5 Best Treadmill for Home Gym 2024: Top Brand Reviews
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- Written by Karla Tafra, Nutritionist
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
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Sole F80 Treadmill
- Cushion Flex Whisper Deck reduces impact by 40 percent compared to running on the asphalt
- Features a folding treadmill design
- Comes with Sole Studio access with over 3000 classes
Bowflex Treadmill 22
- Goes up from -5% to 20% inclining
- Comfort Tech deck cushioning
- SoftDrop folding system
- One-year membership to JRNY workout experience
ProForm Pro 2000 Smart Treadmill
- 30-day iFit Family membership
- Folding design
- Trainer-led workouts with full trainer controls
At-home treadmills are one of the best home workout machines that can help increase and maintain your cardiovascular fitness, aid in fat loss, and promote healthy body weight. And before you think how having an at-home treadmill is only for the ones who have an at-home gym, gone are the days of bulky treadmills.
Many brands now have smaller, compact treadmills that are even budget-friendly and work for any space and environment. In this article, we’ll focus on the best at-home treadmills that are meant for running and can crank up the speed of the running belt.
5 Best Treadmill for Home Gym in (September. 2024)
- Sole F80 Treadmill – Editor’s Choice
- Bowflex Treadmill 22 – Best for Running
- ProForm Pro 2000 Smart Treadmill – Best Trainer-Led Workouts
- NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill – Best Folding Treadmill
- Peloton Tread Treadmill– Best Workout App
Why You Should Get a Treadmill
Recently, the world has been crazy for at-home exercise bikes and even rowing machines, but treadmills work your body completely differently. Even though it’s all cardiovascular fitness, the movement and impact on your muscles and joints are completely different.
Exercise bikes have many incredible health benefits[1] but put a lot of tension and stress on your quadriceps and gluteals (glutes). They might not be the best option for those who have problems with their lower back[2], tight hip flexors, or specific spine injuries, but they are a great at-home solution for those who aren’t big fans of running or walking uphill.
Rowing machines[3] improve your endurance, stamina, and basic fitness. Still, they put a lot of pressure on your back and require a higher level of flexibility in your legs; thus, they are not an option for everyone. Additionally, they can be bulky and hard to fit in smaller apartments or rooms.
On the other hand, treadmills are versatile at-home fitness machines that can be used for walking, running, walking uphill, sprinting, and even side-walking and various treadmill workouts.
Recently, desk treadmill versions have become extremely popular as many people transferred to working from home and needed some sort of physical activity during their working hours.
At-home treadmills are an amazing way of maintaining your overall health and well-being. They can help build your fitness, increase your stamina, build lean muscle tissue, act as a great tool for physical recovery and rehabilitation, and even help with permanent[4] injuries and disabilities.
The best treadmill for home use is versatile, budget-friendly, and easy to store and keep in your space. Here are our five best treadmills for home use.
5 Best Value Treadmills for Home Use in 2024
Sole F80 Treadmill
Another at-home treadmill that’s often named the best quality treadmill for home use in its price range, Sole F80 Treadmill is a folding treadmill that’s compact, comfortable to use, and works for any kind of fitness enthusiast.
- Cushion Flex Whisper Deck reduces impact by 40 percent compared to running on the asphalt
- Features a folding treadmill design
- Comes with Sole Studio access with over 3000 classes
- Expensive, but it’s currently on sale and has great financing options
Sole F80 Treadmill comes with a unique foldable design with a patented design that features all gear rack and pinion systems as well as a special safety deck lock that locks it into place when it’s in an upright position. The patented technology allows for hands-off unfolding, which is effortless and does all the work for you.
This treadmill has various incredible features, from integrated Bluetooth audio speakers and a tablet holder to a special cushion flex whisper deck that reduces the impact on your joints by 40%, special high-quality rollers usually used on $5000-worth treadmills, and two different types of displays.
The price includes access to their Sole Studio with over 3000 workout programs that can fit any level and fitness preference.
