How to Find the Best Treadmills

The treadmill is a fantastic investment for your home. It allows you to work out at your own pace and not worry about the weather or the journey to the gym.

A quality treadmill can also be a great tool to track your fitness level over time. Whether you're training for an upcoming marathon or simply want to keep your fitness level having a treadmill at home is an essential item.

1. Motor

Look for a treadmill with an efficient motor when you shop. If you plan to run more than 20 miles per week, and do high-intensity training, select a treadmill with a continuous motor of 3.0 horsepower. The deck should measure 60 inches in length. If you're just beginning, or only want to walk or jog occasionally, consider a model with an engine that's between 1.75 and 2.5 horsepower.

Choose if you would like an ultra-modern treadmill that comes with a touchscreen and virtual classes as well as an console or a basic model without a console. Some models fold up for easy storage.

The Peloton Treadmill is a smart treadmill with an elegant design and impressive range features. It's more expensive than our top pick, but it combines an effortless running experience with a simple touchscreen and a wide selection of on-demand workouts from instructors both live and virtual. The incline controls, located on the handrails make it easy to adjust the speed and inclines while exercising. Unfortunately, the cups are the only ones available and are only able to 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 it offers a number of features. Its iFit compatibility allows users to access a range of workouts online from trainers across the globe. The app is available as a subscription that costs $39 per month. The treadmill also comes with an enormous 22-inch touchscreen as well as a cushioned deck. It can reach speeds of up to 12 mph and it has an incline range between -3 % and 15 percent for a more difficult exercise.

2. Design

Like any other piece of fitness equipment, how a treadmill is designed is important. If you're preparing for an outdoor race that is a bit hilly it is best to choose a treadmill with the highest incline setting. If you enjoy following the class select models with a big display and iFIT compatibility. This lets you access studio style classes, virtual coach programmes, Explore the World scenic run, and off-treadmill exercises.

Other design factors that we take into consideration are responsive speed and incline controls (on the handrails and the lower console) that adjust to your commands without you having to touch the touchscreen, user-friendly buttons, and a user-friendly interface. We also take into consideration whether the treadmill is foldable and, if so how long it will take to do so. We also take into consideration if the treadmill needs assembly and whether that process is easy and quick.

3. Technology

The technology utilized in treadmills can make a big difference in how easy they are to use and if there are any glitches. We look at touchscreens as well as user-friendly controls, intuitive interfaces and other tech features when scoring a machine in this category. We also take into consideration the possibility of a treadmill being folded and moved easily. This is essential for those who move their machines frequently or have to fit them into tight space.

We were impressed with the Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill's responsive speed and incline adjustments based on previous workouts, its wide belt and comfortable cushioning, and the iFIT integration that gives access to virtual coaches, studio-style classes, Explore the World scenic runs, as well as off-treadmill training options (though it sometimes had issues with Bluetooth connectivity). This treadmill was rated highly because of its 22" color touchscreen, which has crisp, eye-catching graphics and iFIT compatibility.

Another high-scoring treadmill is the ProForm Carbon T10. It sports a 10" display and features live and on-demand content from the iFIT platform for running, walking and jogging. We love that the speed and incline changes are easy to navigate through the touchscreen, the ergonomically placed buttons for the quick adjustments as well as the iFIT integration that allows you to stream workouts from Zwift and Hulu Max (subscriptions required). The only downside is that it doesn't offer an audio port or USB ports.

4. Comfort

The best treadmills should feel comfortable for the people who use them. People with larger bodies and longer strides should concentrate on the dimensions of the deck as well as the amount of space it provides for running or walking and others may be concerned more about ergonomic features like well-placed speed and incline controls. We also scoured for features that make it enjoyable to use the machine, such as front-facing speakers as well as a USB charging port, a tiny cooling fan, as well as plenty of places to store your water bottle and other accessories.

We also considered the storage of each treadmill. Not everyone has enough space to fit a full-size treadmill. Fortunately, almost all of the treadmills we tested fold up or have support arms that reduce their footprint when not in use. We examined 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 hard surfaces.

If you plan on running many hills outdoors, you should also be aware of the highest incline. This is essential because it will help you prepare for more difficult outdoor climbs.

We looked for responsive touchscreens and a user-friendly interface on every treadmill. We also looked for a non-glitchy design and whether the treadmill was compatible with fitness apps from third parties. This helped us decide whether each treadmill offered enough features to justify the price. Having a quality home treadmill best can eliminate the hurdles of weather or costly gym memberships and boosts your motivation to get into shape.

5. Safety

If not handled correctly the treadmill could be risky. It's a large heavy machine with a belt that can move at speeds of 10 or 12 miles per hour. Anyone who uses treadmills for walking or running should be careful not to lean on the hand rails since this could cause a loss of balance and lead to injuries. The risk of tripping can also be created by a cluttered space around the treadmill. Keep it tidy and clutter free during use and when storing it.

The best treadmills will have safety features, such as an adjustable safety magnet that is attached to the belt. The magnet will detach and stop the belt immediately in the event that a runner is unable to maintain balance. This feature can prevent serious injuries to the runner and other users. This technology is usually found on treadmills at gyms. Home users should invest in one to lessen the risk of accidents that occur with home exercise equipment.

When you are using a treadmill at home, it's crucial to pay attention to the safety "beep" that sounds when the belt begins to move, and don't jump off until the belt has stopped. Many people make the error of stepping off the treadmill before the belt has completely stopped. This could result in serious injuries. Also, familiarize yourself with the location and use of the emergency shut-off switch.

When you're done 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 is best to keep it in a separate room and a clear area above and around it can also prevent others from coming into contact with it, as well.