How to Find the Best Treadmills

The treadmill is an excellent investment for your home. It lets you work out on your schedule and not worry about the weather or your commute to the gym.

A high-quality treadmill is also a great method to monitor your fitness progress over time. A treadmill is essential for anyone training for a marathon or just wanting to maintain their fitness level.

1. Motor

Look for a Treadmill best with an efficient motor when you shop. If you plan to log more than 20 miles per week, and do high-intensity training, select a treadmill that has an all-time motor of 3.0 horsepower. The deck should be 60 inches long. If you're a beginner, or only need to walk or run often, you should consider a model with a motor that is between 1.75 and 2.5 horsepower.

You should also decide if you'd like to choose a treadmill that features a touchscreen and virtual classes or if you prefer an easier model that doesn't have an console. Certain models fold to make it easier to store.

The Peloton Treadmill is a smart treadmill that has a sleek design with an impressive array of features. It's a bit more expensive than our top choice, but it offers smooth running and a simple touchscreen. It also offers numerous exercises on demand with instructors who are live and virtual. The incline controls are placed on the handrails and quick dials allow you to adjust the speed and inclines while exercising. The only cup holders on this treadmill are made of plastic and are only used to hold water bottles.

The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is another treadmill worth considering. It's a bit more affordable than the Peloton Treadmill, but it offers a number of features. Its iFit compatibility allows you to access a wide range of workouts in virtual form from trainers across the globe. The app is only accessible with a subscription, which costs $39 per month. The treadmill also comes with a huge 22-inch touchscreen and 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 challenging exercise.

2. Design

As with any piece of fitness equipment, how a treadmill is constructed is crucial. If you're training for an outdoor race that is hilly you should select a treadmill with maximum incline settings. If you love to follow an exercise class, you should look for models that feature a large screen and iFIT compatibility, which allows you to access studio-style classes as well as virtual coach programs. Explore the World scenic runs and off-treadmill workouts.

We also take a look at the ease of use of the buttons and the user-friendly interface. We also take into consideration whether the treadmill is foldable and, if it is then how long it will take to fold it. We also look at whether the treadmill for home needs assembly and whether the procedure is quick and easy.

3. Technology

The technology utilized in treadmills can make a big difference to how easy they are to use, and if there are any glitches. When evaluating a treadmill within this category, we look at touchscreens and intuitive controls. We also look at user-friendly interfaces, easy-to-use controls and other technological features. We also consider if a treadmill is portable and folds with the touch of a button, which might be important for those who often move their treadmills around their home or have to place them in tight space.

We were impressed by the Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill's responsive speed and incline adjustments based on past workouts, its long belt and cushioning that is comfortable, as well as the iFIT integration that allows access to virtual coaches, studio-style classes, Explore the World scenic runs, and off-treadmill exercise options (though it sometimes had problems with Bluetooth connectivity). The treadmill was highly rated due to its 22" color touchscreen that has attractive, sharp graphics and iFIT compatibility.

The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill that scores high. With a 10" screen, it provides live streaming and on demand iFIT running, walking, and jogging content. We love the ergonomically-placed buttons for quick adjustments and the iFIT integration, which allows you to stream workouts via Zwift or Hulu Max with a subscription. The only drawback is that it doesn't offer an audio port or USB ports.

4. Comfort

The most efficient treadmills for home are those that feel at ease for the person who is using them. People with larger bodies and taller strides should focus on the dimensions of the deck and how much space it offers to walk or run, while others might care more about ergonomic features like well-placed speed and incline controls. We also looked for features that make the machine more enjoyable to use, such as front facing speakers as well as an USB charger port and an insignificant cooling fan or plenty of storage space for your water bottle and other accessories.

Finally, we considered the ability to store each treadmill, because not everyone has space in their home to accommodate a full-size treadmill. Fortunately, the majority of models we tested fold up or come with support arms to minimize their footprint when not in use. We examined 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 around on hard surfaces.

If you're planning to run many trails in the outdoors, you'll also want to think about the maximum incline on the treadmill. This is a crucial feature that can help you prepare for more difficult outdoor climbs by mimicking the ascent using the treadmill.

We looked for responsive touchscreens and a simple interface on every treadmill. We also looked for a non-slip appearance and whether the treadmill was compatible with third-party fitness apps. This allowed us to determine if each treadmill for home use had enough features to justify the cost. A quality treadmill for your home eliminates the obstacles of weather and 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 massive heavy machine with an incline that can move at speeds of up to 10 or 12 miles per hour. Anyone who uses treadmills for walking and running should be careful not to lean on the hand rails, as this can throw off balance and lead to injuries. A cluttered space around the treadmill could cause tripping hazards, so it's important to keep it clean and clutter-free during use and storage.

The most reliable treadmills will come with safety features such as a removable safety magnet 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 the runner and others. This type of technology is typically used on treadmills in gyms. Home users should invest in one to lessen the risk of accidents that occur with home exercise equipment.

When using a treadmill at home, it's important to pay attention to the safety "beep" that goes off when the belt begins to move, and don't jump off until the belt is stopped. Many people make the mistake of jumping off the treadmill before the belt has stopped. This can result in serious injuries. Also, you should be familiar with the position and operation of the emergency shut-off switch.

When you're done with the treadmill it's recommended to unplug it and shut it off. This reduces the chance of your children or visitors accidentally turning it on and using it. The fact that it is kept in a separate room and a clear area above and around it can protect others from coming into contact with it, as well.