The Best Treadmill Reviews of 2020 and Buying Guide

This may have not occurred to you yet, but there are many types of treadmills that serve different purposes of the users on the market. Therefore, it is totally not an easy case to find the best treadmill 2020.

The question is now, what should you do to get the right product? Simply just read this article from us! Here, we will shed light on what you should look for in a treadmill of exceptional quality and also introduce the top 10 products that have been in high demand for quite some time.

Here are the best treadmills you can buy today:

• NordicTrack T 7.5 S
• Bowflex BXT216
• ProForm 705 CST
• Nautilus T618​
• Sunny Health & Fitness Asuna Space Saving
• Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7515​
• XTERRA Fitness TR150​
• 3G Cardio Elite Runner​
• Sole F80 Treadmill​
• Merax Electric Folding Treadmill

Why Should You Buy A Treadmill?

Right in our first section, we will tell the top 10 benefits that the best treadmill 2020 brings to you. Better sit tight on your chair, some of them might truly blow you away!

#1: Decrease impact on your feet

Running outdoors means that your feet always come into contact with the pavement or certain surface just about as hard as it. One or two times might be not that big a deal, but in the long run, the impacts might lead to many problems in your ankle, knees, and back.

On the other hand, the road stimulating surface of the treadmill is quite flat and easy to walk on. In some special models, there is even a system that can absorb the shock and protect your feet. Thus, you can avoid foot fatigue while running on those treadmills.

#2: Built-in running programs

Running is good, that is true! But running in the wrong way can pretty much be the other way around! If you do your workout outside your home without a proper plan, you will not get anything good out of it, and you can even hurt your muscles in return.

So why don’t you buy a treadmill? It is programmed with tons of running exercise programs, from warming up, running, to sprinting, and even extending to cooling down. Simply follow them, and you will never have to wake up feeling sore all over just because taking exercise the wrong way.

Remember, you do this to stay in good health. Do ending up drained of energy and full of cramps seem to be the definition of good health to you?

#3: A treadmill simulates the racing tournament

When you use a treadmill, you can modify its speed depending on your purposes. So if you are about to join a racing or marathon tournament, you can speed up the running belt for better training. As the belt operates at high speed, it will prepare you for the harsh tournament you are about to face.

#4: You get motivated to run

Running every day on the same road is so boring, right? The truth is, many people have given up their exercises due to the fact that they do not have enough motivation. But if they try the best treadmill 2020, we are quite certain that running becomes one of their best hobbies!

As the device allows you to connect it to any device through Bluetooth, WLAN, USB, and more, you can turn on your favorite E-Book or play any good songs. On another side, the treadmill even has an LCD screen that supports you in making a video chat with other people.

Thanks to this feature, you can complete the running exercise together with your friends or your co-workers! And the whole session will be over before you even notice. Isn’t it great?

#5: Increase hearth strength and blood pressure

Whenever you are involved in a workout, the circulation of blood in your body increases sharply. And when there are more circulations, more oxygens are coming inside you to strengthen the heart.

On the other hand, running regularly can help you reduce blood pressure, preventing a lot of dangerous blood diseases such as rupture of blood vessels, heart attack, to name but a few.

#6: A treadmill is ergonomic, safe, and private to use

Just imagine, every time you want to run, you have to put on the shoes, wear clothes, prepare water, bring an umbrella in case it rains, go out, and remember if you have locked the door or not. All those things are enough to drive all the motivation and determination out of you, right?

Luckily, running on a treadmill is not that demanding. In fact, all you have to do is to hit your training room, switch on the machine, get on it, and start running. That’s all! Whenever you need to take a break, you can just get off the machine and grab a snack or spend a few good minutes watching your favorite TV show.

And most of all, if you need much privacy in the workout, there is nothing better than running at home. So just consider it!

#7: Burn fat

The treadmill helps you burn the excessive amount of cholesterol and calories in  your body. Some studies have shown that for each mile you run, you lose about 100 calories. This number can be even higher if you apply a severe level of intensity to your training program. Now have you understood why a treadmill is always an ideal choice for weight loss?

#8: Your body and muscles will be built

In some gyms, you can easily see a lot of treadmills that are applied for bodybuilding. These machines can build up the muscles in your legs as well as your stomach.

Therefore, if you want to stay in excellent shape, just invest in a decent treadmill and run as much as you can. The results will not disappoint!

#9: More flexible joints

You might not be aware of this, but inflexible joints can be the breeding ground of many life-threatening diseases such as bone diseases, arthritis, etc. To stay away from them, you may need a treadmill as a working out support.

Just do the running regularly, your joints will become more mobile. In spite of the fact that flexible joints can not 100% prevent the diseases, at least they will slow them down.

