How to Find the Best Treadmills

A treadmill is among the best fitness investment options 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 high-quality treadmill is also a great method to track your fitness progress over time. If you're training for an upcoming marathon or just want to maintain your fitness level having a treadmill at home is an essential purchase.

1. Motor

Look for a treadmill with a powerful motor when shopping. If you plan to log upwards of 20 miles a week and doing high-intensity interval training, opt for a machine that offers a continuous 3.0 horsepower motor that has a deck that's 60 inches long. If you're just beginning or just would like to jog or walk at times, think about the model that has an engine that's between 1.75 and 2.5 horsepower.

It is also important to decide if you'd prefer to opt for a treadmill that features a touchscreen and virtual classes, or if you prefer an easier model that doesn't have an console. Some models even fold to make it easier to store.

The Peloton Treadmill is a smart treadmill with an elegant design and impressive array of features. It's more expensive than our top pick however it offers an effortless running experience with a user-friendly touchscreen and a great selection of on-demand workouts with instructors who are live and virtual. The controls for incline, which are located on the handrails, make it easy to adjust speed and inclines during exercise. The only cup holders on this treadmill are plastic and only hold water bottles.

Another treadmill to consider is the NordicTrack Commercial 2450. It's less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill but has a many good features. Its iFit compatibility allows users to access a range of workouts in virtual form from trainers all over the world. You'll need a subscription in order to use the app, which is free for 30 days and costs $39 per month after that. The treadmill features a 22-inch touchscreen as well as a cushioned deck. It has a maximum speed of 12 mph, and comes with an incline adjustment range from -3% to 15 percent for an intense workout.

2. Design

As with all fitness equipment, how a treadmill is constructed is crucial. If you're training for a challenging outdoor race you'll need to choose the treadmill with the highest incline settings that simulate the terrain outdoors. If you love to follow an exercise class, look for models that feature a large screen and iFIT compatibility which allows you to access studio-style classes virtual coach programs, Explore the World scenic runs and off-treadmill exercises.

Other design factors that we take into consideration are responsive speed and incline controls (on the handrails as well as the lower console) that can adjust to your commands without you needing to touch the touchscreen, easy-to-use buttons, and a slick interface. We also look at 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 a quick and painless process.

3. Technology

The technology utilized in treadmills can make a massive difference to how easy they are to use, and whether or not there are any issues. We look at touchscreens as well as user-friendly controls, intuitive interfaces, and other technological features when evaluating a treadmill in this category. We also look at whether the treadmill is mobile and folds at the push of a button. This is important for those who frequently move their treadmills around their home or have to squeeze them into tight space.

We were awestruck by the Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill's receptive speed and incline adjustments based upon previous workouts, its wide 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 exercise options (though it occasionally had trouble with Bluetooth connectivity). This treadmill was rated highly because of its 22" color touchscreen, which has crisp, eye-catching graphics and the iFIT compatibility.

Another high-scoring treadmill is the ProForm Carbon T10. It has a 10" display and offers live and on-demand content from the iFIT platform for walking, running and running. We love the ergonomically-placed buttons to make rapid adjustments as well as the iFIT integration, which lets you to stream workouts via Zwift or Hulu Max with a subscription. The only issue is that there's no USB or headphone ports.

4. Comfort

The most efficient treadmills are ones that feel comfortable for the person who is using them. Some people with larger bodies and longer strides may be more concerned about the dimensions of the deck, and the amount of space it provides for walking or running. Others might be more interested in ergonomic features like well-placed control of speed and incline. We also scoured for features that make it enjoyable to use the machine, such as front-facing speakers and an 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 fit a full-size treadmill. Fortunately, the majority of treadmills we tested fold up or come with support arms to minimize their footprint when not in use. We examined how easily they folded up and put away and set up, how quickly they could be set up and whether they were easy to move on solid surfaces.

If you're planning to run many of the trails in the outdoors it is important to take into consideration the highest incline of the treadmill. This feature is important because it will help you prepare for more challenging outdoor climbs.

In terms of the technology that is on each treadmill, we looked for touchscreens that respond and easy to navigate during training as well as an intuitive interface. We also looked at the design of the treadmill, and whether it was compatible with fitness apps that are made by third parties. This helped us determine whether each treadmill had enough features to justify the price tag. A high-quality treadmill at home removes the barriers of weather or costly gym memberships, and can increase your motivation to stay in shape.

5. Safety

If not handled correctly, a treadmill could be risky. It's a massive, heavy machine with an incline that can move at speeds of up to 10 or 12 miles per hour. Those who use treadmills for walking and running should avoid leaning on the hand rails, because this could throw off balance and lead to injury. A risk of tripping is also caused by a clutter-filled space around the treadmill. Keep it clean and clutter-free during the use of it and when storing it.

The best treadmills come with security features such as a magnetic safety that can be removed and attached to the belt. If a runner loses their balance, the magnet detaches and stops the moving belt immediately. This feature can safeguard the runner as well as others from serious injuries. The treadmills in gyms are typically equipped with this technology, and homeowners should consider purchasing one to help decrease the number of accidents involving 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. Don't leap off until the belt has stopped. Many people make the error of jumping off the treadmill before the belt has stopped. This could result in serious injuries. Also, be familiar with the location and use of the emergency shut-off switch.

When you're done with the treadmill It's a good idea that you unplug and shut off the treadmill. This will reduce the chance of your children or visitors accidentally turning it on and running. It can also be kept in a separate location with a clear space around it to stop others from getting it in the wrong way.