additionally getting a floor that tends to carry up much better beneath heavy use and is less complicated to service over time, which is why industrial services are prepared to pay for it.
Particularly these coming from outside working, persistently choose the feeling of a slat belt.
French Health ST100 Specs
- Worth: $4,999
- Pace: 12.42 MPH, 20 KPH
- Vary: 0% to fifteen%
- Prime quality slat belt
- 3 HP AC motor
- LED Display screen
- Show: lap, time, slope, mode, coronary heart fee, energy, distance, pace
- Lifetime body guarantee, 10 12 months elements guarantee, 1 12 months labor guarantee
- Broad working floor 22”W x 60”L
- Buy at fitnesssuperstore.com
Fast Take
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Feels premium, snug, dependable
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Easy/straightforward controls, one button for many features
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Small shelf to cost cellphone or iPad is nice for leisure
- Fan may be very loud and never robust
- Heavy and enormous, not straightforward to maneuver
- Slower pace modifications for interval coaching
Who Is French Health?
I wasn’t aware of the corporate French Health till this evaluate.
Doing a little bit of analysis, I discovered the identify isn’t as a result of it’s a international firm. It’s named after the founder Tim French, who began the corporate in 2019.
Additionally they assemble all their gear within the USA and have a warehouse in California.
Their product lineup covers extra than simply treadmills, they cowl all issues within the fitness center gear class (bikes, ellipticals, weights, and so forth.). They try to supply each top-tier and mid-priced gear.
Rubberized “Crawler” Slats
Once I first noticed the rubberized slats I used to be excited to see the way it in comparison with the Peloton Tread+ we’ve got at my fitness center.
And compared I felt prefer it was very comparable in that they’re cushioned, not too bouncy, not too exhausting like a flat conventional belt, and but that easy premium really feel to run on.
The supplies they use are a mixture of aluminum and an elastic polyurethane. They’re fairly thick too! (1.26”, 32mm)
Working on the slats isn’t whisper quiet however it’s additionally not offensively loud. That means you don’t hear your toes hitting the slats like you’ll be able to hear very clearly when working on a conventional belt treadmill.
We put in the treadmill on the second flooring of our Nineteen Seventies home with a rubber health gear mat and with the door closed to our bed room my spouse commented on how she actually couldn’t hear after I was utilizing the machine.
The size of the ST100 is 22”W x 60”L is loads huge for intervals and lengthy strides. My top is 5’9” and at no level did I really feel cramped or just like the width or size was too small. It’s very snug when it comes to all of my strides.
Does it examine to a Woodway? Sure. I’ve solely carried out a handful of runs on a Woodway treadmill.
Their treadmills declare the slats mimic outside working with a low impression really feel. In my testing of the ST100, it has the identical “Woodway really feel” of their 4Front Collection treadmills and comparable slat designs. However thrilling for these of us at house is getting that premium really feel at a lower cost level.
The ST100 actually does an excellent job of creating you’re feeling such as you working on a highway/outdoors which is an elevated expertise compared to belt/deck treadmills.
Console Controls and Knowledge
The console on the ST100 may be very simple and conventional. There are huge buttons that each one have one single perform which makes it nearly fool proof.
One factor I actually loved is that if you’re doing intervals or change pace ceaselessly, the flexibility to vary pace is in three locations: the handlebars, the up and down buttons after which a numeric punchcode space which you could sort within the precise pace you wish to change to.
I discovered myself utilizing the console up and down arrows probably the most ceaselessly as a result of it’s probably the most conventional approach for many treadmills. The console additionally has your customary emergency cease and waist clip that had no points staying put or by accident falling out on any of my runs.
Stability And Really feel
There isn’t a different option to say this apart from that this machine is rock strong. It lives as much as the industrial construct high quality claims.
Don’t let the overly simplified controls idiot you. This factor appears like a tank. One factor that’s essential to notice, the deck top is increased than most. I measured 13.75 inches to step up and You need to have the ceiling clearance to deal with the general house that’s wanted.
Setup and Area
Given the scale and weight there actually is not any alternative however to have the skilled meeting carried out. The machine weighs 513 kilos.
I wouldn’t advocate anybody attempting to maneuver, assemble, and set up the machine until you’re superior in electronics and really feel snug with assembling gear.
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The French Health ST100 is a constructed to final treadmill if you’re wanting a premium, industrial grade machine that may deal with something you throw at it. Nevertheless, it comes on the compromise of being snug with no built-in touchscreen or leisure and the gap and pace readouts being in KPH and KH. It’s no frills, sturdy, and dependable– good for runners who worth a simple rock strong performing workhorse over a compact or moveable storage fashion machine.
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