How to Find the Best Treadmills
A treadmill is one of the most beneficial fitness investment you can make for your home. It allows you to exercise at your own speed, without worrying about the weather or the long commute to the gym.
A good quality treadmill can also be a great tool to track your fitness level over time. A treadmill is a must-have for anyone preparing for a marathon, or simply seeking to keep their fitness level.
1. Motor Vehicles
When shopping for a treadmill, opt for one with an impressive motor. If you intend to run more than 20 miles per week, and do high-intensity training, you should choose a treadmill that has a continuous motor of 3.0 horsepower. The deck should measure 60 inches in length. If you're a beginner or simply want to walk and jog on occasion, consider an option that is smaller and comes with a 1.75-2.5 horsepower motor.
Choose if you would like an intelligent treadmill that has a touchscreen, virtual classes and a console, or a simple model without a console. Some models can be folded to make storage easier.
The Peloton Treadmill is a sophisticated treadmill that sports a sleek design with an impressive array of features. It's more expensive than our top pick, but it combines an enjoyable running experience with an intuitive touchscreen and an impressive range of workouts available on-demand with instructors who are live and virtual. The incline controls are placed on the handrails, and the quick dials allow you to alter the speed and incline while working out. Unfortunately, cheap treadmill are made of plastic and only hold water bottles. There's no fan on this treadmill.
Another treadmill worth considering is the NordicTrack Commercial 2450. It's less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill but has a lot of good features. Its iFit integration allows you to access a variety of workouts in virtual form from trainers across the globe. The app is available as a subscription which costs $39 per monthly. The treadmill also features a large 22-inch touchscreen and a cushioned deck. It can run at speeds of up to 12 mph, and has an incline range from -3 % to 15% for a more challenging exercise.
2. Design
The design of a treadmill is important as is any other piece of fitness equipment. If you're training for a hilly outdoor race, you'll want to select an exercise machine with the highest incline settings that simulate the terrain of the outdoors. If you enjoy following the workout class, choose models with a big screen and iFIT compatibility which allows you to access classes that are studio-style as well as virtual coach programs. Explore the World scenic runs and off-treadmill exercises.
Other design aspects we consider include adjustable speed and incline controls (on the handrails and lower console) that can adjust to your preferences without needing to touch the touchscreen, user-friendly buttons, and a user-friendly interface. We also look at whether the treadmill is foldable and, if it can how long it takes to fold it. We also take into consideration if the treadmill needs assembly and if that process is quick and painless.
3. Technology
The technology utilized in treadmills can make a huge difference in how easy they are to use, and if there are any issues. We take a look at touchscreens as well as user-friendly controls, intuitive interfaces, and other technological features when evaluating a treadmill in this category. We also take into consideration if a treadmill is mobile and folds at the touch of a button. This could be crucial for those who often move their machines around their home or have to squeeze them into tight space.
We were impressed by the Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill's responsive speed and incline adjustments based upon past workouts, its long belt and cushioning that is comfortable, as well as the iFIT integration that provides access to virtual coaches, studio-style classes, Explore the World scenic runs, as well as off-treadmill training options (though it occasionally had issues with Bluetooth connectivity). The treadmill was highly rated due to its 22" color touchscreen that has sharp, eye-catching images and iFIT compatibility.
The ProForm Carbon T10 is another high-scoring treadmill. It features a 10" display and provides live and on-demand content from the iFIT platform for walking, running and jogging. We love that the speed and incline changes are easy to navigate on the touchscreen, as are the ergonomically-placed buttons for quick adjustments as well as the iFIT integration that lets you stream workouts from Zwift and Hulu Max (subscriptions required). The only drawback is that there are no USB or headphone ports.
4. Comfort
The most effective treadmills are those that feel comfortable for the person who is using them. For those with larger bodies and taller strides should focus on the size of the deck as well as the amount of space it provides for running or walking, while others might care more about ergonomic features like well-placed speed and incline controls. We also scoured for features that make it enjoyable to use the machine, like front-facing speakers as well as an USB charging port, a small cooling fan, and plenty of places to store your water bottle and other accessories.
We also considered the storage capacity of each treadmill, because not everyone has room in their homes for an entire treadmill. Fortunately, the majority of the treadmills we tested fold or have support arms that reduce their footprint when not in use. We looked at how easily they folded up and stored 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 difficult outdoor trails it is important to take into consideration the highest incline of the machine. This is crucial because it can help you prepare for more difficult outdoor climbs.
We looked for responsive touchscreens and a user-friendly interface on each treadmill. We also looked for a non-glitchy design and whether or not the machine was compatible with fitness apps from third parties. This helped us decide whether each treadmill offered enough features to justify the price. A high-quality treadmill at your home can help you get over the challenges of weather conditions and costly gym memberships. It can also boost your motivation to keep your fitness levels up.
5. Safety
If not properly used, a treadmill can be risky. It's a heavy, large machine with a belt that is moving at speeds of up to 12 or 10 miles per hour. Avoid leaning on the handrails while using a treadmill to run or walk. This could cause injury and cause you to lose your balance. A risk of tripping is also created by a cluttered area surrounding the treadmill. Keep it tidy and clutter-free throughout use and when storing it.
The best treadmills will have safety features such as an adjustable safety magnet that is that is attached to the belt. If a runner loses balance, the magnet releases and stops the belt immediately. This feature can help prevent serious injuries to runners and others. The treadmills in gyms are typically equipped with this technology, and homeowners should consider purchasing one to reduce the amount of accidents that occur when exercising at home equipment.
When using a treadmill at home, it's crucial to listen for the "beep" that goes off when the belt begins to move, and don't jump off until the belt is stopped. Many people make the mistake of trying to save time by jumping off before the belt is completely stopped, which can result in injuries. Also, be certain to know where the emergency shut-off button is and how to use it.
After you've finished using the treadmill It's a good idea to unplug it and switch it off. This will minimize the chance of unintentional use by children or visitors. It can also be kept in a separate location with an open space above and around it to prevent others from accidentally touching it.