XTERRA TRX550 Treadmill Review: High-Tech, But No Subscription Needed
XTERRA
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- Price: $2,499.99
- Footprint: 77.2 inches L x 35.5 inches W x 56.1 inches H (set up); 51.2 inches L x 35.5 inches W x 65.8 inches H (folded)
- Motor: 3.25 HP
- Key features: Bluetooth FTMS and WiFi capabilities, screen mirroring, 30 preset programs, built-in speakers, 15 incline levels, remote handlebar controls, folding frame
The XTERRA TRX5500 treadmill is a feature-packed machine with ample preset programs and high-tech features like screen mirroring, WiFi, Bluetooth FTMS and built-in streaming apps. It has a folding deck to conserve space, and for a heavy treadmill, it’s fairly mobile.
The TRX5500 is a treadmill contender for those who want entertainment options but don’t want to pay a monthly subscription fee. The 3.25 HP motor has the power for consistent, competitive runners with the shock absorption for those with joint pain and/or mobility issues. Add in the 15 levels of incline and 12 miles per hour top speed, and runners of almost any level can get a solid cardio workout. Keep reading to get a deeper look at a treadmill full of upgrades backed by a strong warranty.
What Is the XTERRA TRX5500?
XTERRA
The XTERRA TRX5500 is the flagship model in XTERRA's Performance Series line of treadmills—it’s the brand's most advanced (and expensive) model. It has a maximum user weight limit of 350 pounds, and comes with a heavy-gauge welded steel frame that can support that higher-than-average maximum capacity. This model has XTRASOFT deck cushioning technology that absorbs the impact of each footstep. You can visibly see it compacting to reduce the shock that travels up the legs.
The primary users of the XTERRA TRX5500 are people who don’t want a treadmill that requires Bluetooth or WiFi to access programming. While the treadmill does have both of those features, it also gives users a wide range of programming and built-in entertainment to choose from. There’s no subscription required to access the treadmill’s 30 built-in programs, giving users variety on a high-quality, well-built machine.
Working Out on the XTERRA TRX5500
The workout experience on the TRX5500 begins with an intuitive interface. Unlike many treadmill consoles, the TRX5500 has a simple console design with start/stop and variable control speed and incline buttons. The rest of the programming is controlled using the 10.1-inch touchscreen. That’s where you can access the 30 workout programs that include hills, HIIT, custom, manual programs and heart rate controlled workouts. XTERRA includes a chest strap for heart rate monitoring during the heart rate programs.
The TRX5500 has a speed range from 0.5 to 12 miles per hour and 15 incline levels. (A quick note that this model doesn’t have a decline feature, which you can find on some treadmills in a similar price range.) Everyone from athletes in training to casual, daily runners or walkers can get a good workout. Plus, there are enough programs built in that you won’t get bored even if you don’t have WiFi or Bluetooth.
The workout experience on this model does have a downside. There are no direct speed or incline quick control buttons. The only option is to make speed and incline adjustments in 0.1 mile per hour increments using the buttons on the console or on the handlebars.
Pros of the XTERRA TRX5500
This treadmill has a long list of pros, starting with the program options. The 30 built-in programs cover a lot of ground and allow you to customize the workouts by length and speed to fit your fitness level. The screen mirroring feature further expands the workout options by letting you mirror workouts from a phone or tablet onto the TRX5500’s screen. The treadmill doesn’t directly connect and sync to workout apps, but you can still use them to provide programming.
Other pros include:
- Deck cushioning
- Built-in Bluetooth speakers
- Heart rate sensors on handlebars
- Speed control buttons on handlebars
- Access to entertainment through the console, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Netflix and more
- Foldable
- Strong steel frame
- Can connect to tracking apps like Zwift
Cons of the XTERRA TRX5500
While TRX5500 has many pros, there are a few things we don’t love. One we’ve already mentioned is the lack of direct speed and incline control buttons. Without those buttons, it’s hard to do interval workouts on the TRX5500. You can work around that problem by creating and assigning an interval program as one of the custom program options, but it would be nice to be able to do that without creating a new program.
