How to Find the Best Treadmills

A treadmill is among the most beneficial fitness investment options you can make for your home. It lets you work out at your own speed, without worrying about the weather or the journey to the gym.

A quality treadmill can also be a great tool to track your fitness progress over time. If you're training for an upcoming marathon or simply want to maintain your fitness level, having a treadmill at home is a must.

1. Motor Vehicles

Look for a treadmill with a powerful motor when shopping. If you plan to log more than 20 miles a week, and do high-intensity training, select a treadmill that has an unstoppable motor of 3.0 horsepower. The deck should be 60 inches in length. If you're just beginning, or only would like to jog or walk occasionally, consider an option with motors that range between 1.75 and 2.5 horsepower.

Choose if you would like a smart treadmill with a touchscreen, virtual classes and a console, or a simple model without a console. Some models even fold to make it easier to store.

The Peloton Treadmill is a well-designed treadmill with sleek design and impressive range features. It's a bit more expensive than our top pick but it offers an enjoyable running experience and an intuitive touchscreen. It also has numerous exercises on demand with live and virtual instructors. The controls for incline, which are situated on the handrails allow you to easily adjust speed and inclines during exercise. The only cup holders are made of plastic and are only able to hold water bottles; there's no fan on this treadmill.

The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is another treadmill that is worth a look. It's a bit less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill, but it has a good set of features. Its iFit compatibility allows you to access a variety of virtual workouts from trainers around the world. The app is available as a subscription which costs $39 per month. The treadmill features a 22-inch touchscreen as well as a cushioned deck. It can run at speeds of up to 12 mph and also has an incline that ranges between -3 % and 15 percent for a more difficult exercise.

2. Design

Like any other piece of fitness equipment, the way a treadmill is constructed is crucial. If you're training for a challenging outdoor race it is recommended to choose the treadmill with the highest incline settings that simulate the terrain outdoors. If you like to follow along with a class pick models with a large screen and iFIT compatibility. This lets you access studio-style classes, virtual coach programs, Explore the World scenic run, and off-treadmill workouts.

Other design aspects we take into consideration are the incline and speed controls that are responsive (on the handrails and the lower console) that can adjust to your commands without you having to touch the touchscreen, easy-to-use buttons, and a slick interface. We also look at whether the treadmill can be folded and if it is then how long it will take to do so. We also examine whether the treadmill used for sale has to be assembled and if it is simple and easy to do so.

3. Technology

The technology utilized in treadmills makes a big difference in how easy they are to use and if they are prone to glitches. We look at touchscreens as well as user-friendly controls, intuitive interfaces and other tech features when evaluating a treadmill in this category. We also look at whether a treadmill for home use is mobile and folds at the push of a button. This is important for those who move their treadmills around their homes or need to squeeze them into tight space.

The Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill impressed us with its rapid speed and incline adjustments based on previous workouts, its long belt, comfortable cushioning and iFIT integration, which offers access to studio-style classes, virtual coaches, and Explore the World scenic run options, in addition to exercises that are not on the treadmill (though Bluetooth connectivity was sometimes difficult). This treadmill was rated highly due to its 22" color touchscreen with sharp, eye-catching graphics and the iFIT compatibility.

Another treadmill with high scores is the ProForm Carbon T10. It sports a 10" display and features live and on-demand content from the iFIT platform for walking, running and jogging. We like the ergonomically placed buttons that allow for quick adjustments and the iFIT integration, which allows you to stream workouts on Zwift or Hulu Max with a subscription. The only issue is that there's no USB or headphone ports.

4. Comfort

The best treadmills should be comfortable for the people using them. People with larger bodies and larger strides will want to focus on the dimensions of the deck as well as the amount of space it offers for walking or running, while others might care more about ergonomic features, such as the right-placed speed and incline controls. We also looked for features that make the machine more enjoyable to use, such as front facing speakers and the USB charger port, tiny cooling fans, or plenty of storage space for water bottles and other accessories.

Finally, we considered the storage capacity of each treadmill, since not everyone has room in their home for an entire treadmill. Fortunately, nearly all the treadmills we tested fold up or have support arms to reduce their footprint when not in use. We evaluated the ease with which the machines folded and stowed away and how long it took to set up, and if they were easy to move on firm surfaces.

If you plan to run many trails in the outdoors it is important to consider the maximum incline of the machine. This is a crucial feature that will help you train for more difficult outdoor climbs by mimicking the ascent using the treadmill.

We searched for responsive touchscreens and an intuitive interface on each treadmill. We also looked for a non-slip design and whether the machine was compatible with fitness apps from third parties. This helped us determine whether each treadmill had enough features to justify the price tag. Having a quality home treadmill removes the barriers of weather or expensive gym memberships and can boost your motivation to stay in shape.

5. Safety

A treadmill could be a risky piece of equipment if not used properly. It's a massive, heavy machine with a belt moving at speeds up to 12 miles per hour. Those who use treadmills for walking or running should be careful not to lean on the hand rails, because this could throw off balance and lead to injuries. A cluttered space around the treadmill could also create tripping hazards, so it's important to keep it tidy and clutter-free during use and storage.

The best treadmills will include security features like a removable safety magnet that is attached to the belt. If a runner loses their balance, the magnet releases and stops the moving belt instantly. This feature can prevent serious injuries to runners and other users. The treadmills best in gyms are typically equipped with this technology, and home users should consider purchasing one to help decrease the number of accidents involving home exercise equipment.

When you are using a treadmill at home, it is important to listen for the "beep" that goes off when the belt begins to move and not jump off until the belt has stopped. Many people make the mistake of trying to save time by jumping off before the belt has completely stopped, which can cause injuries. Also, you should be familiar with the position and operation of the emergency shut-off switch.