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The Best Treadmills of 2024

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Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

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Editor's Choice Product image of NordicTrack Commercial 1750
Best Overall

NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Check Price at NordicTrack

The Commercial 1750 offers almost everything shoppers could want, from great speed and incline ranges to fun classes on the iFit fitness app. Read More

Pros

  • Great range of speed and incline
  • Automatic speed and incline changes
  • iFit classes are lots of fun

Cons

  • Occasional lag upon startup
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Sole F63
Best Value

Sole F63

Check Price at Sole Fitness

The Sole F63 treadmill offers top speeds, inclines, and running comfort at a great price. Read More

Pros

  • Great range of speed and incline
  • Feels sturdy at high speeds
  • Great metrics display

Cons

  • Noisy
  • Doesn’t offer assembly
3
Product image of ProForm Pro 2000

ProForm Pro 2000

Check Price at Amazon

If you’re looking for a solid connected treadmill with excellent fitness programming, the ProForm Pro 2000 is a great option. Read More

Pros

  • Wide range of speed and incline/decline options
  • Belt folds up to save space
  • Has an auto-follow feature for workout classes

Cons

  • Louder than other treadmills
4
Product image of Peloton Tread

Peloton Tread

Check Price at Peloton

The Peloton Tread has an intuitive design, looks great, and offers fantastic classes. Read More

Pros

  • Seamless integration with Peloton classes
  • Intuitive design
  • Looks great

Cons

  • Screen can wobble during high-intensity efforts
  • Instructors might call out unavailable features
5
Product image of NordicTrack Commercial 2450 (2022)

NordicTrack Commercial 2450 (2022)

Check Price at Amazon

The 2450’s large screen and auto-follow setting make it easy to immerse yourself in iFit’s stellar classes and partake in off-tread workouts. Read More

Pros

  • High quality build
  • Quiet when in use
  • Offers excellent streaming workouts via iFit membership

Cons

  • Larger-than-average frame
  • Screen occasionally wobbles
  • Best Overall NordicTrack Commercial 1750
  • Best Value Sole F63
  • Other Treadmills We Tested
  • How We Tested Treadmills
  • What You Should Know About Buying Treadmills
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Editor's Note: August 27, 2021

In May 2021, Peloton and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued voluntary recalls of both models of its treadmills, the Tread (our previous Best Upgrade pick) and Tread+, due to risk of injury. The Tread is now available for purchase with an updated digital passcode feature designed to prevent people from accidentally starting the machine and updated touchscreen design to ensure it stays in place. The Tread+ is still pending investigation and remains off the market. If you own the Tread+, immediately stop using it and contact Peloton for a full refund or other safety guidelines.

There are a lot of reasons to consider buying a home treadmill. Maybe you’re building a full-on home gym, or you’re a year-round runner who wants to stay inside during inclement weather, or you want a way get in some steps without leaving the house. But when it comes to selecting your own personal hamster wheel, at least one thing will become immediately apparent: There are a lot of options.

To help ease your search, we tested and reviewed models from the big brands including NordicTrack, Bowflex, and Echelon. Our top pick? The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 (available at NordicTrack) , which has a roomy, buoyant running deck, speed and incline options that should satisfy anyone, and access to the iFit platform, which offers classes taught by instructors all over the globe.

If you don’t want to spend as much, our best value pick is the Sole F63 (available at Sole Fitness), which has speed and incline ranges to rival higher-priced treadmills for home. And if you want to spend even less, Horizon T101 (available at Horizon Fitness) is a great bare-bones option.

nordictrack
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 treadmill is the whole package.

Best Overall
NordicTrack Commercial 1750

NordicTrack’s Commercial 1750 is the whole package. It offers speeds that range between 0.5 miles per hour (mph) to 12 mph (a 5-minute mile pace) and an incline range of -3% to 15% (yes, it goes downhill, a feature not many treadmills offer).

The generous belt measures 22 inches wide and 68 inches long (one of the most spacious we tested), and is powered by a 3.75 continuous duty horsepower (CHP) motor, which is on the higher side of treads we tested and means it can be used at high speeds for a long period of time. It can support up to 300 pounds (about standard for a full-size quality treadmill).

