How to Find the Best Treadmills

A treadmill is among the most beneficial fitness investments you can build for your home. It allows you to work out at your own pace without worrying about the weather or your commute to the gym.

A good treadmill is a great tool for tracking your fitness progress. If you're training for an upcoming race or simply want to keep your fitness level having a treadmill in your home is an essential purchase.

1. Motor

Look for a treadmill with a powerful motor when shopping. If you plan to log more than 20 miles a week, and engage in intense training, select a treadmill that has a continuous motor of 3.0 horsepower. The deck should be at least 60 inches in length. If you're a beginner or simply want to walk or jog on occasion, consider an option that is smaller and includes 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 one. Some models can be folded for easy storage.

For a sleek treadmill with a sleek style and a wide array of features, look into the Peloton Treadmill. It's more expensive than our top pick, but it combines an enjoyable running experience with a simple touchscreen and an impressive range of workouts available on-demand from live and virtual instructors. The incline controls, situated on the handrails make it easy to adjust the speed and inclines while exercising. The only cup holders on this treadmill are made of plastic and only hold water bottles.

The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is another treadmill for home worth considering. It's less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill, but it comes with a great set of features. Its iFit compatibility lets you to access a variety of workouts online from trainers all over the world. You'll need a subscription in order to access the app, which is free for 30 days, and then costs $39 per month after that. The treadmill for sale also comes with a large 22-inch touchscreen and a cushioned deck. It can reach speeds of up to 12 mph, and it has an incline range between -3 % to 15 percent for a more challenging exercise.

2. Design

As with all fitness equipment, the way a treadmill is designed is important. If you're training for a challenging outdoor race it is recommended to choose an exercise machine with the highest incline settings that replicate the terrain of the outdoors. If you like to follow classes select 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 exercises.

We also consider the ease of use of the buttons as well as the user-friendly interface. We also look at whether the treadmill can be folded and, if yes how long it will take to fold it. We also consider if the treadmill needs assembly and whether that procedure is quick and easy.

3. Technology

The technology used in treadmills makes a big difference in how easy they are to operate and whether they have any issues. We take a look at touchscreens and intuitive controls, user-friendly interfaces, and other technological features when evaluating a treadmill in this category. We also take into consideration whether treadmills can be folded and transported easily. This is essential for people who often move their treadmills around or need to squeeze them into tight spaces.

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 gives access to studio-style classes, virtual coaches, and Explore the World scenic run options, as well as off-treadmill exercise options (though Bluetooth connectivity was sometimes difficult). Its 22" attractive, vibrant touchscreen with a color display and iFIT integration made this a top treadmill.

The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill that scores high. With a 10" screen, it provides live streaming and on demand iFIT walking, running, and jogging video. We like the ergonomically placed buttons that allow for rapid adjustments as well as the iFIT integration, treadmill at home which allows users to stream workouts on Zwift or Hulu Max with a subscription. The only drawback is that there's no USB or headphone ports.

4. Comfort

The most effective treadmills are ones that feel at ease for the person who is who uses them. People with larger bodies and longer strides could be more concerned with the size of the deck, and the amount of space it offers for walking or running. Others may be more interested in ergonomic features such as well-placed controls for treadmill at home speed and incline. We also looked for features that make the machine enjoyable to use, such as front facing speakers and a USB charger port, a small cooling fan, or plenty of storage space for your water bottle and other accessories.

Then, we looked at the storability of each treadmill, because not everyone has room in their home for an entire treadmill. Fortunately, most of the treadmills we tested fold down or have support arms to reduce their footprint when not in use. We tested how easily the machines could fold and store away, how long it took to set up, and if they were easy to move on solid surfaces.

If you are planning to run lots of hills outdoors, you should also take into consideration the maximum gradient. This feature is important because it can help you prepare for more challenging outdoor climbs.

We looked for touchscreens that were responsive and a user-friendly interface on every treadmill. We also looked for a non-glitchy appearance and whether the treadmill was compatible with fitness apps from third parties. This helped us determine whether each treadmill offered enough features to justify the price. A high-quality treadmill at your home can help you get over the challenges of bad weather and expensive gym memberships. It can also help you stay motivated to stay in shape.

5. Safety

A treadmill can be a risky piece of equipment if it is not used in a safe manner. It's a massive and heavy machine that has a belt that moves at speeds of up to 10 or 12 miles per hour. Be careful not to lean against the handrails while using treadmills to walk or run. This can cause an injury and can cause your balance to be thrown off. A risk of tripping is also caused by a messy area around the treadmill. Keep it clean and clutter-free during the use of it and when storing it.

The best treadmills have security features such as an adjustable safety magnetic that is connected to the belt. The magnet will break off and stop the belt immediately in the event that a runner is unable to maintain balance. This feature could prevent serious injuries to the runner and other users. This feature is typically found on treadmills in gyms. Home owners should consider purchasing one to decrease the amount of accidents that can occur on home exercise equipment.

When using a treadmill at home, it is important to pay attention to the safety "beep" that sounds when the belt starts to move, and don't jump off until the belt has stopped. Many people make the mistake of stepping off the treadmill before the belt has completely stopped. This could result in serious injuries. Also, familiarize yourself with the location and usage of the emergency shut-off switch.

After you've finished using the treadmill, it's a good idea to unplug it and switch it off. This can reduce the risk of children or unsuspecting visitors inadvertently turning on and running. It is best to keep it in a different room and a clear area above and around it can help keep other people from accidental contact with it as well.