The Best Treadmills For Going Nowhere Fast (2024)

You might think there's no such thing as the best treadmills. And it's true: runners get a kick out of hating the old "dreadmill." But—as you'll see—the most serious runners have strong feelings about them, because they're the ones logging big miles indoors. The truth is, they're incredibly practical—treadmill sessions can ensure your workouts aren’t thwarted by crappy weather or a crazy schedule.

So we talked to running coaches, personal trainers, an Olympian, and two of the world's greatest ultra marathoners about what it means to get the right treadmill for you. They shared their advice on the best treadmills to buy so you can start going nowhere, fast, plus their top picks for specific models that balance quality, functionality, and safety at every price point.

The Best Treadmills, at a Glance

Run through our top-pick treadmills here without jumping over an hurdles (that's a whole other sport).

• The Best Treadmill, Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 2950, $2,499
• The Best Budget Treadmill: ProForm Sport 5.5, $600
• The Best Upgrade Treadmill: Woodway 4Front, $13,995
• The Best Treadmill with Built-In Workouts: Peloton Tread, $2,995
• The Best Compact Treadmill: Echelon Stride, $1,300
• The Best Treadmill To Replace Your Trail Runs: NordicTrack x22i, $3,199
• The Best Sleek and Silent Treadmill: Technogym My Run, $4,050
• The Best Sub-$1500 Treadmill: ProForm Pro 2000, $1,400

What should you keep in mind when shopping for a treadmill?

Bobby McGee—an endurance coach who’s been in the coaching business for over 40 years and counts Olympians like triathlete Gwen Jorgensen, a 2016 gold medalist, and Taylor Nibb, a mixed relay silver medalist, among his clientele—notes that in terms of what’s best for people’s price range, it often comes down to your pace versus the maximum speed that any treadmill you’re looking at can reach. “Most treadmills seem to top out at 10 miles an hour,” McGee says, which could be just fine for someone who hasn’t run since their high school cross country days, but will be a drag for serious athletes. Maxing out on speed are Woodway treadmills, which is why they’re a top choice for sprinters who want to fly at speeds of up to 30mph when they train.

Another factor that can make the difference between a great workout and a bad injury is durability and stability, which usually means having a deck (or the walking surface underneath the belt) that’s long enough to match your stride.

“If people are anywhere decent runners and running an even under 8 minute pace, with some of the cheaper treadmills, the deck is too short. So if they’re completing their stride at the back, their foot’s coming off the deck, and then they tend to crowd to the front and that messes their form up,” McGee says. He recommends a treadmill with a decently stable deck that has some sort of a shock absorption system or a spring-loaded platform that minimizes bounceback and impact to your lower body. The edges of the belt need to be well-finished, too, he says, since they can fray over time.

Other features, like incline and decline, will really depend on your fitness goals and the type of running that you’re aiming for (whether you’re a mountain runner, or looking for some decline settings to help you train for something like the Boston Marathon). McGee notes that decline settings aren’t a feature that most people will need, but says that any home treadmill with an incline range up to 15 percent is a good choice.

Even if you’re setting your machine at a one percent incline to mimic road conditions,he adds that treadmills miss the “constant variability” of outdoor running, so he suggests playing with incline to flat variations during your run to avoid “hammering your legs on that same plane all the time.”

And of course, if you want to watch Netflix reruns or stream live workouts while you rack up miles, a model that comes with an LCD screen and some Bluetooth-enabled speakers is a big perk. Other considerations are the square footage of any space you’re placing them in, and the weight. For safety reasons, many treadmill retailers recommend ample clearance around the treadmill to prevent accidents. Thankfully, many models now offer folding mechanisms, too, that allow them to be lifted up and stacked against the wall or hauled out of sight when they’re not in use.

The biggest deciding factor above all is price, but McGee notes that if you’re a regular runner who'll be using the treadmill four to six months out of the year, it’s better to consider the long-term cost of a model that you’ll ostensibly want to park in your home gym for the next decade. Not only do you want to think about the sticker price, but also the cost of maintenance (for the motor and parts) and calibration, which McGee says tends to be more frequent with cheaper models. It may be worth shelling out for a higher-quality treadmill with a higher price tag, if it means saving more money in the long run on getting your treadmill serviced.

For these reasons and more, McGee recommends looking into options with a good return policy and warranty for repairs. Think about it like buying a car, he says: “You’re not getting a good sense of the treadmill until you’ve had it for awhile and you start picking up these quirks.” Even better, spring for the treadmill that you like in your nearest gym, or see if reputable retailers will let you run on their treadmill in-store.

Now that you have a sense of how to shop for the right treadmill to squeeze into your home gym, here are some of the best for nailing your treadmill workouts.

To see more of thebest workout clothesand gear hand-picked by GQ editors, check out the GQ Fitness Awards.

The Best Treadmill, Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Though a Woodway is indisputably the top choice for serious athletes, your average runner isn't going to need to blow $5k on an Olympian-level machine. McGee says that some of the lower-end NordicTrack models will still give you a pretty smooth ride, and notes that the 1750 (the brand's most popular model) boasts a lot of the same features as more expensive models—from a long, wide belt to some kind of sprung suspension system to help with shock absorption.

