How to Find the Best Treadmills

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

A high-quality treadmill is also a great way to monitor your fitness progress over time. A treadmill is an essential item for anyone preparing for a marathon or simply wanting to maintain their fitness level.

1. Motor

Find a treadmill that has powerful motors when shopping. If you plan to log up to 20 miles per week, and performing high-intensity interval training, you should choose an option that comes with an unstoppable 3.0 horsepower motor that has 60 inches of deck long. If you're a beginner, or simply want to walk and jog on occasion, consider an option that is smaller and has a 1.75-2.5 horsepower motor.

Choose if you would like a smart treadmill with a touchscreen as well as virtual classes, a console or a basic model without a console. Certain models fold to make it easier to store.

The Peloton Treadmill is a smart treadmill that has sleek design and impressive array of features. It's more expensive than our top choice but it provides a smooth running experience with an intuitive touchscreen and a great range of workouts available on-demand with instructors who are live and virtual. The incline controls are located on the handrails. The quick dials allow you to adjust speeds and inclines while exercising. The only cup holders are plastic and are only able to hold water bottles; there's no fan on this treadmill.

Another treadmill worth considering is the NordicTrack Commercial 2450. It's a bit less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill, but it offers a number of features. With its iFit integration, you can access a range of workouts developed by trainers from all over the world. The app is only available with a subscription, which costs $39 per monthly. The treadmill features an interactive touchscreen of 22 inches as well as a cushioned deck. It can reach a maximum speed of 12 mph, and comes with an incline adjustment range from between -3% and 15% for a more challenging workout.

2. Design

As with any piece of fitness equipment, the way a treadmill is designed is important. If you're planning to train for a hilly outdoor race you'll need to choose an exercise machine with the highest incline settings that replicate the terrain outdoors. If you enjoy following classes, choose models with a large display and iFIT compatibility. This lets you access studio-style classes, virtual coach programs, Explore the World scenic run, and other off-treadmill exercises.

Other design aspects we consider are responsive speed and incline controls (on the handrails as well as the lower console) which adjust to your needs without needing to use the touchscreen, simple buttons, and a slick interface. We also consider whether the treadmill can be folded and, if it can how long it will take to fold it. We also take into consideration if the treadmill requires assembly and if that process is easy and quick.

3. Technology

The technology used on treadmills makes a significant difference in how easy they are to use and whether they are prone to glitches. When we evaluate a treadmill in this category, we take into consideration touchscreens and easy-to-use controls. We also look at user-friendly interfaces, easy-to-use controls and other tech features. We also take into consideration whether treadmills can be folded and easily transported. This is important for people who move their machines frequently or need to squeeze them into tight space.

We were awestruck by the Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill's receptive speed and incline adjustment based on past workouts, its long belt and comfortable cushioning, and the iFIT integration that gives access to virtual coaches, studio-style classes, Explore the World scenic runs, and off-treadmill training options (though it sometimes had issues with Bluetooth connectivity). This treadmill was rated highly because of its 22" color touchscreen with attractive, sharp graphics and iFIT compatibility.

The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill that scores high. It sports a 10" display and offers live and on-demand content from iFIT for running, walking and running. We like the fact that the incline and Tread Mills speed changes are easy to navigate through the touchscreen, tread mills as are the ergonomically placed buttons for the quick adjustments, and the iFIT integration that lets you stream workouts from Zwift and Hulu Max (subscriptions required). The one downside is that it does not have an audio port or USB ports.

4. Comfort

The best treadmills should feel comfortable for those who use them. People with larger bodies and larger strides should concentrate on the dimensions of the deck and the amount of space it gives for running or walking, while others might care more about ergonomic features like well-placed speed and incline controls. We also searched for additional features that make it a pleasure to use the machine, like front-facing speakers as well as a USB charging port, a small cooling fan, as well as plenty of places to store your water bottle or other accessories.

We also looked at the storage capacity of each treadmill. Not everyone has enough space in their home to accommodate a full-size machine. Fortunately, most of the treadmills we tested fold down or have support arms that reduce their footprint when not in use. We examined the ease with which the machines folded and stowed away, how long it took to set up, and if they were easy to move on hard surfaces.

If you're planning to run many of the trails in the outdoors, you'll also want to consider the maximum incline of the treadmill. This is a vital feature that will allow you to train for more difficult outdoor climbs by mimicking the ascent using the treadmill.

We searched for responsive touchscreens and a user-friendly interface on every treadmill. We also considered the design of the treadmill and if it was compatible with fitness apps that are made by third parties. This helped us decide whether each treadmill offered enough features to justify its price. Having a quality home treadmill removes the barriers of weather or costly gym memberships and can boost your motivation to get in shape.

5. Safety

If not handled correctly, a treadmill could be risky. It's a huge and heavy machine that has a belt that can move at speeds of 10 or 12 miles per hour. People who use treadmills home gym for walking and running should not lean on the hand rails because this could throw off balance and cause injury. A risk of tripping is also caused by a clutter-filled area around the treadmill. Keep it tidy and clutter free during use and when storing it.

The most reliable treadmills will come with safety features such as an adjustable safety magnet that is that is attached to the belt. If a runner falls off their balance, the magnet releases and stops the belt instantly. This feature could prevent serious injuries to runners and others. Gyms have treadmills that are equipped with this technology, and home owners might want to consider purchasing one in order to reduce the amount of accidents involving exercise equipment.

It's important that you listen for the "beep" when the treadmill belt begins to move. Don't leap off before the belt has stopped. Many people make the error of stepping off the treadmill before the belt has stopped. This can cause serious injuries. Also, familiarize yourself with the position and operation of the emergency shut-off switch.

It's important to make sure that the treadmill near me is shut off and unplugged when you're finished with it. This will reduce the chance of accidental use by visitors or children. Keeping it in a separate area and a clear area above and around it can help keep other people from coming into contact with it, as well.