How to Find the Best Treadmills
A treadmill is one of the most beneficial fitness investments you can make for your home. It lets you work out at your own pace, without worrying about the weather and the journey to the gym.
A quality treadmill is also a great method to track your fitness progress over time. A treadmill is an essential item for anyone training for a marathon or simply wanting to maintain their fitness level.
1. Motor Vehicles
Choose a treadmill with an efficient motor when you shop. If you plan to log more than 20 miles per week and doing intense interval training, you should choose a machine that offers a continuous 3.0 horsepower motor that has 60 inches of deck long. If you're just starting out or just want to walk and run on occasion, think about smaller models that comes with a 1.75-2.5 horsepower motor.
You should also decide if you'd prefer to opt for a treadmill that features a touchscreen and virtual classes, or opt for simple models without the console. Some models fold to make storage easier.
If you're looking for a modern treadmill with a sleek style and an impressive range of features, check out the Peloton Treadmill. It's more expensive than our top pick, but it combines a smooth running experience with a user-friendly touchscreen and a great selection of on-demand workouts from instructors both live and virtual. The controls for incline, which are located 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.
Another treadmill worth considering is the NordicTrack Commercial 2450. It's a bit less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill, but it offers a number of features. With its iFit integration, you can access a variety of virtual workouts developed by trainers all over the world. The app is available as a subscription that costs $39 per month. The treadmill comes with a 22-inch touchscreen aswell as a cushioned deck. It can go up to 12 mph, and has an incline range between -3 % and 15% for a more challenging exercise.
2. Design
As with any piece of fitness equipment, the way a treadmill is designed matters. If you're training for an outdoor race that is hilly it is best to choose a treadmill with maximum incline settings. If you love to follow an exercise class, choose models with a big screen and iFIT compatibility, which lets you access classes in the studio virtual coach programs, Explore the World scenic runs and other off-treadmill workouts.
We also take a look at the ease of using the buttons and the user-friendly interface. We also look at whether the treadmill can be folded and, if it can how long it will take to do so. We also look at whether the treadmill must be put together and if it's a quick and painless process.
3. Technology
The technology used on treadmills makes a significant difference in how easy the machines are to operate and whether they have any glitches. We take a look at touchscreens, intuitive controls, user-friendly interfaces and other tech features when evaluating a treadmill in this category. We also take into consideration whether a treadmill can be folded and transported easily. This is important for people who move their machines frequently 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, long belt, comfortable cushioning and iFIT integration, which offers access to studio-style classes, virtual coaches, and Explore the World scenic run options, in addition to off-treadmill exercise options (though Bluetooth connectivity was sometimes problematic). Its 22" attractive, vibrant touchscreen with a color display and iFIT integration made this treadmill a top choice.
The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill that scores high. It features 10" display and provides live and on-demand content from iFIT for running, walking and jogging. We like the fact that the speed and incline adjustments are easy to navigate through the touchscreen, the ergonomically-placed buttons for quick adjustments and the iFIT integration that allows you to stream workouts from Zwift and Hulu Max (subscriptions required). The only drawback is that there's no USB or headphone ports.
4. Comfort
The best treadmills should be comfortable for those who use them. For those with larger bodies and taller strides will want to focus on the size of the deck and the amount of space it offers for walking or running while others might be more about ergonomic features, such as well-placed speed and incline control. We also looked for features that make the machine more enjoyable to use, such as front-facing speakers, the USB charger port as well as a small cooling fan, or plenty of storage space for your water bottle and other accessories.
We also considered the storage capacity of each treadmill. Not everyone has enough space to accommodate a full-size machine. Fortunately, nearly all the models we tested fold up or have support arms that reduce their footprint when not in use. We looked at how easily they folded and put away and set up, how quickly they could be set up and whether they were easy to move on firm surfaces.
If you treadmill plan on running many hills outdoors, you should also be aware of the highest gradient. This is crucial since it will allow you to prepare for more challenging outdoor climbs.
In terms of the technology used on each treadmill, we looked for touchscreens that respond and easy to use during an exercise and have an user-friendly interface. We also considered the design of the treadmill and if it was compatible with fitness apps from third parties. This allowed us to determine if each treadmill had enough features to justify the cost. A high-quality treadmill at home can help you overcome the challenges of bad weather and expensive gym memberships. It can also help you stay motivated to keep your fitness levels up.
5. Safety
If not used correctly, a treadmill can be dangerous. It's a massive, heavy machine with a belt that can move at speeds of 10 or 12 miles per hour. People who use treadmills for walking and running should be careful not to lean on the hand rails, because this could throw off balance and result in injuries. A messy space around the treadmill could also cause tripping hazards so it's important to keep it clean and clutter-free during use and storage.
The best treadmills come with safety features like a removable safety magnetic attached 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 can help prevent serious injuries to runners and others. This technology is usually found on treadmills at gyms. Home owners should consider purchasing one to reduce the number of accidents that occur with home exercise equipment.
When using a treadmill at home, it's important to listen for the "beep" that goes off when the belt begins to move. Don't leap off until the belt is stopped. Many people make the mistake of trying to save time by jumping off before the belt has completely stopped, which can result in injuries. Also, you should be familiar with the position and operation of the emergency shut-off switch.
It's important to ensure that the treadmill is turned off and unplugged when you're done with it. This will decrease the risk of accidental use by visitors or children. It is also possible to keep it in a separate area with a clear space around it to prevent other people from accidentally touching it.