This updated version of the 1750 is what you'd have if your best running partner was an inanimate object. The roomy 56-inch running surface is the standard for spaciousness, and it adjusts to a maximum speed of 12.4 mph—that's a sub-5 mile. The small, tiltable touchscreen will let you virtually escape your dreary apartment for beachy runs in the tropics and rolling hills through the country. And if you're streaming any on-demand iFit workouts from your 14-inch display, your speed and incline will automatically adjust to match the terrain and your instructor's pace.

It’s a large treadmill, but can be folded up when not in use—a boon for people who don't have an entire other room for their home gym equipment. The best part? It's got powerful fans built in for Benz-level climate control. And the 10-year warranty for the frame, and two-year protection on parts, buys you ample buffer time to seek repairs for wear and tear.

The Best Budget Treadmill: ProForm Sport 5.5

ProForm offers a wide range of treadmill options that won't destroy your savings account, and the 5.5 model is a well-reviewed, entry-level workhorse. With a price well under $1,000, it’s an incredibly approachable machine that has everything you need—10 mph top speed (AKA a six-minute mile), a 10% incline—plus Bluetooth connectivity and access to iFit classes. The 55-inch belt offers enough room to run comfortably, and the whole machine folds up to save space after you're done crushing miles.

The Best Upgrade Treadmill for Serious Athletes: Woodway 4Front

Woodway is the runaway champion of the high-end market, with prices usually starting around $5,000. Studios like NYC’s Mile High Run Club, Equinox’s Precision Rub Lab, and Barry’s all have their own fleet. (So does the NFL, NBA, and NHL, plus the Olympics Training Center). McGee calls Woodways the Roll's Royce of treadmills. They have "much more consistent rolling, so when you put your foot down, it doesn’t stick or slow the band down," he says.

Chris Hudson, VP of curriculum at Barry’s, also touts the 4Front’s springy rubber shock-absorbing slats that make up the belt, which are “designed to mimic the feeling of running outdoors” and reduce impact on joints, muscles, and connective tissue. “They are more durable, resulting in less of a need for maintenance,” said Hudson.

The Woodway belt is said to last 150,000 miles—or 48,280 5K runs, if you're a fan of the metric system. The 4Front has two additional modes: one that lets the belt spin freely like a manual treadmill so the user can power it themselves, and another that adds extra resistance. Custom options include a sleek 21-inch touchscreen display and more-powerful motors if you're looking to train like Kipchoge.

When ultrarunner Mario Mendoza Jr. broke the 50K treadmill world record in January, maintaining an average pace of 5:45 minute miles for 31 miles, he used a 4Front. “It’s softer, and easier on your skeletal system—like trail running,” he says. Olympian Alexi Pappas also runs on a 4Front, which offers up to a 15% incline and can go up to 12.5 mph, faster than five minutes per mile. Pappas, however, upgraded hers so it could go even faster. “I can do anything on it,” she says.

The Best Treadmill with Built-In Workouts: Peloton Tread

In 2018 Peloton extended its world-conquering at-home spinning workouts to a treadmill with the Peloton Tread+. Though the Tread+ was recalled in 2021, the fitness giant followed up with a new Tread treadmill this year with a smaller 24” touchscreen that offers both live and on-demand classes for running, walking, HIIT, and other cardio and strength workouts. Unlike its predecessor, the Tread scales back on design a bit. It features a traditional belt instead of shock-absorbing rubber slats, and a lower platform that makes it easier to hop on and off the wheel. Post-recall, the new model has also integrated new safety features that includes a treadlock screen which requires you to plug in a four-digit passcode to wake up the Tread's belt.

Its easily accessed knobs on the arms adjust incline (up to 12.5 percent) and speed (up to 12.5 mph), which is a smart design feature for easily changing up your run without messing with your stride. Though you don’t absolutely need to subscribe to Peloton's classes to use the treadmill, the experience is defined by the company's famously rah-rah workout programming, which costs $44 per month for an all-access pass. It’s expensive, in other words. But it may be the best combo of machinery and motivating content so that you'll actually use it, especially given the gamification of exercise these days.

The Best Compact Treadmill: Echelon Stride

Small home? No problem. Echelon makes a foldable treadmill that can compete with pricier, bulkier models in terms of features, and does it all with a comparably sized belt. It folds completely flat and weighs 156 pounds, which is about half the weight of comparable treadmills. Now, while you'll have to get in a mighty good workout just to justify the hassle of packing and unpacking it, it'll at least clear up the space that stationary and immobile treadmills would be hogging up 24/7. Plus, the wheels help to move this around fairly easily.

The Stride maxes out at 12 mph, which is on par with most other treadmills, though its incline range taps out at 10%, so don't expect a trail-like walk or run with this thing. Like Peloton, Echelon also offers a membership program, FitPass, that unlocks a plethora of premium goodies like 3,000 fitness classes. The membership can even be shared between yourself and four other people (sort of like the Spotify Family plan). The first 30 days of FitPass are free, and subsequent months cost $12, which is a fraction of the price of Peloton.

