11 Best Treadmills for Home in 2024

If it’s too hot, cold, or wet to run outdoors (or you just don’t feel like interacting with the outside world), having a treadmill at home can be the key to keeping your training plan on track, making it simple—if not easy—to hit the exact paces you want. And having a good tread isn’t just convenient, it can also help you add some variety to your running routine (hello, recovery walks, HIIT workouts, and hill runs). “As much as I’m an outdoor runner, I find treadmills valuable when the weather’s bad or if you have kids and you just can’t leave the house,” Alli Felsenthal, a United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy–certified running coach and V.DOT performance coach, tells SELF. She adds that treadmills can also be safer than running outside (especially after dark).

With so many options out there to choose from, we asked experts in the running industry what they consider the best treadmills for home use. Then our vetted testers did the, well, legwork to see how the machines perform mile after mile. They sweat over all the small stuff (like water bottle storage and control button responsiveness) to help you find the right treadmill for your home.

Top picks for the best treadmills

• Best Treadmill Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750
• Best Treadmill for Running: Sole F85 Treadmill
• Best Folding Treadmill: NordicTrack EXP 10i
• Best Compact Treadmill: Echelon Fitness Stride-8s
• Best Treadmill Under $1,000: ProForm Carbon TLX
• Best Value Treadmill: BowFlex Treadmill BXT8J
• Best Treadmill With Incline: Horizon 7.4 AT Treadmill
• Best Under Desk Treadmill: WalkingPad A1 Pro
• Best Treadmill for Home Gym: ProForm Pro 9000 Treadmill
• Best Commercial Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial 2450
• Best Curved Treadmill: Assault Fitness AssaultRunner Pro

In this article

• Shop the best treadmills
• How the best treadmills compare
• Other treadmills we’ve tried
• How to find a treadmill that works for you
• Types of treadmills
• How we tested these treadmills
• Treadmill safety tips
• Treadmill care and maintenance
• FAQs: The TL;DR digest for fast facts

Best Treadmill Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Pros

• Good shock absorption
• Decline capability
• Foldable design
• Lots of workout options through iFit

Cons

• Only the deck inclines, so the handlebars can end up hard to reach
• Heavy and difficult to move without help
• Touchscreen is on the smaller side

Why we picked it: “Whether you’re a beginner or training indoors for your marathon, the NordicTrack 1750 will pass the time quickly and comfortably,” Laura Norris, NSCA-CPT, a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA)–certified coach based in Boulder, Colorado, tells SELF. One of the best-rated treadmills by users, it has a quiet, shock-absorbing running deck that folds upright and a stabilizing, grippy belt that testers say helps to minimize any sliding around. It also features a 14-inch HD touchscreen display for you to watch virtual treadmill workouts streamed from iFit, a fitness service that offers trainer-led programs; and tracking metrics like speed and heart rate.

Our fave features: Corinne Fitzgerald, NSCA-CPT, an RRCA-certified coach based in New York City, says this tread is easy to use, with convenient one-tap controls on both the monitor and handlebars for speed and incline changes (which happen pretty quickly—one tester found it only took 15 seconds to go from zero to full incline). During iFit workouts, those settings change automatically based on the instructor’s cues, allowing you to stay focused in your workout rather than futzing with buttons.

Who it’s for: The NordicTrack is a great fit for anyone looking for a full workout at home. Fitzgerald also likes that the streaming service offers classes for different workout modalities, from running to yoga to HIIT, so you have the option to add some cross-training to your routine, right on the console. Essentially, what makes the NordicTrack 1750 one of the best treadmills for home is that its high-quality features will serve nearly whatever workout intentions you have—like the Swiss Army Knife of machines. ”You get what you pay for with this treadmill because of the screen and the built-in programming,” one tester says. “There’s just a lot you can accomplish with this treadmill.”