#10: Increase stamina

Needless to say, practising with a treadmill is the best way to strengthen your stamina. Try running at your best and see how long you can run today. And then after a month, do the same thing again! We believe that you can run much longer!

Types of Treadmills

Moving up next, we will explain to you all kinds of treadmills. See them to find which type is suitable for your workout purpose!

On the nowadays market, there are a total of 5 common treadmill types:

Entry-level home use treadmill

This type of treadmill is suitable for anyone who does not have much time to work out. Still, as the machine comes with a small engine and is unable to withstand heavyweights, it is only recommended for walking and jogging instead of running.

Heavy-duty home use treadmill

Unlike the previous type, a heavy-duty home-use treadmill can operate like a pure beast due to the powerful motor and large shape. If you are the type of person who does exercises every day, this heavy-duty model will be a good option.

Commercial use treadmill

The heavy-duty is already strong, but the commercial model is even stronger! Having the super powerful motor that can operate all day long without overheating, the commercial-use treadmills are some ideal choices for not only professional gyms but also medical clinics.

Manual treadmill

The manual type does not use electricity to run. Instead, the treadmill is equipped with rollers under the running belt. So when you walk or run on it, the belt will slide down until you stop moving.

The advantages of this treadmill type is that it is light, cheap, and safe to use. But on the downside, this product is not so durable and does not have many features like the others do.

Motorized treadmill

The motorized device, of course, has an engine installed within it that runs on electricity. In comparison to the manual type, this one is more expensive, but on another hand, it offers more cutting-edge features.

Best Treadmills of 2020: Our Top 10

Now comes the main detail! Let’s check out our top 10 recommended products and find your best treadmill 2020 right away

1. NordicTrack T 7.5 S Treadmill

Pros

• 50 programmed applications
• iFit Coach feature
• Touchscreen
• Bluetooth speakers

Cons

• Heavyweight
• Hard to install

As the best treadmill for guided workouts, the NordicTrack T 7.5 S shows its advantages through the 50 programmed exercises. In more detail, these exercises instruct you clearly from the warming up, working out, to the cooling down lessons.

When you complete all the programs and need more motivation, you can also try experiencing the iFit Coach training feature. By connecting the machine to the Internet, you can meet up with many professional trainers who are always ready to correct your speed and movements.

To bring the best condition to you to learn all the exercises, the NordicTrack company has installed a high-quality touchscreen and many Bluetooth speakers. More specifically, the screen is highly responsive and can identify your command even when your hands are super sweaty. On another side, the Bluetooth speakers allow you to connect with any other device for louder and clearer sound.

About the drawback, this product is quite hard to assemble. Because it’s unit and parts are so heavy, you better have a partner to do the installation with you. Otherwise, you may get some unexpected accidents.

CHECK THE PRICE OF THE NORDICTRACK T 7.5 S TODAY

2. Bowflex BXT216 Treadmill

Pros

• Solid structure
• Burned calorie calculation
• Heart rate monitor
• Bluetooth speaker
• Foldable frame

Cons

• Slow response
• Heavyweight

Talking about a home-friendly treadmill, we can not help mentioning the Bowflex BXT216. Having a super durable running belt and a solid structure, the product can support your family all day long without any trouble.

In case you want to create a healthy exercise regime for family members, this machine will help you a lot. With a high-end system that can calculate the amount of burned calories and monitors the heart rate, all your family members can follow the training process.

Besides, to make more motivation for your loved ones to work out, you can connect the treadmill to any other device through the Bluetooth technology to play loud music. We believe that your family will enjoy exercising really much!

For easy storage, you can fold the device when not in need and unfold it when the workout time comes. Thanks are all thanks to the fold-able frame and folding-shock-assist system of the machine.

On the downside, the system of the machine responds quite slowly. As we tried to adjust the belt speed, the system took a while to complete our command.

3. ProForm 705 CST

Pros

• Wide walking belt
• ProShox cushioning
• 2.75 CHP drive system engine
• iFit Coach online program

Cons

• No trial for iFit Coach online program
• No operating without deposited money at the very beginning

The ProForm 705 CST is a good option for anyone who enjoys slow and light movement. Equipped with the 2.75 CHP drive system engine, the machine provides enough power to support you on walking or jogging all day long.

Because the belt is so wide (20 x 60 inches), you can comfortably walk on it. Believe us, going on this belt is like walking on an endless wide road! And the best point is that the belt will not make your feet tired, thanks to the ProShox cushioning, as it reduces the shock on your ankles, knees, and legs.

Just like the first product that we have mentioned, this ProForm 705 CST is built with the iFit Coach program. Therefore, you can contact any online training expert and ask him to correct your movement.

Unfortunately, you have to pay some money using your credit card to use this iFit Coach thing. Without a successfully completed payment, you are unable to start the machine. That is quite bad because most other models  offer you a trial period before asking for money. So consider carefully before deciding to buy!

