The XTERRA TRX3500 is a bluetooth compatible, folding treadmill with impressive performance specs and a fair asking price.
It’s also backed by one of the best warranties you’re going to find in this price range and packed with a boatload of workout programs to choose from.
Basically, if you’re in the market for an affordable home treadmill, the TRX3500 is worth a second look- especially if you’ve ever used the popular Zwift app.
In this review, I’ll go over everything this treadmill does and doesn’t have going for it.
We’ll take a look at all the key specs and features, as well provide some tips on what you should be looking for when comparing treadmills in general.
After reading, you should know everything you need to in order to decide whether or not this bad boy is worth taking home.
Off we go.
The XTERRA TRX3500 Treadmill
XTERRA is becoming increasingly well-known for their generous selection of budget-friendly home fitness equipment. They have a little bit of everything when it comes to cardio equipment, like treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, and rowers.
They even have a seated stepper, the RSX1500, which is one of the best in its class.
And when I say “budget-friendly”, I mean everything they provide comes in right at or under $1000- which is quite affordable for most home exercise machines.
The TRX3500 is one of several treadmills currently in XTERRA’s lineup. In terms of price and specs, it’s one of the more advanced models they offer.
But it’ll still only cost ya about $1k.
Pros
- 20″ x 60″ running surface
- 350 lb weight capacity
- 3.0 CHP motor
- Max speed of 12 mph
- 12 levels of incline
- 30 preset workout programs
- 6.5″ blue backlit console
- Quick touch speed/incline buttons
- Remote speed/incline controls
- Bluetooth compatible
- Folding frame
- Easy assembly
- Great warranty
Cons
- Back rollers could be larger
- No chest strap included
Running Surface
I always start my treadmill reviews with a discussion about the running surface because I think this is the most important spec you can look at when deciding on a treadmill.
The running surface for a treadmill is defined as the available belt space you have to work with during your workouts and this measurement is usually written as “width x length” (and measured in inches- well, here in the States anyway).
And this measurement tells you a lot about the treadmill.
Treadmills of lower quality usually come with significantly smaller running surfaces. Making the machine smaller is an easy way to cut costs.
Most high-end home treadmills come with a running surface of at least 20″ x 60″.
This has become the gold standard because at this size, the treadmill can comfortably accommodate pretty much all users. With this in mind, consider that many affordable treadmills come with 16″ x 54″ and smaller running surfaces.
These smaller running surfaces can function ok for smaller folks, but having more room is always going to feel more comfortable.
And if you’re a taller person (near 6′ or over), the longer decks will ensure you have enough room to stretch out when running at faster speeds.
Now, all of that said, the TRX3500 comes with a running surface of 20″ x 60″.
This is great and exactly what I’d like to see. In this price range, having a running surface this large isn’t a guarantee, so this treadmill is off to great start from the get go.
The TRX3500 is large enough to safely hold users of most sizes and even folks that are 6′ and taller should be able to run comfortably without running out of room (pun intended).
Speaking of larger folks, this treadmill also comes with a max weight limit of 350 lb, which is pretty remarkable at this price range.
Seeing high weight capacities is another indicator of quality treadmills- it means they have to be well-built to hold the extra stress during use.
Overall, the TRX3500 scores highly in this department with its spacious running surface and high weight limit.
Motor
If the running surface is the first treadmill spec you should consider, the strength of the motor is a close second. And as you might guess, when it comes to treadmill motors, stronger is better.
Having more horsepower is beneficial for a couple of reasons.
First, the stronger motor won’t have to work quite as hard as the weaker motor to provide the same output.
This usually allows the stronger motor to run a little more quietly and smoothly (the last thing you want to hear is your motor straining to keep up).
And since the stronger motor isn’t working as hard as the weaker motor, it should, theoretically, last a little longer.
But how strong is strong enough?
It depends greatly on how you plan on using your treadmill. If you’re planning on walking, you can get away with motors in the 2.0 – 3.0 CHP.
If you’re planning on running regularly, I’d recommend looking for a treadmill with at least 3.0 CHP.
The TRX3500 comes with a 3.0 CHP motor, making it a good option for walkers and runners alike.