Best Treadmill for Running: Sole F85 Treadmill

Pros

• Large 22-inch by 60-inch running surface
• 15 incline and 6 decline levels
• Foldable design
• Comes with free app to access coach-led classes

Cons

• Big footprint at 82.5 inches long
• Poor customer service, according to reviewers

Why we picked it: Serious runners can get a serious workout on this do-it-all treadmill. With an impressive range of 15 incline and 6 decline levels, the F85 can match the hilly range of nearly any race course you’re training for. You can save up to 12 custom programs so you can quickly launch into your fave interval sessions or hill repeat workouts. And you can do it at a speed of up to 12 miles per hour (a 5-minute mile). The extra wide 22-inch belt helps you feel comfortable enough to really open up your stride while you’re at it.

Who it’s for: Kai Ng, a USA Track & Field (USATF)– and RRCA–certified running coach based in New York City, tells SELF that runners should look for a treadmill with at least 3.0 horsepower (HP)., The F85’s motor has a remarkable 4.0 HP (the strongest engine you’ll find in any of Sole’s models), making it a solid pick for anyone who likes to push their tread to the limit.

Our fave features: This machine also has quite a few bells and whistles. There’s a wireless phone charger, a touchscreen that comes preloaded with apps like YouTube and Netflix, and free access to all the Sole+App classes (many of the best treadmill brands charge an extra membership fee for their streaming options). Plus, with upright folding and four wheels, you can move it out of the way after your cooldown.

Best Folding Treadmill: NordicTrack EXP 10i

Pros

• Foldable design
• Stable frame
• Adjustable cushioning
• Lots of workout options through iFit

Cons

• Loud
• Motor is on the weaker side
• WiFi required to access workouts

Why we picked it: Not everyone has enough space at home to have a treadmill unfurled full-time. Fortunately, many of the best treadmills now fold up, and the EXP 10i makes the process of turning your “home gym” back into your bedroom exceptionally easy. With a gas shock, a mechanism that changes the felt weight of the tread, allowing for more gentle and smooth, opens and closes without requiring an additional workout on your part. Wheels on the bottom let you roll it up against a wall or into a closet—though if you’re going up or down stairs, you’ll want to ask for help since the machine clocks in at over 200 pounds.

Our fave features: There are two cool features we absolutely love: If you’re trying to keep your heart rate in zone 2, meaning an easy aerobic effort that allows your body to take in enough oxygen to fuel your workout, you can turn on the ActivePulse tech to have the tread automatically adjust the speed and incline so your heart stays right where you want it. (Worth noting: This feature requires having a particular heart rate band that costs extra). The deck’s cushioning is also adjustable, so you can opt for a more shock-absorbing sesh on recovery days, or match the firmness of running on concrete to get ready for race day. Pretty neat, right?

Just so you know: Although the tester says the frame felt sturdy while she was running and notes that nothing seemed to be shaking, the tread was definitely not quiet: Whenever she changed the incline the gears were downright rowdy.

Best Compact Treadmill: Echelon Fitness Stride-8s

Pros

• Easy-to-navigate touchscreen
• Offers engaging built-in programming
• Quiet

Cons

• Handles feel loose
• Not enough storage space for a large water bottle
• Doesn’t auto-adjust during classes

Why we picked it: Tight on space? Despite having a long 60-inch belt, the Stride-8s’s overall footprint is relatively small at only 66 by 32 inches (most treadmills are closer to 80 inches long). One tester says the wheels on the bottom make it easy to move around the room, and if you’re only using it every once in a while, you can fold it up flat by taking out just two screws. Even though it’s compact and portable, our tester says the frame feels perfectly stable; she only notes that the handles are a little wobbly.

Who it’s for: This machine is a great option for someone who wants their treadmill to supply their workout with instructor-led classes, rather than designing their own routine. “It was hard to find just a quick-start option. It seems like they’re really pushing their programming,” the tester says. Not for nothing, she adds that the classes she tried were engaging and fun, and there were tons of options for every fitness level. She only wishes the treadmill’s speeds and inclines adjusted automatically along with the instructor’s cues, rather than leaving it up to the runner to manually change it up.

