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We like to take our fitness seriously, but we also understand that relying on a gym can be impractical and unreliable. That’s why we put so much effort into finding the best fitness equipment that you can install in the comfort of your home. Whether you’re looking for a multi-trainer that can do it all or a treadmill that can burn away unwanted fat; we’re certain that your perfect machine is out there somewhere.
When it comes to bikes and treadmills few brands are as successful as Echelon. They have managed to revolutionize the at-home fitness scene over the last five years. Echelon is most well known for its “smart” exercise equipment. These machines can stream on-demand videos, live classes, and communicate with other smart devices like your phone.
The Stride 5S is the latest smart treadmill from Echelon and they’ve once again managed to set the bar very high. It’s introduced some new features alongside an overhauled design that is sure to impress.
In this Echelon Stride 5S review, we’re going to take a closer look at the Echelon Stride 5S, what it has to offer, and decide whether it’s worth the new price tag.
Best Features of the Stride 5S Smart Treadmill
Contents
The Echelon Stride 5S is loaded with new features that help make it one of the best treadmills on the market today. Here are a few of the best features introduced with the new model.
1. 24″ HD Touchscreen Display
Many treadmills don’t include built-in screens. That’s perfectly fine if you already have a large tablet that you didn’t mind using. But there are many of us who don’t own a tablet because our smartphones already do enough. Unfortunately, using a small phone to stream exercise videos is tedious. The Stride 5S remedies this by including its own 24″ touchscreen display. It’s large, looks great, and is very responsive.
2. Handlebar Controls
The Stride 5S makes it easier than ever to control your workout experience. It can manage speeds up to 12.5 mph with a total of 16 different incline levels. The incline and speed can both be adjusted with controls located on the handlebars. This makes it incredibly easy to adjust your intensity while you’re in the middle of a tough routine.
3. Built-In Sensors
The built-in heart rate sensor is another great tool for controlling the efficiency of your workout. It’s particularly useful for people who enjoy HIIT or cross-training workouts. You can easily view your heart rate as your run and then transition to secondary exercises at the perfect moment. The Echelon Stride 5S includes other features that improve cross-training routines like the rotating screen that you can turn as you move to new positions.
4. Oversized Cooling Fan
Staying cool while you exercise makes it much easier to stick with a tough routine. This treadmill includes a large cooling fan located directly at the front of the machine. The cool breeze will make a long run more manageable.
5. Live and On Demand Workouts
If you’re looking to take your treadmill sessions to the next level, then Echelon’s live and on demand workouts may be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Stay motivated, compete with friends, and reach your fitness goals.
Why We Love The Stride 5S
There are a lot of treadmills from a lot of different brands currently on the market. Even so, we always find ourselves coming back to the Echelon Stride 5S when discussing the “best of the best”. It’s the combination of useful features, durable design, safety features, and smart connect capabilities that make it such a great machine. Here are the three main reasons why we love the Stride 5S:
1. Safety Features
It’s not uncommon for treadmill manufacturers to skimp on the safety features. “Danger” isn’t exactly a word that comes to mind when you think about jogging inside of your home. However, accidents can happen and people have been hurt. Having a treadmill that is capable of stopping during an emergency makes a huge difference.
The Stride 5S has gone beyond normal expectations with three distinct safety features. The first is the safety stop lanyard. This is a fairly common safety device on treadmills, but the quality is still an important consideration. This lanyard is made from quality materials and won’t lose its grip after a few months of intense exercise.
The other two safety features are the emergency stop button and the rear safety bar. The stop button is large, clearly visible, and easy to reach. If something doesn’t feel right you can quickly press the button and the machine will come to a halt. The rear safety bar is placed at the back of the treadmill to prevent items from being pulled beneath the machine by the belt.
2. Durability
Echelon has always placed a significant focus on durability and the Stride 5S is no different. It’s designed by an expert team who have plenty of experience with modern engineering practices. The construction relies on high-quality materials that aren’t going to wear down after only a few months.
Treadmills are known for taking a beating during use. They experience constant, repetitive impact from runners. That’s why sub-part treadmills rarely last for more than a year before becoming noisy and damaged. Echelon uses design features like the Duro50 suspension deck to help absorb those repetitive impacts and prevent damage to the machine. It adds to the price tag but it means you won’t need to replace your machine every 24 months.