4. Nautilus T618 Treadmill

Pros

• Strong motor
• RunSocial App
• Advanced cushioning technology

Cons

• No cooling down feature

The best treadmill 2020 for the runners – that is all we can say (in short) about this Nautilus T618. Operating by the powerful 3.5 CHP motor, this device can bring your running experience to another high level!

To put in specific, the strong motor allows you to run and sprint at your highest speed without any problem. All you have to do is just step on the belt, increase the speed, and start running. Even when the speed is too high that makes you lose control, you can click on the emergency button to stop the motor immediately.

Regardless of how fast you run, you will never feel tired at the feet. As the brand Nautilus has added an advanced cushioning technology to the device, your feet will not receive any reflex impact from the belt.

Moreover, the product allows you to connect it to your tablet or iPad through Bluetooth, so that you can either play music or use the free downloadable RunSocial application.

At this point, you may wonder what the RunSocial App is, right? It is a unique digital program that helps you experience running virtually through 19 locations and 27 routes all around the globe. Using it, you can always feel new to run instead of doing the same boring routine every day.

What we do not like about this machine is that there is no cooling down button. So whenever you want to stop exercising, you have to lower the speed manually.

5. Sunny Health & Fitness Asuna Space Saving

Pros

• Compact style
• Wide running belt
• Providing essential features

Cons

• Weak motor

The name has described all – this Asuna Space Saving is made to fit in your tightest space in your house! In detail, the running surface of the product has a length of 49 inches and a width of 17.75 inches. As you can see, although the machine has a compact style, it still provides enough wide space to support every step.

Even when you require the device to be smaller, you can fold it with ease! Just close all the foldable frames together until the machine becomes completely flat. And then, the machine can stand upright by a corner in your house.

On the downside, you can not expect a strong engine of this treadmill. Because the device has a compact style, the storage inside it is not large enough to hold a big powerful motor.

Anyway, the product still provides all the essential features such as a digital monitor to control the training process, a built-in speaker to play music, a device holder to hold your phones (or tablet), etc. So, it still deserves to be one of the best treadmill 2020 on the market!

6. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7515 Treadmill

Pros

• Powerful motor
• Bluetooth connection
• Handlebars

Cons

• Slow responsive pulse monitor

Again, we have another treadmill made by the brand Sunny Health & Fitness. If the previous product attracts the customer due to its compact style, then this one is impressive because of its smart connectivity!

Providing a Bluetooth wireless connection and an MP3 cord, you can turn on your favorite online book or music to hear during your workout.

Especially when a phone call comes up, instead of answering the call through your phone, you can directly chat through the microphone on this treadmill. Of course, you have to connect your phone to the machine first!

Compared to the previous product, this treadmill seems to have a more powerful motor. That also means that you will be able to run faster and stronger!

Plus, to help you avoid encountering an accident due to running so fastly, the manufacturer has installed non-slip handlebars right below the LCD screen. Therefore, you can hold the bars with your hands to keep balanced and then run as quickly as you can without getting any trouble!

On the negative side, sometimes, the pulse monitor responds quite slowly. As a consequence, this monitor does not track your training process and gives the wrong details. But do not worry too much because turning the machine off and switching it on again will fix the issue!

7. XTERRA Fitness TR150 Treadmill

Pros

• Ease in folding
• Simplicity in assembling and disassembling
• Quiet operation

Cons

• Heavyweight

Maintaining a treadmill is never an easy case! If you think like so, then surely you have never met this XTERRA Fitness TR150! Thanks to its ease in assembling and folding, you will encounter no problem trying to maintain the device.

So, how can you install this product? Quite simple, just attach all its side poles and connect all of its wires. As we tried to assemble the machine, it take us less than half an hour to finish the job. Also, the instruction for installation is also easy to understand. It shows you all the details you need to control and maintain the device.

Of course, you are able to move the inclines and fold the machine for more convenience in maintaining. Believe it or not, the treadmill that is folded will take only 1/3 of the space when it is operating. No wonder why it is always the best choice of all the low-profile house owners!

Now is the bad point of the product. Although this machine is listed in the small treadmill type, it is still quite heavy (108 LBS). Therefore, you would get many difficulties in carrying the device around your home.

8. 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill

Pros

• Powerful motor
• Many training programs
• Allowing the users to create their own programs

Cons

• No cooling down button

In case you are looking for a heavy-duty treadmill, then this 3G Cardio Elite Runner will meet your needs. Having a super strong 4.0 HP engine and weighing about 386 LBS, this treadmill can move the running belt fastly at the speed of up to 12 MPH in order to simulate all the hardest Marathon races for you to train.

In addition, the machine is equipped with some pre-programmed exercises, training tests, speed settings, one-touch incline settings, and a heart read control. With all these features, you can follow your practicing process and make a suitable training plan.

