iMovR Energize Treadmill Desk Review

[Editors’ Note—Oct 11, 2022: It is with great disappointment that we hear iMovR has decided to suspend production of the ThermoTread GT Office Treadmill Base. They give a full explanation of why on their website. They also elaborate on their continued commitment to developing products for the treadmill desking community, especially their standing desks—which remain the very best kind to pair with an under-desk treadmill (e.g. Lander, Lander Lite and Jaxson)—as well as SteadyType keyboard trays, treadtop standing mat, treadtop seats, treadmill lubricant, under-treadmill anti-static mats, etc.). We leave this content up for posterity, and hope to see iMovR re-enter the walking treadmill base market someday in the future. But for now we appear to have lost the #1-rated option in the category; along with 15 other brands of treadmill desk manufacturers out of 18 that we have reviewed since 2013 that have also exited the stage. The pandemic and other market forces has taken a great toll on these suppliers.]

Review

We’ve already reviewed the iMovR Energize Standing Desk in detail and were left mightily impressed by its variety of tabletop colors, shapes, and sizing options—the most of any standing desk we’ve reviewed to date—not to mention its American-made quality and highly competitive price point. As iMovR phases out their UpStage base desks, the Freedom Line is taking their place, and the Energize Treadmill Desk is replacing the sunsetting UpTown Treadmill Desk. With a better warranty on the desk, more size options, and a cleaner, more modern-looking base, the Energize delivers more value for the dollar, even while adding an all-American pedigree.

But how does the Energize translate into the world of treadmill desking? When we review treadmill desks, we look at several key factors (you can find them summarized in our article How We Conduct Treadmill Desk Reviews). In the case of the Energize, we’re starting with a full standing desk that has already received some of our highest marks for stability, quality, aesthetics, and value, among other criteria. So the question becomes, how does this high quality standing desk perform in a new context, with a treadmill residing underneath and the user walking and working for (perhaps) several hours a day?

Ergonomically Sound for Standing… and Walking?

The key to determining the Energize’s performance as a walking desk has to do with how well it ensures an ergonomic working experience for the user.

Vertical Challenge Accepted

Desk Height

The first and perhaps most important factor to consider is whether the desk can lift high enough to accommodate the extra five inches you’ll need to tack on to your height while standing on a treadmill base.

In fact, iMovR only offers their Energize Treadmill Desks with their greater height range base – the Freedom ‘XT’ model – for exactly this reason. Reaching from 22.4” to 48.5”, the Freedom XT Base can accommodate most walking workers.

Monitor Height

Sufficient desk height ensures you can walk, type, and mouse comfortably without straining your hands, wrists, and arms. But keeping your eyeline at the proper height is another challenge entirely, and it’s also paramount to walking desk ergonomics. The classic solution for this problem is still the best one, and iMovR offers an assortment of monitor arms to go with their Energize Treadmill Desks (and with all their desks). With a tall pole monitor arm keeping the top of your monitor at a 0 degree eyeline, the Energize Treadmill Desk will accommodate monitor height needs for users of all heights.

A Treadmill for Walking in the Office

While the Energize performs well as a treadmill desk in general due to its ergonomic features, it performs spectacularly when partnered with iMovR’s treadmill, the ThermoTread GT. We’ve taken a close look at the ThermoTread GT before, the state-of-the-art treadmill designed for walking at work that accompanies all iMovR’s treadmill desks, and you can see our in-depth review of the treadmill itself here. But a quick rehash of the most salient points is in order, since we’re taking a look at the whole integrated Energize Treadmill Desk Workstation in this review.

User Weight Rating

Most office treadmills sold with standing desks are really just re-skinned running treadmills, and don’t take into account the new demands of walking for long periods during the day. It may seem counterintuitive, but walking on a treadmill designed for running speeds actually strains the motor more than running does. While running, your feet stay off the treadmill belt half the time, allowing the motor to run freely. The other half the time your feet are pushing the belt in the same direction the motor is running—for altogether less time with your full weight pressed against the machine. Walking at speeds of 1 – 2 mph, on the other hand, places a huge strain on a motor that must overcome the friction between the belt and the deck while pulling along what is effectively a dead weight (you).

This means that a good office treadmill must have high torque and low friction at speeds of 1-2 mph. Otherwise, it’s a recipe for premature motor or motor controller burnout, both of which cost as much to repair as buying a new treadmill. The ThermoTread GT was designed with just this in mind, with a powerful 3 HP / 4000 RPM motor, 24×7 duty cycle, and a certified user weight rating of 400 lbs.

