With the huge increases in prices on many home units, the Star Trac commercial units are now a viable option for your home. The great thing is that they are really focusing on the consumer and seem to be getting it figured out.
General Information
Star Trac was started by the original designers of the Lifecycle stationary cycle. Their treadmills are popular in clubs. Don't confuse the Star Trac line with their new consumer ST Fitness line. The Star Trac branded product is simply their commercial machines labeled for the consumer market. If you are shooting for quality regardless of price then Star Trac is your choice.
Quality / Philosophy
Star Trac puts very high quality electronics in their machines and then lets the rest fall into place. At full retail price, it is so-so deal for the price. With the big discounts we saw online, Star Tracs made quite a bit of sense if you were considering a $4000 to $5000 home treadmill. They went through a financial restructuring in 2010 with a new Asian investor in order to shore up their balance sheet. As with many companies right now, times are tough but it looks like Star Trac has the ability to weather the storm.
Outlook
Star Trac is big in the club market because they are a value alternative and cheaper products will always sell well. We would expect them to be around for product support for a long time, especially with their new Asian investor.
