Top 10 Treadmills in 2020
Quick Conclusion: If you don’t want to read the whole article here is our answer. If you’re looking for the best treadmill and don’t mind spending a little more money, go with the 3G Cardio Elite.
You get a large-sized running area, and a powerful 4 HP motor to drive up to 12 MPH and 15% inclines. This is an almost 400-pound machine, and very durable.
If the Cardio Elite is outside your budget we recommend the Life Fitness Club Series Treadmill. It is the same treadmill found in many of the popular 24/7 gyms. I’ve used it for thousands of hours and it is one of my favorites. For the most budget friendly machine, the NordicTrack T Series Treadmill will do the job.
And finally if you’re looking for a manual treadmill that’s self powered with your own running inertia, check out the Assault Air. Keep in mind this machine is sometimes harder to control the speed with since there is no motor controlling it.
Table of Contents
Introduction
“Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”. If this description of our long-suffering postal delivery men and women sounds like how you feel about your outdoor running routine, good for you, and keep it up!
However, if you are the type that runs back indoors at the sight of a cloud, maybe it’s time to invest in a treadmill.
Treadmills represent an excellent way to get the cardiovascular results from a walking, jogging, or running program without being subjected to the extreme elements of outdoor exercise.
Many models have capability to fold up for storage, and wheels to move them to pretty much anywhere in your house. We’ll talk about features a little later in this article, but first, let’s look at how and what a cardiovascular exercise program, or cardio, could look like.
There are many important health benefits to a cardiovascular program. Cardio can help you in weight loss efforts, improve your mental sharpness and focus, and help you reduce stress and block anxieties and depression symptoms.
You can see from the name itself, a cardio program is used to improve your cardiovascular health and function – your heart, circulation, and lungs.
As noted, a good cardio program can help you lose weight. Weight loss is easy – just burn more calories than you take in. You can lo just diet – eating less – but it’s more effective in a program of diet and exercise.
Any exercise burns calories, but cardio is one of the most effective exercises in calorie burn. Some studies indicate that you can burn up to 60% more calories via cardio than in a resistance or weight training program.
There are two different kinds of cardiovascular exercise – aerobic and anaerobic. Bicycling and running are examples of aerobic exercises; they require your lungs to take in more oxygen, and accelerate your heart rate to pump this oxygenated blood through your body to support you during your exercise period.
Sprinting would be an anaerobic exercise, as it uses up more oxygen than your system is able to provide; simply put, it’s being “out of breath”. Either type of exercise will help you expend oxygen, but aerobic exercises allow you to keep up that pace for a longer period of time.
So, we now know you want your heart to work harder, but how hard do you want it to work? In a cardio program, you want your heart to work at a certain percentage of your maximum heart rate.
One simple way to calculate your maximum heart is to subtract your age from 220; if you are 40, your maximum heart rate is 180. Your physician can help you to set your optimal percentage based on your overall health and fitness condition, and your fitness goals, but typically your percentage will be 50 – 80% of maximum.
Now, with the science out of the way, all you need to do to get started is start moving. Park a little further away from the mall. Take the steps instead of the escalator. Take a walk every day. Simple things, right? But somehow, life will find an excuse to get in the way of your best intentions.
Think about the cost of joining a health club or gym, and the time investment to get there, exercise, and then drive back home. Think about the weather where you live in January or July. Are you going to want to go out and exercise in those conditions?
The bottom line is that there will be barriers put up, no matter how well you are committed to improving your cardio.
One way to remove some of these barriers is to invest in exercise equipment that can be used in-home. There are several types available – exercise bikes, rowing machines, stair climbers, ellipticals, and so on. For our purposes here, however, we are going to focus on the treadmill.
THE TREADMILL
First question – why a treadmill? Quite simply, they are an excellent tool to help you with your cardio improvement program. It’s pretty simple to get started; get on the machine and start walking. Treadmills are available with a wide range of features, and prices, but more on that later.
The important thing is that you have instant availability to an exercise machine; no driving to the gym, no worries because it’s raining. Have fifteen minutes to kill before you go pick up the kids? Get on the treadmill.
Before we get to the details, let’s take a quick look at the history of treadmills. They were originally used as much as 4000 years ago, where walking power was used to turn a wheel to move water or grind grain.
