Picking the best treadmill for your home gym is hard, and you must consider many things before purchasing one.
I used to have multiple home and commercial treadmills in some of my home setups, and I can tell you that all of them were drastically different.
Our team tested over twenty treadmills, and we singled out ten that we believe are the best for different gym setups.
After reading the article, you will understand what a high-quality treadmill is and which one you should pick for your home gym.
Our Top Treadmills (September 2023)
1 - Rogue Trueform Trainer (Editor's Choice)
The Trueform Trainer treadmill is an exceptional piece of cardio equipment with a sleek and minimalistic, functional, and visually appealing design.
In addition, it comes with an adjustable incline and cushioned deck that provide a comfortable, low-impact workout, best for those with bad knees and ankles.
My favorite feature of Trueform Trainer is an intuitive touchscreen display that provides different workout programs and metrics to help track your individual progress.
This cardio machine is durable and stable, built from high-quality materials, and is made to last.
Lastly, the only difficulty you may have with this equipment is assembling it, which isn't straightforward and will take some time.
Product Facts:
- 17" Wide Running Surface
- LED Battery Display Screen
- Responsive Belt Technology (RBT)
- Mimics the natural running motion of the body, producing more comfortable workouts
- The touchscreen display allows you to create or fully customize your workouts
- Operates quietly, so you don't have to worry about waking up your housemates
- Excellent for those with bad knees due to cushioned deck and fully adjustable incline
- The treadmill may be too big for certain home gym setups.
2 - NordicTrack Commercial 1750
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 treadmill comes with auto-adjust technology and endless workout options when connected to the iFit app to diversify your cardio sessions.
In addition, it comes with a 15% incline which replicates precisely hilly races associated with greater energy expenditure and with auto-adjusting speed, providing a realistic running experience [1].
Our testers loved the cushioning of this commercial treadmill, which is the perfect balance of bouncy but firm.
One of the things that may be a downside of this popular cardio machine is the size of the touchscreen, which is 10 inches and may not be big enough for everyone.
Product Facts:
- 10-inch Interactive HD Touchscreen
- 300-pound Maximum User Weight
- 2-year Parts Warranty
- Has endless workout options when connected to iFit
- The monitor is surprisingly quiet, and you don't have to worry about disturbing others
- Sturdy handlebars come in extremely handy for tough uphill climbs
- Some people experienced problems with the connectivity and stability of the treadmill.
3 - Sole F63
Sole F63 is a featured compact treadmill that comes at an affordable price without sacrificing much quality.
What I love the most about Sole F63 is its compact nature since it can be folded and stored away, which is excellent for freeing up space in your gym.
In addition, it comes with an integrated tablet/smartphone holder, which is great for watching a podcast or anything in video format while exercising.
If you are a professional runner, this treadmill may not be for you due to its maximum speed of 12 mph.
Product Facts:
- Alloy Steel
- Integrated Tablet Holder
- USB Port
- Long-lasting choice due to its durable and robust steel frame
- A unique shock-absorption system comes in handy for people with bad joints
- Built-in wheels enable this treadmill to be easily stored away
- Noisy and tends to vibrate during use
4 - Assault Runner Pro
Assault Runner Pro is not the regular motorized treadmill but is the best choice for performing HIIT (high-intensity interval training) treadmill workouts and improving cardiovascular fitness [2].
I enjoyed using this machine since I could quickly achieve top running speed in seconds without manually increasing the treadmill's speed.
In addition, Assault Runner Pro is one of those curved treadmills that demands zero electrical consumption, which can cut costs further when equipping your home gym.
However, this model may not be the best option if you are looking for a steady-state cardio machine due to its high-intensity nature.
Product Facts:
- Alloy Steel
- 20 mph Max Speed
- Bluetooth and ANT+ Connectivity
- Burns more calories compared to regular treadmills
- The best option for HIIT workouts
- Easily end the session without having to decrease the max speed manually
- It may be too advanced for non-athletic people and those looking for steady-state cardio workouts.
5 - Echelon Fitness Stride
The Echelon Stride treadmill is an excellent model for small home gym setups due to its compact design and foldable nature.
This inexpensive treadmill comes with a wide array of premade workouts, and you can easily find the class to increase the intensity of your workouts.
Our testers loved that anyone can easily carry around the treadmill, so you have complete freedom to work out in whichever room you prefer.
However, one of the downsides of this treadmill is that it only offers an incline of 10%, which isn't enough for most runners.
Product Facts:
- USB Charging Port
- 3000+ Premade Fitness Classes
- Handlebar Heart Rate Sensors
- Easily fits in any room of your house
- Can be easily carried around by yourself without any help
- Comes with 3000 live and on-demand connected fitness classes
- The running deck size may be too small for bigger runners.
6 - Weslo Cadence G 5.9I Folding Treadmill
Weslo Cadence G 5.9I is an easy-to-assemble and the best folding treadmill that comes at an affordable price.
This folding treadmill is the best budget treadmill for people looking to walk mainly. However, it isn't meant for runners due to the small track size, horsepower, and top speed.
