The Spirit Esprit ET288 Folding Treadmill – Only for Lightweight Users

The basic Spirit Esprit ET288 folding treadmill offers a folding design, a compact-size walking belt, and a power incline to raise the deck up to 10 degrees.

The Machine

The Spirit Esprit ET288 comes with six pre-set workout programs, heart rate monitors on the handgrips, and an extra large LCD display readout for distance, speed, incline, and more. The handlebar controls allow the user to adjust speed and incline.

The full specs on the Spirit Esprit ET288 folding treadmill are:

• 2.0 CHP Motor
• 0-10 mph Speed
• 0-10% Incline
• 18" x 50" Tread Belt
• 6 programs
• Pulse Grip Sensors
• 275 lbs User Weight Capacity
• Folding Design with Soft-Drop Assist
• Warranty: Lifetime motor & frame, 2 yrs deck & parts, 1 yr labor

The Buzz

Key components on the Spirit Esprit ET288 include a 2.0 HP Continuous Duty Motor, 2.3" rollers, and a 1.5 Ply Duraweave belt. Weighing just 181 lbs, this folding treadmill offers a quiet ride and nice cushioning for lightweight users who will feel comfortable on a smaller walking belt. The 275-lb user weight capacity is overstated; taller and heavier users should consider heavier models made by Spirit or Esprit.

UPDATE:  The Esprit ET288 has been discontinued and is no longer available for sale.

Compare Popular Spirit Treadmills at Amazon

Treadmill reviews by consumers and experts give the Spirit Esprit ET288 average marks for power, reliability, noise, and overall value. The belt is 5" to 10" shorter than most folding treadmills at this price level, and the warranty is limited enough to cause concern.

With just six programs, and no console entertainment plug-in features such as an mp3 player, speakers, or fan, the ET288 is lacking in the type of bells and whistles that are now standard on competitor models.

What We Say

Budget treadmills are not really the forte of Spirit even though the Esprit brand is the company’s economy line. The Esprits priced at $1300 to $1600 are better values.

At $999, the Spirit Esprit ET288 folding treadmill cuts too many corners to be a serious competitor to some great treadmills at the $1000 price mark. For example, treadmills offered by Horizon, NordicTrack, Epic, Livestrong, and Yowza offer machines with better motors, bigger decks, more programs, and higher user weight capacity than the ET288.

Spirit makes great treadmills, and this one isn’t bad, but there are better deals out there.

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