The Best Treadmill To Replace Your Trail Runs: NordicTrack x22i Incline Treadmill

Kilian Jornet is a trail runner, mountaineer, and skier, though a better description is that he's the best mountain athlete in the world. The 35-old Spaniard once scampered up Mount Everest twice in one week, alone and without supplemental oxygen. He dominates endurance sufferfests like the Hardrock 100 (an 100-mile trail race with 33,000 feet of elevation gain). He’s fast and seemingly indefatigable on all sorts of terrain. And Jornet, though superhuman, also trains on a treadmill sometimes.

Jornet uses an older NordicTrack treadmill that’s similar to this x22i, one of the most models in the brand’s Incline series. It offers a rotating and tilting 22inch HD screen to ensure you can see it from any angle, plus a lower deck height that allows you to hop on and off the treadmill easily.

“I like that it is possible to go way above 20% for power walking or running at a greater incline,” said Jornet. “I believe it’s good to have a treadmill that can support fast speeds and at least a 20% incline.” In addition to a 40% incline, the x11i can also go into a decline of up to 5%, great for trail runners looking to get downhill miles in. Ultrarunner Mendoza is also a fan of the NordicTrack treadmills, adding that the models that go up to 40% are great for the power hiking efficiency required for ultramarathons.

The Best Sleek and Silent Treadmill: The Technogym My Run

Many treadmills, especially in the budget category, offer versions of the same godawful behemoth-style design: 300-pounders that you want to hide away where no one can see them. Not the Technogym, a treadmill that McGee considers one of “the most high-quality, popular treadmills of the moment.” It's won a handful of design awards for its adaptive running surface that cushions your joints at lower speeds and adds more bounce if you're really in your stride, plus its running algorithm that helps you enhance the quality and efficiency of your runs. The packaging itself—curved grips and an eye-pleasing display—doesn't hurt, either.

It offers a wide 56.inch belt, but is still a reasonably compact treadmill for the space-conscious. Another feature that's appealing to renters with fussy neighbors is its quiet motor: Technogym claims that its treadmill runs around 60 decibels, somewhere between a refrigerator hum and a dishwasher (while other models from NordicTrack and the Peloton Tread are known for running on the noisier end). With a 12% incline, customizable workout programs, and a suite of live Technogym classes at your disposal, this looker offers plenty of functionality, too.

The Best Sub-$1500 Treadmill: ProForm Pro 2000

This treadmill is the ultimate solid and reliable, bang-for-your-buck running machine. The Pro 2000 has all the features that buyers should be looking for: a roomy, cushy running surface, access to high-quality built-in iFit streaming workouts (the first month of your iFit membership is free). There’s also a spot for a tablet so you can stream whatever workout you’d like. While the 10” screen is a little small, the Pro 200 still offers nice bonuses like a built-in fan, the ability to fold up easily, water bottle holders, integrated Bluetooth speakers, and various warranties (up to 10 years for the steel frame, parts, and labor).

4 More Treadmills We Love

Technogym recently expanded its line with a new souped-up treadmill, simply called Technogym Run, which boasts a super long belt and an even quieter motor than the original. The lengthier runway is designed to help you transition between running, pushing, and floor HIIT exercises on top of your typical incline and speed training. At over ten grand, it's certainly more of an investment pick—up there with the Woodways of the world—than most people want to pay for a treadmill. But if you're looking for a top-of-the-line model with all the best features (a wide belt, excellent baked-in training programs, plus the brand's signature sleek design and adaptive running surface), you're looking at it.

NordicTrack's really owning the treadmill space, and its T series 6.5S is another great foldable option that's about $500 cheaper than our top pick for a compact treadmill. It maxes out at 10 mph and 10% incline, and its screen looks and feels more old school and less sleek than the Echelon Stride, but that's not to say this isn't a great treadmill. It's the top-rated model that Amazon sells, with nearly 32,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. As one giddy owner writes: “From the moment I stepped onto the NordicTrack T Series 6.5S, I knew I was in for an exceptional experience. This treadmill is a testament to quality craftsmanship, boasting a sturdy build that exudes durability and reliability. The powerful motor ensures smooth and consistent performance, providing a seamless and enjoyable workout session.”

It's slim and short, but Sunny Health & Fitness' folding treadmill is cheap enough for us to overlook that. It's the number one treadmill pick on Amazon, and shoppers rave about how easy it is to setup, the ease of changing the speed, and the highly capable belt. One of its quirks is that you have to manually adjust the incline, which is frustrating if you're trying to get variability in your runs without stopping. But its shock absorption is fairly good at managing strain to your legs, according to reviewers, and its foldable design allows you to pack this up when it's not in use.

The Sole is another well-priced folding treadmill that continuously gets positive reviews. Green text loyalists will rejoice at its new Android-enabled screen with pre-programmed workouts, and an adjoining wireless charging pad for juicing up other devices. There's also a new “Cushion Flex Whisper Deck” that's designed to be extra quiet and shock-absorbing. Plus, the whole thing folds up neatly with the flip of a switch. The F80 has a max speed of 12mph and reaches an incline of 15 percent—as much as almost anyone might need.