How to Find the Best Treadmills
The treadmill is a great investment for your home. It lets you work out at your own pace, without worrying about the weather or your journey to the gym.
A high-quality treadmill can also be a great tool to track your fitness level over time. Whether you're training for an upcoming marathon or just want to maintain your fitness level having a treadmill in your home is an essential purchase.
1. Motor
Choose a treadmill with an efficient motor when you shop. If you plan to log upwards of 20 miles per week, and doing high-intensity interval training, choose a machine that offers an unstoppable 3.0 horsepower motor with a deck that's 60 inches long. If you're just starting out or just want to walk and run on occasion, think about an option that is smaller and includes a 1.75-2.5 horsepower motor.
You should also decide if you'd like to opt for a treadmill that features a touchscreen and virtual classes, or if you prefer simple models without the console. Some models can be folded for easy storage.
The Peloton Treadmill is a smart treadmill that sports a sleek design with an impressive array of features. It's more expensive than our top pick but it offers smooth running and an intuitive touchscreen. It also offers numerous exercises on demand with instructors who are live and virtual. The controls for incline, which are located on the handrails allow you to easily adjust the speed and inclines while exercising. Unfortunately, the only cup holders are plastic and are only able to hold water bottles. There's no fan on this treadmill.
The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is another treadmill to consider. It's cheaper than the Peloton Treadmill but has a number of great features. Its iFit integration allows you to access a variety of virtual workouts from trainers around the world. The app is only available with a subscription, which costs $39 per monthly. The treadmill comes with a 22-inch touchscreen aswell as a cushioned deck. It has the maximum speed of 12 mph and has an incline range of 33% to 15% for an intense workout.
2. Design
As with any piece of fitness equipment, how a treadmill is designed matters. If you're preparing for a hilly outdoor race you'll need to choose the treadmill with the highest incline settings that mimic outdoor terrain. If you enjoy following the class, choose models with a large screen and iFIT compatibility. This lets you access studio style classes, virtual coach programmes, Explore the World scenic run, and off-treadmill workouts.
Other design elements we take into consideration are responsive speed and incline controls (on the handrails and the lower console) that can adjust to your commands without you needing to use the touchscreen, simple buttons, and a user-friendly interface. We also take into consideration whether the treadmill folds and, if it can how long it takes to fold it. We also examine whether the treadmill has to be assembled and if that is simple and easy to do so.
3. Technology
The technology used on treadmills can make a huge difference in the ease with which they are to operate and whether they have any glitches. home treadmill take a look at touchscreens as well as user-friendly controls, intuitive interfaces and other features when scoring a machine in this category. We also take into consideration the possibility of a treadmill being folded and transported easily. This is essential for those who have to move their machines frequently or have to squeeze them into tight space.
The Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill impressed us with its responsive speed and incline adjustment according to previous workouts, 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 exercises that are not on the treadmill (though Bluetooth connectivity was sometimes problematic). Its 22" eye-catching, crisp touchscreen with a color display and iFIT compatibility make this a top treadmill.
The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill that scores high. With 10" screen, it provides live streaming and on-demand iFIT walking, running, and jogging video. We love that the speed and incline changes are easy to navigate through the touchscreen, the ergonomically placed buttons for the quick adjustments, and the iFIT integration which lets you stream workouts from Zwift and Hulu Max (subscriptions required). It's only downside is that there are no USB or headphone ports.
4. Comfort
The best treadmills are those that are comfortable to the person who is using them. People with larger bodies and longer strides might be more concerned with the size of the deck, as well as the amount of space available for running or walking. Others may be more concerned about ergonomic features like well-placed controls for speed and incline. We also looked for features that make the machine enjoyable to use, such as front facing speakers and an USB charger port as well as tiny cooling fans, or plenty of storage space for water bottles and other accessories.
We also looked at the storage options of each treadmill. Not everyone has enough space to store a full-sized treadmill. Fortunately, most of the treadmills we tested fold up or have support arms that reduce their footprint when not in use. We evaluated how easily they folded up and stored away and how quickly they were set up and whether they were easy to move on firm surfaces.
If you intend to run a lot of hilly routes outdoors, you should also consider the maximum gradient. This is a crucial feature that will help you train for more challenging outdoor climbs by mimicking the ascent with the treadmill.
We looked for touchscreens that were responsive and a simple interface on each treadmill. We also looked for a non-slip appearance and whether the machine was compatible with third-party fitness apps. This allowed us to determine if each treadmill offered enough features to justify the price tag. A quality treadmill for your home removes the barriers of weather and expensive gym memberships and boosts your motivation to stay in shape.
5. Safety
A treadmill can be a dangerous piece of equipment if not operated properly. It's a large 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 not lean on the hand rails because this could throw off balance and result in injuries. A messy area around the treadmill can also create tripping hazards, therefore it is important to keep it tidy and clutter-free during use and storage.
The best treadmills have safety features, such as an adjustable safety magnetic that is connected to the belt. The magnet will come off and stop the belt right away in the event that a runner is unable to maintain balance. This feature can prevent serious injuries to the runner as well as other people. This type of technology is typically found on treadmills in gyms. Home users should invest in one to reduce the number of accidents that happen with home exercise equipment.
It is important to listen for the "beep" when the treadmill belt begins moving. Don't leap off before the belt has stopped. Many people make the error of stepping off the treadmill before the belt has completely stopped. This can cause serious injuries. Also, make certain to know the location of the emergency shut-off button is located and how to use it.
After you've finished using the treadmill It's a good idea that you unplug and turn off the treadmill. This reduces the chance of your children or visitors accidentally turning it on and running. Keeping it in a separate area and a clear space above and around it will protect others from coming into contact with it, as well.