I found both running and walking on it to be a joy; its sturdy deck has an ideal springiness-to-firmness ratio that meant my joints felt protected even at high-octane sprints without making me feel like I was going to fly off the deck if I stepped too enthusiastically.

The console has a rotating 14-inch touchscreen with additional tactile buttons to control speed, incline and decline, and to turn on its fan. Using it felt intuitive, and its metrics on the LCD display showed just what I wanted to see—my distance, pace, speed, incline, calories burned, and time (which you can swap to “time remaining” in guided workouts).

For those who prefer guided workouts, the 1750 comes with access to NordicTrack’s workout platform iFit, which is included for free for 30 days with purchase of the treadmill. What sets iFit’s classes apart from others is that it features instructors leading you on a guided run of an incredible outdoor destination from somewhere across the globe. When you play them on the treadmill screen, the belt automatically adjusts to match the trainer’s recommended speed and incline (though you can also go slower or faster if you want). With it, I got to follow along with runs and hikes in Thailand, Japan, Iceland, Morocco, and Colorado.

The treadmill is big (80 inches long, 38 inches wide, and 65 inches tall), though the deck folds up, so it doesn’t always have to occupy its full footprint. (NordicTrack assembled the treadmill for us, so I can’t speak to assembly, but you can watch a YouTube video to gauge if it seems possible for you.)

It costs $2,499 and delivery is free, though you can spring for the $199 assembly fee. After your 30-day free iFit trial, you’ll pay $39 a month or $396 a year for a family membership that accommodates up to five users. It also has one of the better warranties—10 years on the frame, two years on the parts, and one year for labor. NordicTrack also offers service plans (for an additional cost) to have your tread tuned up regularly.

Overall, the combination of the NordicTrack 1750’s solid build, sprightly deck, and motivational iFit programming make it something that, were it in my home, I’d feel encouraged to jump on it almost every single day.

Pros

  • Great range of speed and incline

  • Automatic speed and incline changes

  • iFit classes are lots of fun

Cons

  • Occasional lag upon startup

Buy now at NordicTrack

Buy now at Amazon
solef63
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The Sole F63's specs rival pricier brands.

Best Value
Sole F63

Of all the treadmills I tested, the Sole F63 was one of the most straightforward. It doesn’t have a fancy touchscreen console or the ability to stream workout videos, but it had exactly what I wanted to see during my runs and nothing more or less: A 6.5-inch LED display console that shows pace, speed, incline, time spent running, and calories burned.

You can also connect it to a free app that helps track your workouts and also connects to fitness platforms like Fitbit (I tried it once, and it seemed to work OK—most reviewers in both the Apple app store and Google Play disagree, but, hey, it’s free.)

Its speed and incline ranges—0.5 to 12 mph and 0 to 15%, respectively—rival treadmills in much higher price brackets and were easy to adjust, thanks to tabs with up and down arrows on the console and two big buttons on the handrails that are perfect for slapping to adjust down or up on the fly—say, when you’re finishing up a uphill sprint interval and can’t be bothered with precision.

It has a 20-inch wide and 60-inch long belt with a sturdy, responsive deck rated for up to 325 pounds that made me feel secure and comfortable during my runs. It runs on a 3.0 CHP motor, which is a little less powerful than the NordicTrack 1750 but not a huge sacrifice considering the $800 price difference.

The F63 features Bluetooth connectivity and an integrated tablet holder above the console. However, a workout app isn’t necessary to get some good exercise—the Sole has six pre-programmed workouts that you can follow along with and you can simply use the Bluetooth to play music and the tablet holder to watch Netflix.

The Sole F63 isn’t without its faults. For one thing, it’s pretty big once it’s assembled, at 66 inches tall, 82 inches long, and 35 inches wide. If you install it anywhere that isn’t a designated workout area—say, a corner in the living room or dining area—you can expect it to suck up most of the space in the room. Its deck folds up, but because it’s so big and heavy to raise, I wouldn’t expect most people to bother most of the time.

It’s also noisy—no treadmill we tested was quiet, exactly, but this one felt noticeably louder than others and could be heard through closed doors.

