How to Find the Best Treadmills

A treadmill is one of the most beneficial fitness investment options you can make for your home. It allows you to exercise at your own speed, without worrying about the weather or the commute to the gym.

A high-quality treadmill is also a great method to monitor your fitness progress over time. If you're training for an upcoming marathon or simply want to maintain your fitness level, having a treadmill at home is a must.

1. Motor Vehicles

When shopping for a treadmill, look for one with a powerful motor. If you intend to run up to 20 miles per week and doing high-intensity interval training, opt for one that has an uninterrupted 3.0 horsepower motor that has 60 inches of deck long. If you're a beginner or simply want to walk or jog often, you should consider the model that has a motor that is between 1.75 and 2.5 horsepower.

Choose if you would like an intelligent treadmill that has a touchscreen as well as virtual classes, an console or a basic model without a console. Some models even fold to make it easier to store.

The Peloton Treadmill is a sophisticated treadmill with an elegant design and impressive array of features. It's more expensive than our top choice but it provides an enjoyable running experience with an intuitive touchscreen and an impressive selection of on-demand workouts from live and virtual instructors. The incline controls are well-positioned on the handrails, and the quick dials make it easy to alter the speed and incline while exercising. The only cup holders on this treadmill are plastic and only hold water bottles.

The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is another treadmill to consider. It's a bit less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill, but it comes with a great set of features. Its iFit compatibility allows you to access a variety of workouts in virtual form from trainers all over the world. You'll require a subscription to access the app, which is included for 30 days and is $39 per month after that. The treadmill has a 22-inch touchscreen aswell as a cushioned deck. It can reach an maximum speed of 12 mph, and comes with an incline adjustability range of 33% to 15% for an intense workout.

2. Design

The design of a treadmill is important as is any other piece of fitness equipment. If you're preparing for an outdoor race that is hilly it is best to choose a treadmill that has maximum incline settings. If you love to follow the workout class, choose models with a big screen and iFIT compatibility, which lets you access classes that are studio-style, virtual coach programs, Explore the World scenic runs and other off-treadmill exercises.

Other design factors that we consider include adjustable speed and incline controls (on the handrails and lower console) that adjust to your commands without you needing to touch the touchscreen, user-friendly buttons, and a user-friendly interface. We also take into consideration whether the treadmill can fold and if it is the case, how long it will take to do so. We also take into consideration if the treadmill requires assembly and if that process is quick and painless.

3. Technology

The technology used in treadmills can make a huge difference in how easy they are to use, and if there are any issues. We consider touchscreens and intuitive controls, user-friendly interfaces and other tech features when scoring a machine in this category. We also consider the possibility of a treadmill being folded and easily transported. This is crucial for people who often move their treadmills around or have to fit them into tight spaces.

We were impressed by the Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill's responsive speed and incline adjustment based on past workouts, its long belt and comfortable cushioning, and the iFIT integration that allows access to studio-style classes, virtual coaches, Explore the World scenic runs, as well as off-treadmill training options (though it did occasionally have issues with Bluetooth connectivity). This treadmill was rated highly because of its 22" color touchscreen, which has attractive, sharp images and iFIT compatibility.

Another high-scoring treadmill is the ProForm Carbon T10. It features a 10" display and offers live and on-demand content from iFIT for running, walking and jogging. We like that the speed and incline adjustments are easy to navigate through the touchscreen, the ergonomically-placed buttons that allow for quick adjustments and the iFIT integration which lets you stream workouts from Zwift and Hulu Max (subscriptions required). The only drawback is that it doesn't offer a headphone port or USB ports.

4. Comfort

The best treadmills should feel comfortable for the people using them. People with larger bodies and longer strides may be more concerned with the dimensions of the deck and the amount of space it offers for running or walking. Others might be more concerned about ergonomic features such as well-placed control of speed and incline. We also looked for features that make the bike more enjoyable to use, like 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.

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

If you plan to run a lot of trails in the outdoors You should also consider the maximum incline of the machine. This is a vital feature that will allow you to prepare for more challenging outdoor climbs by allowing you to simulate the ascent using the treadmill.

We looked for touchscreens that were responsive and an intuitive interface on every treadmill. We also looked for a non-slip design and whether or not the machine was compatible with third-party fitness apps. This helped us decide if each treadmill had enough features to justify its price. A quality treadmill for your home eliminates the obstacles of weather or expensive gym memberships, and can increase your motivation to get into shape.

5. Safety

If not used correctly, a treadmill could be risky. It's a large, heavy machine with a belt moving at speeds up to 12 or 10 miles per hour. People who use treadmills for walking and running should be careful not to lean on the hand rails since this could cause a loss of balance and lead to injuries. Tripping hazards can also be created by a cluttered area around the treadmill. Keep it clean and clutter-free throughout use and when storing it.

The best treadmills at home will include security features like a removable safety magnet attached to the belt. The magnet will break off and stop the belt right away when a runner falls off balance. This feature can prevent serious injuries to runners and others. The treadmills in gyms are typically equipped with this technology, and home users should consider purchasing one to reduce the amount of accidents involving home exercise equipment.

When you are using a treadmill at home, it's crucial to listen for the safety "beep" that sounds when the belt starts to move. Don't leap off until the belt has stopped. Many people make the mistake of jumping off the treadmill before the belt has completely stopped. This could result in serious injuries. Also, make certain to know where the emergency shut-off switch is located and how to use it.

When you're done using the treadmill, it's a good idea to disconnect it and shut it off. This can reduce the risk of kids or unintentionally visiting visitors accidentally turning it on and running. It is also possible to keep it in a separate area with a clear space above and around it to prevent others from touching it accidentally.