True Fitness 500 SERIES Treadmill User Manual. Of 39 OWNERS MANUAL. RESIDENTIAL TREADMILL. ADJUST THE FEEL WITH S.O.F.T. All True S.O.F.T. Select series treadmills take the user to a new level of comfort. Now you can “personalize” the treadbelt surface to suit your walking or running needs, from soft to firm or anywhere in between. This True feature is ideal for users of differing weights or those with special physical needs. A True 550 S.O.F.T. Select treadmill. The treadmill features a 3.0 hp motor, a digital interface panel with incline and speed controls, a 400 lb weight capacity, and a maximum speed of 12 mph. It is presented with a black foam rubber floor mat.
True treadmills are known for providing arguably the best home treadmill experience a user can have.
With their exceptional belt and deck combination, no wonder they’ve been recepients of numerous positive reviews from respectable authorities.
However, True Fitness (the company behind these treadmills) used to have a reputation of putting only average parts on their machines which resulted in lots of repairs and headaches for owners.
But that problem is now a thing of the past with their new lineup that is definitely hard to beat.
The Company behind True Treadmills
True Fitness Technology was founded in 1981 by Frank Trulaske. He has earned recognitions like the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (1999) and The Fitness Industry Man of the Year (2000). And for over 20 years, he made True one of the few fitness companies that personally manufactures most of its critical components and systems.
Today, True Fitness has over 240,000 square feet of manufacturing, engineering, testing, warehouse, and office space located at their corporate headquarters just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. They also have their own training and education facility to provide sales, product, and service training to their dealers and distributors worldwide.
Is True The Best Treadmill Brand For You?
If you want a machine with smooth operation and excellent cushioning, then this is the brand for you.
But be ready to shed some cash. True treadmills are not for the budget conscious.
If you don’t think you can afford at least $2,000 for a treadmill, then I suggest you visit our best buy treadmills page and look for a machine that fits your budget.
Current there three types of True Treadmills:
True 500 Soft Select Treadmill Cost
- Incline Trainer
- Commercial Series Treadmills
- PS Series Treadmills
Price Range
As I’ve mentioned above, True treadmills come with premium price tags.
Most of these treadmills range from $2,000 to $5,500 or more.
And with prices like these, I don’t think the average consumer can afford it.
Weakness
Some of the cheaper True fitness products only comes with a short 30 year motor warranty. I know that 30 years is still a long time but if you consider most treadmills half their price are offering lifetime motor warranties, then this is definitely a weakness that True can improve upon.
Recommendation
I would recommend True treadmills. They provide an excellent running experience with their famous orthopedic belt and deck combination that is probably the best in the business.
Plus, the quality and durability of their new treadmill lineup are now above average unlike a few years ago.(for more quality brands visit our best buy treadmills page)
Where to Buy?
If you’re going to buy True Treadmills, I suggest you get one from Amazon.
Click here to visit Amazon (opens new window)
But before you buy, please read our reviews on individual True products below.
It will help you better choose the fitness equipment that suits you best.
True M50 Treadmill
Cost: $2,199
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Maximum Incline: 15%
Running Surface: 68in x 20in orthopedic belt
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: True's Ortho belt for less than $2,200... Definitely a great bargain!
True PS100 Treadmill
Cost: $2,799
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Maximum Incline: 15%
Running Surface: 60in x 22in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: One of the cheaper treadmills from True but this one doesn't come with the orthopedic belt that True is known for.
True PS300 Treadmill
Cost: $2,999
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Maximum Incline: 15%
Running Surface: 60in x 21in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: The cheapest treadmill from the PS series that comes with an orthopedic belt.
True Z5.0 Treadmill
Cost: $3,699
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Maximum Incline: 15%
Running Surface: 54in x 20in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: This is a small and compact machine built to be used by people with limited spaces at home. It also comes with an orthopedic belt and a whopping 400 lbs user wieght limit.(most True machines only has a max user weight of 350 lbs)
True PS800 Treadmill
Cost: $3,799
Motor Size: 4.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Maximum Incline: 15%
Running Surface: 60in x 21in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: This machine's biggest selling point is its adjustable cushioning which cheaper True machines above doesn't offer.
True ES900 Treadmill
Cost: $5,899
Motor Size: 4.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Maximum Incline: -3%(decline) to 15%
Running Surface: 60in x 22in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: This huge machine is perfect for home or commercial use with its huge motor and numerous features, including an 11' LCD display.
Discontinued True
Below you will find some of the more famous True fitness equipment in the past that has since been discontinued. I will still keep these reviews here as some of these treadmills are still being sold on the internet either through auction sites or as refurbished treadmills.
True 400 P TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $1,995
Motor Size: 2.75hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 55in x 20in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this is the cheapest treadmill in the True lineup a few years ago.
True 400 HRC TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $2,295
Motor Size: 2.75hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 55in x 20in
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this is the heart rate controlled counterpart of the True 400 P above.
True 450 Classic HRC TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $2,695
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 52in x 18in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this is the cheapest U.S. built True treadmill you can buy in the market during its introduction.
True 500 HRC Classic TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $2,795
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 52in x 20in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this used to be the best True treadmill in terms of providing value.
True 500 Non TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $2,895
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 20in
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this is the non-programmable model of the new look 500 series.
True 500 P TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $3,095
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 20in
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this comes with pre-programmed workouts that the True 500 Non doesn’t have.