The Sole F63 is $1,199 and shipping is included with purchase. It has a great warranty, too—lifetime on the frame, 20 years on the motor, three years on the deck, three years on the electronics/belt/rollers, and one year on labor. Sole does not offer financing.

Overall, if you want a treadmill that’s easy and fun to use and has specs that rival pricier models, the Sole F63 is a great call.

Pros

  • Great range of speed and incline

  • Feels sturdy at high speeds

  • Great metrics display

Cons

  • Noisy

  • Doesn’t offer assembly

Buy now at Sole Fitness

Other Treadmills We Tested

Product image of ProForm Pro 2000
ProForm Pro 2000

For a quality connected treadmill at a lower price than other high end options on our list, you can’t go wrong with the ProForm Pro 2000. Like the NordicTrack Commercial 1750, the ProForm Pro 2000 is made by Icon Fitness, so you can access to iFit’s stellar running, walking, hiking, and other workout classes (for the $39 monthly membership fee, of course) on its connected 10-inch touchscreen.

Its decline and incline levels range from -3% to 12% and the speed ranges from 0.5 mph to 12 mph. Its belt is slightly smaller than the NordicTrack 1750’s—20 inches wide and 60 inches long—and overall the frame measures about 35 inches wide, 77 inches long, and 60 inches tall. With the belt folded it takes up about half that footprint, though taller, and it’s easy to fold up the belt when not in use. It has a 3.25 CHP motor and a 300-pound weight limit.

The Pro 2000 is ultra comfortable to run on, with an excellent balance of rebound and grip, as well as plenty of space on its belt. The Pro 2000 also has an auto-follow setting that makes iFit classes even more enjoyable.

The main downsides to this treadmill are its noise level and screen size. It's not too obtrusive, but definitely louder than other treads on this list when changing the speed and incline. Additionally, the 10-inch screen is smaller than many others, and some may find it more difficult to read the smaller text.

The Pro 2000 costs $1,799 and financing options are available. The iFit membership costs $39 a month, or $396 a year.

Pros

  • Wide range of speed and incline/decline options

  • Belt folds up to save space

  • Has an auto-follow feature for workout classes

Cons

  • Louder than other treadmills

Buy now at Amazon

$1,499.00 from Walmart
Product image of Peloton Tread
Peloton Tread

If you’re looking for a treadmill that functions as both an exercise device and a status symbol, you’ll want to consider the Peloton Tread which does both with aplomb.

At a glance: The Tread’s speed ranges from 0.5 to 12.5 mph (a blistering 4:48-mile pace, the fastest we tested) and its incline ranges from 0% to 12.5% (second only to NordicTrack and Bowflex’s range).

It has a 20-inch wide, 59-inch long belt and a 3 HP motor (slightly smaller and less powerful than NordicTrack’s, and Peloton does not specify if it is continuous or maximum HP), and a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds (on par). Assembly is included with purchase of the Tread, and, when built, it comes out to 68 inches long, 33 inches wide, and 62 inches tall with a generous 23.8-inch screen.

I thought it looked sleek and sophisticated—if you’re planning on getting a treadmill to keep out in your living room, this is probably the most visually appealing option.

The speed and incline are controlled by knobs on the right and left handrail of the Tread, which you adjust with a twist (or even just a flick of your palm). You can also customize three shortcuts each for your own favorite speed and incline settings on the touchscreen. I thought the shortcut buttons were a little small and tough to hit accurately, especially when I was finishing up a sprint interval, but the knobs made it quick and easy enough to change the speed so that I didn’t find myself worrying about the shortcuts too much.

Its screen can only be tilted, not pivoted, but it's large enough that I didn't have any trouble following off-tread classes.

For me, the Tread’s main draw are Peloton’s classes. It’s easy to find running, speed walking, and bootcamp (which involve alternating intervals of on- and off-tread runs and exercises) workouts, or Peloton’s off-tread offerings, which include yoga, HIIT, strength training, barre, stretching, and more. In addition to the extensive on-demand library, about five live classes are offered every day from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The screen also displays just the right amount of metrics—including pace, average speed, mileage, elevation gain, time remaining in the class, and calories burned—plus a leaderboard, which shows information on how you stack up against everyone else in the class and your own past performance in similar classes. (You can also use the leaderboard to send virtual “high fives” to fellow Peloton runners, which creates a nice sense of camaraderie.) And, if you don’t want to see something on the screen, whether it’s the leaderboard or the time remaining in the class, you can send it away with the swipe of your finger.

