How to Find the Best Treadmills

A treadmill is among the best fitness investment options you can build for your home. It lets you work out at your own pace, without worrying about the weather or the commute to the gym.

A good treadmill is a great instrument to track your fitness improvement. A treadmill is an essential item for anyone preparing for a marathon or simply seeking to keep their fitness level.

1. Motor

When shopping for a treadmill, opt for one with an impressive motor. If you plan on logging up to 20 miles per week, and doing intense interval training, choose a machine that offers a continuous 3.0 horsepower motor that has 60 inches of deck long. If you're just beginning, or only want to walk or jog occasionally, consider an option with motors that range between 1.75 and 2.5 horsepower.

You must also decide if you'd prefer to choose a treadmill with a touchscreen and virtual classes, or opt for a more basic model without the console. Certain models fold to make storage easier.

For a smart treadmill home with a sleek style and a wide array of features, take a look at the Peloton Treadmill. It's more expensive than our top choice however it offers an effortless running experience with a user-friendly touchscreen and a great range of workouts available on-demand from live and virtual instructors. The incline controls, situated on the handrails allow for easy adjustment of the speed and incline during exercise. The only cup holders on this treadmill are made of plastic and only hold water bottles.

Another treadmill to consider is the NordicTrack Commercial 2450. It's a bit more affordable than the Peloton Treadmill, but it has a good set of features. With iFit's compatibility you'll be able to access a range of workouts designed by trainers from all over the world. The app is available as a subscription that 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 has an incline range from -3 % to 15 percent for a more difficult exercise.

2. Design

The design of a treadmill is vital, treadmill just like any other piece of fitness equipment. If you are training for an outdoor race that is a bit hilly, you will want to select a treadmill with the highest incline setting. If you enjoy following the workout class, you should look for models with a large screen and iFIT compatibility which allows you to access classes that are studio-style as well as virtual coach programs. Explore the World scenic runs and off-treadmill workouts.

We also consider the ease of using the buttons as well as the user-friendly interface. We also consider whether the treadmill can be folded and, if so how long it takes to do so. We also consider whether the treadmill needs to be assembled and if it is an easy and quick process.

3. Technology

The technology used on treadmills makes a big difference in the ease with which they are to operate and whether they have any glitches. We take a look at touchscreens and intuitive controls, user-friendly interfaces, and other technological features when scoring a machine in this category. We also look at the possibility of a treadmill being folded and transported easily. This is essential for people who have to move their treadmills frequently or have to fit them into tight space.

We were impressed by the Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill's responsive speed and incline adjustments based upon past workouts, its long belt with a comfortable cushion, the iFIT integration that provides access to virtual coaches, studio-style classes, Explore the World scenic runs, as well as off-treadmill training options (though it occasionally had issues with Bluetooth connectivity). Its 22" eye-catching, crisp color touchscreen and iFIT compatibility made this treadmill a top choice.

The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill with a high score. It sports a 10" display and provides live and on-demand content from iFIT for walking, running and running. We like the fact that the incline and speed changes are easy to navigate on the touchscreen, as are the ergonomically-placed buttons that allow for quick adjustments as well as the iFIT integration that allows you to stream workouts from Zwift and Hulu Max (subscriptions required). The only issue is that there's no USB or headphone ports.

4. Comfort

The best treadmills should feel comfortable for the people using them. For those with larger bodies and longer strides could be more concerned about the size of the deck, and the amount of space it provides to walk or run. Others might be more interested in ergonomic features like well-placed controls for speed and incline. We also looked for features that make the machine enjoyable to use, like front-facing speakers, a USB charger port and tiny cooling fans, or plenty of storage space for water bottles and other accessories.

We also looked at the storage capacity of each treadmill. Not everyone has enough space in their home to store a full-sized treadmill. Fortunately, the majority of the treadmills we tested fold up or have support arms that minimize their footprint when they are not in use. We evaluated how easily the machines folded and could be stowed away and how long it took to set up, and if they were easy to move around on hard surfaces.

If you plan to run many trails in the outdoors it is important to take into consideration the highest incline of the machine. This is crucial since it will allow you to prepare for more difficult outdoor climbs.

We looked for responsive touchscreens and a user-friendly interface on every treadmill. We also looked for a non-glitchy design and whether or not the machine was compatible with fitness apps from third parties. This helped us decide whether each treadmill offered enough features to justify the cost. A high-quality treadmill at home removes the barriers of weather or treadmill expensive gym memberships and boosts your motivation to stay in shape.

5. Safety

A treadmill could be a risky piece of equipment if it is not used in a safe manner. It's a large and heavy machine that has an incline that can move at speeds of 10 or 12 miles per hour. Anyone who uses treadmills for walking and running should not lean on the hand rails as this can throw off balance and result in injuries. The risk of tripping can also be caused by a clutter-filled space around the treadmill. Keep it clean and clutter free during use and when storing it.

The best treadmills will have safety features such as an ejectable safety magnet that is attached to the belt. The magnet will detach and stop the belt immediately in the event that a runner is unable to maintain balance. This feature can help prevent serious injuries to runners as well as other people. This feature is typically found on treadmills at gyms. Home owners should consider purchasing one to decrease the amount of accidents that happen with home exercise equipment.

When using a treadmill at home, it's important to listen for the safety "beep" that comes on when the belt begins to move and not jump off until the belt is stopped. Many people make the mistake of trying to save time by jumping off before the belt is completely stopped, which can lead to injuries. Also, familiarize yourself with the location and usage of the emergency shut-off switch.

It's important to ensure that the treadmill is shut off and unplugged once you're finished with it. This will minimize the chance of accidental use by visitors or children. It is best to keep it in a separate area and a clear space above and around it can help keep other people from accidental contact with it, as well.