Assault Air Runner Review – Worth the Big Bucks?

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Overview of my Assault AirRunner Review

Today, I’m reviewing the Assault AirRunner for you. If you’ve been looking for an excellent treadmill for your home gym and you’re interested in the most calorie burn with the least environmental impact, this manual treadmill could be the right one for you.

Bottom Line: If you want it and can afford it… buy it.

Assault Fitness AirRunner, Black Frame/Charcoal

A manual treadmill could be just the thing to kick up your run. Since they don’t use electricity, you and your stride are all that power this treadmill. Not only does this keep your electrical bill lower, but it’s also great for the environment.

Oh, and perhaps most importantly – it ramps up your calorie burn! And this one has a bunch of other great features to make your run more effective.

Now that I’ve got your attention, this is what we’ll cover in this Assault AirRunner review.

  • I’ll start with some of the features and benefits of the Assault AirRunner.
  • Next, I’ll take a look at a few cons I came across.
  • Then, I’ll help you get to know the Assault Fitness Company a bit.
  • And I’ll give you some feedback on what actual people think of their Assault AirRunner.
  • Plus, I’ll toss in a few other things I found along the way.

What are the Benefits of a Manual Treadmill like the Assault AirRunner?

Two words – No Motor. There are tons of benefits to not having a motor on this treadmill. The most obvious is that you don’t have to worry about a motor malfunction or needing a mechanic. But there is so much more to love.

Since the AirRunner is a manual treadmill, you set the pace. There’s no keeping up with the motor or it having trouble keeping up with you. Run as fast or as steady as you want to meet your goals, not the manufacturer’s.

The ability to set your own pace is also why this treadmill is great for interval training. You don’t preset the speed, so you can power up to sprint and slow down between intervals on your terms.

Without a motor doing a chunk of the work for you, the Assault AirRunner also burns of more calories at any pace. You can burn up to 30% more than on an electrical, turning your every effort into a calorie-burning, endurance building, electrical pulse that powers the machine, and your fitness goals.

Plus, it’s quiet! There is no motor whirring to keep others in your home awake or drown out your workout jams.

What are the Benefits of a Curved Treadmill like the Assault AirRunner?

A curved deck treadmill is a boost to every runner’s fitness goals. Not only do you burn calories faster because there isn’t a motor to do half the work, but it helps in other ways, too.

Being the only power the machine gets will increase your heart rate faster because you’re working harder, so you’ll also increase your oxygen use. This makes a curved treadmill more effective for High-Intensity Interval Training.

On a traditional treadmill, you’re still propelling yourself forward to keep pace with the motor speed… otherwise, you’d fall. And even though you’re working out, you’re not using all of your leg muscles.

But with a curved treadmill, you only keep up with yourself, and you activate every muscle from your glutes to your hamstrings! You use a more efficient running stride thanks to the curve.

Curved treadmills like the Assault AirRunner are also easier on your joints! The rubber surface absorbs the impact of every step to keep it from pounding your joints to an injury. You can’t get this same shock absorption from a standard treadmill – the curve is designed specifically to prevent joint wear and tear.

How Does the Assault AirRunner Work?

People wonder how a manual treadmill like the AirRunner works, especially with a monitor and Bluetooth capability. It’s very simple if you compare it to how a water wheel generates power.

When the runner steps down on the slats that make the treadmill base, they create the pressure needed to move the tread. Step after step, like how water filling the wells in a water wheel turns the gears and creates the necessary electricity to power the monitor.

The runner powers the whole process from the tread movement to the monitor to the calorie burn.

More Features and Benefits of the Assault AirRunner

This manual treadmill has a simple operating system that won’t slow you down. You just set the distance and go. You don’t have to commit to a full run if you’re not sure you’re up to it, but you’ll probably find you run more and longer because of it!

The AirRunner is built to last. It has a steel frame and handrails, and the hardware is corrosion resistant to help it survive sweat and climate.

This treadmill is about as low maintenance as you get. There’s no motor to break down, no belts to tighten, and the running surface is made up of slat belts that can last up to 150,000 miles! That’s a lot of miles to run!

The Assault AirRunner has built-in wheels to help you move it around and is compact enough to fit into any workout space. It’s also lightweight at just 280 pounds… but it can handle a runner of up to 350 pounds.