Not surprisingly, in early 1800s England, someone had the bright idea to use this same concept of treadmill as punishment in English prisons. The first patent on a treadmill was granted in 1913, but they didn’t gain significant use until they entered the realm of medical exercise machines for heart testing in the 1950s.
Commercially developed treadmills began to sprout up in the 1960s, and today they are the largest selling piece of exercise equipment in the US. One recent innovation has been treadmill desks, so people can exercise during work, in what would normally be a sedentary period.
All things considered, a treadmill, whether motorized or manual, can be an excellent addition to help you with your cardio. An example of a treadmill is pictured below.
Fact Sheet – Product Comparison Table
In this section, we’ll take a look at ten different treadmill models – two manual, and eight motor-driven. For each model, we’ll identify a couple of the key features, a consumer rating of the treadmill, and a price indication. The rating comes from the web site reviews of actual buyers of the treadmill.
on in this article, I’ll add my comments on each of them, their overall functionality, and pick the “best of the best”. Also to be reviewed are key features of a treadmill; the functionality and specifications that may or may not be important to you and your buying decision.
Number | Product | Best Feature | Rating | Price Category |
1 | Jaketen Electric Folding Treadmill | Folding for storage, features 12 preset training programs and Bluetooth capabilities | (5 / 5) | Basic |
2 | Trueform Runner | Manual, non-motorized treadmill. Your body weight provides momentum and resistance. | (5 / 5) | Elite |
3 | Assault Airrunner | Also manual, supports phone apps for cross-fit and interval training | (4.6 / 5) | Elite |
4 | Endurance T10HRC Commercial Treadmill | Extra thick belt for cushioning and durability, large running area, steel frame, incline capability | (4.5 / 5) | Advanced |
5 | 3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill | Large motor and running surface, pre-programmed courses, incline, entertainment console | (4.4 / 5) | Elite |
6 | Sole Fitness TT8 Light Commercial Non-Folding Treadmill | Shock absorbing system, large motor, 10 programmed workouts | (4.1 / 5) | Advanced |
7 | NordicTrack T Series Treadmill | 7” full color display, iFit enabled, 50 pre-set workout apps, lifetime frame and motor warranty | (4 / 5) | Basic |
8 | Goplus Folding Treadmill | 5” LCD display, cushioned to reduce noise and vibration, 12 programs, folds for storage | (3.8 / 5) | Basic |
9 | ProForm 905 CST Treadmill | 30 preset workouts, iFit compatible, Bluetooth heart monitor, incline capability | (3.8 / 5) | Basic |
10 | Nautilus T616 Treadmill | Bluetooth to connect to fitness apps, incline, foldable storage, 26 programs | (3.8 / 5) | Basic |
Product-Buying Guide
You’ve reached the stage where you are ready to buy a treadmill. But given the ten models here, and the blizzard of options and features and specification, which are the ones that are really most important in the buying decision?
you are looking for a new car, some models will not have features which are very important to you. Others will have equipment options that you really don’t care about. Treadmills are going to be exactly like that, just at a smaller price scale.
Here we will outline some key features and specifications with the aim to providing you enough information to decide which are absolutely critical, which are nice to have, and which are “bells and whistles” you don’t really need or want.
Weight
A heavy-duty treadmill can weigh three hundred pounds or more, so consider the overall weight of the unit as you are reviewing specifications. If you don’t have a dedicated floor space for the treadmill, and have to move it around, this will be an important characteristic to you.
Footprint
Much like weight, the amount of floor space the treadmill takes up may or may not be a factor. However, with some of the larger, wider models, they can take up a lot of space, and a fold-up type for easier storage might makes sense for you. If you have a dedicated exercise room, footprint might not be a critical measurement.
Running surface size
This will be the length and width of the platform deck on which you’ll be running. Too narrow, and you increase the risk of accidentally stepping on the rails and falling. Too short, you can actually fall off the back end of the treadmill, or run into the front post, if too close to it. This is a very critical part of the buying decision, and the sizes of all the potential household users should be considered.
Motor horsepower
The available horsepower of the drive motor will determine at what speeds the treadmill will operate. The higher the horsepower, the higher upper end speeds of the treadmill. This will, of course, also be affected by the weight of the user; the belt will turn with less resistance with a lighter user than a heavier one.
