If you expected to run on this machine and have it last, don't you feel like a jackass. It simply is unrealistic for a $400 treadmill to have enough quality to last. We have seen some people get good mileage out of a $700 machine but they are the exception and not the rule.

The Gold's Gym 450 isn't a bad treadmill for the price, it's only $299, but you can't expect a machine this cheap to handle strenuous exercise for very long. If you only plan on light walking, this treadmill should do okay. It was the 2nd runner up for our Best Buy award in the $399 and under category.

The walking area isn't bad. The size of the belt compares favorably with many of the modes that cost a few hundred dollars more, at 18" x 50", but if you jump up to the $1,000 and above range, you'll see a major increase in size. For walking, this should be a sufficient length.

The motor is pretty weak. It's not easy to find a machine with a motor that has such low power producing capabilities. Still, it should be enough for a walking model like this one. It's usually pretty useless to have a powerful motor in a treadmill that is this inexpensive because the frame won't be able to hold up to a user running at the speeds it's capable of producing. It's probably a good idea to use a cheaper motor to keep the price low.

The cushioning system is one of the least forgiving that you'll find on the market. Again, since you'll only be able to use this treadmill for walking, this won't be major issue. Running causes a much more severe impact on your joints than walking does, so higher speeds are really when a good cushioning system is necessary. Keeping the cost of production down by not focusing on this area is not a bad idea.

The projected reliability is a real sore spot for this model. Its life expectancy is the shortest of all the treadmills we reviewed. If you plan on using your treadmill for more than infrequent, light walks, you're going to need to get a better machine than this one.

The quality of parts used is pretty poor, which is to be expected in a $299 treadmill. You get what you pay for, and manufacturers can't afford to give you good quality at this low of a price.

The warranty is one of the worst you find on the market today. Parts and labor are covered for 90 days and the motor is covered for 5 years. We can't blame Gold's Gym for not offering more coverage on the 450. We wouldn't want to, either.