Still, despite its nifty features, the Tread has a few odd quirks. Because its screen is so large and extends above the console, it tends to wobble some, especially during high-speed runs. And while it has wheels to roll it around, it’s not a folding treadmill, so it's a big space commitment.

The Tread costs $3,495, and you zero-interest financing is available. Like all Peloton products, the Tread’s warranty is a little disappointing, given its price—it offers five years on the frame, three years on the motor and belt, and one year on the components, screen, and labor. You can also tack on a $250 protection plan for an additional 48 months of total coverage, plus benefits like accidental damage coverage and surge protection.

Pros

  • Seamless integration with Peloton classes

  • Intuitive design

  • Looks great

Cons

  • Screen can wobble during high-intensity efforts

  • Instructors might call out unavailable features

Buy now at Peloton
Product image of NordicTrack Commercial 2450 (2022)
NordicTrack Commercial 2450 (2022)

The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is the higher end version of the 1750. It has a larger, 22-inch pivoting touchscreen and a slightly more powerful 3.6 CHP motor. It also has a larger frame compared to the 1750—measuring 81 inches long, 39 inches wide, and 59 inches tall—and the same 22 inch by 60 inch folding belt. It also has a 300-pound weight limit.

With a subscription you get access to iFit’s programming, and the 2450 has an auto-follow setting that makes it easy to follow along during class and just focus on your workout. This treadmill feels ultra spacious and its shock-absorbing belt makes running comfortable on the joints, allowing you to push yourself to put in some extra miles.

I loved how comfortable running on this treadmill was, as its belt offers great traction and enough wiggle room that I wasn’t worried about bumping my limbs during sprints or hikes. It’s also quieter than many other treadmills we tested, a pleasant surprise given its large frame and high speed and incline settings.

While the 22-inch screen immerses you in your exercise class, it’s prone to wobbling during sprints above, say, 9 mph or so. The other con to this treadmill is its size—it takes up lots of space in your home gym or living room, and while the space saver mode helps reduce the footprint it’s still not as compact as the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 or ProForm Pro 2000.

This $3,000 tread is $500 more expensive than the NordicTrack 1750, but still $500 less than the Peloton Tread. The iFit membership costs $39 a month or $396 a year. Financing is available at no interest.

Pros

  • High quality build

  • Quiet when in use

  • Offers excellent streaming workouts via iFit membership

Cons

  • Larger-than-average frame

  • Screen occasionally wobbles

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Bowflex Treadmill 10
Bowflex Treadmill 10

When it comes to straight-up running, the Bowflex T10 is my favorite. It has a generous platform rated for up to 400 pounds with a 22-inch wide and 60-inch long belt, speed options that range from 0.5 mph to 12 mph, a powerful 4.0 CHP motor, and incline and decline settings from -5% to 15%—the widest range of all the treadmills we tested. Its deck also struck the ideal balance between cushioning and rebound, which made running at faster speeds feel easier.

It has a touchscreen console, where you can select whether you want to do a manual workout or follow a class in the accompanying Jrny platform, which is included with purchase for two months and is $20 a month after that. Knobs on both sides of the armrest allow you to control the speed and incline.

However, it has some clear barriers to entry—most importantly, its size. When built, it’s 89 inches long, 39.6 inches wide, and 65.3 inches high, with two large handles that spring out from the arm rests, like something you might find on an elliptical machine. Like all the treads we tested, the T10 folds and has wheels, but it’s a heavy-duty machine that's still too large to be stowed away easily or moved significant distances—and, because its frame is so wide, once it’s set up in one room, you kind of have to commit to it staying there.

Costing $2,299, the Bowflex T10 also on the pricier side, though you have the option to finance the tread. Bowflex also offers the best warranty of all the connected treads we tested—15 years for the frame, five years for parts, two years for labor, and one year on electronics. You can also pay $199 extra for the Bowflex Protection Plan, which extends the labor warranty to five years.