3. State-of-the-Art Features
When you’re buying a modern high-end treadmill you expect to get modern high-end features. The Echelon Stride 5S doesn’t disappoint in this regard. It has all of the latest features currently popular with at-home exercise equipment along with a few unique features. The technology incorporated into the Stride 5S includes the oversized fan, integrated heart rate sensors, a 24″ touchscreen display, handlebar controls, and the ability to stream live or on-demand fitness courses.
What Makes it a “Smart” Treadmill?
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Echelon Stride 5S is its “smart connectivity” capabilities. Smart equipment has become the golden standard for at-home exercise equipment during the last decade at Echelon is leading the pack. But what exactly is a “smart” treadmill and how is it any better than a traditional treadmill?
The “smart” factor refers to the treadmill’s ability to stream live and on-demand content during a workout. With older equipment, you can stream this content through your smartphone or tablet. But with the Stride 5S, the content streams directly to the 24″ HD touchscreen display. The treadmill has built-in Wi-Fi capabilities so that it connects wireless to your home network.
The content comes through the Echelon United App that is pre-installed on the display. The United App does require a subscription membership, but it’s well worth the extra money and cheaper than competing apps like Peloton. The other good news is that the content on the United App covers a lot more than just treadmill routines. You can use it for bodyweight exercises, cross-training, or alongside any of the other home workout equipment that you have.
The content itself is what makes a smart treadmill so much more effective than a traditional treadmill. The two main options that are available are on-demand videos and live classes. The on-demand videos are great for exercising at your own pace without worrying about a schedule. There are dozens of categories and videos available with the library always expanding.
The live training classes are where the Echelon really shines. If you’ve ever exercised in a class setting at a gym, then you understand how effective the motivation and instruction can be. Now you can duplicate that same experience in the comfort of your own home. Sessions may be led by fitness experts or they may be led by surprise celebrities like Pitbull. It’s an exciting experience, though you will have to take scheduling into consideration if you want to attend a specific class.
Their First Treadmill With A Rotating Screen System
The Echelon Stride 5S isn’t the first treadmill with a built-in screen but is the first treadmill with a screen that rotates freely. This is a new feature that Echelon is pushing and everyone seems to love it. A rotating screen may not seem significant at first, but it can make a huge difference during a complex workout.
The main advantage of the rotating screen is that it can turn with you so that you can continue a workout next to the treadmill instead of on it. For example, if you’re doing a cross-training program that requires intervals of running mixed with bodyweight exercises. You can continue to follow along with your video or live class by simply turning the screen 90 degrees. It also means you can use the screen for any other exercises you want to perform without the treadmill, such as yoga, stretching, or strength training.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- You can follow complex cross-training videos with the rotating screen.
- Handlebar controls make transitioning between speeds and inclines simple.
- The Stride 5S uses high-quality building materials and sophisticated design principles.
Cons
- The max incline limit of 15 percent may feel limiting to experienced runners.
Size and Specs
- Treadmill Dimensions: 36″ width, 81″ length, and 63″ height
- Treadmill Weight: 315 pounds
- Weight Limit: 400 pounds
- Min/Max Speed: 0.5mph/12.5mph
Does it Come With a Warranty?
Yes. The Echelon Stride 5S ships with a 12-month warranty that covers limited parts and labor.
How Much Does It Cost?
The Stride 5S costs a total of $2,499.99 with financing plans available at $66 per month for qualifying customers. You will also need to consider the cost of an Echelon United subscription. The United Monthly plan costs $39.99 per month and the annual plan costs $399.99 per year. You can also purchase a discounted two-year subscription for $699.99.
*Price current at time of publication – see current prices at Echelon website
Summary: Is The Stride Right For You?
If you’re as serious about fitness as we are, then absolutely. This is a top-tier treadmill with very little serious competition. It excels in key areas like design, durability, safety, and functionality. You’ll also get
access to Echelon United, which is one of the best fitness apps currently on the market. And with the unique rotating screen on the 5S, you can enjoy all of the non-treadmill fitness classes on the United App without having to squint at your phone.
You should buy the Echelon 5S if…
- You want the best high-end treadmill on the market today.
- You want to improve your cross-training regimen with other exercises on the Echelon United App.
- You want a treadmill that will take a beating and keep working for years to come.
- You take safety seriously and want a treadmill that does as well.
- You want a treadmill with advanced integrated features like Wi-Fi connectivity, heart rate sensors, and an HD touchscreen display.