Noise

A common concern of would-be treadmill deskers is how much noise the device will make. The last thing most people want is to aggravate their coworkers with the hum of their treadmill running during the day. That’s why noise level is so important when evaluating the best treadmill desks. When we tested, the ThermoTread GT was whisper quiet at 42.7dB (measured at ear height), that’s lower than the background HVAC noise of most offices, and far quieter than any other office treadmill on the market.

Warranty

As always, warranty is usually a sign of the confidence a manufacturer places in their product quality. iMovR’s ThermoTread GT comes with an industry-leading warranty on motor, parts, and labor.

Console

And, as icing on the cake, iMovR’s LCD touch-screen console tracks walking metrics, goals, and usage. It has internet connectivity, and will soon be connected to the iMovR CloudStation (which will permit fleet tracking and individual user stat tracking on the cloud), expected to be made available to consumers in 2018.

How does the Energize Compare to iMovR’s Premium Treadmill Desks?

Now that the Energize Treadmill Desk has come to replace the Uptown in iMovR’s desk arsenal, how does it compare to the top-of-the-line Elite? Both use the ThermoTread GT office treadmill, but the Freedom Line itself does have a couple small advantages over iMovR’s premium line, including a bit more customizability (the Energize for instance, comes in five widths from 47” to 71”, where the Elite comes in four widths, from 48” to 83”; and while both desks come with black or silver powder coated base colors, the Energize also offers white). The Freedom also has the premium line beat on ease of assembly and comes with its own wire management tray to keep your cords under control. Then there’s the kicker that it’s also substantially less expensive.

But the premium line, which uses the Reliant Base, has the Freedom Base beat on most specs including transit speed (1.5 in/sec vs. 1.3 in/sec) and lift capacity (265 lbs vs 220 lbs). The Reliant’s elegant, back-lit hand controller features four programmable height-presets compared to the Freedom’s lower-contrast LCD display and only two programmable height presets (which double as the Up and Down buttons).

Perhaps most importantly, the premium Reliant Base raises 3” higher than the Freedom XT, and is a better fit for taller workers. iMovR offers 4” height extenders for the Reliant, as well as caster wheels, to add a total of 6.5” to its already tall height, plenty for even tall treadmill deskers. Its longer feet (23 5/8” vs 29” long) create more stability for the desk, and its crossbars telescope to accommodate wider desktops, making it one of the few bases on the market that can stretch wide enough to fit a 7’ top with full stability.

Made-in-the-USA machining quality and warranty coverage are the same for both the Energize and the Elite. If your aim is to combine functionality with reliability, the Energize desk wins on value for the dollar and ease of assembly. If your aim is the ultimate in decor, and the extreme of stability at maximum height and width, the Elite is the clear choice, for not too much more money.

The Takeaway

The Energize already earned our praise when we reviewed it as a standing desk, and with a high-quality treadmill underneath, we conclude it makes one of the best walking stations you can find on the market. While it doesn’t possess the built-in ergonomic keyboard tray of its sister-product the Cascade, its excellent height range, value, and rock solid stability make it an excellent option for any worker who wants to start walking at work.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a used treadmill desk, be sure to check out our primer on used treadmill desks, and especially the conquest bonuses offered by some manufacturers to switch to their brand.

Shipping

Energize Treadmill Desks are made to order and arrive within ten to fourteen business days from order placement. They are shipped palletized by freight from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The standard shipping price for Energize Treadmill Desks, including all optional items purchased at the same time, is free in the continental US. iMovR also offers a variety of delivery upgrades including room of choice delivery and, uniquely, factory pre-assembly.

Warranty

Energize Stand Up Desk Warranty Details

• Lifetime warranty on the frame
• 10 years on all motors and electronics
• 5years on the 3D laminated tabletop

ThermoTread GT Office Treadmill Warranty Details

• 3 years on motor
• 2 years on parts
• 1 year on labor

Specifications

The ThermoTread GT Office Treadmill Base

The ThermoTread GT Desktop Console

Compare

See how the Energize Treadmill Desk stacks up against the competition in our Treadmill Desk Comparison Review.

Looking For More Treadmill Desk Reviews And Inspirations?

• Best Under-Desk Office Treadmill Bases

• DIY Treadmill Desk Guide

• Health Benefits For Treadmill Desk Users

• Treadmill Desk Ergonomics

• Treadmill Desk FAQs

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