Warranty
There are a fair amount of moving parts on a treadmill, many have sophisticated electronics, and, as mentioned, the motor. With a lower priced treadmill, it could be, in essence, a throwaway if it fails after a couple years. But some of the higher priced models here will most likely make sense to repair.
The purchaser should review the warranty with this in mind. The warranty will typically cover major components, life frame and motor, for one period, with a secondary, shorter warranty for parts, such as the electronics, and, in some cases, the warranty will cover the labor of replacement and/or assembly.
Accessories
In earlier model treadmills, you pretty much got on it, stared straight ahead, and ran. Hence the name “dreadmill”; it got old fast. Today’s models offer many more features to keep you entertained while you exercise. These include speakers, fans to cool you, Bluetooth and wireless capabilities, even streaming hookups from your television. Storage for towels, tablets, and water bottles is also important.
Digital display
As noted earlier, part of a good cardio program is keeping your heart rate within a targeted range. You may also have personal goals around speed, distance, or time. A digital display will track your performance metrics, and, in some cases, record your measurements to memory so you can track progress improvements.
Speed range
As we noted in the discussion of motors above, speed will be influenced by motor size and user weight. Each unit will list a theoretical upper and lower end speed as part of the specifications. If you plan to use the treadmill for walking, top end speed will not be a major consideration for you. But if you want to run intervals, with short term speed bursts, then it matters.
User weight
We’ve discussed the impact on motor and speed capabilities already. In some cases, however, a heavier user will exceed the capabilities of the treadmill, so this feature needs to be validated if you or someone in your household using the machine are in that category.
Incline
Several treadmill models feature the ability to raise the running ramp to an incline, which simulates running on hills for the user. This allows you to expend more calories in the same period of time, as you are stressing your body and cardiovascular system more. Incline will also factor into motor size, as the motor will have to work harder to sustain an uphill run versus a horizontal one.
Storage
We discussed this a little in the footprint section. Some of these models have a hinged running area. At the end of your run, the ramp can be raised to a near vertical position, and locked in place for storage. Many models also have wheels to that they can easily be moved into a storage area.
Programmable training programs
There are two approaches to programmable training programs. Some of these units will have one or the other, some will have both. The first approach is pre-programmed exercises as part of the treadmill training regimen.
The motor will automatically adjust speed and incline to increase or decrease your heart range. Programs may also include interval training, which is adjusting to temporary higher speeds then dropping back to a lower rate.
The second approach is using technology to tie to training programs available through your phone, tablet, or the Internet. iFit is a popular internet-based program, and it simulates actual runs from around the globe. One minute you could be running the hills of San Francisco, the next the Boston Marathon course.
Cushioning
This is a bit of a subjective measure. While running on a treadmill will have a lot less shock and impact on your knees and body than on concrete, there will still be some shock. The treadmill deck and belt will give some level of cushioning, but it is difficult to quantify it. A test run is recommended to get a feel for the amount of give in the treadmill.
Assembly
Some of these units will be almost fully assembled, some will come in a box full of parts. Some time estimates are as much as four hours to assemble and adjust the machines. Depending on your mechanical aptitude, it might be worthwhile to pay a premium and have the unit assembled in your home, in the spot where you want it. This could include leveling for that spot, and may also be covered under warranty.
Frame construction
The frame will in some cases be made of tubular steel, in others aluminum, and occasionally you will see units with a majority of plastic parts. The frame will have a major impact in the durability of the treadmill, and should be covered by the longest part of the available warranty.
Safety key/emergency stop
This feature is installed to immediately stop belt rotation in the event you fall. There is a “deadman’s key” inserted into the machine, with a rope and clip on the other end to attach to your shirt or shorts. If you fall, the key is pulled out of the slot and the machine immediately shuts down. This is an excellent safety feature and is highly recommended.
Rollers and belt
The rollers and belt are the other part of the drivetrain of the treadmill. The belt should be made of a durable engineered plastic material, and may be single ply up to triple ply. It should be firmly stitched to prevent fraying and stretching.
The rollers are under the belt to generate movement and at the same time keep the belt adjusted, so it does not move side to side. The rollers should be made of a durable material, as extensive roller wear can cause the belt to lose friction and increase slippage of the belt.