Pros

  • Best range of speed and incline

  • Can use streaming platforms on screen

  • Incredible running platform

Cons

  • Huge footprint

  • Jrny workout classes not as fun as others

Buy now at Bowflex
Product image of ProForm Carbon T7
ProForm Carbon T7

Proform is owned by the same company as NordicTrack, Icon Fitness, and the Carbon T7 is more or less a budget model for people who want the NordicTrack experience without paying as much. As such, the tread’s features are basically the same as the NordicTrack 1750, with slight downgrades. Its speed ranges from 0.5 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour, its incline ranges from 0% to 10%, it has a 2.6 CHP motor, and its belt is 20 inches wide and 55 inches long. Like the 1750, its weight limit is 300 pounds.

It also has a combination of quick-speed controls and plus and minus buttons to control the speed and incline, plus a 7-inch touchscreen. The screen’s a little smaller, and the sound is perhaps a tad tinnier, but the classes are exactly the same, displaying the same metrics, and offering automatic speed and incline changes along with the instructor’s calls.

However, because the speed and incline don’t go as high on the Proform, some extra-fast, extra-steep pushes are out of reach—this wasn’t an issue for me with the speed, as I never exceed 10 miles per hour anyway, but I missed the incline range I got from some of the steep hiking classes I took on the NordicTrack.

Once assembled, the Proform comes out to 35.2 inches wide, 73.5 inches deep, and 57.5 inches tall—definitely not tiny, but not too big to keep in the corner of a bedroom or living room. It folds up, too, and is easier than some to move around when needed. Likewise, its deck isn’t as generous as some others at 20 by 55 inches, but it isn’t insufficient, either—I felt supported and comfortable during my runs. Someone who’s very tall or tends to drift side to side when they run may want something with a wider belt.

Proform does not offer assembly, so I set up the Carbon T7 myself—and struggled. The treadmill has a lot of parts and many of the steps require two people. If you live alone, and don’t want to deal with wrangling friends or hiring help to put it together, the assembly alone was enough of an issue for me to warn others about it.

The Proform Carbon T7 costs $1,299 with free shipping, and zero-interest financing is available. This treadmill also has a 10-year warranty on the frame and a one year warranty on parts and labor—just one year less than NordicTrack’s two-year parts warranty. You can also opt into the extended service plan, for an additional cost, to receive tread tune-ups when needed.

All in all, the Proform Carbon T7 is a great option if you know you want a connected treadmill and don’t mind fewer frills—and more assembly time—than some higher-priced treads.

Pros

  • Access to iFit at lower cost than NordicTrack

  • Good range of speed and incline

Cons

  • Difficult to assemble

  • Motor not as powerful as others

Buy now at Amazon

$905.04 from Walmart
Product image of Echelon Stride
Echelon Stride

The Stride has speeds that range from 0.5 to 12 miles per hour, incline up to 10%, a 20-inch wide by 55-inch long belt, and can support up to 300 pounds. It does not have a built-in touchscreen, but it has a tablet holder for you to download the Echelon app and Bluetooth connectivity to make the tread and the app share data. It also has a basic display if you decide to use the treadmill without the tablet.

One of my favorite things about the Stride was its assembly—or lack thereof. It comes mostly pre-assembled, so all I had to do to set it up was shimmy it out of the box, lift up the handrails until they clicked into place, insert the safety key, and plug it in. The whole process, including breaking down its box and bringing it outside to the recycling bin took about 10 minutes.

Once set up, it looked much more sleek and stylish than other treadmills, and was one of the few treadmills that seemed like it could actually be stowed away when it wasn’t in use—when assembled, it’s 69.3 inches long by 31 inches wide and the console part is 49.2 inches tall, but when it’s folded, it’s just over 10 inches tall.

While using your own tablet means you aren’t committed to using Echelon Fit (well, once your required time with the app runs out—more on that in a bit). There are certain incentives for keeping with it—you see the leaderboard and your treadmill stats on Fit App, which isn’t the case if you use a non-Echelon app—and, for the record, I enjoyed Echelon’s classes. But if you wanted to take a break and switch to a different app, the tablet holder and Bluetooth speakers make it easy.