It is only 64.5″ long and 29″ wide, making it excellent for small rooms and gym setups.
You can easily move the deck to a vertical position and store it to save space in your home gym.
Product Facts:
- Large LCD Display
- Adjustable 2-position Incline Settings
- 16" x 50" Tread Belt
- Affordable treadmill, making it accessible to everyone
- Six workout programs are built into the console
- Excellent for older people who prefer walking over running
- The warranty for this treadmill is very short.
7 - XTERRA Fitness TRX3500 Folding Treadmill
XTERRA Fitness TRX3500 is a walking treadmill that is an excellent mid-priced cardio machine with a 3.0 horsepower drive, making it ideal for running.
Our fitness experts loved the thick exercise track, which helps minimize the potential noise, and you can achieve a top speed of 12 mph.
With this compact treadmill, you will get 30 preset programs that can further be customized according to your needs.
Also, this unit is one of the best folding treadmills due to its compatibility with a wireless chest strap, making it great for using a heart rate-controlled workout program.
One downside is plastic rails, which aren't so durable.
Product Facts:
- Blue Backlit LCD Display
- Built-in Bluetooth
- 3.0 HP Motor
- Speed controls are built into the handlebars for easier access
- You can deactivate the suspension to achieve a more roadlike training surface
- Thicker two-ply exercise belts help the treadmill operate quietly
- Requires track lubrication to operate smoothly
8 - Horizon Fitness 7.0 at Studio Series Smart Treadmill
Horizon Fitness 7.0 at studio series smart treadmill is the best for those looking to use third-party apps, such as Zwift, Peloton, and iFit, on a personal device.
In addition, our testers acknowledged this manual treadmill is excellent for HIIT training due to its incline potential and motor power [3].
Also, when you stop using this treadmill during your workout sessions, you can easily fold it and store it to save space in your home gym.
One downside is that it doesn't come with a touchscreen, making it a little harder to use.
Product Facts:
- 60-inch Belt
- 3-zone Variable Response Cushioning
- 7" LCD Screen
- The 15% incline makes it excellent for losing weight and burning fat
- Cushioning absorbs deck impact making it durable and quiet
- Supports up to 325 pounds, making it excellent for bigger people
- When you use a 3rd party app, you must manually adjust the speed and incline.
9 - Proform Pro 9000
Proform Pro 9000 is a well-powered treadmill model supporting everything from walking, jogging, running, and hiking.
You will be granted access to thousands of high-class treadmill workouts with the simple but impressive 22" touch screen.
In addition, you can easily add versatility to your workouts with a 12% incline and -a 3% decline. I personally enjoyed using Ifit classes.
Also, there are more than 16000 live and on-demand sessions included.
One of the downsides is the capacity, which is 300 lbs, making it less suitable for larger users.
Product Facts:
- 4.25 CHP Mach Z Commercial Plus Motor
- 300 lb Weight Capacity
- 10-inch Full-color Touchscreen
- You can easily fold and unfold the deck by yourself to store it when not in use
- Straightforward and uncomplicated to use
- Ability to work more muscles in your body due to the 12% incline and -3% decline
- The console moves when running, which causes shaking of the screen.
10 - Proform Carbon T10
Proform Carbon T10 doesn't take up much space. I could easily fold it by myself, and in my opinion, it is the best for light jogging.
Proform Carbon T10 is compatible with iFit, including automated controls that adjust the incline and speed hand-free.
The cushioning is built from a high-quality material, which absorbs the shock from running nicely, leaving it noise-free.
However, due to its lower price, it isn't built from the highest quality and durable material, making it not the best option for extensive training.
Product Facts:
- 221 Pounds Weight Capacity
- 10" HD Interactive Touchscreen Display
- 20" x 55" Tread Belt
- iFit comes free for the first month
- Auto-adjusting speed and incline options
- Comes with the 10-year frame warranty
- The deck is only 20" wide and 55" long, making it less compatible with some users.
How to Choose the Best Treadmill?
To choose the best treadmill, you must consider your goals, training options, dimensions, speed, the maximum incline, and budget.
If you are still unsure which treadmill is best for your home gym setup, I created a simple buyer's guide to help you.
According to my personal experience when choosing a suitable treadmill, the factors on this list are the most important.
However, some other factors that need to be considered are built-in technology, how much noise the treadmill makes, warranty, and so on.
The more boxes you tick here, the easier the selection process becomes.
The two most important factors from my personal experience are your fitness goals and budget.
The budget should be the number one thing you should consider before looking for the most suitable treadmill. It can save you time since you will cut many treadmills initially.
Something Affordable for your budget but not necessarily a cheap home gym equipment.
Your Fitness Goals
Think about what you want to achieve with this treadmill.
Is it high-volume running to increase aerobic capacity, jogging to boost cardiovascular health, or something entirely different [4]? You need to be specific.
Consider how often you will use the treadmill and what monitor options you need to achieve your fitness goals.
Also, do you have joint problems and need a track that will absorb your force effectively without hurting you even more?