Our fave features: Aside from her struggle to find that “quick start,” function, our tester says the Stride-8s is incredibly user-friendly overall. It’s got an easy-to-navigate touchscreen with a readable font (even when you’re hitting your top speeds) and quick-to-respond heart-rate sensors right on the handles. Testers also appreciate the roller balls on the handles that you turn to change the speed or incline—they’re far more intuitive than pressing a button a dozen times to make a big change.

Best Treadmill Under $1,000: ProForm Carbon TLX

Pros

• Responsive, easy-to-use controls
• Good shock-absorption
• Foldable design
• Lots of workout options through iFit

Cons

• Requires a tablet or phone to use programming
• Slow, loud incline adjustments

Why we picked it: If you don’t mind using a tablet or phone to access workouts, this treadmill can save you major cash. Instead of a touchscreen on the console, it’s got a holder for your device and Bluetooth connectivity so you can access iFit classes that auto-adjust your speed and incline. Just know that there’s no charger, so you’ll need to check your battery life before streaming a workout.

Our fave features: The lack of built-in display is really the only notable sacrifice our tester noticed from this more-affordable treadmill option. “It doesn’t look cheap and it doesn’t feel cheap, either,” she says. Other wins include its sturdy design, responsive control buttons, and great traction on the belt. Even the fan is strong; it actually cooled our testers off, unlike other treadmills where this feature sometimes seems like it’s just for show.

Just so you know: If you’re planning to use the Carbon TLX for incline walking or hill repeats, beware that the adjustments are on the slower side. It takes 35 seconds to reach the maximum incline. And while this tread is generally quiet during runs, it creates a bit of a racket when moving up or down.

Best Value Treadmill: BowFlex BXT8J Treadmill

Pros

• Easy-to-use controls
• The brand’s budget-friendly option
• Foldable

Cons

• Not very quiet
• Cushioned deck isn’t super comfortable

Why we picked it: While $1,300 certainly isn’t cheap, the BowFlex BXT8J is the brand’s most budget-friendly treadmill and still includes some impressive features that our testers enjoyed. Two that stand out are an easily adjustable speed and incline, and dual heart rate monitors (one below the console you grip with your hands and a belt that straps around the chest). “I used both and I was impressed with the strap because it automatically picked up my heart rate,” our tester says.

Our fave features: According to our testers, the BXT8J is easy to navigate. “There is a basic monitor on this treadmill and a little control panel below it with arrows for incline and speed. All of it is front and center, so you don’t have to look around for certain features,” she says. This means that you can power up the machine to the full 12 mph speed or 15% incline with very little disruption to your workout.

Just so you know: While this is a cushioned treadmill, our tester didn’t find it to be exceptionally comfy. “It just doesn’t feel like the most comfortable walking surface; there isn’t a lot of bounce back,” she says.

Best Treadmill With Incline: Horizon Fitness 7.4 AT Treadmill

Pros

• Comfortable cushioned deck
• Has a lifetime warranty
• Connects to third-party apps like Peloton and Zwift

Cons

• Doesn’t auto-adjust during workout classes
• Doesn’t auto decline at the end of a workout

Why we picked it: Trail runners, we’ve found your at-home training companion. The Horizon Fitness 7.4 AT cranks up to an impressive 15% incline, mimicking an outdoor run on a hilly path, and it only takes 15 seconds to get there. Our tester even says it’s “the quickest a treadmill has gotten to a full incline of all the treadmills I’ve tested.” Mountain legs, here we come. And you don’t even have to run to reap the benefits. You can just walk up.” One older study from 2013 found that walkers’ heart rates increased by more than 15% on a 7% incline compared to walking on a flat treadmill.

Our fave features: The incline on this machine is just as silent as it is quick. “This is one of the quietest treadmills I’ve ever used,” our tester tells SELF. It also has three-zone deck cushioning—meaning it offers different levels of shock absorption throughout the belt— to absorb your strides’ impact. “[It was] without a doubt, the most cushioned and supportive treadmill I’ve used. There was just no discomfort when using this machine,” our tester says.

Just so you know: This treadmill connects to workout programs, but the machine won’t automatically adjust its speed or incline when you’re using third-party apps. It also won’t decline on its own once you hit the off switch, so you’ll have to reset it to zero at the end of a workout to level the deck.