Another potential issue is the speed of the treadmill’s software. “The only complaint I have is the software. It is a little slow to start. So you can’t start the machine and walk or run right away,” says one reviewer on Amazon.
The final con we want to mention is the puny built-in fan. Yes, a built-in fan is a nice convenience. However, the fan’s output is weak and doesn’t help much when you start sweating, according to Amazon reviews.
To sum it up:
- No direct speed or incline controls
- Slow software
- Weak fan
Who the XTERRA TRX5500 Is Best For
The TRX5500 is a good match for several types of users:
- Users who want access to workouts without the need for WiFi or Bluetooth
- Users who like to watch streaming services or use third party apps for entertainment while exercising
- Heavier users who need a treadmill with a high maximum weight capacity
- Users with mobility issues
- Users with limited workout space
Who the XTERRA TRX5500 Is Not Best For
The XTERRA TRX5500 is an impressive treadmill, but it's not for everyone, including:
- Users who don’t want tech upgrades or a touchscreen display
- Users who won’t use the extensive preprogrammed workouts
- Users on a budget
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing the XTERRA TRX5500
XTERRA
This XTERRA treadmill is loaded with tech upgrades, but none of them require a subscription to activate. However, make sure the features are ones you’ll use before making the purchase. If you won’t connect a device via Bluetooth or access streaming services or social media through the touchscreen, there’s no reason to spend extra money on a treadmill that offers those upgrades.
You’ll need to assemble this treadmill upon arrival. Users on Amazon report that they did it with two people within two hours. That’s fairly average for a treadmill of this size and caliber.
Price
The TRX5500 isn’t cheap. On sale, you can get it for around $2,000, but full price hovers around $2,500. That’s a big chunk of change that’s only worth it if you’ll regularly use the machine and all of its features. Seriously ask yourself if you’ll use the programs. Will you use mirror screening? Do you need speeds up to 12 miles per hour and 15 incline levels? If the answer is no, there are less expensive machines that could work just as well for you.
Power
The TRX5500 comes with a 3.25 HP motor. We recommend at least a 3.0 HP motor for running, so the TRX5500 falls within that requirement. The steel frame prevents shaking and wobbling when you get up to higher speeds and inclines. And the motor should be able to keep up with high speeds even with heavier users, though it may not last as long as a more powerful 3.5 HP to 4.0 HP motor.
Size
The 20-inch wide by 60-inch long running surface offers enough space for most runners, whether they’re doing a slow walk or an intense sprint. The footprint spans 77.2 inches long by 35.5 inches wide by 56.1 inches high. It’s not compact, but the folding deck shrinks those dimensions down to 51.2 inches long by 35.5 inches wide by 65.8 inches high when in the folded position.
Once folded, you can tip the treadmill forward onto the four transport wheels under the front supports to move and tuck it away in your home gym. However, you’ll most likely want to keep it in the same room because, at 223 pounds, it’s not lightweight. It’s not what we would call a compact treadmill, but for the features and size of the running deck, this folding treadmill is usable in smaller spaces.
Technology and convenience features
The TRX5500 can connect to WiFi, which you’ll need if you want to use the streaming social media apps preloaded on the treadmill’s software. You can also connect your phone or tablet using the built-in Bluetooth FTMS to listen to your music.
You can also use Bluetooth to connect to third-party apps like Zwift to record your workout stats. There’s also the option to screen mirror. Screen mirroring lets you share fitness subscription apps to the treadmill’s touchscreen and access treadmill workouts (though the treadmill doesn’t directly connect to the app for automatic speed or incline adjustments). You could also screen mirror and watch streaming services not supported by the treadmill’s software.
Technology also reaches into the programs, especially the heart rate controlled programs. Hand pulse sensors on the handlebars let you check your heart rate, but this machine also has a heart rate transmitter and comes with a heart rate chest strap to more accurately track your heart rate.
Don’t forget the remote handlebar speed controls, which are speed up and down buttons located next to the hand pulse sensors. That kind of easy access to speed controls will help you keep your cadence and form while increasing or decreasing speed.
A few other features worth mentioning are the accessory tray, built-in Bluetooth speakers, cup/water bottle holder, reading rack and cooling fan. However, as we’ve already mentioned, the cooling fan is probably the least impressive feature.