Price
Price can cover a wide range in buying a treadmill, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. As with any major purchase, price is only a small part of the overall value of the object – that combination of features, price, and usability – that make the treadmill attractive to you or not.
In the case of these ten treadmills, the price range is very extensive, and difficult to categorize as a range. So, I’ve sorted the ten into three groups:
- Basic – a treadmill with features and pricing for a first-time user, not wanting to spend a ton of money, but still wanting decent performance. This level of treadmill will typically be priced at under $1000.
- Advanced – This is the next level up, running between $1000 – $3000. They will have better electronics, wider and longer running areas, and so on. This is likely the machine you will buy when you’ve worn out your basic model treadmill.
- Elite – This level of treadmill will appeal to only the most serious of runners. They will have been running for longer periods, and use their treadmill to supplement their outdoor training. It may also be used as a cardio cross training tool by an elite athlete. The treadmills for this group should closely simulate the feel of running outdoors.
Making your decision
After this section of the article, you should have a pretty good feel, at least at a high level, which features and specifications are most important, as you make your treadmill choice. So now let’s go one by one, and take a detailed look at every model. Following this, we can recommend some of the best treadmills for each user from this group of ten.
Top 10 Best Treadmills
First Impressions:
The first of our basic treadmill category, this unit has a five-layer EVA belt for long life, cushioning, and non-slip design.
The folding treadmill, with Bluetooth capability, allows access to the GFit program through Google. It has twelve preset training programs, and a hand pulse grip hear trate monitor. A dampening system prevents extra shock to knee and ankle joints.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
This treadmill fits the definition of a basic machine quite completely. It has a decent sized running area, but is powered by a smaller motor, and not suitable for heavy runners. The electronics are solid, particularly with the ability to run Internet-based fitness programs. There is no warranty information available on the web site.
First Impressions:
This is the first of two manual treadmills on our product list. This model is available in two styles, one geared for rehabbing runners of those needing handrails of extra balance; the other is designed for concentrated, high-speed training. Both systems use the running motion to propel the belt; there is no motor to drive it, so you your speed is set solely by your effort.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see paying big bucks for this treadmill unless you have very specific circumstances that a regular treadmill would not help with. You can buy a lot of years at a health club for what you would spend here. It’s well built, solid, with a great warranty, and will probably last a lifetime in an individual use setting.
First Impressions:
The second of two manual treadmills, the Air Runner offers some nice functionality at a lower price than the Trueform. It has a solid steel frame and handrail system, corrosion–resistant hardware, a fairly compact footprint, yet weighs 280 pounds and will support a 350# user. It has built-in target heart rate and interval training programs.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
A well-built manual treadmill, where the only speed constraints are the ones the user puts on himself. The six-function display monitor is integrated to the machine, and standard equipment. This is a fitness club quality machine, and will help the serious runner improve his times, speeds, and endurance given all the training program options.
First Impressions:
This is the first of two advanced level machines, and is a great one to start the review. It has a large running deck, strong motor, incline capabilities, and looks like it could survive for years in a commercial setting. Over 25 built-in fitness programs to help train for endurance and speed. It has a lifetime warranty – period.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
A very solid machine that should deliver quality workouts for a long time. While missing a couple amenities you would expect on a higher end treadmill, it is still a good overall value. The great warranty removes some risks in spending this level of cash. Seeing some additional ratings would be better, but this is a fairly new manufacturer.
First Impressions:
The third of three elite rated machines, this one is motorized and comes with a large 22” x 62” deck. It has a commercial-level shock absorbing system to make life easier your knees. Connect your tablet or phone to the built-in speakers, and you have entertainment, while you work out. Residential warranty is ten years for frame and motor, five years for parts.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
The 1.0 reviews aside, this appears to be a very solid machine, with a lot of functionality and capability. The reviews on the running comfort and capability of the treadmill are all strongly positive. It is marketed toward the elite-type runner, given the price, but, if you know you will use it, it would be a great machine for anyone with the long warranty and expected lifespan of it.