The best thing is, this treadmill even allows you to create your own workout program. Just open the programming custom and make a command for the system, then you have completed the work! This feature will help you avoid all the boring exercise days. Of course, trying something new is still better than doing the same routine every day, right?

Same as the fourth product on our list, this one does not have a “cool down” feature. Due to this reason, you have to firstly reduce the belt speed by yourself and then click on the STOP button whenever you want to quit exercising

9. Sole F80 Treadmill

Best treadmill for modern features

Pros

• Automatic folding after one switch
• Powerful motor
• Smooth tracking system
• 10 Pre-set programs
• Heart-rate tracking
• A reversible deck

Cons

• Heavyweight
• Hard to install

Why must go to the gym when you can do your workout at home? Designed with modern technology, this Sole F80 will meet all your requirement for a perfect training. Let’s see what it has!

Featuring a 9 inches long LCD display and a tablet holder, this device brings to you the most convenience for doing different tasks. Do you want to entertain? Do you want track your training process? Do you want to meet up with online personal trainer? The Sole F80 will help you with all!

Also, same as the other models of the company soles in 2020, this F80 treadmill allows the user to practice throughout its 10 workout programs. The cool thing is, you can either see these programs on its LCD screen or learn the programs on your tablet (Bluetooth required).

Does this product has a bad point? Of course, it has. When you want to move this machine around, you better have a partner to support you. The reason is that this treadmill is so heavy, as it is a heavy-duty device.

10. Merax Electric Folding Treadmill

Best treadmill for storage

Pros

• Foldable frames
• Compact style
• Transporting wheels

Cons

• STOP button on the handlebars

If you still hesitate to buy the best treadmill 2020 just because you do not know where to store it, then you can refer to this Merax Electric Folding Treadmill.

Have a look at the foldable frames of it! As you can see, these frames are very easy to handle that allow you to fold the treadmill in a short time! Right after folding the machine, its size is only about 29.5 x 23.5 x 49 (inches). With this compact style, you can store the device in many rooms in your houses, such as the living room, bedroom, kitchen, in a corner, or even under the bed!

Of course, moving this machine from place to place is also not a big deal! As the device is equipped with some high-quality rolling wheels, all you have to do is just push the treadmill to transport it.

On the contrary to the advantages, this product still has a big issue that makes us disappointed. In detail, the manufacturer has added the STOP button right on the handlebars. So sometimes, during the training, we grip the bars and have a wrong click on that button. As a result, the machine runs down, and we have to start it again.

Treadmill by categories

Types

Best folding treadmills

Folding treadmill is an excellent space saver and very hard to find one that is sturdy. But there are more and more brand offering high quality folding treadmills such as NordicTrack, Sole and Smooth. They are sturdy, have ample power and long tracks. Besides, some of them are as feature-rich as their non-folding counterparts. They can also stream your MP3s and come with automatic inclines.

• Weslo Cadence G 5.9
• Merax JK1603E
• ProForm Pro 2000
• LifeSpan TR3000i Folding Treadmill
• Schwinn 870 Treadmill
• LifeSpan TR1200i Folding Treadmill
• 3G Cardio Pro Runner
• NordicTrack T 6.5 S
• Sole F85
• Merit Fitness 725T Plus Treadmill

Best commercial treadmills

In comparison with residential treadmills, commercial treadmills are generally designed with higher quality materials to withstand heavy weights and often have different features which make your life easier and tend to require maintenance less frequently. These features also make these trainers become super versatile.

• Sole Fitness F85 Folding Treadmill
• NordicTrack T Series (6.5S & 6.5Si Models)
• NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill
• NordicTrack C 1650 Treadmill
• ProForm Power 995i Exercise Treadmill
• Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill

Best treadmills for home use

When it comes to treadmills for home use, trainees often complain about boredom and the noise caused by these machines. However, if you choose a quiet operating treadmill with entertainment options, these problems will be solved. The best treadmills for home use often have powerful motors, quality decks and impressive entertainment features. Besides, space is also an important factor when you choose treadmills for home use.

• NordicTrack C 1650
• LifeSpan TR3000i
• Sole Fitness F80 Folding Treadmill
• Sole F85
• Nautilus T616 Treadmill
• ProForm Power 995i Treadmill
• Gold’s Gym Trainer 720
• Horizon Fitness T101-04
• NordicTrack T 6.5 S
• ProForm 505 CST Treadmill

Best treadmills for runers

The main concern when looking for a treadmill for runners is a machine which can withstand intense workouts over time. A strong motor is very important. Additionally, runners also need high shock absorption to keep the joints from the strong impact of running. The comfort when running on treadmills is also very necessary. A large track surface and an adjustable cushioning will contribute to provide great comfort to runners. Besides, the entertainment features and types of workout programs are often noticed by many runners.