Training programs
The TRX5500’s programming is quite versatile. The 30 preset programs provide plenty of options for those who don’t use additional programming through a fitness app. They include everything from hills and intervals to HIIT, with heart rate controlled and custom programs. The custom programs let you fill the gaps in the existing programs to better target your fitness goals. For many people, the included programs are all they’ll ever need.
However, if you need more, you can screen mirror a fitness app or YouTube to access more workouts. You’ll need to have a subscription to any app you access, including those preloaded on the treadmill, like Netflix.
Warranty, return policy and financing
The steel frame and motor have a lifetime warranty with a five-year warranty on the deck, two-years parts warranty, and one year on in-home labor. That’s an impressive warranty, backing the quality and construction of this high-end treadmill.
XTERRA’s return policy is fairly standard, though not necessarily customer friendly. You have 30 days from delivery to activate a return. The customer pays the cost of return shipping and a 10 percent restocking fee. However, there are circumstances under which XTERRA will pay shipping charges, for example:
- Shipping damage
- Order mistakes
- Non-repairable equipment
XTERRA offers financing options with zero percent APR for up to 12 months. Monthly payments will depend on the applicant’s credit history.
How the XTERRA TRX5500 Stacks Up Against Other Products
XTERRA
XTERRA TRX5500 vs. NordicTrack EXP 14i
The NordicTrack EXP 14i has a 14-inch touchscreen that connects to iFIT for extended programming. (A monthly iFIT subscription is required.) Otherwise, you’re left with only the manual controls.
This is a folding treadmill like the TRX5500, but this model has assisted folding with NordicTrack’s +EasyLift Assist technology. The EXP 14i has a 12 percent incline to a -3 percent decline range. The NordicTrack treadmill also has direct speed and incline control buttons along the side of the touchscreen for quick adjustments, a noticeably missing feature on the XTERRA model.
The NordicTrack costs less than the XTERRA, but over the lifetime of the treadmill, the price of the iFIT subscription may make up for that. But if you already have an iFIT subscription, a NordicTrack treadmill might be a better option because the programming is fully integrated into the machine to make speed and incline adjustments.
XTERRA TRX5500 vs. Horizon 7.8 AT
The Horizon 7.8 AT is in the same price range as the XTERRA, and the two share some features. There are some key differences, too. The 7.8 AT has speed and incline dial controls on two handlebars that also have heart rate sensors. These easily accessed dials let you quickly jump between speeds or incline levels. We like that it has both the speed dial controls and buttons to directly change speed or incline levels.
This model doesn’t have a built-in touchscreen because it’s designed to connect to a separate device via Bluetooth. It can sync with popular fitness apps and tracking apps like Zwift. The Horizon also has a wide 22-inch deck for those who need a little extra space for high-intensity workouts and speed workouts. The Horizon also has a unique 20-minute high-intensity interval training workout designed to maximize your calorie burn in a short amount of time. (However, you could create a similar program on the TRX5500 using one of the custom programs.) Like the TRX5500, the Horizon treadmill comes with a heart rate monitor chest strap.
If you use interval training as a part of your workouts, this model might be a better fit than the TRX5500. Horizon’s warranty matches that of XTERRA so either machine will be with you long-term.
XTERRA TR550 Treadmill FAQs
Where are XTERRA treadmills made?
The XTERRA TRX4400 is made in China along with several other XTERRA treadmill models. XTERRA Fitness sells its products on five continents and 18 countries, though its main headquarters are located in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Does the XTERRA TRX5500 have speed and incline controls?
The TRX5500 has speed and incline controls that adjust in increments. There are no direct speed or incline controls, making it more difficult to jump between speeds or inclines quickly.
Final Thoughts
The XTERRA TRX5500 has a lot to offer the right user. The frame and motor quality plus the warranty make it an investment worth making if you’ll use all of the features. You’ll have to decide if the high-tech features fit your workout style and if the high price works with your budget. XTERRA provides a strong warranty to back a well-built machine. If you do make the investment, chances are you’ll enjoy this machine for years to come as long as it’s properly maintained.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
