French Fitness ST100 Review | Under-the-Radar Slat Belt Treadmill Delivers Premium Comfort

If you’re looking for a no frills treadmill that’s well-built, easy one-button controls, and a premium running feel, the French Fitness ST100 is a great option.

My running schedule has always been borderline obsessive in that rain, shine, hot, cold I’m running outside 90% of the time.

I live by the mantra, “it’s never too cold or hot to run outside – you just need to have the right gear for the temperature.” But the reality is there are plenty of times it actually is too cold or hot to run outside or my schedule doesn’t allow me to get outside on the pavement.

That’s when I need a treadmill I don’t dread and actually look forward to turning on to crank out whatever mileage short or long I need that day. I’m a fan of treadmills, but only if they’re a premium experience (read stable and a great feel for the legs).

I will pay the extra money to make sure the times I have to run inside that I’m satisfied.

Our entire team of testers at RunToTheFinish believe in the flexibility great treadmills give runners. And we know that it requires we have to give honest reviews so you can decide for yourself which one is right for your needs and budget.

The ST100 has been on our list to review for a while because of the heavy-duty build and reliability. But we recognize, it’s not as much of a household name brand you have heard, so let us introduce you.

French Fitness ST100 Overview

I’ve been impressed testing the ST100 for many different types of runs and logged over 50 miles across many different sessions. When you unbox and have the treadmill setup it’s clear from the design and build this is a commercial grade machine.

Obviously the key feature that is going to excite most of you for this treadmill is the slat belt. We’ll dive into that below along with how it compares to other well known models.

We tend to lean towards these treadmill models in our recommendations because they last longer, feel incredibly stable and usually have really good parts guarantees.

I have complete confidence this is a treadmill you could use multiple times per day and 7 days a week with no breakdown. And that’s huge when looking at the lifespan of a big purchase like this.

It was known prior to ordering that this treadmill only came in kilometers per hour (KPH) and that was something I was comfortable translating in my head. Coach Amanda tells me they work with a lot of 1:1 runners who train in KM because that’s what most of the world uses, so maybe this is actually just a good time for me to convert for racing!

For some people this is a dealbreaker to not show miles per hour (MPH). For me personally, I actually liked knowing when I crossed the 5K, 10K mark because more often than not those are the length of my workouts.

Why Slat Belt Treadmills are Better

After testing dozens of treadmills, the difference a slat belt makes is immediately noticeable the moment you step on one. Where a traditional belt-and-deck setup can feel slightly springy or hollow underfoot, a slat belt feels planted, closer to running on an actual road or track.

That firmness and stability is a big part of why they’ve become the go-to choice for gyms, studios, and serious home athletes who are logging real miles.

The reason they command a higher price comes down to what’s actually under your feet. Instead of a single continuous belt running over a flat deck, a slat belt is made up of individual rubber slats linked together, each one typically cushioned or textured independently. More components, more precision engineering, more durability and that all adds up.

You’re also getting a surface that tends to hold up far better under heavy use and is easier to service over time, which is why commercial facilities are willing to pay for it.

Especially those coming from outdoor running, consistently prefer the sensation of a slat belt.

Quick Take

Who Is French Fitness?

I wasn’t familiar with the company French Fitness until this review.

Doing a bit of research, I learned the name is not because it’s a foreign company. It’s named after the founder Tim French, who started the company in 2019.

They also assemble all their equipment in the USA and have a warehouse in California.

Their product lineup covers more than just treadmills, they cover all things in the gym equipment category (bikes, ellipticals, weights, etc.). They strive to provide both top-tier and mid-priced equipment.

Rubberized “Crawler” Slats

When I first saw the rubberized slats I was excited to see how it compared to the Peloton Tread+ we have at my gym.

And in comparison I felt like it was very similar in that they are cushioned, not too bouncy, not too hard like a flat traditional belt, and yet that smooth premium feel to run on.

The materials they use are a combination of aluminum and an elastic polyurethane. They are pretty thick too! (1.26”, 32mm)

Running on the slats isn’t whisper quiet but it’s also not offensively loud. Meaning you don’t hear your feet hitting the slats like you can hear very clearly when running on a traditional belt treadmill.

We installed the treadmill on the second floor of our 1970s house with a rubber fitness equipment mat and with the door closed to our bedroom my wife commented on how she really couldn’t hear when I was using the machine.

The length of the ST100 is 22”W x 60”L is plenty big for intervals and long strides. My height is 5’9” and at no point did I feel cramped or like the width or length was too small. It’s very comfortable in terms of all of my strides.

Does it compare to a Woodway? Yes. I’ve only done a handful of runs on a Woodway treadmill.

Their treadmills claim the slats mimic outdoor running with a low impact feel. In my testing of the ST100, it has the same “Woodway feel” of their 4Front Series treadmills and similar slat designs. But exciting for those of us at home is getting that premium feel at a lower price point.

The ST100 really does a great job of making you feel like you running on a road/outside which is an elevated experience in comparison to belt/deck treadmills.

Console Controls and Data

The console on the ST100 is very straightforward and traditional. There are big buttons that all have one single function which makes it almost idiot proof.

One thing I really enjoyed is that if you are doing intervals or change speed frequently, the ability to change speed is in three places: the handlebars, the up and down buttons and then a numeric punchcode area that you can type in the exact speed you want to change to.

I found myself using the console up and down arrows the most frequently because it’s the most traditional way for most treadmills. The console also has your standard emergency stop and waist clip that had no issues staying put or accidentally falling out on any of my runs.

Stability And Feel

There is no other way to say this other than that this machine is rock solid. It lives up to the commercial build quality claims.

Don’t let the overly simplified controls fool you. This thing feels like a tank. One thing that’s important to note, the deck height is higher than most. I measured 13.75 inches to step up and  You have to have the ceiling clearance to handle the overall space that’s needed.

Setup and Space

Given the size and weight there really is no choice but to have the professional assembly done. The machine weighs 513 pounds.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone trying to move, assemble, and install the machine unless you are advanced in electronics and feel comfortable with assembling equipment.

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