Sometimes you just don’t have time for the gym, and venturing outside is made more difficult by nasty weather. But these days, treadmills offer so much more than convenience. Built-in monitors, interactive exercise classes, fitness tracking, and durable construction are par for the course here.
From budget friendly gym heroes to tech-enhanced gear, we’re going to take a look at the best treadmills on the market today. We’ll feature the top names in exercise equipment including Sole, Peloton, Echelon, and NordicTrack to help you find the treadmill that fulfills all of your needs and fits into your budget.
New Africa/ShutterstockSole F80
Cost: $1,699.991
The Sole 80 uses a 3.5-horsepower motor to deliver frictionless movement and speeds of up to 12 mph. It doesn’t decline, but it does have 15 incline settings to choose from. It’s Bluetooth capable, foldable, and boasts some of the best-designed rail-mounted controls available. The Sole F80 doesn’t have a built-in monitor, but it’s a reliable machine that does its job well and is built to last.
Peloton Tread
Cost: $3,4952
Peloton changed the at-home workout game with their innovative take on cycling. With the Tread, they set out to do the same for treadmill enthusiasts. The Peloton Tread has the best touch-screen monitor in the game, and delivers a collaborative digital experience that the other guys can’t quite compete with. Though it is one of the more expensive machines on the market, it remains a great entry point for runners looking to experience the Peloton digital ecosystem.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
Cost: $2,2993
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 tops most best-of lists, year after year. It delivers a lot of value for the price, it’s built tough, and has been updated to include the latest tech. The 1750 has a 14-inch touchscreen display, a spacious 22-by-6-inch deck, and a 3.8-horsepower motor. It can even auto-adjust alongside your favorite iFit at-home workout. You can try the feature yourself at no additional cost, thanks to the included 30-day iFit free trial that comes with every NordicTrack Commercial 1750.
Echelon Stride
Cost: $1,155.984
Echelon is building a great reputation for delivering high-quality exercise equipment at competitive price points. The Echelon Stride is a fascinating example of that. It’s a durable treadmill capable of speeds as high as 12 mph and comes loaded with intuitive features. It has a large touch screen, connects to the company’s growing library of live and on-demand classes, and even folds itself!
Horizon Fitness T101
Cost: $6495
You don’t have to break the bank to bring home a serviceable piece of exercise equipment. $649 is far from cheap, but it’s a competitive price for a no-frills treadmill. T101 from Horizon fitness has a 2.5-horsepower motor capable of 10 mph, and a 10% incline range. It doesn’t have a monitor, though it can connect to a tablet via Bluetooth. It folds up and stores surprisingly well too, making it a great budget option for those low on storage space.
Pro-Form Carbon T7
Cost: $1,4036
A sister company of industry heavyweight NordicTrack, Pro-Form treadmills share a lot of parts and features with their premium counterpart.7 The Pro-Form Carbon T7 is an affordable entry point into a quality manufacturer, with a few less tech features but a similar build quality. The Carbon T7 has a 7-inch touchscreen display, a 2.6-horsepower motor, and comes with a 1-year subscription to iFit. Talk about value!
Bowflex Treadmill 22
Cost: $2,4998
Bowflex is a leading name in exercise equipment but they aren’t resting on their laurels. The Bowflex Treadmill 22 is but another feather in the company’s cap. It’s built to last, features a 4-horsepower motor, and boasts an impressive 25-degree incline range. The T22 also benefits from a prominent, 22-inch touchscreen monitor capable of streaming live workouts, popular streaming apps, and tracking progress.
AssaultRunner Pro
Cost: $2,9999
The AssaultRunner Pro is a staple at high-end gyms across the country. Unlike the others on our list, this one is a manual treadmill. Instead of a motor, the AssaultRunner Pro uses your movement to push the track along. The result is a more intense treadmill workout that burns more calories when compared to a more traditional treadmill.
Ready, Set, Run!
There are a few things you’ll need to figure out before bringing home a new treadmill. Make sure your ceilings are high enough, your floor is stable, and you invest in a good quality treadmill mat to reduce the sound and add stability. All of the models above are capable machines, but ensuring that they have room to run correctly can be essential to their longevity.
Adding a brand new treadmill to your home gym is exciting, but it can be a sizable investment. So try your best to avoid impulse buys and take a breath, do your research, and take confidence in knowing that your patience and knowledge will land you the high-quality treadmill you’ve been dreaming about.