Best Under Desk Treadmill: WalkingPad A1 Pro

Pros

• Can detect your speed and auto-adjust
• Stands up to heavy use
• No assembly required
• Foldable design

Cons

• Warranty costs extra (starting at $45)
• No incline capability
• Speed maxes out at 3.72 mph

Who it’s for: Not everyone wants a treadmill for running. “Walking treadmills that you use specifically for work-from-home situations [have] been pretty effective for a lot of people [to add in movement to their day],” Ng says. “If you want to mainly use your treadmill for walking, a lower cost, more budget-friendly machine with a lower horsepower and fewer features would be for you.” We particularly suggest this light, portable walking pad. It’s only 62 pounds, compared to the 200-pound weights of full-size treads), and folds up and wheels away for easy storage.

The A1 Pro also gets solid points for durability. One tester says that after about a year-and-a-half of use, just about everything is still working as smoothly as the day she brought it home.

Our fave features: An easy-to-read LED display on the front keeps track of your steps, speed, and distance while you walk. You can change the pace with a remote control or through WalkingPad’s connected KS Fit app on your phone. Or, you can turn on automatic mode so that the deck will sense your foot strikes and speed up or slow down on its own.

Just so you know: The remote conked out after a year, so our tester switched to operating the belt through the app instead, which gets the job done just fine. Also, keep in mind that the A1 Prot sits about 5 inches tall when folded, so if you plan on storing it underneath your couch, make sure you’ll have enough room for it to slide under. Ultimately, if we could change anything, we’d just make the WalkingPad quieter—testers say it feels a little too loud to take a work call when you’re on it.

Best Treadmill for Home Gym: ProForm Pro 9000 Treadmill

Pros

• High-quality touchscreen and built-in speakers
• Foldable design
• Decline capability
• Lots of workout options through iFit

Cons

• Large footprint
• Assembly requires two people
• Subpar customer service

Why we picked it: At almost 6.5 feet long, this big boy is a hefty piece of equipment. But it makes for an excellent home gym machine that’s versatile enough for multiple members of the family to use. Serious runners will appreciate the substantial horsepower and the ability to decline as well as incline. But even those who don’t like running can take advantage of the iFit classes that stream directly from the 22-inch touchscreen with crisp audio coming out of the built-in speakers—yoga, Pilates, and strength-training workouts are available live or on-demand.

Our fave features: You don’t have to be a tech wiz to get the Pro 9000 to work. Our testers say the controls are super easy to navigate, and they especially appreciate the two rows of buttons beneath the touchscreen that allow you to select the exact speed and incline you want—a major bonus if you’re changing things up often during hill repeats or interval workouts.

Just so you know: Our testers’ biggest problem was connecting this treadmill to WiFi, which was a major bummer because that meant they couldn’t access the iFit programming. That’s something to keep in mind if you don’t have a strong internet connection at home—in which case you might consider the ProForm Carbon TLX instead, which uses your own phone or tablet to stream classes. Our “secret shoppers” also found ProForm’s customer service experience frustrating; it had an unhelpful online chat that didn’t answer their questions and instead directed buyers to a general FAQ website.

Best Commercial Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial 2450

Pros

• Quick incline adjustments
• Tilt and pivot touchscreen
• Decline capability
• Foldable design
• Lots of workout options through iFit

Cons

• Loud
• Manual start/stop buttons are not the most responsive
• Difficult to assemble

Why we picked it: Just because this machine has “commercial” in its name doesn’t mean it only works for big box gyms. “Don’t be afraid—’commercial grade’ doesn’t mean you can’t buy it for home,” Ng tells SELF. When you invest in a pro-level machine, you know it’ll be durable enough to stand up to heavy use, and the NordicTrack Commercial has a powerful motor (3.6 CHP) and high weight capacity (400 pounds).