One downside, to me, was that the Stride’s sleek look couldn’t hide some flaws in its utility. I found it perfectly functional, but with a 1.75 CHP motor, it’s less powerful than other similarly priced (and sometimes less expensive) treadmills—even though I got the speed I needed, it didn’t feel as smooth as other machines I tried and may not last as long.

The belt also felt a little slick under foot—not dangerously so, but enough that I noticed it—and the deck seemed harder and not as responsive or rebounding as others that I ran on. Both of these may simply be a matter of getting used to, but they’re things to be aware of before you buy it.

The Stride’s pricing is complicated. The basics: The treadmill itself is $1,300. Shipping is $200 and Echelon requires you pay for at least one month of Fit App when you check out, which tacks on an additional $35. If you pay for a year or two years of the app up front, that adds on $399 or $699 to the cost—and agreeing to a longer term subtracts the shipping fee. Echelon also offers zero-interest financing. The Echelon warranty covers just one year on parts and labor, with extended warranties starting at $79.

If you don’t have a lot of space, no patience for assembly, and want a nice-looking treadmill that offers top speeds, decent incline, and connects with apps, the Stride is a great bet—as long as the sacrifices to power and running comfort aren’t dealbreakers.

Pros

  • Barely any assembly required

  • Sleek and stylish aesthetic

Cons

  • Belt feels a little slippery

  • Need a tablet to use it

  • Low horsepower for price

$1,258.32 from Amazon
Product image of Horizon T101
Horizon T101

If you’re looking for a no-frills treadmill at the lowest price, your best bet is the Horizon T101. The T101 didn't rank as high as others because it has fewer fancy features, but it's a solid treadmill and was a serious contender for our Best Value award.

It has decent speed and incline offerings—one to 10 miles per hour (a six-minute mile pace) and 0 to 10%, respectively—a 20-inch wide and 55-inch long belt, and a 300-pound weight limit, a 2.75 CHP motor, a built-in tablet holder, and Bluetooth speakers. The deck isn’t quite as spacious or rebounding as others, but it has a max weight of 300 pounds and feels sturdy and better than other options in its price range.

Horizon doesn’t offer assembly, but it was one of the easier treads to put together and I was able to do most of it on my own. And, once assembled, it didn’t take up too much space. It’s 70 inches long, 34 inches wide, and 55 inches tall, which is enough to ensure it doesn’t feel flimsy or crowded and can withstand high speeds, but is unobtrusive enough to stick in a corner of a room that may not be designated for working out. The T101 also folds up, so it doesn’t have to take up its entire floor space when it’s not in use.

Once set up, the T101 is pretty easy to figure out. You control the speed and incline by pushing a plus and minus button on its respective label, or pick one of the shortcut buttons that takes you right to the speed or incline you want.

Its LED display shows the time you’ve been running, your current speed in miles per hour and incline level, and a total calorie burn estimate, but not your pace in minutes per mile. This was a bummer for me—you may know off the top of your head that 6 miles an hour is the equivalent of a 10-minute mile and 8 miles an hour is the equivalent of a 7:30-minute mile, but I don’t, and I missed seeing that information during my runs.

Another small quibble I had was when I used a workout app on a tablet. Because the holder is really just a ledge right below the console display, the tablet covered up everything I would have wanted to see during the run, and I had to keep lifting it up to remind myself of the speed and incline I was on. This is something that would irk me over time—if I owned this treadmill, I’d probably buy an additional tablet mount to keep the console unobscured.

The T101 is $699 on Horizon's site and shipping is free. It has a great warranty—lifetime on the frame and motor and one year on parts and labor. You can also purchase a “warranty boost” for $120 or $150 to add three or five years to the parts and labor

If going faster than 10 miles per hour or working out at super-steep inclines are non-negotiable for your exercise routine, you may want to level up to a different treadmill. If not, you’ll be happy with the Horizon T101.

Pros

  • Doesn’t take up too much space

  • Good range of speed and incline for the price

Cons

  • If you use a tablet, it conceals the console

  • Doesn’t display pace in minutes per mile

Buy now at Horizon

Buy now at Amazon

$997.00 from Walmart
Product image of Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7515
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7515

This Sunny treadmill is one of the most popular options on Amazon, with more than 2,000 reviews and a cumulative 4.4-star rating. And, for its price—usually just under $500—its offerings aren’t too bad.

