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Best Home Treadmill Reviews and Ratings
Even if you are a big fan of your scenic and challenging trails, there is a treadmill out there that is perfect for you. Many hook up to your phone so you can listen to your favorite music or even play relaxing sounds of nature! Some of the higher-end designs allow you to adjust the angle of the belt so it feels like you are running up a hill.
In this guide, we have selected some of our favorite treadmills out there on the market that allows you to get in a really great run when the snow is pouring down outside.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Materials
When we talk about materials, we are talking about how well each treadmill is built.
These products are made to really take a beating day after day, so you want to ensure that the frame is built to hold up to your stride.
There is nothing worse than a treadmill that seems to shake and wiggle right under your feet as the speed starts to increase. The reason some of the lower end models have a tendency to do this is that they are made from primarily plastic components. This wiggle doesn’t mean that the entire unit will break down on you, but it is unsettling nonetheless.
To reduce the uneasy wiggle, steel frames are the way to go. We made sure to select designs that were constructed from strong steel frames that were simply coated with a layer of plastic for your protection. Some treadmills that we selected even use bull-proof materials!
A good frame is only half the battle. When selecting a treadmill, the belt is one of the most important features. With every design that we considered, the first thing that we did was look at the belt. Good belts are actually made from a blend of two specific materials: PVC and a poly-blend.
We wanted to make sure that we selected belts that were made from PVC because they are great at standing firm for years of continued use. Many users feel that the materials used for the belt make for a comfortable ride, but it is actually the mounting of the belt that makes all of the difference. We will get into that just a little bit later.
With a frame composed of solid steel and a high-quality belt that is made from PVC, you have the recipe for an incredibly sturdy treadmill.
Features
Extra features are what get you excited to lace up your running sneakers and jump on your treadmill!
We combed through hundreds of products and designs to find the features that everyone found were to be the most important. Below, we went into a little bit of detail as to what our favorite product features were, and why you need or want them!
Heart rate monitor: Keeping an eye on your heart rate is a great idea to ensure you are pushing your body to its limit, but not past its limits. Most heart monitors are mounted on the handrails of your treadmill. To get a reading, place your hands on the silver monitors, and your reading will show up on the LCD display.
Adjustable incline: Hands down, an adjustable incline continues to be everyone’s favorite feature. When running indoors, you losing the excitement of a terrain that is filled with peaks and valleys to keep things interesting as well as challenging.
Selecting a treadmill with the ability to adjust the pitch of the deck is a great way to pump up the intensity and really work those muscles in your glutes and hamstrings! Plus, if you just wish to walk on it instead of running, an adjustable pitch is a great way to keep it exciting.
Bluetooth capability: Everyone loves a gadget that is able to sync to our phones! We loved treadmills that have Bluetooth capability because it allows us to stream our favorite music or podcast directly through the speakers of the treadmill. This means that you won’t have to deal with headphones when you walk on your treadmill at home.
A tablet holder often goes hand in hand with treadmills that have Bluetooth capability. What users love about a tablet holder is that if often sits over the LCD display so that you can binge the latest season of your favorite TV show while fitting in a great workout at the same time!
Size
The size of the treadmill is something that we considered because not everyone has a lot of the available space to work with.
While we wanted to make sure that we selected the best of the best, smaller and compact options were things that we looked at as well.
The good news, however, is that you don’t have to sacrifice features for compatibility! Many designs out there on the market come with all of the features as some of the commercial-grade options, but they can then be folded in half!
It is important to note that many of the higher-end options like what we saw from 3G Cardio or Horizon Fitness are beasts of a machine! Not only are these designs incredibly wide, but they are also very heavy as well! In fact, the 3G Cardio option that we looked at weighs a whopping 425 pounds! Even if you do have the room for this option, you may not want to tell your friends about this beast of a treadmill come moving day!
While the heavy and larger options come full of features, the smaller and slimmer frames aren’t without their benefits. Many of the slim options that we selected for our list have excellent benefits as well.
