Six of the best treadmills for walking, running and cardio workouts
If you’ve been working out at home during the pandemic, then the thought of investing in a treadmill has probably crossed your mind. While outdoor exercise has been allowed throughout each of the UK’s national lockdowns, gyms have remained closed and interest in home gym equipment has spiked exponentially.
Even now, with an end date in sight, dumbbells, treadmills and exercise bikes are worth their weight in gold. And, while they may have been gathering dust in the garage a mere year ago, treadmills are suddenly a desirable piece of kit again, thanks in part to covetable models from Peloton and NordicTrack.
Those who consider themselves outdoor-only runners dismiss treadmill running as monotonous. But, if you’re open-minded, indoor running has a range of benefits – you can train whatever the weather, you can easily and accurately control your time, pace and incline, and it’s been clinically proven that running on a treadmill is just as effective as running outdoors.
However, the biggest issue when shopping for a treadmill right now isn’t spec or cost, but rather stock availability – since the beginning of the pandemic, home workout equipment has been in high demand. Most of the treadmills that are still readily available are of a professional standard, and so come with a premium price tag. That’s great if you want the full home gym experience, but not so great if you’re looking for an affordable model.
Ready to be put through your paces? Whether you’re looking for the crème de la crème of studio-standard treadmills or a budget model to get you started, these are the best treadmills available for your home gym.
1. NordicTrack Commercial 1750
For the best all-round training experience, look to NordicTrack. Its Commercial 1750 model has ‘Runner’s Flex’ cushioning on the deck that can be adjusted to offer extra impact support or to simulate a real road-running experience, depending on your preference. It has an impressive incline range of -3 to 15 per cent and a max speed of 22km/h (that’s plenty fast enough, unless you’re Mo Farah).
You also get a year's subscription to iFit, which offers immersive on-demand and live training classes (delivered via a 10” HD touchscreen) that automatically adjust your speed and incline as you go – there’s no space to slack. It has other fun features, like Google Maps integration, which means you can mimic outdoor running anywhere in the world.
2. JTX Sprint-3 Electric
This is a good quality, compact treadmill for a reasonable price. It comes with 40 pre-programmed workouts and has a max speed of 16km/h and an adjustable incline up to 12 per cent. The belt folds up for easy storage, but thanks to the robust steel frame, it feels sturdy to run on, and the 5” backlit display is intuitive and easy to use. It does have a heart rate monitor, but reviewers say this is a little slow to respond.
The only other downside is that, while it has a phone/tablet holder, it doesn’t have any Bluetooth connectivity to link it up to smartphone apps like Strava. However, it’s a great option for everyday use at a reasonable price.
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3. NordicTrack C700
Another great (and slightly cheaper) treadmill from NordicTrack – this model has a space-saving folding design, a 0 to 10 per cent adjustible incline and a max speed of 20km/h. It also comes with a year's iFit subscription for live and on-demand classes, but doesn’t have a touchscreen – instead, it has a holder for a smartphone or tablet and Bluetooth connectivity.
4. Life Fitness T5 with Go Console
An excellent all-round treadmill for a gym experience at home with a quiet motor, quality build, adjustable cushioning and an impressive console. Its top speed is 19km/h and it has an incline of up to 15 per cent in 0.5 per cent increments. The ‘Go’ console can connect to Apple and Android smartphones, has 13 workout programmes plus a quick start mode, and also offers wireless heart rate monitoring.
The deck feels smooth and supportive, thanks to a ‘FlexDeck Shock Absorption System’ that enhances comfort and claims to reduce joint stress by up to 30 per cent.
5. Peloton Tread
For a premium studio-style treadmill experience, the Peloton Tread excels. It’s exceptionally stylish and well-built. Speed and incline controls are on handy adjustable panels by your side. It has a wide speed and incline range of 0-20km/h and 0 to 12.5 per cent respectively and feels sturdy yet smooth to run on, with ample cushioning on the deck. Peloton’s key strength is its incredible array of classes, so the treadmill comes with a 23.8” touchscreen and front-facing speakers so you can join in in HD.
The motivation of a class atmosphere, a leaderboard and a great playlist is one of Peloton’s biggest selling points (do note, however, that you have to pay monthly for a class subscription on top of the one-off cost of the treadmill).
The downside? It’s expensive – £2,295 or £59 per month for 29 months at 0 per cent APR. But if you’re missing bootcamp-style HIIT classes and are happy to splash out, you’ll be pleased with your purchase.
6. Viavito Lunarun Fold Flat
If you’re short on space, a compact foldable treadmill is the practical choice. This affordable model can be folded fully flat vertically or horizontally for easy storage. It offers a max speed of 16km/h and has electronically controlled incline of up to 10 per cent, which is controlled via a backlit LCD display with 12 pre-set workout programmes. Another selling point is the fact that it comes 90 per cent pre-assembled in the box for easy installation.