Our fave features: One tester says this tread adjusted from zero to full incline surprisingly quickly, in just 15 seconds. She adds there wasn’t any lag when the speed or incline changed automatically during iFit workouts—the experience was super-smooth. More laudable features: The deck has solid shock absorption, and the high-quality touchscreen turns so you can easily take yoga and strength classes off the tread.

Just so you know: However, this hefty piece of equipment was not designed to be used near a sleeping baby. “I noticed right off the bat from just walking—it is not the quietest treadmill I’ve ever used,” our tester says. We’d suggest placing it away from any bedrooms or thin apartment walls (or opting for a quieter option, like the NordicTrack X22i or Echelon Fitness Stride-8s).

Best Curved Treadmill: Assault Fitness AssaultRunner Pro

Pros

• No electricity required
• Shock-absorbing
• Sturdy
• Unlimited speed capability

Cons

• No storage space for a water bottle or tablet
• Very basic console
• Has wheels, but no folding option

Why we picked it: Not every high-end treadmill is loaded up with techy features. This manual tread from Assault Runner takes a decidedly minimalist approach to indoor running. There’s no touchscreen, pre-programmed workouts, or even a water bottle holder. But it’s got everything you need to get in a tough workout. Since there’s no motor—it only moves in response to your foot strike pulling the belt down from the curved platform—it can literally go as fast as your legs can run. Yes, you’re the one powering the machine, and that takes extra effort. One 2017 study found that manual treadmills raise the heart rate and oxygen consumption more than motorized treads or outdoor running at the same pace (particularly among lighter runners).

Our fave features: Our tests showed the AssaultRunner Pro is durable enough for heavy running, and has solid shock-absorption to ease your aches even when you rack up the miles.

Just so you know: If you’ve never run on a manual treadmill before, just know that you’ll want to give yourself extra time to get used to it. Our testers found that it took some practice to figure out exactly where to land on the belt to get it to rotate smoothly.

How the best treadmills compare

Other treadmills we’ve tried

Sole Fitness F63

Ng tells SELF Sole often comes up when he’s talking to runners about their favorite treadmills. “A lot of people like the brand,” he says. The F63 makes it easy to see why. This durable workhorse might seem basic with no touch screen or interactive classes, but if you’re looking for the best deals on treadmills and don’t want to fuss with fancy extras like WiFi connectivity or decline capabilities, it’s a solid option that requires no learning curve—you just hop on and run.

NordicTrack X22i Treadmill

The X22i is a force to be reckoned with, capable of a whopping 40% incline, rising more than twice as high as your standard treadmill. That’s not to mention its impressive 6% decline capability. This high-end machine is also as sturdy as your quads will be once you start using it. It boasts a mighty 4.0 horsepower motor and can accommodate users up to 400 pounds. Whether the deck was tilted up or down, our testers didn’t notice anything shaking, making them feel like they could really push as hard as they wanted.

Other treadmills we recommend

We believe the treadmills on this list really are best in class. However, we also get that you might want options catered to your unique fitness intentions and lifestyle. Check out the pages below for machines we recommend with more specific needs in mind.

• Best folding treadmills
• Best smart treadmills
• Best treadmills for walking
• Best treadmills on Amazon

How to find a treadmill that works for you

A treadmill is generally a significant investment (even the budget-friendlier models will cost a couple hundred bucks), and it’ll also take up some space as the newest tenant in your home. To get an idea of how much it makes sense to spend and what features you really need, Ng suggests asking yourself what your goals are.

Regardless of your personal intentions, though, you want to make sure the tread allows you to move freely while you’re running. It should have a long enough belt to accommodate your stride (at least 55 inches), and a suitable weight capacity. Ng adds that treadmills have varying levels of cushion, so before making the investment, he recommends bringing your running shoes to a showroom or buying a day pass to a gym where you can try out the treadmill to see how it feels under your feet.

From there, you can prioritize getting a machine with specs that fit your needs.

For general use

If you’re looking to get a solid cardio workout at home, Louis Serafini, a running coach and general manager at the running app Runna, suggests looking for an easy-to-use interface and space-saving design, like a smaller footprint or foldable construction. You should be able to find one that checks these boxes without costing a small fortune, he says.

