Bells Of Steel Blitz Manual Treadmill Review 2024

Build Quality

When it comes to construction, the Bells Of Steel Blitz Manual Treadmill is pretty impressive and has nice features that make it a versatile training tool. It’s heavy at 325 lbs and can handle users up to 400 lbs. Considering it’s a bit of a splurge, we’re glad it handles a lot of weight. The weight capacity also indicates a hearty design, which the Blitz definitely has.

This treadmill has commercial-grade construction and in our opinion, is a great addition to home and public gyms.

Frame

The frame is made out of 9 gauge steel, which feels sturdy and well-built. It’s powder-coated to help prevent corrosion and rust. It has 200 steel bearings that make the belt feel smooth to move. The frame definitely helps contribute to how stable this treadmill feels underfoot, as well as how heavy it is.

The steel uprights connect on either side of the deck to the frame. The Bells Of Steel has more areas to grip for handles than the TrueForm Treadmills and AssaultRunner. It’s more comparable to the Technogym SkillMill in that respect. Considering the added feature of adjustable magnetic resistance (which I’ll get into in a moment), the variety of handles makes sense and is needed.

The handles are powder-coated steel and they have a gritty texture to help keep your hands from slipping.

The side handles extend along both sides of the deck and includes an upper, lower, and back area to grip. The front handles have a thin foam covering for grip and extend vertically on either side of the console. They come in handy (no pun intended) when you crank up the resistance on the deck to sled push. Depending on your height, you might not be able to fully extend your arms to sled push, or you might need to use the bar that’s in front of the two vertical handlebars.

Our tallest reviewer, Matt, who is 6’5” has to use the front bar or bend his arms to use the vertical handles, otherwise, he doesn’t have enough room on the deck.

I’m only 5’1” so I don’t have any problems using any of the handles. We’re pleased that the Blitz Treadmill offers this amount of handles and they all serve to be useful and provide leverage and balance when you need them.

As far as maintenance, manual treadmills are known for requiring little to no maintenance, especially compared to motorized treadmills. We don’t expect the Blitz Manual Treadmill to require much, if any, maintenance, however, we aren’t sure how the magnetic resistance will hold up over time since it’s an extra component. We’ve heard of other treadmills with this feature having problems down the road. However, Bells Of Steel makes high-quality equipment and we are very pleased with their air bike, so we assume the Blitz Treadmill will be able to handle a lot of use and last a long time.

MotorLess

The Bells Of Steel Blitz is a manual treadmill meaning it doesn’t have a motor built into it to control the speed of the belt. Instead, you control the speed when you walk and run on it. Your feet get the belt moving and this requires more muscle activation, especially in your lower body, as well as burns more calories than motorized treadmills. Motorized treadmills require you to keep up with the set pace, whereas, on a manual treadmill like this one, you set the pace.

So, when you’re running on the Blitz Manual Treadmill, you can run as fast as you want. The belt won’t top out at a max speed because a motor doesn’t control it.

This makes manual treadmills, the Blitz included, ideal for sprinters and those who want to run at fast paces.

The noise from the movement of the belt sounds slightly different than other manual treadmills. It’s hard to describe, but it sounds smoother. The noise from our feet hitting the deck is low so it doesn’t produce much thudding and thumping sounds overall. It’s still a treadmill, so it generates sound and isn’t best for homes where noise is an issue.

When we had two runners that differed in weight, height, and foot strike run on this treadmill, the noise level ranged from 50 dB at 3 miles per hour, 61 dB at 6 miles per hour, and 65 dB at 9 miles per hour. This is comparable to many motorized treadmills without anyone running on the belt.

Deck

The deck is 17” wide and 65” long. It’s really comparable to other models like the TrueForm Runner, Trainer, and AssaultRunner Elite, in size. Curved, manual treadmills typically have narrower decks compared to motorized treadmills of similar size, to keep your body aligned and in more of a linear pattern. This length of the deck should be plenty long for most users to run as fast as they can, too. On the manual treadmills we’ve tested, including the Blitz, this length offers plenty of room for all stride lengths.

The Bells Of Steel is curved like other comparable manual treadmills, however, it has a pretty significant amount of curve to it. Unlike TrueForm Treadmills which are said to have the shallowest amount of curve in the deck, the Blitz has a high curve of 17 degrees. Even the AssaultRunner Elite, only has about a 9-degree curve to its belt. Like the Assault, the curve on the Blitz is mainly at the front of the deck.

I will say that the higher curvature on the Blitz, is more noticeable underfoot than on other manual treadmills.

The curved angle in the deck typically positions users to run on the midpoint of the deck, rather than the very front. To get up to speed, you might run toward the front of the deck, but once you hit the pace you want, you’ll find that your position will shift back to hover over the lowest point of the deck, which is around the middle. So, even though curved, manual treadmills have a curve to their deck, it doesn’t serve as an incline and doesn’t feel like you’re running uphill.

On the Bells Of Steel, however, you can feel the curvature as you run. It kind of feels like a tiny incline. I’ve noticed that it makes the Blitz Manual Treadmill feel pretty challenging and forces my posterior chain, especially my hamstrings, to engage a bit more than when I run outside or on a motorized treadmill, for instance. It’s also important to remember that manual treadmills in general help you burn more calories than motorized treadmills, so overall they feel harder to run on.