Bowflex Treadmill 22
Bowflex Treadmill 22 is often considered the best treadmill for home running due to its Comfort Tech deck cushioning and sky-high incline control.
- Goes up from -5% to 20% inclining
- Comfort Tech deck cushioning
- SoftDrop folding system
- One-year membership to JRNY workout experience
- Expensive, but comes with great financing options
Bowflex Treadmill 22 takes your home running to a whole new level. It comes with a wide incline range that goes from -5% to 20%, a 60” long belt, and a comfortable cushion system that lowers the impact on your joints and muscles.
It also comes equipped with a heart rate armband monitor to make tracking your metrics and workout data more accurate and easier to analyze.
The purchase includes a one-year membership to their JRNY workout experience programs that feature many workout classes, including over 200 scenic destinations and voice-coached workouts that adapt as you progress.
This treadmill has a folding design that makes it easy to store and transfer from location to location. And although it isn’t a comfortably affordable treadmill, it features a variety of high-quality functions that can justify its higher price point.
ProForm Pro 2000 Smart Treadmill
ProForm Pro 2000 Smart Treadmill is the best treadmill for home gym use if you’re interested in trainer-led workouts.
- 30-day iFit Family membership
- Folding design
- Trainer-led workouts with full trainer controls
- Smaller screen (10-inch)
- Some report the fan being noisy
ProForm Pro 2000 Smart Treadmill takes personal training to the next level with trainer-led workouts that gives the trainers full control over your speed and incline levels. It’s a hands-free workout you can count on, with an individualized approach tailored to your metrics and progress.
This treadmill is the most affordable treadmill on the list, with great financing options if you choose to take that route. The purchase includes a 30-day iFit Family Membership with all the options so you can try and test the app and try as many workout programs as you wish.
Additionally, it comes with a large, 20x 60-inch running belt and ReBound Pro cushioning, which gives your legs support and reduces the overall impact. It also comes with a built-in cooling fan with an adjustable breeze level. Unfortunately, many people report the fan being noisy and their 10-inch screen size being too small for their preference.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
Often called the best NordicTrack treadmill for home use, NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill is an amazing option for anyone who wants to stay on top of their fitness game, whether running, jogging, or simply walking uphill.
- ActivePulse technology automatically adjusts speed and inclines for optimal heart rate level
- Includes 30-Day iFIT Family Membership
- Large touchscreen (14 inches) with a pivot option
- Expensive, although there are financing options available
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill comes equipped with some of the best tools an at-home treadmill can offer.
Its large 14-inch HD screen can pivot and make your workouts more interactive. The ActivePulse technology automatically adjusts your speed and incline, helping you stay in your optimal heart rate zone throughout your entire workout.
Additionally, this treadmill also features an ergonomic design and a redesigned console that sits lower than most treadmills on the market, helping make the transition on and off your fitness machine easier.
Their AutoAdjust technology works with ActivePulse and helps adjust your incline and speed level even through trainer-led workouts.
Even though it falls under more expensive treadmills, it comes with a 30-day iFit membership, which brings incredible workout programs straight to your home.
Trainers around the globe help push and motivate you through even the toughest of workouts, making you run, climb, trek, jog, and even do high-intensity interval training (HIIT), yoga, pilates, and even Zumba.
Even though it’s not a folding treadmill, it features a unique, space-saving design Easy Lift™ Assist, helping you store it away when you’re not using it.
Peloton Tread Treadmill
Peloton Tread Treadmill is for fitness buffs who want an all-in-one machine to tackle any type of fitness activity and reach their goals.
- Large, 23.8” HD touchscreen with front and rear speakers
- Comfortable, 59-inch long belt
- Intuitive control knobs
- Pairs with Apple Watch
- One of the most expensive at-home treadmills on the market
- All-access membership required with purchase
Peloton Tread Treadmill comes from the world-known Peloton family with vast experience in high-quality cardio fitness machines. It helps keep you focused with on-screen metrics featured on a large, 23.8-inch HD screen that can easily be paired with your Apple Watch so you can track your progress.