The only people who don't need to take too much time to think about their goals are walkers since they can use every treadmill on our list.
"The treadmill deck is designed to allow a lower impact workout than most outside surfaces, which is great for those who have joint issues or aren't yet used to the pounding forces of running"
- Claire Bartholic, ASFA-Certified Running Coach
Training Options
Training options you should mainly consider are:
- Incline or hill setting
- Decline, or downhill setting
- Max. speed, or how fast you need to run
If you plan to use your training as a substitution for hill running, choose the one with the best incline options. This is great as walking on incline helps to burn more fat.
Also, selecting a treadmill with greater horsepower is necessary if you want to train for a high-speed race.
Technology
Here are some technology options to consider before purchasing a treadmill:
- HD touchscreen displays (or a basic LCD)
- Bluetooth enabled speakers
- Heart rate monitoring
- Streaming services
- Customized user profiles
Remember, the more boxes you tick here, the higher the price range will be.
Conveniences
Here you are looking for extra accessories that come with the treadmill.
Some of those include:
- Cooling fan
- Tablet holder or
- Media shelf
- USB charging port
- Cushioned deck for shock absorption
- Safety stop
- Storage tray
As mentioned in the technology section, the more options the treadmill has, the more expensive it will be.
Dimensions
Space is always a significant factor for consideration. How big your home gym is will determine the size of your future treadmill.
Ideally, there are foldable treadmills you can purchase, so you don't have to worry about taking up too much space in your home gym.
Also, the machine's portability is important, and some general rule says that the lighter the machine, the more portable it is.
However, remember this isn't the case for all models since the size also significantly influences portability.
Budget
As stated before, always begin your journey by deciding your budget.
You can't choose a treadmill that is out of your price range, so determining the budget can save you plenty of time.
Generally, the more money you can invest in a treadmill, the more it will last. I advise avoiding treadmills under $1000 if you want a long-lasting solution.
Noise
If you live with others, consider buying a treadmill that doesn't produce much noise.
Also, if you plan to leave your treadmill where the sound is isolated from your housemates, like in the garage, you don't need to worry about it.
Plenty of treadmills on our list don't produce extra noise, meaning you won't have to worry about annoying the people you live with.
Warranty
Long-lasting machines will always have a longer warranty for them.
Always consider the warranty factor, and don't be afraid to spend extra bucks to be safe from your treadmill breaking prematurely.
Speed
Speed isn't important if you plan to use your treadmill solely for walking. However, if you want to run fast, not all treadmills suit you.
Most of the time, you will be okay with 12 mph, but if you are a professional runner, you may look for treadmills with up to 16 mph max speed.
"A brisk walk can do wonders for almost every area of your fitness. Fitting in a few 45-minute strolls per week — especially at a pace of, say, three or four miles an hour — is one of the smartest things you can do for your joints, immune system, heart, brain, and a lot more."
- Bree-Anna Burick, Certified Personal Trainer
Who Should Buy a Treadmill?
Any individual who is planning to use a home gym thrice a week for cardio training should buy a treadmill.
The treadmill is an excellent cardio equipment that can level up your home cardio sessions and make you overall healthier [5].
Also, you should buy a treadmill if you live in a place with bad weather and traffic.
A treadmill will allow you to stay healthy in the comfort of your home.
Who Shouldn't Buy It?
You shouldn't buy a treadmill if you use it only a few times a month since that is a complete waste of money.
Furthermore, suppose your primary way of exercising is resistance training, and you only have one or two weekly cardio sessions.
In that case, it's unclear whether purchasing a brand-new treadmill is worth it. Before buying a treadmill, you must evaluate how often you will use it.
FAQs
How Much Should You Spend on a Home Treadmill?
You should spend at least $1000 on a home treadmill. If you want a long-lasting piece of cardio equipment, purchasing a treadmill below this threshold will not be of sufficient quality and may break sooner.
What Is a Good Size for a Treadmill?
A good size for a treadmill is 20" wide and 60" long. This size ensures there is enough span for running and should accommodate users over six feet tall.
Where Is the Best Place for a Home Treadmill?
The best place for a home treadmill is either in your gym or living room. This is because those rooms generally have the most space, and there is enough room to store a folded treadmill if necessary.
Which Treadmill Is Best for Home Use?
The best treadmill for home use is Trueform Trainer.
The Trueform Trainer is the best cardio machine option because it achieves all the functional necessities with a minimalistic design.
In addition, most of our testers with bad knees enjoyed this model due to its low-impact nature.
Lastly, Trueform Trainer has an intuitive display that allows you to track your workout data over an extended period.
Let us know which one of the treadmills you liked the most and why.
Our #1 Recommendation
Rogue Trueform Trainer
- Mimics the natural running motion of the body, producing more comfortable workouts
- The touchscreen display allows you to create or fully customize your workouts
- Operates quietly, so you don't have to worry about waking up your housemates
- Excellent for those with bad knees due to cushioned deck and fully adjustable incline
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of September
- The treadmill may be too big for certain home gym setups.
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