First Impressions:
The second of the two advanced level treadmills. Big motor, big base, big belt, big weight, big capacity. It has a decent-sized LCD display with integral speakers. There is a nice tray for holding water bottles, phone, and so on. The deck is shock-absorbing, and the belt is two-ply for durability.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
Like the other advanced level machine, this one is on the bubble between being a commercial or residential treadmill. It is built for the long run, as evidenced by the very solid residential warranty. By all accounts, the machine is stable and runs quietly, with the cushioning system helping reduce wear and tear on the joints. Power capabilities are impressive.
First Impressions:
Time to move back to the basic level machines again. Nordic Track is known for their skiing machines, and from there has moved into other fitness products. This folding treadmill comes with a 7-inch interactive display screen, touch capabilities, and iFit capable. The specifications are comparable to some higher priced models.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
This unit has very good functionality for a basic level treadmill. Users will have to decide if the extra training toys are worth the additional cost over some of the other basic models. Most reviewers felt the assembly was pretty straight forward and did not consume a lot of time. Specifications are solid, and the warranty should give you some piece of mind for the extra money spent.
First Impressions:
This is the lowest price treadmill of the basic models, so functionality and specifications are somewhat lower than the other unite reviewed. The unit is cushioned for noise and vibration reduction, and it has a safety key for automatic shut-off. It has twelve exercise programs, and a five function LCD display.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
Walk into buying this treadmill with eyes open. While there are several satisfied customers, there are almost as many dissatisfied ones. The level of support appears to be lacking, and there are apparently many operational flaws with the machine. For me, this would be too big a gamble, even for the low investment cost.
First Impressions:
While still meeting the scale of a basic machine, this treadmill has many of the same features as higher priced units. It has several niceties such as integrated holder for a tablet, iPod compatible speakers, a workout fan, and a 5” backlit display panel. It has a foldable steel frame, and at just over 200-pounds it should be fairly simple to move around.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
You get about what you would expect in a basic treadmill here – some good things, some bad. Overall a fairly low 3.8 rating, but a lot of the lowest ratings had to do with the iFit application, and poor customer service on the part of the manufacturer. So, in summary, a decent functioning machine, but don’t expect a lot of support if things go wrong.
First Impressions:
The last of our five basic level models, this is a foldable treadmill which makes wide use of technology. With Bluetooth capability, it works with both Nautilus training apps and many other Internet based training apps, plus 26 built-in programs. It also has RunSocial, with 19 locations and 27 real-life routes to run through the large display screen.
Features and Specifications:
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts:
Overall, a fairly low rating for a machine scratching at the upper tiers of the price range. It has some good electronics functionality, and by most reviews, this unit gives a stable, comfortable run. However, there appears to be some design issues, and comments about the machine just stopping in the middle of exercise should, be worrisome. About 80% of the total reviews are 4 or 5, so the overall odds are in your favor.
Final Verdict
Before we get to the recommendations, let’s look back at what we’ve covered so far. We started with a little of the science behind cardiovascular exercise, and the benefits of it. Then, we looked into how a treadmill can be a valuable part of a cardio program, and identified ten models. We seeded these models into three ranges – basic, or entry level users; advanced, or intermediate level users; and, elite, or high-level athletes or professionals.
We looked at about fifteen features available on treadmills, and discussed their use, and why they are important. We talked some about how they would fit into your buying decisions – are they gotta have, wanna have, or don’t really need features? Finally, we went model by model, and looked at overall impressions of each, and examined the pros and cons of the machines in the context of total purchasing value. Here is our conclusions:
If you’re looking for the best treadmill and don’t mind spending a little more money, go with the 3G Cardio Elite. You get a large-sized running area, and a powerful 4 HP motor to drive up to 12 MPH and 15% inclines. This is an almost 400-pound machine, and very durable.
If the Cardio Elite is outside your budget we recommend the Life Fitness Club Series Treadmill. It is the same treadmill found in many of the popular 24/7 gyms. I’ve used it for thousands of hours and it is one of my favorites. For the most budget friendly machine, the NordicTrack T Series Treadmill will do the job.
And finally if you’re looking for a manual treadmill that’s self powered with your own running inertia, check out the the Assault Air. Keep in mind this machine is sometimes harder to control the speed with since there is no motor controlling it.
You can’t go wrong with any of these machines and warranties, so pick your future exercise path and choose accordingly.
Hopefully this review has been helpful in helping you choose an appropriate treadmill. Happy running!