goes all the way up to 12% incline and 12 mph top speed
folds and comes with fans
interesting feature that allows you to compete against a virtual competitor
you can adjust the cushioning to optimize comfort
Bad Points
console seems to be a little hard to read
potential problems in only sticking a 2.5 HP motor on a 20"x60" belt
Comments
The Proform 9.0 Competitor is one of the best under a $1000 treadmill offers from Proform right now.
One of the biggest strength for this treadmill is the large and spacious running surface (20"x60"). Unfortunately, this could also potentially be one of its biggest problems because the motor is probably slightly underpowered to be powering it. If you feel this is an issue, you can upgrade to the Proform 11.5 Competitor which doesn't have this problem for just a bit more.
But beyond that, the Proform 9.0 Competitor is a pretty well put together treadmill. It comes with a large number of workout programs, it folds, it blows (literally via the fan), its cushioning is adjustable and there is that interesting feature where you can compete against an imaginary competitor. The warranty is also a little special with 4 years on rollers, 2 years on parts and 1 year on belt, deck and labor.
Although the Proform 9.0 Competitor is better than most of the other models in this price class, it isn't something I would recommend over the Proform 7.5 Distance trainer if they're of the same price. The reason is because the Proform 7.5 Distance seems to have a very slight edge in quality over the 9.0 Competitor as can be seen in the better warranty, better belt and motor combo and a slightly higher weight capacity. But if you're not overly concerned about quality and durability, you might enjoy the longer strides you can take on the 9.0 Competitor as a result of the longer belt.