AssaultRunner Elite Manual Treadmill Review 2024

Build Quality

The AssaultRunner Elite weighs 280 pounds, which for a manual slat belt treadmill is actually pretty reasonable. It will support up to 400 pounds, so you have a good weight ratio.

Frame

The AssaultRunner Elite has a sturdy steel frame with slanted powder-coated uprights that connect to the handrails about midway on the treadmill deck. 62 rubberized slats combine to create the belt, which sits on 100 low-friction ball bearings and 12 roller guides that line the deck’s surface. The ball bearings keep the belt in alignment and keep it running smoothly for a long period of time. The curved deck is sturdy and balanced on the floor with two adjustable leveling feet at the back that allow you to easily balance the Runner Elite on any floor.

The belt is curved and the frame is positioned below it.

The frame is sturdy with black powder-coated sides and smooth gray powder-coated uprights. It does require some minor assembly. The deck comes preconstructed, all you have to do is attach the uprights, handrails, and the console. The machine-drilled holes where you attach the screws are clean and perfectly aligned. This might seem like an odd thing to mention but I have had a lot of issues putting treadmills together that didn’t have great pre-drilled holes for attaching components.

Cushioning/Feel

The only cushioning in a slat belt treadmill is in the slats themselves. I would compare this to having a little less cushion than an average track would have. While the rubberized slat components absorb a bit of impact shock, I noticed less cushioning on the AssaultRunner Elite than on more expensive machines that have a lot of cushion built in. This could be because of the narrower running or surface at 17” or just that cushioning is not a significant feature of the AssaultRunner Elite treadmill.

Length/Width

The AssaultRunner Elite running belt is 17” wide and 65” long.

You have plenty of forward stride and kickback length, but the width is a little narrow. This will take a bit of getting used to but it helps you stay aligned as you run and promotes running in a straight line. If you’re used to zoning out during your treadmill workouts, you’ll want to pay closer attention while you’re running on this treadmill. If you misstep and hit the side rails it could cause you to fall and seriously hurt yourself.

Indoor Training Value

One massive benefit of the AssaultRunner Elite is the ability to train indoors all year round. Since the AssaultRunner Elite is engineered to naturally mimic running outdoors, it’s a great training option for runners who want to stay conditioned through the hot summer or cold winter months.

Many treadmills provide a smooth run, but they do not enhance or facilitate proper running form as a curved manual treadmill does. This offers extra benefits for your indoor training.

Treadmill Slat Belt

The AssaultRunner Elite has a slat belt design, which means it is constructed of 62 individual rubberized slats placed horizontally along the deck.

The slats move in conjunction together to give you a smooth and sturdy feel underfoot. Each slat is a composite material with a textured tread, so your foot doesn’t slip while running. The treads are placed close enough together to ensure a continuous surface underfoot.

Slat belts look and sound different from traditional motorized treadmill belts, which feature a single piece of material that wraps around a tread deck. Since the slats are a v-shape design, they are nearly indestructible with a flat edge on top, they all move and work together to give a solid feel underfoot. Instead of hearing the swooshing of a treadmill belt, you will hear the sound of the rollers and bearings moving inside of the deck to keep the belt moving. The AssaultRunner Elite belt has a lifetime warranty and should last hundreds of thousands of miles. A bit of lubricant may be needed from time to time, but the slats will not wear out. This makes these belts much more durable.

The slats sit on 100 bearings that line the sides of the deck. The belt is also supported by twelve running belt guide pulleys that facilitate smooth motion. The AssaultRunner Elite does not have a flywheel, so all movement is runner-controlled. This does make it slightly more challenging to run on (other manual treads do have a flywheel), but the belt never feels like it is getting ahead of you or pulling you along. On the AssaultRunner Elite, you are in control throughout your routine, which allows you to run at your pace and get a great workout.

Slat belts support non-motorized running much better than a traditional sliding belt. The weight of the slats combined with the resistance in the belt makes it more challenging to run on a manual, slat machine which is one of the main reasons runners burn so many more calories with this design. However, the slat construction and the way the slats rotate over the deck create a hearty running surface that is both durable and supportive.

Motorless

On the AssaultRunner Elite, your legs and feet are the motor. As you walk or run, the belt moves in conjunction with how fast or slow you want to move. That is one of the beauties of a non-motorized treadmill. It allows you to move the belt and work as hard as you’d like, instead of the belt moving you like a traditional treadmill. There is a slight learning curve, but once you get the hang of it you’ll love workouts on this treadmill.

