The ProForm 450 motorized treadmill is an older model of indoor walking and running equipment made by a popular vendor of a variety of exercise machines, including elliptical trainers and exercise bicycles. Its allure lies chiefly in its comparatively low price, its ease of maneuverability, and its array of programmable features. Some users and reviewers, however have reported drawbacks to this model, which in recent years has been supplanted by newer machines in the 400-, 500-, and 600-series.
Functional Limitations
The ProForm 450 belt is shorter and narrower than that of many treadmills, introducing issues of balance and safety for some. Reviewers have noted that the built-in fan does little to cool them off during workouts. The unit's light weight, while helpful in relocating the machine, renders it less stable than a heavier treadmill. Also, while many treadmills can be programmed to reach speeds up to 12 miles per hour, the 450 maxes out at 10 miles per hour.
Durability
If one sentence best encapsulates the complaints about ProForm treadmills, it is perhaps this one from Treadmill Ratings and Reviews: "Are ProForm the best treadmills made? Not by a long shot. Are they the best-made budget treadmill? Probably!" In other words, users lean toward "you get what you pay for" when criticizing this model. Therefore, runners who are heavier or expect to log an unusually high number of indoor miles may prefer to invest in a more expensive but hardier treadmill, whereas seasonal or otherwise infrequent users, as well as those who walk rather than run and therefore do less stress-related damage to the treadmill deck, are more likely to find the ProForm 450 satisfactory.
Service Problems
The ProForm 450 has a 25-year warranty on its motor but only a one-year warranty on parts; the latter is unusually brief and has led at least one popular reviewer, the Treadmill Resource Center, to express skepticism about its manufacturer's confidence in the durability of the machine. As also noted on the Treadmill Resource Center site, some buyers have experienced delivery problems, such as receiving the wrong model or one that was missing some pieces.
Cost
Although ProForm models are cheaper on the whole than many of those made by other manufacturers, the 450 in particular is no longer considered a good buy because later ProForm models--notably the 695Pi--as well as a number of treadmills made by other companies offer greater quality and durability for at least $100 less than the cost of the 450.
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