Spirit XT285 Treadmill Review

How long will the Spirit XT285 last?

Probably the main good thing about the XT285 is the build. And with a good build comes durability. We predict the XT285 to last at least a few years especially for a light to a moderate user who isn't going to work out every single day for hours on end. Please keep in mind that the best way to make your treadmill last is to take good care of it like unplugging and lubricating your belt regularly.

Brief Overview

We here at Treadmill Doctor love a well-built treadmill, especially an affordable one. But the Spirit XT285 does lack in many other features like the technology and the features. With all of this in mind, we have placed the XT285 in our Fourth Place 2021 Best Buy slot for the $1,500 to $1,599 price bracket.

Overall Quality

In this price range, we often see a catch 22. The affordable range can only allow the manufacturers to include either a good build or good technology in features. Sure, we have a few that lean more towards average and slightly above average, but you simply cannot get the best of both worlds for this price category. But that is completely alright for some users who may just be starting out or just want an average workout and have a tight budget.

The Spirit XT285 fits into this as a treadmill with a great build but sacrificed features. Let’s start with the good build. Unlike our other top four treadmills for this price range, the XT285 has a 350-pound weight capacity that is matched with a 249-pound unit weight and three horsepower motor capacity. We do want to be clear that our third place Best Buy for this range does have a better build, hence why it is above this treadmill. Additionally, a three horsepower motor is also below our other three treadmills. But, we know that there is no industry standard for measuring motor capacity and the Spirit XT285 actually has the weights to back up their motor capacity. Therefore, we do find the XT285 to have an exceptional build but not necessarily the best in this price range.

But then there is the lack of technology. Unlike its competitors, the Spirit XT285 does not have a huge touchscreen console with built-in fitness programs. No, you have ten workouts that can be tracked with the seven and a half inch LCD screen. Top that off with twelve, below-average incline levels and are left with just a well-built treadmill and no additive features.

History

We have commended Spirit for creating a solid step-up treadmill that is budget-friendly. But we have said that the Spirit XT285 units really look dated and behind the times.

Conclusion

Before you purchase your treadmills, we encourage you to assess your fitness goals and priorities. If you value features and technology then the XT285 is not for you. But if you are a moderate user on a budget looking for a durable treadmill, then this may be the model for you. Accordingly, we have awarded the Spirit XT285 our Fourth Place 2021 Best Buy Award for the $1,500 to $1,999 dollar category.