• 3G Cardio Pro Runner Treadmill
• Sole F85 Treadmill
• Merax JK1603E Folding Electric Treadmill
• Sole Fitness F80
• LifeSpan TR4000i
• ProForm Performance 600i
• ProForm Pro 2000
• Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill

Best treadmills for walkers

Not as much as running but walking also puts a lot impact on joints so shock absorption is an important factor when choosing the best treadmills for walkers. The best options for this category often feature incredible decline and incline capabilities and come with unique designs to suit low impact exercise like walking. Another thing you should keep in mind to choose the best one for walkers is that they don’t need powerful motors like runners so the price is also cheaper.

• NordicTrack T Series Treadmill
• Nautilus T618
• ProForm Pro 2000
• EXERPEUTIC TF2000
• Sole F63 Treadmill
• Sunny Health & Fitness T7643
• XTERRA Fitness TR150
• Miageek 2 in 1 Treadmill
• Sole Fitness S77
• OppsDecor Under Desk 2in1 Walking Treadmill

Best treadmill desks

We all know that sitting too much is very harmful to our health. Research has shown that excessive sitting can cause hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Using a treadmill desk is a good way to reduce these health concerns by keeping you on your feet instead of sitting in your desk all day.

The best treadmill desks often have an ergonomic design including desks which easily fit onto treadmills or can be turned into a desk in your workspace. Besides, everything of these treadmill desks is in reach and adjustable. Plus, their motor is also powerful and quiet.

• LifeSpan TR800-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill
• ProForm Thinline Pro Desk Treadmill
• TrekDesk Treadmill Desk
• LifeSpan TR1200-DT5 Treadmill Desk
• Exerpeutic 2000 WorkFit High Capacity Desk Station Treadmill
• Rebel Treadmill 1000 Desk Treadmill
• LifeSpan TR1200-DT7 Treadmill Desk
• WalkTop Treadmill Desk
• Lifespan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill
• NordicTrack Desk Treadmill

Best cross-training treadmills

A cross-training treadmill is ideal for training for races and recovering from injury. Besides, this is also highly recommended for runners and walkers who want to interchange types of training and get a lot of benefits from working different muscle groups while still preventing bad impact from traditional treadmill exercise. These machines often feature generous incline settings which not only support running and walking but also replicate the elliptical training and motions of stair climbing to bring high performance and adaptability.

Best incline treadmills

The incline trainers simulate steep grades which are great options for trainees who want to train for trekking up a mountainous summit or hill sprints. It is difficult for you to find traditional treadmills that offer up to 40% incline while the workout surfaces can tilt up to 30 or 40 percent. Some incline treadmills also have declines. These trainers are designed to help you tone muscles and burn calories. In comparison with traditional treadmills, another benefit of incline trainers is that they put low impact on trainees’ joints.

Best treadmill alternatives

NordicTrack and BowFlex are known as the best brands that offer the best treadmill alternatives. In terms of joint protection, calorie burn and training options, the products I mention below can perform better than the best treadmills. Besides, they also help provide smooth walking or running strides. In other words, thanks to these multi-purpose fitness machines, trainees can avoid the stress of high-impact exercise and focus on specific muscle groups, that are reasons why these new products can compete with traditional treadmills.

Best Treadmills by Price

Best cheap treadmills

Prices may be the first thing that you concern when choosing a treadmill for your training. Certainly, you can’t find any 4 or 5-star treadmills at a cheap price. However, some treadmills I mention in this category still have high quality and last quite long despite having very low price (under $500). These models often have easy at-home assembly, unique space saving technology and impressive built-in workout programs.

• Weslo Cadence G5.9
• Weslo Cadence R5.2
• XTERRA Fitness TR150
• Exerpeutic TF1000
• SereneLife SLFTRD25 Treadmill
• Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7515 Treadmill
• ProForm Performance 300i
• Goplus SU-36091US-PS Treadmill
• ANCHEER 2 in 1
• Ncient Folding Treadmill

Best treadmills under $1,000

It is difficult for you to imagine that with under $1,000, you can completely own high quality treadmills with great comfort and performance. The models introduced in this category often have quality features such as two-ply tracks, 3.0 CHP motors, quiet operation and iFit technology. They also come with the advanced consoles and basic convenience offerings which provide entertainment options and unique goal tracking, too. These are not only good treadmills but also great for your budget.

• Sole New 2019 F63
• NordicTrack T Series Treadmills (6.5S & 6.5Si Models)
• Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill Series
• Nautilus T618
• ProForm 2000
• NordicTrack C 990
• Schwinn 830
• ProForm Power 995i
• XTERRA Fitness TRX4500
• Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA 8730

Best treadmills under $1,500

It will certainly be easier to find better treadmills with the price under $1,500 than $1000. The treadmills at this price range are often more durable and come with a well-built frame, enough power for the typical athlete and more innovative features. Additionally, they also provide more attractive entertainment options.

