Reebok i-Run 5.0 Review: A Compact Treadmill for Walkers and Joggers

Reebok's i-Run line has always been about fitting a treadmill into a house that has no room for one, and the 5.0 is the version that finally arrives assembled. That sounds like a footnote until you've spent ninety minutes on a living room floor with an Allen key and a diagram, at which point it becomes a headline feature.

The rest of the machine is a sensible set of compromises for around £449. You get 12 levels of motorised incline, which is more than most treadmills at this price bother with, a 2HP brushless motor and a cushioned 120 x 46cm deck. What you don't get is a belt long enough for genuine running or a motor rated for daily 10k sessions. Whether that matters depends entirely on what you plan to do on it.

Who it is for

Walkers, incline walkers and steady joggers in flats and small houses. If your plan is 45 minutes at 6kph on a 10 percent incline while watching something on a tablet, the i-Run 5.0 does that well and stores away afterwards. It also suits anyone who wants to avoid assembly, which rules out most of the competition immediately.

It's the wrong machine for anyone training for a marathon, anyone over about 5ft 10in who wants to run rather than jog, and anyone near the 120kg user limit. The best treadmills for home use guide covers heavier framed options for those cases.

The deck is the deciding factor

Reebok lists the running area at 120 x 46cm, which works out at 47 by 18 inches (Reebok i-Run 5 specifications). For walking, that's roomy. For running, it's tight. A comfortable running deck starts at around 140cm and gym machines run to 150cm or more, because your stride lengthens as you speed up and your foot lands further back than you expect.

The practical effect is that most people can jog on this at 8 to 10kph without thinking about it, and taller people will find themselves shortening their stride to stay clear of the motor cover. That's not dangerous so much as annoying, and it changes your gait in a way that repeated over months isn't ideal.

Belt width of 46cm is fine. It's the length that sets the ceiling.

Incline is where it earns its money

Twelve levels of powered incline is generous for a folding treadmill in this price bracket, and it's the feature that makes the short deck far less of a problem. Incline walking at 5 to 6kph pushes your heart rate into the same territory as jogging on the flat, with much less impact through the knees and ankles, and it doesn't need stride length.

Meeting the UK's 150 minutes of weekly moderate activity target is entirely achievable with brisk incline walking (NHS physical activity guidelines), and the British Heart Foundation makes the case that regular aerobic activity of exactly this kind is what benefits your heart (BHF on physical activity and heart health). A treadmill you'll actually walk on four times a week beats a faster one gathering dust.

The incline motor is reasonably quick between levels, though owners consistently note it's audible when it moves. That's normal.

Console, apps and noise

The rotating dial is the nicest surprise. Instead of hunting for tiny plus and minus buttons mid-stride, you turn a dial and the speed or incline follows, with live speed, time, distance, calories and heart rate on the display. Twelve preset programmes cover intervals and hills if you'd rather not think.

App support runs over Bluetooth to Zwift, Kinomap and Reebok's own app, plus a heart rate strap. There's an integrated tablet holder because there's no built-in screen, which keeps the price down and means your app experience is only as good as the device you prop up there. Fine trade at this money.

On noise, the brushless motor is quieter than a brushed one, but any treadmill in a flat is a downstairs neighbour problem. A proper treadmill mat underneath cuts vibration transmission considerably and protects the carpet from the frame.

The 2HP question

Reebok quotes 2HP and describes the motor as brushless, reliable and more efficient than a standard motor. What isn't published is the continuous horsepower rating, which is the figure that tells you how the motor copes with sustained effort rather than brief peaks. Peak ratings are always the flattering number.

For walking and jogging, 2HP peak is enough, and brushless motors do run cooler than brushed ones. If you weigh close to 120kg and plan on daily 45 minute runs, that motor is going to work hard for its living, and you'd be better served by a machine advertising 2.5HP or 3HP continuous. Our best treadmill under £1000 guide covers those.

Value

At around £449, the i-Run 5.0 competes with a crowded field of folding treadmills, most of which need assembly, many of which have fewer incline levels, and some of which have longer decks. What tips the balance is the combination of no assembly, 12 powered incline levels and a genuinely compact folded footprint. Reebok's badge counts for something too, in the sense that spare parts and support exist, which isn't guaranteed with unbranded machines at similar prices.

Buy it as a walking and jogging machine with excellent incline. Buy something bigger if you want to run.

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