True 500 OP TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $3,395
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 20in ortho belt
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this is the ortho belt version of the true 500 P.
True 500 HRC TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $3,395
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 20in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this is the cheapest model in the 500 series that comes with heart rate functionalities.
True 500 HRCO TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $3,695
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 20in ortho belt
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this is the ortho belt version of the True 500 HRC above.
True 540 P TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $3,595
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 22in
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this treadmill comes with a wider running surface to give you more room to move and be comfortable during your workout.
True 540 OP TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $3,895
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 22in ortho belt
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this treadmill is identical to the True 540 P but with an ortho belt.
True 540 HRC TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $3,895
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 22in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: similar to others in the 540 series but with heart rate features.
True 540 HRCO TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $4,195
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 10mph
Running Surface: 54in x 22in ortho belt
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: other than the ortho belt and more expensive price tag, this machine is the same as the True 540 HRC.
True 550 ZTX P TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $4,395
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Running Surface: 60in x 22in
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this is the cheapest model in the extremely expensive 550 ZTX series.
True 550 ZTX OP TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $4,695
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Running Surface: 60in x 22in ortho belt
Heart Rate: no
Folding: no
Others: this is exactly the same as the True 550 ZTX P but with an ortho belt and a more expensive price tag.
True 550 ZTX HRC TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $4,695
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Running Surface: 60in x 22in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this one comes with heart rate features not available to both 550 ZTX models above.
True 550 ZTX HRCO TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $4,995
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Running Surface: 60in x 22in ortho belt
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this 550 ZTX machine comes with both heart rate and ortho belt features.
True 550 ZTX CI TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $5,695
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Running Surface: 60in x 22in ortho belt
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: this was the top of the line True treadmill for home a few years back. And with a price tag of nearly $6,000, expect nothing but the best specs and features from this unit.
True ES9.0 TreadmillDiscontinued
Cost: $5,899
Motor Size: 3.0hp continuous duty
Maximum Speed: 12mph
Running Surface: 60in x 22in
Heart Rate: yes
Folding: no
Others: An innovative treadmill unit with lots of unique features. This machine is one of the best True treadmills in the market just a few years ago and one True machine that I recommend.
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True Treadmill Soft System Manual
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True Treadmills Consumer Reviews Not rated yet
Well, I have owned this machine for about 15-20 years now and have only had to have one repair on it...the computer went out while it was on warranty and …
(Once again, if you plan on buying this brand I suggest you buy from Amazon)
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True 500 HRC Classic Treadmill
If you’re going to buy a True treadmill, then the True 500 HRC Classic treadmill should be on top of your list.
This is by far the best treadmill (in terms of providing value) in the True lineup.
Is This the Best Treadmill for You?
If for some reason you don’t want any other treadmill brand other than True, then this is the unit I recommend you buy. Considering its price, this is arguably the most feature-packed True treadmill today. Plus, it still comes with the best belt and deck combination in the market to give you the smoothest and most silent treadmill experience.
Click Here to Find Out Best True Fitness Treadmill
Features and Benefits
This model boasts a 3.0HP continuous duty motor that serves up speeds of up to 10mph and inclines that reaches 15%. So it doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or advance runner, the True 500 HRC classic can provide you the intense workout you need.
The 20” x 52” running space is bigger than what the 450 HRC classic is offering. This wide running area will give you more room to move and be comfortable during your workout. Plus, with its magnificent belt and deck combination, this unit could very well provide you your best treadmill experience ever.
This treadmill also features heart rate controlled (HRC) workouts. It has 2 custom time-based heart rate files so you can create and save multiple workouts for easier usage next time around. Other heart rate features include a Cruise Control program which allows you to jump from any preset or manual workouts into an HRC workout, and Express Command Keys for simple access to any custom workout programs.
And finally, similar to other True treadmills, this one has a lifetime warranty on the frames, 5 year warranty on the drive motor and all other parts and 1 year for labor.
Weakness
There had been some complaints regarding this True’s heart rate features. First of all, the console shows limited information during an HRC workout. And secondly, while you’re doing a heart rate workout, only the treadmill is allowed to adjust your intensity. If you try to adjust it manually, the machine will shut down and halt your exercise.
Recommendation
If you really need to own a True treadmill because of their smooth and quiet operation, I recommend you buy the True 500 HRC Classic treadmill. It is the best treadmill in the True lineup. But before you buy, you might want to compare it first to other best treadmills so you can make the best buying decision possible.
Summary:
Motor: 3.0 HP continuous motor
Speed: 0 to 10 mph
User Weight Capacity: 400 lbs
Incline: 0 to 15%
Warranty: lifetime on frames, 5 years for motor and all other parts and 1 year for labor.
Belt Size: 52”L x 20”W
Foldable: No
Heart Rate: Yes
Features:
- 4 preset programs with 9 levels of intensity
- 3 customizable programs
- 2 Heart Rate controlled workout
- Cruise Control
- 2 Express Command Keys
- Polar Wireless Chest Strap included
- 7 x 20 LED Dot Matrix Console
Where to Buy?
If you plan on buying a True 500 HRC Classic Treadmill, I suggest you locate a dealer near you through Amazon. It is currently being sold for $2,795.
Click Here to Find Out Best True Fitness Treadmill
Check and compare Treadmills here before you buy any.
Check my pricing, ongoing promotions, manufacturer, mark and model, etc then make a decision.