• ProForm Pro 2000
• Sole F65
• Xterra Fitness TR6.8
• Horizon Fitness Adventure 5 Treadmill
• LifeSpan TR3000e Electric Folding Treadmill
• Horizon Fitness Elite T7
• SOLE F80
• ProForm Power 1295I
• Yowza Fitness Sebring Transformer Treadmill
• Lifespan Fitness TR4000i

Best treadmills under $2,000

More powerful drive systems, more impressive entertainment options such as internet connectivity and large touchscreen displays are great things that you can see in treadmills range from $1500 to $2000. The models I introduce at this range often offer 4.0 CHP motors, performance features, spacious workout surfaces and adjustable options that make these treadmills extremely versatile.

• SOLE S77 Treadmill
• New Sole F85
• Nordic Track commercial 2450
• NordicTrack X9i Incline Trainer
• 3G Cardio Pro Runner
• FreeMotion 890
• Horizon Fitness Elite T9
• HORIZON Elite T4000
• ProForm Pro 9000
• Reebok ZigTech 910

Best high-end treadmills

You don’t concern about the price? You just want to look for the highest quality treadmills that have top of the line offerings and innovative features? This list of high-end treadmills is great for you. These models often feature impressive entertainment packages, super powerful and commercial-grade drive systems. They are virtually maintenance-free and certainly durable, reliable trainers with best components as well as long warranties.

What To Look For When Buying a Good Treadmill

To make the list of 10 treadmills above, we had tried tons of products from bad quality to good quality. Depending on some basic factors, we can decide that this product is good or not. And now, we will share all those factors in this buying guide with you! Slide down to see!

Budget

Keep in mind that you do not have to buy an expensive treadmill to have the best experience. On the nowadays market, there are plenty of high-quality products that have an affordable price. In fact, about 1000 dollars are already enough to have a good machine with full modern features.

Size

Another factor that you should notice when purchasing the best treadmill 2020 is its size. Of course, you can not buy a big machine if you do not have much space in your home, right? So make sure that you check out the dimension of the device carefully before buying.

Engine Power

As we have mentioned above, there are many types of treadmill that support different purposes. The type used for walking usually has low engine power. On the opposite side, the heavy-duty devices are often equipped with super powerful motors.

Belt size

Belt size is also an essential thing you need to consider when choosing a treadmill. Typically, a running belt for an average-sized person is about 48 inches in length and 17 inches in width. For the taller people, the belt size can be larger.

Speed

Each treadmill is designed with its own speed modes. If you are about to buy a product for running, the treadmill should be able to run at a speed of a minimum of 10 MPH. In case you are a Marathon athlete, you may require more speed modes.

Cushioning

Without enough cushioning, your feet may get hurt after the workout. In the worst case, if the running belt is so solid, it may create bad effects on your joints that cause problems at knees, legs, and hips.

A good treadmill should provide enough cushioning and have the ability to absorb shock from the user.

Essential Tips For Treadmill Buying

Because there are more and more people choosing treadmills for their home training and much more types of treadmill coming from different brands sold on the market, it makes it very difficult for customers to choose the best one for them if they don’t know basic tips when buying treadmills. Here are some tips that can help you choose the most suitable treadmills for your demand among large number of treadmills out there.

Consider your goals and type of training

Firstly, you should consider your goals and the type of training that you will work with treadmills. This will help you easily determine what model of treadmills will suit your goals. If you just use treadmill for simple exercises, don’t need to invest in expensive ones; but if you want to enhance your performance with heavier exercises, powerful motor as well as high quality machine is necessary.

Find out top rated brands

After determining the suitable type of treadmill, you should start to find out the top rated brands through product reviews, rating websites, customer’s reviews and so on. You can visit the manufacturers’ websites or their Facebook pages to have more details about their equipment as well as who are using them. Normally, gyms and health clubs often use equipment from the best brands.

Places to buy treadmills

Next, consider where you can buy your interesting treadmills at the best price with the best services. Most are purchased online through the manufacturers’ websites, other shopping sites and retail stores. You have to know that purchasing online is often cheaper than purchasing at local stores, but you should do more research beforehand about products you like, and normally you have to assemble this equipment by yourself when it is delivered. For retail stores, despite higher price, you can receive better quality products with assembly help and service more effectively.

Test equipment

If you choose to purchase online, it is necessary to test the equipment through your friend, spa, gym or hotel because the products of the best brands are often very popular. But if you choose to buy at retail stores, spend about 15-30 minutes to test the equipment. Take your time! Because if you just try it for 5 minutes, everything seems to be good but when jogging on it, adding incline and using different programs, you will realize major differences in comfort and quality even noise and vibration. Other things you should test are the cushioning and shock absorption of the running deck, the display monitor and whether the controls are easy to reach and operate or not.