Its available speeds range from 1.0 to 8.0 miles per hour and its incline goes up to 12%. The belt measures a relatively narrow 16.5 inches and short 49.5 inches long. Sunny doesn’t provide any info on the tread’s continuous horsepower, but its motor has a maximum horsepower of 2.2—pretty low in comparison to others we tested.

It also has Bluetooth connectivity and a tablet holder, so it can be used to stream a workout app, music, a podcast, or whatever else you want to listen to as you run. I ended up putting it together myself, which was surprisingly easy—professional assembly is available for an extra $89, but it didn’t feel necessary to me.

The first thing I noticed on my initial test run was that the running space felt way too narrow. This wasn’t an issue when I was walking, but when I ran at higher speeds, I worried my feet might hit the side rail, causing me to fall off. I’m 5 feet 7 inches, for reference, so anyone with a similar or larger frame will probably have the same concern (for reference, the treadmill also has a 240-pound weight limit). That said, with a low max speed of 8.0 miles per hour, it’s clearly not designed for serious runners or anyone who likes to sprint.

Other than that (pretty big issue), it was fine. It’s easy to figure out how to use and I was impressed with its incline.

But at 64.5 inches long, 28 inches wide, and 50.5 inches tall, it’s small, relatively light, folds up and has wheels, so it’s no sweat to pull into a different room if needed.

The Sunny SF-7515 costs $500 (subject to price fluctuations). Shipping is free if you order it on Amazon and no financing is available. Sunny also provides a three-year warranty on the structural frame and a 180-day warranty on other parts and components.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble

  • Great for walking

Cons

  • Limited speed range

  • Narrow belt

$471.25 from Amazon

$529.99 from Target

$471.25 from Walmart
Product image of Xterra Fitness TR150
Xterra Fitness TR150

The Xterra TR150—another popular Amazon option which has more than 7,000 reviews—was the most basic of all the treadmills tested. It does not incline, does not have Bluetooth, has a skinny 16-inch wide and 50-inch long belt, and only supports weights up to 250 pounds. Its speed, however, goes up to 9.0 miles per hour (a 6:40 pace), which felt like a lot considering its other features.

Like the Sunny, it doesn’t list its CHP, but says its motor’s maximum horsepower is 2.25 (or basically the same as Sunny’s).

You can’t get assembly with the tread, but it’s easy to put together—I was able to do it by myself in under an hour. The belt was the most narrow of all the ones we tested, so I didn’t feel too comfortable when I ran on it, but the deck felt surprisingly supportive and buoyant when I walked on it.

If you just need a treadmill as something to get some extra walking steps in, it’s available at a low enough price that it’s not a bad purchase. The Xterra TR150 usually costs about $500. No financing is available. Its warranty is pretty good for its price: lifetime on the frame, one year on the motor, and 90 days on parts and labor.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble

  • Supportive deck

Cons

  • No incline

  • Low speed range

  • Feels flimsy

$393.78 from Amazon

$465.48 from Walmart

How We Tested Treadmills

testing
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

We set up testing protocols to evaluate each treadmill.

The Tester

I’m Sara Hendricks, the health and fitness editor at Reviewed. I’ve tested a lot of fitness equipment, including exercise bikes and AI-powered home gyms. I’m also a former cross-country runner and current all-around exercise enthusiast, so I’ve spent a decent amount of time on and around treadmills of varying quality. When I had an opportunity to try out a bunch of them to find the best treadmill, I couldn’t get running quickly enough.

The Tests

horizont101
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The bulk of testing? A lot of running and walking.

We tested treadmills in a similar way to how we evaluated the best exercise bikes. We ordered popular products to our Cambridge, Mass., office—some were loaned from the brands, others we purchased ourselves.

Some were ‘connected,’ meaning they have a built-in screen and WiFi connectivity to stream workout videos from accompanying apps that you must pay an additional monthly fee to access. Others are not fully connected but offer Bluetooth connectivity that allows users to “hack” workouts from an accompanying app like Peloton or Aaptiv through the tread’s speakers—or go old-school and run to music pumped through speakers or headphones or even to bring the sound closer of a nearby Bluetooth-enabled TV.