The screen also features high-quality speakers on both the front and back, helping you get immersed in every type of workout. From running and jogging to yoga and pilates, Peloton Tread Treadmill covers you.
This treadmill has one of the most comfortable running belts on the market with a width of 59-inches and comes with intuitive incline and speed knobs that are easy to adjust without disturbing your pace or breathing pattern.
It definitely belongs under one of the most expensive treadmills. In addition to its high base price, it also requires all-access membership to the Peloton Application (app), its library of thousands of workout programs, gamified workouts, and scenic classes.
How to Choose the Best Quality Treadmill for Home
The best quality treadmills for home use require a variety of factors that will make you use them as often as you can. Some of these factors include:
Screen Size
Go for those at-home treadmills that have a larger screen size with a possible pivot option so you can easily use it for a variety of workouts and not just running or walking on an incline.
Speakers
The best treadmills have built-in speakers that make your treadmill experience more immersive and motivating. Some brands even have front and rear speakers for a larger diversity of workouts.
Running Belt Size
The larger the belt, the more comfortable the run. The running surface really makes a difference, especially for taller runners with long legs and an even longer running stride.
Incline and Speed Control
The best treadmills have large incline and speed ranges, helping you control and personalize your workouts. Some even feature trainer-led programs that control your speed and incline, challenging you as you progress.
For runners, having a high maximum incline helps challenge their muscles and strengthen them as they start using it regularly.
Workout Programs
Most at-home treadmills come with a 30-day or one-year membership to their treadmill workout apps with a large variety of different workouts, scenic classes, and even gamified experiences.
Unfortunately, when the trial period ends, you must purchase the membership if you want to continue using it. Otherwise, you can always use your machine as a manual treadmill, controlling and using it by yourself, without any trainer-led workouts.
Weight Capacity
Most at-home treadmills have a high maximum user weight allowance, making them suitable for anyone.
Many people start using a treadmill to lose weight, and especially if they’re obese[5] or have specific injuries, they usually resort to walking or light jogging. The higher weight capacity allows everyone to reap the benefits of this at-home machine.
Special Cushioning Design
Running can strongly impact your joints and muscles, and the best treadmills have a special cushioning design that reduces the impact and helps you run longer without putting too much strain and stress on your body.
Folding Design
If you don’t have a lot of space in your home, get the compact treadmill that has a foldable design. This makes storing and transferring it easy around your house or apartment.
Folding treadmills are the new trend as they allow for a much larger user number, especially since most of them fit under the bed or behind the door.
Price
The price of your at-home treadmill still plays an important role, regardless of its features.
Many treadmills are expensive and cost between $1500 and $2500, but their benefits and features allow for way more than just running or walking on an incline.
Most of them offer pivotable screens and high-quality dual speakers that you can even do high-intensity interval workouts and yoga and pilates.
Final Thought
At-home treadmills have become one of the most wanted home fitness machines, with plenty of them including a variety of tools and features that allow for way more than just running or walking.
Take all of the things into account before your purchase and pick the at-home treadmill that best fits your fitness preference, running style, budget, and after all, home space.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best treadmill to use at home is versatile in its function, has a comfortable design, comes with a variety of workout programs, and fits your designated fitness area as well as your budget. It’s probably one of the best home gym equipment purchases as it often becomes an all-in-one machine, helping you discover hundreds of different exercises through their respective apps.
The top three treadmills are the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill, Sole F80 Treadmill, and Peloton Tread Treadmill.
A good home treadmill will cost between $1500 and $2500, but they all offer financing options which bring the total to around $39 to $60 per month.
An at-home treadmill is worth having if you’ll be using it on a regular basis. Otherwise, it’s a waste of your money and home space. They are expensive pieces of equipment that only make sense to invest in if you’ll be using them for the majority of your workouts. Getting a budget treadmill that’s going to be high-quality, compact, and come with a variety of options is almost impossible, so you really need to think hard before deciding on your purchase.
+ 5 sources
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Written by:
Karla Tafra, Nutritionist
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