Consider features of treadmill

Besides, treadmills also come with extra features which can make your training more convenient and comfortable such as entertainment features, incline settings, passport virtual active or automated programs. However, these features often offered at higher prices so you should decide which features you really need in order not to waste money in options you don’t use. Every treadmill category includes foldable treadmills which help you save much more space when it’s not in use. Therefore, you should pay attention to this feature in order to store easily. Some other small treadmills are also portable which have transport wheels and light weight, but they often have low quality and only used for walking.

Pay attention to warranty

When it comes to warranty, most treadmills have a lifetime warranty on the motor and frame. You should also look for three to seven-year warranty on parts and one year on labor at least. Besides, you need to consider about return policy, too.

Understand Treadmill Parts

Motor

Most treadmill motors have 2.25 and 4.25 CHP. Depends on your body weight and type of exercise to determine how much treadmill motor power you need. Here are some suggestions for people who weigh up to 200 pounds:

• Running: find 3.0 CHP or higher.
• Jogging: find 2.5 CHP or higher.
• Walking: find 2.0 CHP or higher.

If you weigh more than 200 pounds, add 0.5 CHP. Most motors today have lifetime warranty. Cheaper treadmills still have 10 or 25-year warranties.

Track size

Track size is also an important factor you have to consider when choosing treadmill. Walkers can choose shorter treadmill tracks to save money while runners, especially tall ones, should choose one with more room to stretch out. I highly suggest a 20″ wide belt for walkers and 22″ for runners, a minimum of 55″ for runners, 60″ for runners over 6′ tall and 50″ long belt for walkers.

Track cushioning

In comparison with road running, running on treadmill can reduce impact by about 15 to 40 percent thanks to track cushioning which helps protect your joints from injuries caused by impact and also promotes stamina. Some treadmills have adjustable cushioning so trainees can choose the level of support they want. Especially, advanced treadmill decks give you more cushioning when you land, but firm support when you push off the track.

Tread-belt

There are three main factors contribute into tread-belt durability. Firstly, a tread-belt which has two-ply or four-ply is often more durable than tread-belt with a single layer. Plus, thicker tread-belt also helps keep treadmill operate quieter. The metal rollers propelling a track also keep an important role in deciding the durability of tread-belt. Rollers that have larger diameters often put less stress on the treadmill motor that helps to extend the life of belt. A good roller diameter for the best treadmills is 2.5″. Lastly, lubrication helps treadmill belts work smoothly. The best treadmill tracks have free maintenance, but sometimes you have to lubricate the track every few months.

Incline

Most treadmill tracks on the market can incline up to 10, 15 or 20 percent. Some also include small declines too. A treadmill incline can help you burn more calories. It also helps decrease stress on the joint and train different muscle groups. The cheap treadmill inclines often require manual adjustment while other better treadmill inclines are motorized.

Program

Most treadmills come with preset workout programs which help support different exercises. The speed of the treadmill is automatically controlled by these programs and they can also adjust treadmill’s incline/decline.

Weight capacity

Treadmill user weight capacities are about 250 to 400 pounds. You should choose a treadmill which can hold at least 50 pounds more than your body weight in order to ensure that you don’t put too much strain on the motor.

Safety feature

Auto-stop is one of the great features found by trainees, especially elderly or infirm people. This feature is often controlled with a key. During using, this key is tied to your body by a lanyard. If you fall, the key will be removed and the treadmill will be off to avoid hurting you.

10 Popular treadmill brands

1. NordicTrack Treadmill

This is one of a leading treadmill brands. The treadmills of this brand are famous for interesting iFit workouts. In 2019, The NordicTrack introduces treadmill collection consisting of four series plus a treadmill desk. The prices of NordicTrack treadmills are from $799 to under $3,500. Those in the C Series are the most affordable of NordicTrack treadmills which are best for walkers. The treadmills in the Elite and the Commercial Series have more luxury and capacity. Lastly, the NordicTrack Incline Trainers are ideal options for weight loss.

2. Sole Treadmill

Sole Fitness is one of the leading manufacturers of reasonably priced with high quality treadmills. Especially, its folding treadmills have much higher quality than those from other brands. This popular treadmill brand is often used in hotel fitness centers or residential workout rooms. The prices of this brand range from $899 up to $3,499. In 2016, all Sole treadmills have been redesigned with Bluetooth connectivity which allows trainees to integrate the new Sole Fitness mobile app. Moreover, they also have at least 60″ track lengths for longer running strides. The tread belts are thicker and more durable with other great advanced features.

