TrueForm Trainer Manual Curved Treadmill Review

This product was in-house tested by Michael at The Jungle Gym Reviews.

The newly redesigned TrueForm Trainer is a manual curved treadmill built for runners who want instant speed changes, outdoor-style pacing, and a more form-friendly running curve than steeper manual treadmill designs. It’s a no-plug, no-motor platform with cushioned slats, basic but useful metrics, Bluetooth heart rate support, and integrations like Zwift and Strava. This treadmill feels extremely natural for running and sprint intervals, with cushioned slats that are noticeably easier on my knees than steeper curved options I’ve owned. The biggest tradeoff is price—$3,495 is a premium for a no-frills monitor—and the lack of a good phone/tablet solution is genuinely annoying given the app integrations. It’s best for runners who care about form, want instant walk-to-sprint transitions, and don’t want motorized treadmill maintenance. If you just want a basic jog-and-watch-TV treadmill for $1,000–$1,500, you should hesitate.

Quick Specs

Type: Manual curved treadmill (non-motorized)
Price: $3,495
Curve Style: Shallow curve (designed to promote upright posture and mid-foot striking)
Running Deck: Cushioned slats
Integrations Mentioned: Bluetooth, heart rate, Zwift, Strava
Mobility: Wheels and handles for moving
Weight Rating (at top speed): 400 lb
Footprint: 65" long × 30.5" wide
Monitor Overhang: Extends ~4" past the running deck
Deck Height (lowest point): ~13" off the ground
Handrail Height: ~66"
Monitor Height: A little over ~72"
Warranty: 10-year frame warranty

Where to Buy the TrueForm Trainer

Check current pricing from TrueForm:

My Real-World Experience

The core reason to buy a manual curved treadmill is the way it controls speed: you’re not matching a belt that’s pulling you along—you’re powering it. On the TrueForm Trainer, that feels smooth and intuitive. You move forward to go faster, lean in to sprint, and drift back to slow down or stop. The belt is extremely smooth, and the slats have enough cushioning that running doesn’t beat up my knees.

That cushioning is a big deal for me. I owned an Assault Runner Pro for over three years, and the steeper pitch on that eventually bothered my knees. The TrueForm’s shallower curve makes walking easier, running feels more upright, and the overall stride feels more natural—especially the way your foot plants and your toes rise up the curve as you push through.

Where the redesign matters is the front section they added—the Power Bar. It gives you a lower hand position for sprinting so you can lean forward and drive without feeling like you’re awkwardly shifting your entire body weight just to get the belt moving faster. It’s a small change that makes sprint work feel more intentional.

For how I use it, this fits perfectly. I do zone 2 jogging sessions and interval days—like 15 seconds sprint / 45 seconds walk—because manual treadmills make that start/stop pacing effortless. No buttons. No ramp-up. No waiting for a motor.

Training Use Cases

This is built for people who actually want to run—not just walk while watching a screen.

• Intervals and sprints: Instant transitions from walking to sprinting are the main advantage here.

• Outdoor running carryover: Because you regulate pace with your own output, it feels closer to outdoor running than motorized treadmills.

• Joint-friendlier running: The slat cushioning and curve feel noticeably easier on impact compared to steeper curved options.

• General cardio: You can absolutely walk and jog on it, but it shines when you use it dynamically.

It’s also a “zero plug, low maintenance” setup. You hop on and go, and there’s no motorized treadmill maintenance routine hanging over your head.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

The biggest limitation for most people is price. At $3,495, this is roughly double what many people expect to spend for a treadmill just to jog on.

The next limitation is the no-frills cockpit. The monitor is intentionally simple and durable, which I get, but the phone/tablet experience is weak. With Zwift and Strava integration available, it’s frustrating that there isn’t a secure, modern place to mount a phone—especially since trying to wedge a phone into the existing space tends to end with it falling out. In 2025, that’s a miss.

The water bottle holder also feels a little afterthought-ish, especially because it’s mounted to a floating frame area where a bottle can jiggle. It works, but I don’t love it.

Finally, footprint and clearance are real considerations. The deck sits about 13 inches off the floor at the lowest point, and the monitor height is a little over 72 inches—so ceiling height, storage plans, and room layout matter more than they do with a typical folding treadmill.

Value & Alternatives

If you’re comparing this to a $1,000–$1,500 motorized treadmill for casual jogging, it’s going to feel expensive. Most of those give you a screen mount, incline, and a familiar treadmill experience.

The TrueForm Trainer makes sense when your priorities are different:

• you want manual speed control (walk ↔ jog ↔ sprint instantly)

• you want a running feel that translates better to outdoors

• you want low maintenance

• you care about form and curve geometry

• you specifically want to sprint and do intervals

If those aren’t your priorities, you’re paying for benefits you won’t use.

Who Should Buy This

Runners who want sprint intervals, fast transitions, and outdoor-style pacing at home.
People who value a cushioned, form-friendly manual treadmill feel.
Anyone who wants a durable, low-maintenance treadmill that doesn’t rely on a motor.

Who Should Skip It

Anyone who just wants a basic treadmill to jog on for the lowest cost.
People who want a big screen, classes, and a built-in entertainment setup.
Users who need a strong phone/tablet mounting solution without DIY add-ons.

Final Verdict

The TrueForm Trainer is a premium manual treadmill that feels excellent to run on—especially for intervals—and the shallow curve plus cushioned slats make it stand out versus steeper curved options. If you’re buying for running performance and low maintenance, it earns its price better than most treadmills can. If you just want basic jogging cardio, it’s more treadmill than you need.

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.