Our favorite option when it comes to space saver options is that many of them have decks that are foldable. This means that you can set it up in your living room, and they simply fold the deck up when you are finished to clear up some floor space. There are even some designs that fold down so that you can store them under your bed!
Effectiveness
All that matters at the end of the day is being able to get in a good walk or run when the weather is not cooperating outside. We wanted to make sure that we selected designs that were not only easy to use but would actually get you excited to jump on for a quick workout! We have gone into a little bit of detail on how we gauged how effective each treadmill is to improve your workouts.
Pre-programmed workouts: The bad thing about running on a treadmill at home is that the moment you become tired, you know you are just steps away from the sofa (and no one is around to judge you)! Even those with epic discipline often have similar existential struggles to stay on the treadmill when running at home.
Pre-programmed workouts are a great way to create clear goals that you will want to complete start to finish. The great thing about most pre-programmed workouts is that they scale in difficultly. The first few exercises are shorter and slower, and the higher-end options are long and fast. This allows you to seat realistic goals for yourself that you will want to stick with.
Speed: We also wanted to make sure that each treadmill was able to achieve speeds that could really burn those calories! When engaging in workouts such as HIIT training, speed is something that is incredibly important to wring out those muscles! In general, most the average treadmill can reach speeds around 5-6 MPH on a standard motor.
High-end options are able to reach speeds of about 8-9 MPH, but that speed often comes at a cost. Higher speeds mean that the motor needs to be more powerful to reach those speeds, which can create a lot of noise while in use. Powerful motors not only create a lot more noise, but they can also create vibrations on the floor.
Comfort
A comfortable ride will make you excited to jump back on day after day for a run.
It can be disappointing to take your workout indoors once the weather starts to take a nosedive for the year. What once was wide open fields and soft, pliable earth has been transformed into the bleakness of your garage.
That’s why we wanted to select a treadmill that had a deck that did not feel like running on the sidewalk. Many think that the thickness of the belt or the materials used for the belt is what creates a soft ride, but they would be mistaken.
The pitch and shocks of the deck are what makes for a comfortable ride. We loved decks that had various levels of rigidity to their decks to protect your knees, hips, and back.
At the top of your stride, you want the belt to have a little bit of flex to it to reduce the impact of the ground on your joints. However, you don’t want to have that same level of flex on the backend of your stride, or else you will feel like you are running through sand!
That’s why on the rear end of the belt, there is less flexibility and it is more firm that lends a solid place to push off of for your next stride!
To ensure that you select a deck that will protect your joints and make it feel like you are out running on your favorite trail in the middle of summer- be sure to look under the belt as well at the construction.
Top 10 Picks
1. NordicTrack T Series
NordicTrack is a brand that really needs no formal introduction. This brand is known for bringing the commercial-quality exercise equipment to the home since the mid-1970s. The reason that we select the T Series to top our list is that it has all of the features you would want from a treadmill, and it is made from reliable materials.
What users love most about this option is that it looks and feels like the treadmill you use at the gym, but it has just a few extra features. The purchase of this treadmill comes with a free one-month membership to IFit, which provides tons of personal training sessions that interacts with your machine.
If you opt-out of the IFit monthly subscription, this treadmill stiff offers tons of features. You can adjust the pitch of the belt to increase the intensity, and lower it with just the touch of a button. It tracks your heart rate and even syncs with your phone via Bluetooth to play music or even stream Netflix through the built-in speakers.
If you are in the market for a high-quality treadmill that looks and feels like the machine that you use at the gym, this is an excellent option. It comes from a trusted brand and has features that make you excited to lace up your sneakers and go for a quick run at home.
2. Horizon Fitness
If you need all of the perks from the treadmill at the gym, this is another great option from Horizon Fitness. It comes with a lot of additional features that make jumping on a fun and new adventure every time. Plus, it comes from a trusted brand which makes it the last treadmill you may ever need to buy.
What we loved most about this model is that the belt has 3 areas of cushioning that are designed to keep you comfortable in all points of your stride. The front of the belt is the impact zone, the middle is the transition zone, and the rear of the belt is the push-off zone. This design is easy on your joints and doesn’t feel like you are running on a hard and unforgiving surface.