Special Features of the Assault AirRunner

Assault Fitness AirRunner, Black Frame/Charcoal

No Speed Limit: This treadmill instantly conforms to your speed. So — if you suddenly change your speed, the machine will follow your lead. There are no speed settings… you set the pace. Push your limits or take a leisurely jog — the Assault AirRunner goes as fast as you do.

Rhett M. has this to say about his AirRunner. He explains the reason it cost more than a motorized treadmill.

Bluetooth Enabled: You can connect your Bluetooth devices to this treadmill. It will work with apps like Zwift Run and Wahoo!

Warranty: The Assault AirRunner has a great warranty program. The frame comes with a 5-year warranty, and the rest of the components have three years of warranty coverage.

Drawbacks and Cons of the Assault AirRunner

Elevation Is Stable: Because this is a curved deck treadmill, you can’t vary your workouts’ incline. But don’t worry that you lose out on impact – being the machine’s motor will cover your calorie burn. You’ll always feel the gains of climbing a hill.

Mileage Versus Time:  Some customers complain that their times are off with this machine. But since the Assault AirRunner is manual, it’s more challenging work. Your times will appear lower and slower per mile. Think of it as running up a hill rather than running on a flat track, and your times will be more comparable.

Assault AirRunner Video

Here’s the video Assault Fitness posted to showcase the features of their AirRunner!

How Do You Use an Assault Treadmill?

This video by ASAP Fitness shows you how to use the Assault AirRunner to meet your fitness goals.

About Assault Fitness Products

Assault Fitness is a division of LifeCORE Fitness. The company works to develop fitness equipment that offers true durability to withstand the hard training of committed athletes. For over 20 years, they’ve designed products meant to take a beating to help you meet your athletic goals without the interruptions that come from heavy maintenance.

What Real-Life Customers Have to Say About the Assault AirRunner

Because there is more research and science put into it. Also, it is built like a tank. And the fact that there isn’t as much competition and Crossfit using them probably inflated the price some. Regardless, running on this is much more realistic than a powered treadmill, and that’s what I love the most.

Rhett M.

And Jeff K. raves about all the ways the AirRunner will boost his workout.

It didn’t take but 30 seconds to realize how big of an advantage this thing has over every other treadmill I’ve ever used. It was like a switch and the light bulb went off; it’s for sprinting, running, and interval training but — most of all — for pushing yourself. The kidney shape plays two important functions as well. First, it’s for speed control. The mechanics within this are silky-smooth (almost too smooth) so how and where you run on the machine become an important element to not literally outrunning yourself. Second, this lets you full-tilt sprint and interval train. In true ‘crossfit’ fashion, it’s a machine that lets you genuinely go all-out and sprint as fast as you can. The shape allows for long strides and the beautiful mechanics take up speed obscenely fast. When you want to sprint and go all-out, it’s on you. And it only continues to get better from there.

Jeff K.

A reviewer named David had this to say:

This thing was expensive, but definitely worth it. It’s a bit harder than running outside so whatever pace you get on this thing you’ll be slightly faster outdoors. It’s very smooth and doesn’t have much a floor print compared to average treadmills. Pretty quiet without a motor but still some noise. I use it 3-4 times a week and do 3 miles every time. It has shown no signs of any wear and tear.

David

The Bottom Line on the Assault AirRunner

The right treadmill should make your run more enjoyable, more effective, and be reliable — and this machine delivers all three.

With the Assault AirRunner, you have a treadmill scientifically designed to maximize every stride. It’s durable, low maintenance, and easy to use. There are no complicated settings to figure out and no limits on your speed – walk, jog, run, or sprint.

You can run and train as hard as you need to meet your goals, and you can do it with less stress on your joints. If that sounds good to you, you should seriously consider the Assault AirRunner (available on Amazon.com).

Assault Fitness AirRunner, Black Frame/Charcoal

Other Options for Assault AirRunner

To keep your water close at hand during your workouts, you may want a suitable cup holder. You can try this Universal Cup Holder by Accmor.

Universal Cup Holder by Accmor, Stroller Cup Holder, Large Caliber Designed Cup Holder, 360 Degrees Universal Rotation Cup Drink Holder,Black

Or, if you’re in the market for a stationary bike for great indoor riding, you should take a look at the Assault AirBike Classic (available on Amazon.com)

Assault AirBike Classic, Black