How to Find the Best Treadmills
The treadmill is a fantastic investment for your home. It lets you exercise at your own speed, without worrying about the weather and the commute to the gym.
A good quality treadmill is also a great method to track your fitness level over time. If you're preparing for an upcoming race or simply want to keep your fitness level having a treadmill at home is a must.
1. Motor
Find a treadmill that has powerful motors when shopping. If you plan to log more than 20 miles per week, and engage in intense training, select a treadmill with an unstoppable motor of 3.0 horsepower. The deck should be 60 inches in length. If you're just starting out or just want to walk and jog on occasion, consider a more compact model that includes a 1.75-2.5 horsepower motor.
Choose if you would like a smart treadmill with a touchscreen, virtual classes and a console, or a simple model that doesn't have one. Some models even fold to make it easy to store.
The Peloton Treadmill is a smart treadmill with an elegant design and impressive array of features. It's more expensive than our top choice, but it offers smooth running and a simple touchscreen. It also has numerous workouts that are available on demand from virtual and live instructors. home treadmills are placed on the handrails, and the quick dials make it easy to adjust the speed and inclines while working out. 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 has a good set of features. With its iFit integration you'll be able to access a range of workouts designed by trainers from all over the world. You'll need a subscription in order to use the app, which is free for 30 days, and then costs $39 per month after that. The treadmill also has a huge 22-inch touchscreen and a cushioned deck. It has a maximum speed of 12 mph, and comes with an incline range of 33% to 15 percent for a more challenging workout.
2. Design
The design of a treadmill is crucial as is any other piece of fitness equipment. If you're planning to train for a hilly outdoor race, you'll want to select the treadmill with the highest incline settings that replicate the terrain of the outdoors. If you're interested in following the class select models with a large screen and iFIT compatibility. This allows you to access studio style classes, virtual coach programs, Explore the World scenic run, and off-treadmill workouts.
We also look at the ease of using the buttons as well as the user-friendly interface. We also look at whether the treadmill folds and, if so, how long it takes to fold it. We also consider whether the treadmill has to be assembled and if it is a quick and painless process.
3. Technology
The technology utilized in treadmills can make a huge difference in how easy they are to use and whether or not there are any glitches. When evaluating a treadmill within this category, we consider touchscreens and intuitive controls. We also look at user-friendly interfaces, easy-to-use controls and other tech features. We also look at whether a treadmill is portable and folds with the push of a button, which could be crucial for those who often move their machines around their homes or need to squeeze them into tight space.
We were impressed by the Nordictrack 1250 treadmill's responsive speed and incline adjustments based upon previous workouts, its wide belt and cushioning that is comfortable, as well as the iFIT integration that gives access to studio-style classes, virtual coaches, Explore the World scenic runs, and off-treadmill training options (though it sometimes had trouble with Bluetooth connectivity). This treadmill was rated highly because of its 22" color touchscreen that has attractive, sharp images and iFIT compatibility.
The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill with a high score. It features 10" display and features live and on-demand content from the iFIT platform for running, walking and running. We like the fact that the speed and incline changes are simple to navigate through the touchscreen, the ergonomically-placed buttons that allow 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 it doesn't offer a headphone port or USB ports.
4. Comfort
The best treadmills should feel comfortable for those who use them. For those with larger bodies and longer strides should focus on the dimensions of the deck and the amount of space it provides for running or walking, while others might care more about ergonomic features like the right-placed speed and incline controls. We also searched for additional features that make it a pleasure to use the machine, like front-facing speakers and an USB charging port and small cooling fan, and plenty of places to store your water bottle or other accessories.
Finally, we considered the storability of each treadmill, since there isn't always room in their home for an entire treadmill. Fortunately, most of the treadmills we tested fold or have support arms that minimize their footprint when not in use. We tested how easily the machines could fold and store away and how long it took to set up, and if they were easy to move on hard surfaces.
If you're planning to run many of the hilly outdoor routes, you'll also want to consider the maximum incline of the treadmill. This is essential because it can help you prepare for more difficult outdoor climbs.
In terms of the technology on each treadmill, we searched for touchscreens that were responsive and easy to navigate during an exercise as well as an intuitive interface. We also looked at the design of the treadmill and if it was compatible with fitness apps that are made by third parties. This helped us decide if each treadmill had enough features to justify its price. A quality treadmill at home can help you overcome the challenges of bad weather and costly gym memberships. It will also boost your motivation to stay in shape.
5. Safety
A treadmill can be a danger to equipment if not used properly. It's a huge, heavy machine with an incline that can move at speeds of 10 or 12 miles per hour. Those who use a treadmill for walking and running should avoid leaning on the hand rails because this could throw off balance and result in injuries. The risk of tripping can also be caused by a clutter-filled space around the treadmill. Keep it tidy and clutter-free during storage and during use.
The most reliable treadmills will come with security features like an ejectable safety magnet that is that is attached to the belt. The magnet will break off and stop the belt instantly if a runner loses balance. This feature could prevent serious injuries to the runner and other users. Gyms have treadmills that are equipped with this technology, and home owners might want to consider purchasing one in order to reduce the risk of accidents involving exercise equipment.
It's important that you listen for the "beep" when the treadmill belt begins to move. Don't leap off before the belt has stopped. Many people make the mistake of trying to save time by jumping off before the belt has completely stopped, which can cause injuries. Also, be certain to know where the emergency shut-off switch is and how to use it.
After you've finished using the treadmill It's a good idea to unplug it and shut it off. This reduces the chance of kids or unintentionally visiting visitors inadvertently turning on and using the treadmill. Keeping it in a separate area and a clear space above and around it will help keep others from coming into contact with it as well.