3. Cybex Treadmill

These high-end treadmills are very popular with very friendly customer service. Their products often have top quality and higher price than average. These treadmills have very high prices at around $5,000. Five premium treadmills of Cybex Treadmill are the 525T, 625T, 770T, 790T and the Total Access Treadmill. All of these treadmills have long standard warranties for commercial, light commercial and residential use.

4. Woodway Treadmill

Woodway is a high-end international fitness equipment brand, especially treadmills. These treadmills are famous for unique features, extraordinary performance and long-term value. This brand is often chosen by hospitals, health clubs and other commercial workout settings. For home uses, Woodway treadmills can easily serve for even a generation. Before track maintenance, each treadmill can serve up to 150,000 miles. Prices are around $5,000.

5. Precor Treadmill

In 2016, Precor designed the Precision™ and Energy™ Series. The Energy™ Series has the TRM 211, TRM 223 and TRM 243 while the Precision™ Series has the TRM 425 and TRM 445 models. They are designed with performance features and additional comfort to provide a personalized workout experience at home but with a commercial-grade quality treadmill. These treadmills are a great combination of high-end components and optional TVs, digital training technology. They range from $2,000 to $8,700.

6. Life Fitness Treadmill

This brand is owned by Brunswick Corporation, established in 1845. These treadmills are produced for residential and commercial markets. In other words, they are designed for workouts at home with health club quality. Whether you want a compact folding treadmill or a rugged exercise machine, Life Fitness can meet your demands. Their prices often run from $2,000 to $7,000.

7. ProForm Treadmill

This brand often offers cheap treadmills. It has improved significantly over recent years and became the official training machine for the Boston Marathon. If you make some comparison, you can see that ProForm Treadmills are quite similar to NordicTracks treadmills. Despite the low price, these treadmills also come with appealing features such as music speakers and iFit with high performance and durability.

8. LifeSpan Treadmill

LifeSpan Treadmills are produced for residential, light commercial and commercial settings like clinics and gyms. They are the combination of generous programming and high-quality parts. These good treadmills also have stability, high weight capacities, more safety features and especially, they can make unique calculations such as basal metabolic rate and body fat percentage. The prices of these treadmills are from $799 to $7,495.

9. Landice Treadmill

Landice is one of the high-end treadmill brands. They make treadmills not only to serve light commercial and commercial fitness centers, but also for home use. Landice treadmills stand out with plenty of customization options, high quality basics and long warranties. Especially, home treadmills coming from Landice are sold with lifetime guarantees! All models of this brand are similar in terms of functionality and appearance, but different in roller size, track size and user weight capacity. These treadmills start at $3,695.

10. Horizon Fitness Treadmill

Horizon treadmills are suitable for a wide range of demands of training. These good treadmills often come with track lengths of 55″ or 60″, motors of at least 2.25 CHP, advanced three-zone cushioning, automated incline and lots of built-in workout programs and especially, ViaFit connectivity which provides scenic interactive video training. The best treadmill produced by Horizon is the Elite T9 which is one of our top rated best running treadmills. Prices of Horizon Fitness treadmills are from $999 to $2,499.

FAQ about treadmill and running

1. When are the best times to buy a treadmill?

There is not a specific period when treadmills are discounted. You should research constantly to find out the best moment to buy good products at a cheap price through manufacturers’ websites and other shopping sites.

2. What are some good treadmill brands?

I agree with many ideas that Woodway makes excellent treadmills but they are extremely expensive. The similar good treadmill brand to Woodway is the FreeMotion. You can’t even find what is better between these two brands. NordicTrack is another good treadmill brand. With $1,000 you can get a good size walking belt, a treadmill with 2.5 HP and great features like a touchscreen browser.

3. Which brand of treadmill would you recommend for HIIT?

I have to say that you should ignore brand and only pay attention to features. Treadmill has a running speed which equates to your maximum effort is recommended for HIIT. Treadmills with “custom programs” can help you create an HIIT program to suit you. Plus, wireless heart-rate feature is also worthy.

4. Which treadmill would you recommend for home use?

In my opinion, compact treadmills are perfect for home use. These often have small design that is portable, fold-able and easily stored in smaller spaces. Compact treadmills also have cheap price. LifeSpan TR 1200i is the best option for home use. This treadmill not only has compact design but is also capable of handling any form of workout.

5. What is the best cheap folding treadmill and where should I look to get it?

AFG 1.0 AT is the first suggestion for the best cheap folding treadmill. You can look for it online or local stores. This treadmill is pretty solid and can be folded up to about a quarter of its unfolded footprint. But I highly recommend you to find a wholesale or liquidation specializing in treadmills store to have older model at cheaper price.

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Conclusion

I hope that the list of the best treadmills for 2019 arranged in different categories as well as some tips, you can choose the best one for yourself. Thank you for reading!