It also comes with a lot of different settings that allow you to adjust the intensity of your workout. With just the click of a button, you can raise and lower the pitch of the belt to get a more difficult workout like you are running or walking up a hill. Plus, it comes with a set of speakers that hook up to your phone via Bluetooth so you can blast your favorite workout playlist.
If you are in the market for something that has all of the functions of a treadmill at the gym with a few extras that are designed for home use, this is a great option. It comes from a trusted brand, and it can be folded up when needed to clear up a little room in your home.
3. XTERRA Fitness
If you are working with little space in your home but still want something with all of the bells and whistles, this is a great choice. This treadmill comes with a large LCD screen that keeps you up to date on your progress as you run. Plus, it has a smaller frame and is a little lighter than some of the other options out there on the market.
What we liked most about this design is that the belt is designed to be easier on the joints. It has an extra soft and cushioned deck that absorbs much of the impact of your stride, which means it feels more like you are running on soft ground and less like you are running on hard concrete. With a 2.25 horsepower motor, it runs very quietly for those early morning runs before everyone wakes up for the day.
A 5 inch LCD screen displays the distance you have traveled, calories burned, time in use, and difficulty setting. There are 12 different preset programs that automatically adjust the speed to up the intensity for those days you ate 3 donuts at the office.
For those in the market for something that is just a little bit smaller than some of the other brands out there on the market, this is a great selection. It weighs almost half as much as NordicTrack, which makes moving it from room to room as needed just a little bit easier.
4. Sunny Health & Fitness
At first glance, this treadmill from Sunny Health & Fitness look pretty simple, but it actually has a lot of advanced features to get the most out of each and every workout. What we liked most about this design is that it has a simple framework that allows for adjustments for a multitude of workouts.
The very first thing that we noticed about this treadmill lies in the backlit LCD screen. At a simple glance, you can read the distance traveled, calories burned, and even your heart rate (if your hands are placed on the handles at the side). The display also allows you to change the speed at just the touch of a button.
This treadmill from Sunny Health & Fitness is also very kind to your joints. A built-in shock absorption system takes a lot of pressure off of your knees, hips, and lowe back with every stride. It feels like you are running or walking on the soft ground rather than hard sidewalks. With a 2.2 HP motor, it can reach speeds up to 9 MPH while still running silently.
For those in the market for a great treadmill that runs quietly while still offering a lot of extra features, this is a great choice. Sunny Health & Fitness is known for bringing quality exercise equipment into the home that is built to last a lifetime.
5. Cardio Elite Runner
This treadmill design from 3G Cardio is built like a tank! If you need a lot of room to swing your arms as well as a wider belt for your specific stride, this is a great option. The interface offers a wide range of settings and features that mirror the treadmills that you use at the gym.
What we liked most about this option is that the interface looks like the treadmill at the gym. With just the touch of a button, you can adjust the pitch of the incline or speed. You can also select from a few different programmed exercise options for a bit of a challenge.
One of the things that users really liked most about this design is that it has Bluetooth capability with built-in speakers to stream music or Netflix right through the speakers on this unit. It also has a cooling fan with multiple speeds to keep you cool even as you reach mile 3!
With all of the bonus features built into this device, if you close your eyes you can pretend you are running on your favorite trail, even in the middle of a cold and icy winter. It is made from high-quality materials that are built to last as long as your legs can keep walking, and has features to always keep things interesting.
6. SOLE F80
This treadmill from SOLE F80 has all of the features you want for a nice and smooth run. What we liked most about this design is that a very powerful motor that can reach higher speeds than most designs out there on the market. If you want to run fast, this treadmill is one of your best choices.
One look at the detailed interface and you know that it brings a lot of helpful features to the table. It has an incredibly large LCD screen that is easy to read at a glance. The screen tells you the distance traveled, time in use, heart rate, and calories burned. You also have the option to select from a variety of different speed and distance programs.
Another notable feature about this design is the bullet-proof steel frame. No matter how hard you pound the belt with each stride, this frame stands firm no matter what. Plus, the belt offers a good deal of cushion to be kind to your joints and lower back no matter how far you run.