For race training

But if you’re training for a big race, you might need to get pickier. You’ll want to look for models with a higher horsepower (at least 3.0), an incline range that somewhat resembles the course you’ll be running, and a max speed that can handle your sprint workouts. And if you plan to run longer than an hour, Ng says to make sure the machine doesn’t have a 60-minute time limit before it shuts off.

Types of treadmills

If you still feel lost in a sea of options, narrow things down by deciding which type of treadmill is right for your space, budget, and workout style

Smart treadmills

These luxury treads offer high-tech features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, with large HD touchscreens to stream workout classes and easy syncing to your Apple Watch or Android devices. “[Running on a] treadmill can be a little boring,” Felsenthal admits. If you’re concerned that a lack of motivation might keep you from actually using the machine, she suggests looking for a smart treadmill that offers pre-recorded routes or interactive workouts. Just know these machines are often priced to match their premium features.

Folding treadmills

Many of the best treadmills for home-use come with space-saving designs, like the option to fold the deck up toward the console and handlebars. Most folding treadmills also have wheels for easy portability, which comes in handy for anyone without enough room in their home to dedicate to a treadmill full-time.

Commercial treadmills

A commercial treadmill is a high-caliber machine created for a commercial gym. Essentially, they’re designed to handle a lot of traffic. Commercial treads tend to have a larger footprint and don’t always have folding options. While you can definitely get one to use at home, Dianne Clemente, equipment and projects manager at Crunch, tells SELF that these machines sometimes need a high-voltage outlet.

Manual treadmills

With manual treadmills, the runner’s stride causes the belt to move. “You’re basically the only one that is going to be pulling that belt back,” Ng says. “There is absolutely no motor to it.” That means these machines don’t need to be plugged in and can eventually feel more natural to run on, but they also make runs harder and can be tricky to maneuver. “I would leave those for more advanced runners,” Ng says.

Under-desk treadmills

These are your work-from-home ticket to a higher step count. Also called walking pads, they typically have lower horsepower and max speeds since they’re not designed for running. That also means they’re usually more affordable than your average full-size treadmill.

How we test treadmills

It’s impossible to judge a treadmill’s quality just by how it looks or what the marketing materials “promises.” To make sure we recommend the absolute best treadmills for home, our team of testers hops on popular treadmills to try them out firsthand so that you don’t have to. For a detailed breakdown of everything we consider, check out our full fitness-testing methodology. In the meantime, here are three treadmill-specific qualities our testers keep in mind as they log mile after mile:

Durability and ergonomics

The only treads that make our cut have a strong motor and a weight capacity of at least 300 pounds. We also pay attention to how much shock absorption we feel under our feet, if the belt is long enough to feel safe when we open up our stride, and whether the frame shakes so much it causes an earthquake when we hit top speeds.

Features and programming

We get it: Using a treadmill is not always the most scintillating activity. So we check out the workout classes and other programs each machine offers, scoring how user-friendly and engaging they are. We also test to see how well tech like Bluetooth and WiFi connections and auto-adjust features actually work in practice.

Speed and incline

Waiting ages for a tread to adjust can seriously mess with a workout. So, in addition to looking for speed and incline capabilities that can accommodate a range of runners, our testers time exactly how long it takes to go from zero to full incline, and we monitor whether there’s any lag in the auto-adjustments made during classes.

Treadmill safety tips

Treadmills are a great tool for reaching your fitness goals, but they can also set you up to be untied shoelace away from an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction (or other serious injury). Trainers have several tips for staying safe on the machines.

Choose the right spot for your treadmill

We’re guessing your idea of fun doesn’t include hitting your head on the ceiling or getting catapulted into a wall behind you. So, make sure you set up your treadmill in a space that accommodates both the machine and the extra room your body will need while running on it. “You should be able to run on a high incline with several inches of clearance between your head and the ceiling because you do bounce up and down slightly while running,” says Norris. “Likewise, you should have clearance behind you, just in case you fall off the back of the belt.”