Adjustable Magnetic Resistance

Speaking of challenging; the Bells Of Steel Blitz Manual Treadmill has adjustable magnetic resistance. There are 6 different levels. I can walk, jog, and run on levels 1-3. Level 4, the resistance really feels like it adds on, and I’m only able to walk with this amount of resistance added to the belt. Levels 5 and 6 are best for sled-pushing and pulling when you’re using it in reverse. The resistance is tough at level 6 so that’s where the handles come in to use them for leverage to move the belt. Level 1 feels like no resistance and is easy to get the belt moving.

Both TrueForm Treadmills are a bit harder to run on and get their belts moving, especially without proper form compared to the Blitz at level 1. The Blitz feels challenging but is easier to sprint on than TrueForm’s treadmills. I think the high curvature of the deck gives you more leverage to get the belt up to speed since you don’t have a high angle to get leverage on with the TrueForms. This isn’t a bad thing by any means, it’s just something we noticed when testing. TrueForm Treadmills are great for helping to correct your stride, while the Bells Of Steel functions to be more versatile by giving additional training options with the resistance.

The magnetic resistance is easily adjusted with a lever on the right side of the Blitz Treadmill by the handle.

It’s within reach and the levels are clearly labeled.

Bells Of Steel isn’t the first to use magnetic resistance. Manual treadmills such as the Grit Runner from Tru Grit, Cascade Ultra Runner, and Xebex Runner Smart Connect have magnetic resistance.

Warranty

Bells Of Steel includes a 5-year frame warranty and a 1-year parts warranty when you buy the Blitz Manual Treadmill. This warranty is a little less extensive than what other models include. It only ships by freight and requires assembly. We recommend at least two people for set up because of its hearty size and weight.

Should You Buy the Bells of Steel Blitz Manual Treadmill

Overall, the Bells of Steel Blitz manual treadmill is a high-quality machine that doesn’t require electricity and offers a lot of versatility for your training. The belt has a higher curve than most manual treadmills and it offers 6 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance to give you extra tension for your legs to move against. Runners and athletes looking for a challenge and more training variety from their treadmill should consider this one for their home gym. It is a bit of a splurge, but well worth the investment to take your fitness to the next level and beyond.

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Bells of Steel Blitz Manual Treadmill Q&A / FAQ

Can you use a treadmill without electricity?

Yes, a manual treadmill works without electricity. You are the motor powering the treadmill. When you walk or run, the belt will move with you.

Why are curved treadmills so expensive?

Curved treadmills are so expensive because they have very sturdy steel welded frames. They have slat belts that are typically covered with shock-absorbing rubber. The slat belt needs to move smoothly around the curved deck at as high of a speed as you could possible run. That means these treadmills are handling a lot of force. In fact, they can typically handle more weight than their motorized counterparts. This high-quality construction leads to a price increase.

Are manual treadmills worth it?

Yes, manual treadmills are worth it for athletes who want unlimited speed capabilities. Manual treadmills create one of the toughest running workouts, forcing athletes to work much harder at paces they can easily run outside or on a motorized treadmill. It’s been estimated that manual treadmills burn up to 30% more calories than other forms of running when you compare the same workout.

Additionally, manual treadmills do not require electricity, are lower maintenance, have higher weight capacities in most cases, and allow you to perform workouts that you can’t do easily on a motorized treadmill.

How do you run on a non-motorized treadmill?

A curved motorized treadmill uses your foot’s force against the treadmill and gravity to pull the belt under you as you run. When you move higher on the curve toward the front of the treadmill, the belt will speed up. Staying in the middle of the belt keeps the pace more consistent. Moving to the back of the treadmill slows it down. It takes time to get used to running on a non-motorized treadmill, but within a couple of sessions, you start to get the hang of it.

Is your Bells of Steel Blitz Manual Treadmill review a paid review?

No, our Bells of Steel Blitz manual treadmill review is not paid. We make money off of our reviews through the links included in our reviews, which may pay us a commission if you decide to purchase a treadmill. But, our treadmill reviews remain as unbiased and honest as possible, because we work with most major home fitness brands. This means we won’t push you toward one brand or another. Instead, we try to match our audience with the right treadmill for their situation. Brands do not have any say in our review process or write-ups, and all of our opinions are our own.

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About the Author

Sydney Kaiser, ISSA-CPT, ISSA Nutritionist Certification
Sydney is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, and sports nutritionist who combines her passion for fitness, health, and wellness with her passion for writing. After graduating from UC Riverside with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, she began teaching indoor cycling and Lagree Fitness group fitness classes to people of all ages and abilities. Raised in Central Michigan, Sydney grew up training and competing on the Arabian Horse Association circuit through both Regional and National levels in Dressage and Sport Horse classes. In college, Sydney went on to compete at the collegiate level as a Division 1 equestrian athlete. Here at TRG, Sydney relies on her extensive background in fitness when reviewing and recommending all kinds of fitness, recovery, and health-related products.

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