Pace yourself for these top treadmill picks
It’s a safe bet that most recreational runners enjoy running outdoors, but sometimes weather or lack of time can impede a potential run. We’ve trained for many races relying on outdoor trails and treadmills, and it’s always helpful to have the option of a treadmill on hand.
The best treadmills can help you get some guaranteed cardio in the comfort of your home. The treadmills available for home use have also become more technologically advanced and often have touchscreens, workout programs, streaming platforms and more.
We’ve tested the most popular treadmills by running, jogging and walking, then determined which are worth buying, who they are best for and what to consider before making a purchase. Take a look at three of CNET’s top picks.
BEST OVERALL TREADMILL: NORDICTRACK COMMERCIAL 2450
The first thing we noticed about the NordicTrack Commercial 2450, NordicTrack’s newest addition to its commercial treadmill series, is the touchscreen. It has a 22-inch HD touchscreen that resembles a desktop computer screen, so it’s huge. It also tilts and pivots so you can adjust it for different uses, like if you want to take workout classes on the floor. The treadmill itself is also on the bigger side since it’s a commercial treadmill, but it does fold up using its easylift assist feature. So if space is limited, you can always prop up the belt. Assembling this treadmill can take about two and a half hours (as one of CNET’s warehouse technicians estimated) and will require at least two people. However, NordicTrack does offer the option to include assembly in the delivery for an extra $299.
This treadmill has decline and incline options, ranging from zero to 15% incline and -3% decline. It’s a rarity to find a treadmill that declines, so this is a unique feature. The speeds range from zero to 12 mph and there are quick-touch control buttons on the console, which makes it easier to adjust your speed during interval training.
BEST HEAVY-DUTY TREADMILL: BOWFLEX TREADMILL 10
The Bowflex Treadmill 10 is ideal for those looking for a heavy-duty treadmill. It has the highest weight capacity of all the treadmills on this list at 400 pounds — most cap out around 300 pounds. It’s also the biggest one on the list, measuring 85 by 39.6 by 65.3 inches. According to our technician, assembly took about three and a half hours and can be tedious because of the different pieces you have to install. Bowflex does offer assembly for an additional $349.
Upon looking at the Bowflex Treadmill 10, you can tell it’s a solidly built machine by the size of the tread and the wide design. I like how size-inclusive the design is:
The space between the handles provides plenty of room to move your arms, and the tread belt is long enough if you have longer strides, so individuals taller than 6 feet will be able to run on it comfortably.
BEST BUDGET TREADMILL: HORIZON 7.0 AT TREADMILL
The Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill looks like a commercial treadmill at the gym without the bells and whistles. It’s also fairly priced and the only treadmill on this list that’s less than $1,000. This treadmill took our technician two hours to assemble, but you have the option of white-glove delivery and assembly for an additional $269. You will need to make sure you measure out the space in your home since this treadmill is pretty big, measuring 76.5 inches long and 36 inches wide. It does fold up, but similar to some of the other treadmills on this list, you still need to make sure you have enough room to store it upright.
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill is that it doesn’t have a touchscreen. Instead, the console has two display screens: a 7-inch LCD screen that shows your metrics during a workout and, right beneath it,
other smaller screens that display time, speed, distance, calories burned, incline, heart rate and pace. It doesn’t have the most modern features and looks like it was designed in the ’80s or ’90s, but it’s still functional.