The Spirit Esprit ET588 Folding Treadmill – Decent Model for Running

The top-of-the-line Spirit Esprit ET588 folding treadmill is a stripped down version of its cousin treadmills that carry the Sole brand name. While the 588 is a decent model, why would you buy an Esprit when you could have a Sole for the same price?

The Machine

The red backlit LED window displays standard readouts. The console has two cooling fans and easy-to-use program controls. The programs include 6 pre-set workouts, 2 heart rate controlled programs and 2 user IDs.

The full specs on the Spirit Esprit ET588 folding treadmill are:

• 2.75 HP continuous drive motor
• 0-12 mph Speed
• 0% - 12% Incline
• 20" x 58" Tread Belt
• 6 programs/2 user, 2 HRC
• Pulse Grip Sensors
• Cooling Fan
• MP3 plug-in & speakers
• 350 lbs User Weight Capacity
• Folding Design with Soft-Drop Assist
• 4-wheel carriage for mobility
• Warranty: Lifetime motor & frame, 2 yrs parts, 1 yr deck & labor

The Buzz

UPDATE:  The Spirit Esprit ET 588 has been discontinued and is no longer available for sale.

Compare Popular Spirit Treadmills at Amazon

With a quiet 2.75 hp continuous duty motor, the Spirit Esprit ET588 folding treadmill offers speeds up to 12 mph and a 12% incline. The 20" x 58" cushioned Duraweave tread belt rolls over 2.5" rollers.

Other features include a 350-lb user capacity, integrated 4-wheel carriage for storage, soft drop assist folding mechanism, cooling fan, mp3 plug-in port, and heart rate sensors on the handlebars. The light duty ET588 has one of the shorter warranties for treadmills at this competitive price level.

Treadmill reviews remark that this is a decent folding treadmill for running but unless you buy it at a local sporting goods store and can negotiate delivery assistance, buying it online is a hassle.

Spirit’s official site sells the Esprit ET588 for $1,699 and they’ll throw in some free shipping, which is generous of them after hooking you to pay full price for the machine. The ET588 sells from $1,199 to $1,299 at Amazon.com, also with free shipping, but only to the curb.

You must find your own way to haul this 264-lb machine into your house. There are no options for assisted inside delivery or white glove set-up. Hassle.

What We Say

The price on the Spirit Esprit ET588 is all over the place, so if you think $1,699 is too much to pay, wait a week and you will likely find it for $1,199.

Its value improves dramatically at that lower price, but in terms of features it doesn’t compare favorably to many other treadmills in this competitive range.

We recommend you drop any thought about buying the Spirit Esprit ET588 folding treadmill and instead review its cousin, the Sole F80 treadmill – it is also made by Dyaco but has better mechanical specs.

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