If you are in the market for a tank of a treadmill, this option from SOLE F80 is worth checking out. It is made from high-quality steel that may be a pain to move from room to room, but it can keep up with some of your most intense workouts without skipping a beat.
7. ProForm 705 CST
What we liked most about this design from ProForm is that it has all of the features you users when it comes to their treadmill, but it just doesn’t take up as much room in your home. If you want a high functioning unit that fits inside of your closet, this design is worth checking out!
What users really love most about this treadmill is that it is a smooth and comfortable ride, The deck offers ProShox cushioning to protect your joints with each and every stride. When you pound the top of the belt as you run, the deck gives a little bit to take the strain off of your joints and lower back. Running on this treadmill is more like running on soft trails instead of hard concrete sidewalks.
Another great feature of this treadmill lies with the interface. It has a large LCD screen that relays a lot of important information. At a glance, you can monitor your distance traveled, speed, heart rate, and calories burned. It even has a myriad of preset programs to up the intensity to burn more calories.
If you are in the market for something that is a little smaller than some of the tank-like designs out there on the market, without sacrificing features and quality, this is a great choice. Users love that it has a smaller frame that is perfect for smaller spaces but still runs quietly and quickly.
8. GOPLUS
What we liked most about this treadmill from GOPLUS is that it is small, lightweight, and easy to use. While it doesn’t have any of the additional bells and whistles as some of the larger units out there on the market, it still provides an easy ride. Users love this design because of its simplicity and size.
If you are working with little room in your home, this is worth checking out. Not only does it have a smaller frame than most, but it is also a lot lighter than most of the other designs out there. This lightweight frame makes it easy to move from room to room as needed. Plus, it even folds up to create even more room in your home.
We love that this treadmill has a large backlit LCD screen that allows you to check your progress at a glance. The screen tells you the distance traveled, heart rate, calories burned and minutes in use. It has a 2.25 horsepower motor that runs quietly so as not to disturb others in your home.
If you are in the market for something that is small and compact that can fold up when needed, this design from GOPLUS is one of your best options. We love that it still has a large LCD screen display and features such as heart rate monitoring while still keeping the frame small and compact.
9. Merax
Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to this treadmill from Merax. It has a sturdy yet simple frame that runs very quietly, and it is still equipped with a lot of features that help improve your workouts. If you need something a little smaller because you are running low on space, this treadmill is a great option.
The quiet motor in this treadmill has speeds that start at around .50 MPH and top out at just over 6 MPH. While it may not be the fastest option out there on the market, it is one of the quietest. We really liked that it has a cushioned deck to protect your joints with each stride.
The LCD monitor mounted on the front of the unit helps you keep track of all of your progress at a glance. It is able to tell you speed, time, and calories burned. The downside to this simple model is that it doesn’t have any preset workouts, or heart rate monitoring.
If you are in the market for a slim and simple design that fits well inside of most closets, this is a great option. Plus, it is able to be folded up to clear up even more space, and it weighs under 73 pounds that makes moving it around from room to room very easy.
10. ASUNA SpaceFlex
If space is your absolute number one concern, it doesn’t get much smaller than this design from ASUNA. What users love most about this option is that it has a very slim and simple frame that can be folded for easy storage. Often, you have to sacrifice a few features to opt for a space-saving option, but that isn’t the case with this design from ASUNA.
Users love the very narrow frame of this design that still makes it functional. It doesn’t take up all that much room in your home, and it is also able to be folded in half for easy storage. Weighing in at 140 pounds, it slightly heavier than other designs which may make it a little difficult to move around from room to room.
Just because it has a small frame doesn’t mean it is short on features. What we like about this treadmill is that its users are able to adjust the pitch of the belt to increase the intensity of their workout. It also has a pair of speakers that stream music from your phone to your treadmill via a USB cable.
If you are in the market for something that is slim and simple without losing features that you want from a treadmill, this design from ASUNA is a great choice. It may be a little heavier than other space savers, but the extra features make it well worth the little extra struggle!