This being a manual treadmill means you don’t have to plug it in and can place it anywhere in your house, garage gym, or facility. This is one of the reasons manual treadmills are a favorite in the home gym community and CrossFit gyms. They can be easily moved around and require little maintenance, you can even use the AssaultRunner outside if you need to wheel it out of your garage gym to clear up some space for floor workouts. A bonus perk is that there are no cords or anything like that to trip on.

Incline / Decline range

There is no incline or decline on the Runner Elite. It has a fixed, curved frame.

Noise Level

Noise level on the Runner Elite is commensurate with running on other slat belt treads. There is a bit of impact noise as your foot hits the tread, but there is no motor, so you don’t have background motor noise while running.

Warranty & Durability

Assault Fitness claims the Runner Elite tread belt will last up to 150,000 miles. Most users report favorable experiences with the Runner Elite. There are a few reports of the belt wearing out or getting noisy before the 150,000-mile mark, but Assault Fitness offers a lifetime warranty on the belt, with 10-year frame and 1-year labor warranty. It is also significantly less expensive than comparable manual curved treads by nearly half, so we find the Runner Elite to be a good value.

Should You Buy the AssaultRunner Elite Treadmill

The AssaultRunner Elite is a strong and powerful curved treadmill with a rubberized slat belt, a solid steel frame, and powder-coated uprights. It provides all of the essential benefits of running on a curved manual treadmill at a reasonable price point. Other manual treads cost upwards of $10,000, but the AssaultRunner Elite is currently priced around $3999, making it an excellent option for athletes looking for a curved treadmill in their home–or for commercial use.

Rated for commercial and residential use, the AssaultRunner Elite is comparatively light and easy to move compared with other manual treadmills. We find the AssaultRunner Elite to be an excellent option for users who want the benefits of a curved treadmill that will last.

Check Best Price

---

AssaultRunner Elite Q&A / FAQ

Is the AssaultRunner Elite worth it?

The AssaultRunner Elite is a heavy-duty manual treadmill. It has a more durable build for higher use settings than the AssaultRunner Pro. It’s a great choice for a commercial setting or a residential setting with more than one dedicated user. The AssaultRunner Elite is more beginner-friendly than other manual treadmills. It has a good console with workout options. It also has a 400-lb weight capacity which is great for larger runners.

What is the difference between the AssaultRunner Elite and the Pro?

The AssaultRunner Elite is designed for high-use and commercial settings. It has a sturdier frame. The AssaultRunner Pro is also a quality manual treadmill but is meant for residential use.

Is an AssaultRunner harder than other running?

Yes, the AssaultRunner Elite and Pro are harder than running on a motorized treadmill or running outdoors. Studies estimate that running on a manual treadmill is around 40% harder than other forms of running. Runners will likely adopt a much slower pace while running on a manual treadmill like the AssaultRunner Elite to keep the same intensity. Runners may burn 30% more calories on a manual treadmill when performing the same workout.

What is the AssaultRunner good for?

The AssaultRunner Elite is great for athletes who want unlimited speed. It allows you to run speed workouts that are harder to do on a motorized treadmill. The Elite gives you control over the belt speed so you can speed up or slow down more smoothly. An AssaultRunner treadmill is good for runners, sprinters, and other athletes.

Is the AssaultRunner good for walking?

You can walk on the AssaultRunner treadmills, but the narrow belt does not lend itself well to casual use. The AssaultRunner Elite and Pro may be overkill for someone who only wants to walk, but if you are drawn to the higher weight capacity, no electricity required, and slat belt cushioning, it could be a good fit.

Is your AssaultRunner Elite review a paid review?

No, our AssaultRunner Elite treadmill review is not a paid review. To conduct our thorough reviews, we often receive a product for free from a brand, but we are not paid for the review. Brands do not have any influence over how we conduct our reviews or what we say about the product. We hold each product we test to the same standards. Because we have the same relationship with so many home fitness brands, we are able to give an unbiased review on each product instead of favoring one brand over another.

So, how do we stay in business? Well, we use affiliate links on our reviews and other pages. When you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This benefits us and you, because we are able to give you better insight into products before you make your purchase.

Check Best Price

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.

Related Treadmill Reviews: