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This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
We all love a bit of exercise gear around the house. Especially now that so many of us are still working from home and living more sedentary lifestyles.
But there’s one exercise machine that’s still daunting: the terrifying treadmill. Maybe it’s because they’re big, bulky, and there’s no escape once you’re on them, but the treadmill has always been the scariest of all exercise equipment. Modern home treadmills, however, are actually sleek, smart, and interactive.
Whether you’re looking to do some interval workouts or simply reach the highest level of calorie burn, this new class of fitness equipment has the lot: sound systems, tablet holders, compatibility with fitness apps, advanced heart rate monitoring, and more.
What are the health benefits of a treadmill?
Having a treadmill at home means all the benefits of good cardio — improved cardiovascular health, calories burnt, weight loss, low blood pressure, improved sleep, and more. A good quality treadmill will also take it easy on your joints, with a design that absorbs impact. That means fewer injuries that you might pick up from running on regular streets. It’s not only health benefits, of course. Treadmills are hugely convenient, making it easier to workout whenever you like, and modern tech features allow you to customise workout your specific fitness needs.
How big is a treadmill?
That’s perhaps the biggest question of all when it comes to treadmills. Because you only have so much space, and they’re not exactly small — though they’re also not necessarily as big and cumbersome as you might think. The average treadmill is just under two metres long and just under a metre wide. If you are struggling for space, consider a foldable model. That means you can store it away between workouts.
What are most important features on a treadmill?
Most modern treadmills come with some kind of console and/or display screen. This is where it feeds back vital info to keep track of your performance and progress — stats such as calories burned, heart rate, distance, and speed. Available stats will vary depending on how expensive and advanced the treadmill is.
More advanced treadmills will also connect to smart devices via Bluetooth and sync with fitness apps — or have a tablet-style screen that links to live workout classes, as made popular by Peloton exercise bikes. If they don’t have screens, let’s not overlook how important it is to have some sort of clip or holder for securing a tablet, just in case you need distracting with your favourite show to get through those last few miles. Other key features include different levels of incline.
What is manual and automatic incline?
Here’s a term that might confuse you if you’re a treadmill newbie. Incline is basically how steep the running deck is. Using an increasingly steep incline helps burn more calories and build muscle. Some models have a manual incline, which means you change it with a lever — this is more common on budget models. Automatic incline is activated by a simple press of a button, which you can pump up or down depending on how intense you want your workout to be.
How much does a treadmill cost?
This all depends on the quality you’re looking to buy. If you want a basic model that folds away into the downstairs cupboard, you can pick one up for under £200. But if you’re looking to get serious about state-of-the-art tech and high quality design, you can spend into the thousands. This list includes a range of price points. Spend as little (or as much) as required to suit your fitness needs.
What is the best treadmill?
The answer, ultimately, is whatever suits your home and workout style. In order to find the best options for you, we have scoured the web for write-ups and left no treadmill review unread. Whether you want a heavy-duty piece of training equipment or are thinking of exploring folding treadmills to find a rainy-day fit, we’ve got suggestions in your price range.
These are the best home treadmills for 2024.
So, there’s a space in your home for a brand-new treadmill. But where will you keep your treadmill when you’re not working out? If space is tight, we recommend investing in a foldable model that can be kept out of the way.
The Opti Folding Treadmill can be folded when you’re finished with your run — easily stored in a cupboard or convenient space. OK, so it’s not the only folding treadmill on this list but it’s also one of the cheapest options, making it a win-win if you’re tight on both space and budget.
And there’s plenty more to this treadmill than just a foldable frame. It also comes with 10 pre-set workout programs, plus pulse sensor, adjustable speed, and start/stop buttons on the handle bars for easy access. A small monitor keeps you up to date with progress and stats, measuring speed, distance, time, and calories burned. Basic but essential info for smashing your personal best.
It even has a tablet holder so you can stick your smart device in front of you and watch your favourite shows or listen to music during your workout session.
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If you have the space and want the full gym experience, look no further than the NordicTrack T Series. It excels at the basics, with an automatic incline control up to 10%, a speed of almost 16kph, one-touch controls, resistance, and real-time stat tracking.
