Although many of the specs remain the same – 3.0 CHP motor, 2.5” roller, 15 intensity levels and so on, the 7.6HR does seem to have lost a few features and gained a few pounds over its 7.35 cousin, 39lbs to be precise. With a unit weight of 271lbs the 7.35 was already a monster so why the extra poundage?

At first the answer seemed to be that the 7.6HR was qualified to carry more user weight (and presumably therefore would have a reinforced frame). According to the Smooth website the 7.6HR can support users of up to 400lbs. Interestingly this is not so, according to the 7.6HR User’s Manual. In there the user weight capacity is only 350lbs. Hmmm. Wonder whether the warranty would hold water if you bought the machine based on the advertised 400lb capacity and the motor failed?

By the way, If you are ever in any doubt as to the suitability of treadmill exercise for the morbidly obese then see if you can catch the 9th season of The Biggest Loser in which Michael Ventrella who started the show at 526 lbs and barely able to walk on a treadmill jogged to victory 264lbs lighter. Much of the exercise he did to lose all that weight involved building up his strength and stamina until he was jogging for 5k at a time on a a treadmill.

Of course, contestants on The Biggest Loser ranch have the benefit of having a medical team standing by and there are often times during each season where the medical staff is necessary. It is easy to damage a joint or a ligament when you are carrying extra weight or have spent too many hours TV surfing on the sofa over the past few years. Both the shock absorbing qualities of the decking and the heart rate control program should enable anyone to start treadmill training safely and effectively.

Like its stable-mates the 7.6HR has Im-Pression shock-absorbing cushioning which softens the impact at the point where the foot hits the ground and yet gives a firm push off at the point where the foot leaves the floor. This feature offers some protection to the feet, ankles, knees and hips when using the treadmill.

The HR in the name 7.6HR refers to Heart Rate. The 7.6HR has a heart rate control program, pulse monitor and included chest strap which together let the user work within his or her target heart rate. Maximum heart rate is worked out according to age and then target heart rate uses a percentage of that to give a desired exercise zone for users to reach and maintain.

There are several other preset programs including target time, target distance, target calories and interval incline. There are also 3 user defined custom programs.

At the same time that the 7.6HR mysteriously packed on the pounds it also grew longer by two inches and yet lost two inches from the running surface. At 60” long the running surface on the 7.6HR is still long enough to suit most people and many inches longer than the recommended running surface minimum of 50”.

The elongated 82” length of the 6.7HR is going to need quite a chunk of space but it does fold up out of the way quite easily thanks to the exclusive power folding feature. Even so, buyers should decide on a permanent parking spot for this baby because even with the transport wheels which Smooth say let you, “… easily transport your machine to any room of the house”, heaving 350lbs of kit about the casa is not highly recommended for your back no matter how many calories it may burn.

This machine costs $200 more than the next cheapest Smooth treadmill. It is hard to see what justifies this cost. The two machins have many features in common. The major difference is that this one is larger, heavier, has less running surface, no one touch speed and incline control and no speakers! Save your $200 and go for the 7.35.