How to Find the Best Treadmills
The treadmill is a great investment for your home. It allows you to work out at your own pace and not worry about the weather or your commute to the gym.
A good treadmill is an ideal way to monitor your fitness performance. If you're preparing for an upcoming race or simply want to maintain your fitness level having a treadmill at home is a must.
1. Motor
When shopping for a treadmill, search for one that offers an impressive motor. If you intend to run upwards of 20 miles per week and doing intense interval training, choose an option that comes with an uninterrupted 3.0 horsepower motor and 60 inches of deck long. If you're a beginner or simply want to walk or run occasionally, you should consider smaller models that comes with a 1.75-2.5 horsepower motor.
You must also decide if you'd like go for a smart treadmill with a touchscreen and virtual classes or prefer a more basic model without the console. Some models even fold to make it easy to store.
The Peloton Treadmill is a well-designed treadmill that sports a sleek design with an impressive range features. It's more expensive than our top choice, but it offers a smooth running experience and a user-friendly touchscreen. It also has an extensive selection of exercises on demand with virtual and live instructors. The incline controls, which are situated on the handrails make it easy to adjust the speed and inclines while exercising. The only cup holders on this treadmill are made of plastic and only hold water bottles.
The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is another treadmill to consider. It's less expensive than the Peloton Treadmill but has a lot of good features. Its iFit compatibility lets users to access a range of virtual workouts from trainers all over the world. The app is available with a subscription, that costs $39 per month. The treadmill also comes with a large 22-inch touchscreen and a cushioned deck. It can reach speeds of up to 12 mph and it has an incline range between -3 % to 15% for a more challenging exercise.
2. Design
The design of a treadmill is vital, just like any other piece of fitness equipment. If you're preparing for a challenging outdoor race, you'll want to select the treadmill with the highest incline settings that mimic the terrain of the outdoors. If you like to follow along with a workout class, choose models with a large screen and iFIT compatibility, which lets you access classes in the studio virtual coach programs, Explore the World scenic runs, and off-treadmill exercises.
We also take a look at the ease of use of the buttons and the user-friendly interface. We also look at whether the treadmill is foldable and, if it is the case, how long it will take to fold it. We also examine whether the treadmill must be assembled and if it is an easy and quick process.
3. Technology
The technology utilized in treadmills can make a huge difference in how easy they are to use and if they have any glitches. We look at touchscreens and intuitive controls, user-friendly interfaces and other features when scoring a machine in this category. We also consider if a treadmill is mobile and folds at the press of a button, which is important for those who frequently move their treadmills around their homes or need to squeeze them into tight spaces.
The Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill impressed us with its rapid speed and incline adjustments according to previous workouts, its long belt, comfortable cushioning, and iFIT integration, which offers access to studio-style classes, virtual coaches, and Explore the World scenic run options, in addition to exercises that are not on the treadmill (though Bluetooth connectivity was sometimes problematic). Its 22" striking, sharp touchscreen in color and iFIT compatibility made this a top treadmill.
The ProForm Carbon T10 is another treadmill that scores high. With a 10" screen, it has live streaming and on-demand iFIT running, walking and jogging videos. We like the fact that the incline and speed changes are simple to navigate through the touchscreen, as are 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 downside is that it doesn't have a headphone port or USB ports.
4. Comfort
The best treadmills are those that feel comfortable for the person who uses them. Some people with larger bodies and longer strides could be more concerned with the size of the deck and the amount of space available for running or walking. Others may be more concerned about ergonomic features such as well-placed control of speed and incline. We also searched for additional features that make it more enjoyable to use the machine, including front-facing speakers and a USB charging port, a small cooling fan, as well as plenty of places to store your water bottle or other accessories.
We also considered the storage of each treadmill. Not everyone has enough space in their homes to store a full-sized treadmill. Fortunately, the majority of the models we tested fold down or have support arms that reduce their footprint when not in use. We evaluated the ease with which the machines folded and stowed away, how long it took to put them up, and whether they were easy to move on hard surfaces.
If you're planning to do many hilly outdoor routes You should also think about the maximum incline on the machine. This feature is important because it can help you prepare for more difficult outdoor climbs.
We looked for touchscreens that were responsive and a user-friendly interface on each treadmill. We also looked for a non-slip appearance and whether the machine was compatible with third-party fitness apps. This helped us determine if each treadmill offered enough features to justify the price tag. A high-quality treadmill at home can help you overcome the difficulties of bad weather and costly gym memberships. It will also boost your motivation to keep your fitness levels up.
5. Safety
A treadmill can be a danger to equipment if not used properly. It's a massive, heavy machine with a belt that moves at speeds of up to 10 or 12 miles per hour. Those who use treadmills for walking or running should not lean on home treadmills the hand rails as this can throw off balance and result in injuries. A cluttered area around the treadmill could cause tripping hazards, so it's important to keep it clean and clutter-free during use as well as storage.
The best treadmills will include safety features such as an ejectable safety magnet that is that is attached to the belt. The magnet will detach and stop the belt instantly if a runner loses balance. This feature is able to protect the runner as well as others from serious injuries. The treadmills in gyms are typically equipped with this technology, and home owners ought to consider purchasing one to reduce the amount of accidents that occur when exercising at home equipment.
When you are using a treadmill at home, it's important to listen for the "beep" that goes off when the belt starts to move. Don't leap off until the belt is stopped. Many people make the mistake of trying to save time by jumping off before the belt has completely stopped, which can result in injuries. Also, you should be familiar with the location and usage of the emergency shut-off switch.
It's also a good idea to make sure that the treadmill is shut off and unplugged after you're done. This reduces the chance of your children or visitors inadvertently turning on and using the treadmill. It is best to keep it in a different room and having a clear area over and around it will prevent others from coming into contact with it as well.