York Perform 210 Folding Treadmill Review

The ‘Perform’ range is York’s step up from their entry level array of ‘Active’ treadmills. There are 2 machines carrying the ‘Perform’ badge and this is the ‘210’ – a model coming in slightly cheaper than the ‘220’ but boasting some equally impressive (and unique) features. Let’s check it out!

The Perform 210 is equipped with a 1.5 Continuous horsepower motor (a tad smaller than the 220 model) and delivers a top speed of 10 miles per hour. This type of capability is not exceptional but certainly appropriate for this price point. It may not have the pace to keep up with fast bursts during very intense interval training or sprint work, but for the majority of users, 10 miles per hour is more than adequate. The motor runs smoothly with the minimum of noise and vibration – it even coped well with carrying our reviewer (Charlie Rawes) who fortunately had a light breakfast and just managed to come in within the 120 kg maximum user capacity!!

What is truly outstanding among similarly priced models, is the incline capabilities of the Perform 210. The deck gradient powers smoothly up to a whopping 15% incline! If you’re looking for a machine that can really challenge your leg muscles as much as your heart and lungs, this feature alone, can make a huge difference to the effectiveness of your workouts.

The running area is a respectable 18″ wide by 55″ long and the best aspect of it has to be the cushioning system. It’s a simple design of 6 rubber elastomers supporting the deck, but as with all treadmill tests, it’s all about ‘feel’ and we can confidently state that the Perform 210 felt good to train on, offering just the right balance of support and shock absorbency.

Moving up the machine, you’ll find pulse sensors with integrated thumb controls for making adjustments to incline (on the right) or speed (on the left). This is a ‘handy’ feature for people wishing to remain in control of the intensity while keeping in contact with the pulse sensors for heart rate monitoring as well as balance.

On the main interface, there are strips of ‘Quick Keys’ either side of the display screen. With 6 buttons for instant Incline control (4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%) and 6 for speed (4 km/h up to 14km/h) a single touch of the button will allow you to jump straight to the corresponding level (Great for interval training!)

The 7″ LCD screen is a good size and exceptionally clearly laid out. The feedback is put into dedicated areas around the dot matrix display (and a fun little scrolling image showing an icon of yourself running up a tree lined avenue!?) Distance, time and speed is on the left and Calories, Pulse and Incline is on the right. It really couldn’t be much clearer to use or more intuitive (plus this is one aspect that we actually preferred over the more expensive Perform 220 model which has a rather uninspiring red dot matrix display).

Unlike it’s bigger brother, the Perform 210 doesn’t come equipped with an inbuilt receiver, so all heart rate monitoring is done via the pulse grip sensors on the handlebars. Unfortunately, there are no Heart rate controlled programs, but this slight disappointment is partly made up for by the clever Body Fat function which can monitor your Body fat percentage. By entering your personal details (gender, age, height and weight) and holding onto the pulse grip sensors, the figures appear on the display to keep you informed of your current progress! Obviously, due to the method of pulse monitoring, the pulse grip sensors will compromise the results in terms of accuracy but that shouldn’t detract from the motivational appeal of this feature – whether your up or down, the feedback should still encourage you to get back on the treadmill soon!

Aside from Manual, there are 12 programs on offer with the pre-set courses clearly displayed on menus on either side of the console interface. Being as there are a rather limited number of programs on offer, with no user-defined option for creating a customised workout, we were pleased to see that there is scope to adjust the pre-set programs to give more long term variety. The default workout duration is set at 30 minutes but this can be changed using the speed arrows to pre-set a time from 5 minutes all the way up to 99.

In terms of ‘extra’ features, there’s not a great deal to mention. There is a central single speed fan which keeps a bit of air circulating but we always feel these can be a bit of a waste considering the amount of space they take up in relation to how effective they are. Sharing a very similar console design to the Perform 220, the speaker grills have been in-filled to give you a hint of what you get for extra investment, but speaker systems are rarely a deal breaker in our view as they rarely offer the sound quality to substitute a HI FI! There’s a couple of accessory storage bins to keep a water bottle or your phone etc, but aside from that, the Perform 210 is fairly standard. Most importantly, it has a convenient folding system and transport wheels so it can be manoeuvred and stored to save space in the home.

So what do we think overall? The two main areas that York have really excelled with the Perform 210 treadmill is with the quality construction of the unit and the huge incline capability. The machine has a great feel about it, and how a cushioning system performs is an important consideration for all users. There’s not a great array of ‘bells and whistles’ features to please fans of cutting edge training technology, but for most people who want a good looking, well-made treadmill with a decent selection of pre-set programs, the York Perform 210 Treadmill is well worth a look.

Best Price

The York Perform 210 is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Review Summary - In Brief

The Perform 210 is a perfectly good treadmill, but in a highly competitive marketplace. It's main point of difference is the higher incline in comparison with its peers. So, if a high incline is critical, then this is likely to be the right machine. If not, we'd recommend having a look at the Proform 650, which has a 2" wider deck size and a wireless heart rate receiver for a lower price!

York Perform 210 Specifications

  • 1.5hp motor
  • 1-16kph (0-10mph) speed range
  • 0-15% power incline
  • 46cm (18″) x 140cm (55″) running deck
  • Dimensions in use (L x W x H): 185cm (72.8″) x 80cm (31.5″) x 135cm (53″)
  • Dimensions folded (L x W x H): 105cm (41.3″) x 50cm (31.5″) x 160cm (63″)
  • Console 7″ LCD Display
  • 13 workout programmes (1 manual, 12 pre-set)
  • Heart rate measurement via hand pulse sensors
  • Conveniences: cooling fan, foldable, transportation wheels
  • 120kg (264lbs) maximum user weight
  • Warranty: 2 years

York Perform 210 Treadmill - Console / Display Unit

York Perform 210 Treadmill - User Reviews

The Pros

  • 15% Incline!
  • Well-made, stable and quiet in use
  • Feels good to run/jog on!
  • Clear, intuitive console
  • Convenient Quick keys and thumb controls

The Cons

  • No inbuilt receiver for wireless heart rate monitoring
  • Lacks HRC or User-defined Programs
York Perform 210 Treadmill Reviewer Ratings

Power - 7
Appearance - 7
Running Area - 8
Comfort - 8.5
Reliability - 7
Noise - 7.5
Ease Of Use - 8
Controls - 8
Warranty - 8
Value for Money - 6.5
Best Price

The York Perform 210 is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Also see our Treadmill Comparison Table

Whilst every effort is made to give you accurate information we cannot guarantee the technical specification. Models change on a regular basis and may differ slightly from the above review. We recommend you contact the retailer if you have a question regarding technical data. Please read our Legal Disclaimer

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