And with a top speed of 12 mph and 12 levels of power incline at your disposal, you’ll be able to make your workouts as intense as you’d like with this machine.
I think it’s a good idea to take a peak at the size of a treadmill’s rollers too- the rollers are found in the front and rear of the deck and they are what allow the belt to glide effortlessly across the deck during use.
When it comes to rollers, bigger is better because they make more contact with the belt, which makes for smoother belt operation and less overall stress on the motor (which will prolong the life of the motor and the belt).
Most home treadmills come with rollers in the 1.5″ – 3.5″ range, with higher-end treadmills coming with larger rollers (and vice versa).
The TRX3500 comes with 2.4″ rollers in the front and 1.8″ rollers in the back.
It’s not uncommon to see different sizes like this in the front and back, especially on budget treadmill.
The rollers in the front are of good size, the rollers in the back could be a little larger.
Overall, I think the TRX3500 scores pretty highly in the motor department. At 3.0 CHP, it’s strong enough to handle running and the rollers are of decent size (especially the front ones).
Features
The XTERRA TRX3500 comes with the following features:
30 preset workouts- this treadmill comes with a ton of workout options to choose from, so getting bored shouldn’t be an issue here. On top of all the preset workouts, there’s also 2 custom workouts and a heart rate workout included.
6.5″ LCD monitor- the monitor isn’t fancy or anything, but it’s large enough to see easily during your workouts. It’s also blue backlit for added visibility.
Quick touch speed/incline buttons- you can instantly set your speed or incline to designated settings using the quick touch buttons on the console. These come in really handy for interval training.
Remote incline/speed buttons- there are also manual speed and incline buttons positioned on the handlebars for convenient adjustments during your workouts.
Bluetooth compatibility- this treadmill is compatible with the XTERRA Fitness app as well as Zwift, the subscription app that gives you access to a ton of workouts, as well as games and rewards you can play with. It’s also compatible with wireless chest strap heart rate monitors.
Folding frame- you can easily fold the frame vertically for storage when not in use- a great feature when exercise space is limited.
Cooling fan- the built-in fan can help keep ya a little more comfortable during workouts.
Audio jack- you can plug your mp3 or phone up to the console and play your workout music through the built-in speakers.
Water bottle holders- there’s a large water bottle holder located on each side of the console for convenient, uh, water bottle holding.
Assembly
Getting the TRX3500 out of the box and running should be a pretty easy process. XTERRA does a nice job on their assembly manual, providing both large images and easy to follow written descriptions for each step along the way.
There’s really only 4 steps though.
All you really have to do is attach the uprights to the deck, and then attach the console to the uprights. The deck comes preassembled.
Speaking of the console, it’s a good idea to have a second person available when it’s time to connect the wires from the uprights to the console- this part can be challenging by yourself.
Overall though, the assembly process on this treadmill is straightforward. I imagine folks that are at least a little bit handy should be able to have this treadmill up and running within an hour.
Warranty
XTERRA Fitness backs the TRX3500 up with the following warranty:
- Lifetime frame
- Lifetime motor
- 2 year deck/parts
- 1 year labor
I think this is a great guarantee for this treadmill. You can’t get any better than a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor- that’s as long as it gets.
I think 2 years on parts is also very good, considering most in this price range offer somewhere between 1-3 years.
A year on labor is pretty standard.
Sole’s F63 and Horizon’s 7.0 AT each offer 3 years on parts, but otherwise the TRX3500 is at the top of the list with this warranty.
Final Thoughts
That about does it for XTERRA’s TRX3500. All things considered, I think it has a lot going for it.
With a 3.0 CHP motor, it’s packing enough muscle for walkers and runners alike. It also comes loaded with a ton of workout options to choose from.
The running surface is nice and spacious and it comes with a very high weight limit- which is always a good sign, especially in this price range.
And the fact that it’s compatible with Zwift could be an extra perk for folks interested in checking it out.
The back rollers could be larger and it would be nice if they included a chest strap with purchase, but overall, I think the TRX3500 is a good buy, especially if you’re looking for the utmost in available workout programs. Recommended.