The 5-inch Bluetooth Smart Enabled Backlit Display gives access to on-demand iFIT workouts directly to your equipment and provides easy stats tracking. The iFIT trainer auto-adjusts your speed and incline to meet trainer requirements and match real-world terrain.
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You may have seen a curved treadmill at the gym. You might even have tried running on one. But it’s worth pointing out that machines such as the Half Human Curved Treadmill are more than just some fitness fad. Indeed, there are very real benefits to using a curved manual treadmill. Ultimately, it gives you a more natural running experience. But make sure you have space for it. It’s non-folding and a hefty piece of kit.
There are no settings or motors, and no maximum speed. Rather than let the treadmill dictate and limit the pace, this curved manual treadmill puts your legs in control. You can gear up and gear down, and shift between the front and middle of the running deck. And unlike motorised treadmills, you have the freedom to break into sudden speed bursts and sprint intervals. This builds leg muscles for a faster pace — great if you like to run — and helps you refine that running technique.
Despite the more natural, rugged approach, it’s not without some up-to-date technology. It has an LCD screen that provides feedback on key workout metrics — speed, time, distance, calories, and pace — along with four resistance levels and seven programmes you assist your runs.
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It doesn’t matter how big your home is, there’s never enough space. And who couldn’t do with more storage room? If that sounds familiar, consider investing in a treadmill that will boost your fitness without hogging too much space.
The Dynamax RunningPad Folding Treadmill is one of the most compact models on the market, with a physical deck that folds in half and can be rolled across to the floor to easily store away. It’s practical and convenient.
Of course, having that all that space-saving technology is great, but if you’re forking out on a treadmill you need it to have high-tech functionality too.
The Dynamax RunningPad is basic but it delivers, too. It has an automatic stop safety system, plus adaptive speed control and five display options — speed, time, distance, calories, and steps. There’s also Bluetooth connectivity, which syncs with the Dynamax app, providing real-time feedback and stats.
You control the speed with a wireless remote, while the treadmill itself has adaptive speed control that auto-adjusts to match your position on the deck. It’s basic and probably best for beginners, but fitness-wise gets you from A to Z.
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The Peloton Tread comes with improved features after being recalled due to safety concerns. The new version features a wearable safety key plus a safety lock, which requires a unique four-digit digital pin to unlock the belt (so unauthorised users won’t be able to turn on the treadmill).
For anyone invested in the Peloton cinematic universe, the Tread is the way to go. With a Tread and a monthly Peloton membership, you’ll get access to a star squad of upbeat, motivating trainers plus thousands of live and on-demand classes to choose from. Basically, you won’t find a more fun run than on a Peloton Tread.
The 23.8-inch touchscreen feels like a real TV and gives you an immersive workout experience, and the incline and speed knobs make for easy in-workout adjustments. The slim, minimal design looks damn good in just about every room, too.
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Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
The robot vacuum beat in particular has cemented itself as Leah’s main ~thing~ across the past few years. Since 2019, her expertise has been perpetually bolstered by the meticulous eye she keeps on robot vacuum deals and new releases, but more importantly, her hands-on experience with more than 25 robot vacuums tested in her own home. (This number has probably gone up by the time you’re reading this.) That at-home testing is standardized through Mashable’s robot testing guide — a granular scoring rubric for assessing all aspects of owning and using a robot vacuum on the daily — that Leah created herself.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she’s not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she’s almost definitely watching a horror movie, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” or “The Office.” You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].
Jae Thomas is a Colorado-based Shopping Editor for Mashable. They specialize in pet tech, smart fitness gear, finding the perfect gift, and sourcing the top deals on shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Jae has worked at Mashable since 2020, where they’ve written countless deals roundups and product reviews. Before Jae came to Mashable, they received a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature from New York University and wrote food and lifestyle content for publications like Bon Appétit, Epicurious, The Daily Beast, Apartment Therapy, and Marie Claire.
When they’re not testing products or writing about online shopping, you’ll find Jae whipping up an elaborate meal, hiking, camping, or training their dogs, Miso and Dashi. Reach out to them on X at @jaetaurina or by email at [email protected].
Matt Ford is a freelance contributor to Mashable.
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