If the order included assembly, we asked for it; if not, I set the treadmill up myself (and often with help from anyone else who happened to be in the office). I took note of how easy or difficult DIY setup was, and if you’d be better off getting a tread that offers assembly. (And let me assure you: if I could put together a treadmill, most people should be able to.)

Once set up, I got to running (and walking). I evaluated each model's basic functions, including its speed and incline range, belt length and width, deck cushioning and responsiveness, warranty, and maximum weight capacity, as well as each tread’s more subjective aspects, such as the quality of metrics display, how easy it was to use, how it looked, its build quality, and how noisy it was during runs.

What You Should Know About Buying Treadmills

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Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

Whether you're walking or running, a treadmill is a great at-home workout device.

The treadmill has long been a stalwart of at-home fitness, and for a good reason. Both walking and running are fantastic for cardiovascular health, and when it isn’t possible or desirable to do it outside, these machines provide an easy solution. (As with most things, though, it’s best not to overdo it—running especially can be a lot of impact on the body, and, as with most cardio-based exercises, should be supplemented with strength training program and stretching to prevent injury.)

There’s some variation in the bells and whistles, but all treadmills share many of the same features. They each have a deck (the platform upon which the belt rotates, which should be tough enough to withstand repeated running but soft enough for shock absorption), a belt (the part you run on, which rotates around the deck should have enough grip to ensure your feet don’t slip), and the console (the place where you control the machine’s speed and incline, and where it shows your distance, pace, and other metrics). If it’s a connected model, it will likely have a touchscreen that is used to display workout videos; if it’s not connected, it will likely use tactile buttons.

Treadmills also have a motor measured in horsepower. When you’re comparing models, it’s important to pay attention to the tread’s “continuous duty” horsepower, or CHP, which refers to the rate at which the motor can operate for a prolonged period of time, as opposed to “peak” horsepower, which refers to the potential power of the motor at max capacity, but that’s not necessarily sustainable. A treadmill with less than 2.5 CHP is probably not worthwhile if you’re a dedicated runner and/or you plan to use it a lot.

The importance of each feature varies slightly, depending on if you plan to use your treadmill primarily for walking or running. But, across the board, you should pay attention to belt length and width, which should be no smaller than 18 inches wide and 48 inches long. Otherwise you may not be able to stride comfortably on it, particularly if you’re on the taller side or plan to run at fast speeds. This is because most people naturally drift from side to side as they run, which makes the risk of accidentally stepping off the belt—or worrying you might step off the belt—as you sprint greater on a smaller one.

It’s also important for a treadmill to have some incline ability for both runners and walkers—it helps build up strength and add variety to workouts in a way that running or walking on a flat road won’t—and, for runners, a wide range of speeds is vital. Exact numbers depend on your needs, but, in general, look out for treads with a maximum incline of at least 10% and maximum speeds of at least 10 mph.

You can also expect to designate a decent chunk of space in your home to one of these machines. Even if it folds up and has wheels, most are still too heavy and unwieldy to move significant distances or put into storage, and its footprint will be larger than that of something like a bike.

It’s important to have some space around your treadmill, too. You should have about 6.5 feet behind it and 1.5 feet of unencumbered space by the sides, according to ASTM International, a standard-setting organization, so you don’t bounce against a wall or other pieces of equipment if you fall off. It’s also helpful to set up the treadmill in a space with higher ceilings. Most brands recommend at least 12 inches of head clearance for safety—when you’re calculating this, you’ll have to figure in the height of the treadmill deck and the height it can reach at max incline, plus the height of the tallest runner in your household. (Most will list the ceiling height requirement in the specs.)

Meet the tester

Sara Hendricks

Sara Hendricks

Editor

@sarajhendricks

Sara Hendricks is a former Health and Fitness editor for Reviewed. She has several years of experience reading and writing about lifestyle and wellness topics, with her previous work appearing in Refinery 29, Insider, and The Daily Beast.

See all of Sara Hendricks's reviews

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