Match workouts to your fitness level

If you don’t run a six-minute mile off the treadmill, don’t expect that you’ll immediately be able to sustain a speed level of 10. “You are more likely to injure yourself on the treadmill if you are running too fast for your fitness,” Norris says. To save you from potential muscle strain and even falls, Felsenthal suggests you “ramp up the speed slowly, and while doing so, hold onto the sides of the treadmill for support.” If you’re feeling unstable or like you’re just out of gas, “you can always hop off on the sides,” she adds.

Store it safely

Treadmill safety concerns extend to those times when you’re not using your machine. If you’re using a folding function, making sure that it’s locked in place can save you from a jump scare due to your heavy treadmill abruptly popping up or unfurling.

And while the safety key (sometimes called a clip) on a treadmill can be helpful to save you from a fall (they immediately brake the machine when pulled), they can double as a choking hazard to small children. If your space allows, storing your treadmill in a locked room can keep kids from getting curious about it in the first place.

Treadmill care and maintenance

According to some manufacturers, if you leave a treadmill in a garage or outside where the temperature dips below freezing or the humid air soaks into the machinery, it will stop functioning properly. Sure, it might seem more convenient to stash it out there than in your living room, but beware that most warranties will be voided if you do.

Wherever you keep your treadmill, know that you will need to give it some love every once in a while to keep it running smoothly. “The belts need lubricants every now and then, depending on how much they’re used,” Clemente says. (Check out the user manual to see what kind of lubricant is best for your model and the recommended time between grease-ups.) NordicTrack recommends wiping the sweat off after each workout so the moisture doesn’t damage the electrical components, and doing a deeper cleaning with a damp cloth and vacuum once a month to avoid any corrosion.

Also, anytime you feel like the belt is slipping a little, that’s a sign the hardware needs to be tightened. Dig out that user manual to find out how.

FAQs

TL;DR? We get that sometimes you just want fast facts to help you make a quick choice. To summarize some of the most important info about picking the best treadmill, we’ve shared some of the most frequently asked questions; if you skip everything else, read this:

What is the best treadmill to use at home?

We choose the ProForm Pro 9000 treadmill as the best treadmill for home gyms thanks to its powerful motor, nice range of incline options, and massive HD touchscreen that connects to iFit so you can stream workout classes in a bunch of different modalities. And even though it’s a high-caliber commercial-grade machine, it folds up so it doesn’t completely take over your living space.

What is the best treadmill brand?

Ng says that both NordicTrack and Sole stand out as two of the best treadmill brands. They both offer durable treads with strong horsepower, good incline capabilities, and useful details like water bottle holders and spots for a tablet or phone.

Is a cheap treadmill worth it?

If you buy a cheap treadmill, you might find the machine lacks power, durability, or the features that you’d want for a long run or complicated workout. But that might be okay if having a tread in your home makes it easy to run on days you would otherwise skip a workout. “It serves the purpose,” Felsenthal tells SELF. “If you don’t have the time to run outside, I’ve had people just get even a half hour done [on a treadmill].” Everyone has their own personal goals when they hop on a treadmill, and even a cheap machine will allow you to log a solid fitness sesh.

What is better: a treadmill or an elliptical?

While both treadmills and ellipticals can give you an aerobic workout, they do so in two very different ways. Which is best for you comes down to your goals, preferences, and what your body can handle. As SELF previously reported, an elliptical lets you move in one smooth, joint-friendly motion that avoids any of the pounding your joints get with each stride while running. That’s why Ng recommends them to athletes who have pain or discomfort when running. Yet Felsenthal points out that if you’re trying to become a better runner, and you can run without pain, you “could benefit from a treadmill a lot more.” It challenges the specific muscles required to run—like the calves and glutes—and typically, treads have more options to adjust the speed and incline to get in a harder workout.

How long do treadmills last?

Clemente says a quality treadmill can last 10 to 15 years, if you take care of it. Though that lifespan can be a double-edged sword. “They’re still working, they’re running, and they actually still look like they’re in good condition,” she says. “But they may not have all the newest [features] like digital screens.” Know that when you get a treadmill, you’re making a commitment for the long run.