Trimline T345 HR Folding Treadmill Review

The Trimline T345 treadmill gets good consumer ratings and is one of the best folding treadmills in its price range. Its main selling point has been the rather innovative Softdrop deck lowering technology making folding and stowing away very easy.

Trimline treadmills are made by using the best materials where it counts, using fantastic drive systems but cutting costs – and quality – on everything else. This does give a somewhat mixed bag; a Trimline treadmill comes with an unheard of 30 year warranty on its motor but other aspects of the treadmill, like the running deck and console can seem a little below par.

Trimline has recently been bought out by Nautilus (a major player in the sports equipment industry). The company still puts in great drive systems but has reduced manufacturing costs by shipping production overseas. Whether or not this reduces build quality remains to be seen. There’s a rumor that Nautilus wants to concentrate on its other core products and wants to phase out Trimline treadmills over the next few years.

The Trimline T345 HR Treadmill is one of the best folding treadmills on the market in its price range. It’s a fairly sturdy and reliable piece of kit. You get a 2.0 HP continuous duty drive motor with a 2-ply belt and a 20″ x 54″ phenolic deck surface. The Trimline T345 is ideal for walkers or gentle runners. The Softrak II deck cushioning allows for maximum impact absorption where the foot lands.

The T345 Trimline treadmill has an 8 x 20 dot matrix that visually displays course profiles to show upcoming hills and other challenges. The 9/16″ LED displays provide feedback on time, speed, distance, incline, calories, and heart rate.

Like most treadmills in this class you get preset workout programs. With the Trimline T345 there are 5 preset, 3 custom, and 2 heart rate programs with heart rate monitoring via a hand grip or chest strap monitor.

But the main two features that will tempt buyers are the warranty and Softdrop system.

With this Trimline treadmill you get a warranty of 30 years on the motor, 2 years on parts, and 1 year on labor. No other manufacturer in the mid-price range of treadmills can even come close to matching that.

Trimline’s folding treadmills feature soft-drop hydraulics, called Softdrop that lowers the unit slowly and smoothly. In the folded position these treadmills utilize only 1/3 the floor space of their stationary counterparts. You can store it away by carefully tilting and pushing the unit on its wheels.

In conclusion, the Trimline T345 HR Treadmill is a good folding model. However, there are other brands that are cheaper and match it on quality and features. However, if the rumors are correct that Nautilus is phasing out Trimline treadmill, then prices should come down. If Trimline treadmills are phased out, the warranties will still be honored by Nautilus.

Many reviews of the Trimline T345 HR Treadmill give it a good, if not glowing, rating. I would have to concur. With a Trimline treadmill, you get a great motor system and warranty.