As someone who doesn’t particularly love outdoor running in the colder months, a treadmill fulfills my desire to run without dealing with the winter elements. Whether you’re a runner or simply enjoy walking, a treadmill is a helpful piece of exercise equipment to get some steps in the comfort of your home.
A well-rounded workout routine includes a form of cardio, and a treadmill is a guaranteed way to get some cardio in. The treadmills available for home use have also become more technologically advanced than what you traditionally find at the gym. They vary based on whether they have a touchscreen, which workout programs are offered or even how practical the design of the treadmill is.
We tested different types of treadmills on the market to determine which are worth buying, who they are best for and what to consider before making a purchase. Take a look at our top picks below.
Best treadmills for 2023, compared
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NordicTrack has a reputation for being one of the leading brands in treadmills so it’s no surprise that our top overall pick is the NordicTrack Commercial 2450, NordicTrack’s newest addition to its commercial treadmill series. This treadmill is all black with a sleek design that would look good in a home gym space.
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The Bowflex Treadmill 10 is ideal for those looking for a heavy-duty treadmill. It has the highest weight capacity of all the treadmills on this list at 400 pounds — most cap out at around 300 pounds. It’s also the biggest one on the list, measuring 85 inches long by 39.6 inches wide and 65.3 inches tall. According to our technician, assembly took about three and a half hours and can be tedious because of the different pieces you have to install. Bowflex does offer shipping with assembly included for an additional $349.
Echelon
This compact but mighty treadmill is our top pick for small spaces. Unlike the rest of the treadmills on this list, the Echelon Stride was made with limited space in mind. It has an all black exterior and looks sleek so it will blend into any room. It only took our technician 15 minutes to set up, so it should be easy to assemble without taking up much of your time. This treadmill is best for someone on the shorter side since the spacing between the arms and treadmill feels more narrow compared to the Bowflex and NordicTrack treadmills. The belt is also shorter, measuring only 55 inches long. It has a 300-pound weight capacity, which is impressive considering its size. It could pass for a walking treadmill because of how slim it is, but during testing I was able to comfortably walk and run on it. The speed goes from 0.5 to 12 miles per hour and has a max 10% incline. The speed capabilities are in line with the bigger treadmills, however, the incline is not as high, and the Echelon Stride doesn’t have a decline option.
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The Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill looks like a commercial treadmill found at the gym without the bells and whistles. It’s also fairly priced and the only treadmill on this list under $1,000. This treadmill took our technician two hours to assemble, but you have the option of white glove delivery and assembly for an additional $269. You will need to make sure you measure out the space in your home since this treadmill is big, measuring 76.5 inches long and 36 inches wide. It’s not as big as the Bowflex or NordicTrack, but it still takes up space. It does fold up, but similar to some of the other treadmills on this list, you still need to make sure you have enough room to store it upright.
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If you’re familiar with Peloton’s exercise equipment, then you know it all shares the same black sleek exterior with touches of red. The Peloton Tread is no different, but its stand out feature is the 23.8-inch HD touchscreen. This makes it the treadmill with the biggest screen on this list. The Peloton Tread will require plenty of room since it is large and doesn’t fold up. It’s 59 inches long so it can appropriately fit people of all heights, and you can tell by the width and length of the belt that it can comfortably fit someone over 6 feet tall. It has a 300-pound weight capacity. The Peloton Tread can go up to 12.5 miles per hour with one mile per hour increments. It also has a maximum 12.5% incline, but no decline option. Its competitors NordicTrack and Bowflex have the ability to decline, so I was surprised that Peloton’s was lacking there.
How do you lubricate a treadmill?
According to NordicTrack, you’ll need to buy a nonsilicone-based treadmill lubricant from the treadmill supplier. Follow its recommended steps to properly lubricate your treadmill.
