BH Fitness ECO2 Treadmill Review

Many budget treadmills are designed to strip out all of the bells and whistles in order to hit a low price point. The result is that they typically feel like cheap machines. This BH Fitness treadmill really changes what you should expect from a budget, compact treadmill! We’re very pleased to be reviewing this BH Fitness ECO2 folding treadmill.

This folding treadmill has a powerful motor at its heart delivering 2.5 horsepower (peak). This enables this machine to reach a top speed of 10 mph (16 kph) and incredibly for a budget treadmill, features a maximum powered incline 12%!

The running deck size is 40cm wide and 120cm long, which is similar to other compact running machines in this class. Your joints will be well looked after using this treadmill as the running deck has 6 elastometers to provide some decent cushioning.

The console on this BH Fitness treadmill sets it apart from other machines in this price bracket. It features a very clear, blue backlit display which provides feedback on speed, time, distance, theoretical calories burnt, as well as heart rate (which can be measured by grabbing the pulse sensors integrated into the handrails). In addition, the console provides 2 direct speed buttons and 2 direct incline buttons. These enable the speed or incline to be changed to the preset levels with one touch.

The built in programmes (12 of them!) use the full range of speed and incline available and give you enough options to keep your workouts varied, or if you prefer you can opt for full manual control. In addition to the direct speed and incline keys, a handy feature is the ability to change the speed and incline from the hand rails. These controls on the handlebars are a good example of the sort of features that are not usually found on budget, compact treadmills but are fitted as standard to the BH Fitness ECO2.

In addition to the folding feature, this treadmill comes with handy transport wheels that enable the machine to be moved out of the way with relative ease, once folded.

The recommended maximum user weight for this treadmill is 100kg (15.5 stones) – this is lower than some other budget treadmills. Having tried many other compact treadmills with a higher maximum user weight, we feel that BH are being conservative with this max user weight (which makes a pleasant change for a fitness brand!). However, if your weight is more than this, we’d always recommend going for a mid-priced treadmill to ensure that you’re getting a machine that has a more roomy running deck than those typically found in the budget treadmill category.

As you’d expect from a treadmill from BH Fitness, the ECO2 comes with a comprehensive warranty cover for peace of mind: 2 years parts and labour and 10 years on the frame and motor.