The decision to buy a treadmill for your home is a big one—one that you will likely be living with for a while. Knowing what are the best treadmills based on your personal needs is imperative. With so many different treadmills at so many different price points on the market, knowing how to pick a treadmill can seem like an overwhelming task. We at Rubber-Cal want to make this decision easier for you. That’s why we have compiled a list of our five top treadmills of 2022-2023. In making this list, we referenced prices, customer treadmill reviews, and brand websites. Importantly, the five treadmills we chose are each in different price ranges. Thus, the order of this list reflects only an order of increasing price ranges. Below is our list of the best treadmills at five different price points.
1. Under $200: The Anwick Home Foldable Treadmill
For under $200, the Anwick Home Foldable Treadmill is honestly a steal. While it is very inexpensive relative to other companies’ treadmills, this product still features the main functions that are part and parcel of a working treadmill. For example, it has a multifunctional LED display, giving you the core data you need to track your gains. Furthermore, this treadmill is also foldable, which means that you can reduce its size for easy storage. This function is ideal for those who live in smaller homes where interior space is scarce. According to Amazon treadmill reviews, the Anwick Home Foldable Treadmill is also very easy to install—oftentimes taking under an hour, all told. The main problem with this machine, however, is that it makes treadmill noise. While this can seem like an insurmountable problem, it is actually quite simple to solve. Plus, all treadmills make noise—no matter how expensive. It is just a matter of installing a rubber exercise mat beneath your treadmill; doing this will dampen the noise your treadmill makes, giving you a comfortable, quieter running experience.
2. $200-$400: The Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Incline Treadmill
For just under $400, we have the Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Incline Treadmill. In the $200-$400 price range, you will find treadmills whose builds are of slightly higher quality and whose functions offer more perks to its user. We think that the Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Incline Treadmill is the best product in this price range because, while doing everything the Anwick treadmill does, this product also offers adjustable incline, pulse sensors, and a device holder. Not to mention, this one has a sleeker, more aesthetically pleasing design, too. Like the Anwick treadmill, this treadmill is foldable. Thus, those of you who cannot afford to sacrifice interior space for a treadmill would still be happy with this product. Nonetheless, according to Amazon treadmill reviews, like other treadmills, this treadmill can be noisy. To avoid this issue, simply install a rubber exercise mat beneath your treadmill. That way, treadmill vibration will be absorbed, drastically reducing the amount of noise your treadmill makes.
3. $400-$600: The RUNOW Folding Treadmill
Around the $400-$600 price range is when you will begin to see improvements in aspects like structural design and program quality. For example, the RUNOW Folding Treadmill, unlike its two previous counterparts in our list, features a full-fledged 18-inch LED screen, a luxury that lower-priced treadmills simply cannot afford. Furthermore, speed controls are located at more convenient places like on the handlebars—so you will not need to completely stop your workout to increase its intensity. While features like these are not necessary to a good workout, there is an argument to be made that they enhance how enjoyable working out can be—which, in the long run, makes for better exercise. Furthermore, the way this treadmill folds shows more consideration to the user’s lifestyle. It can be partially folded to just consume half of its original floor space. As well, it has wheels—so if you really want to put it away, you can. With a treadmill like this—as most Amazon treadmill reviews agree—the only thing that you really have to watch for is treadmill noise. Again, treadmill sound is ubiquitous across all treadmills, so this should not be a deal breaker; use a rubber exercise mat to stifle any noise coming from the treadmill.
4. $600-$1000: The LifePro Folding Treadmill
The $600-$1000 range is when you will start to see drastic improvements in the systems that previous treadmills offer. While in this range are options like the NordicTrack T Series (a great product), we think that the LifePro Folding Treadmill—for a small price increase—is one of the best treadmills for home use. Both options include built-in speakers, offer training programs and Bluetooth connection, and are capable of motorized folding. But, what sets the LifePro Folding Treadmill apart is that LifePro guarantees a lifetime warranty for its product. That itself is worth the extra $200. In the short term, you will be just as satisfied with the NordicTrack T Series—that much is true. However, over the course of your lifetime—as you continue to run and wear down your treadmill—the replacement costs associated with a treadmill that does not have a lifetime warranty can double or triple your initial investment costs. Thus, in the long run, by choosing the product with a lifetime warranty (the LifePro Folding Treadmill), you are doing yourself a favorable service. Furthermore, according to Amazon treadmill reviews, this treadmill is significantly less noisy than other treadmills. However, as some have admitted, without a rubber exercise mat install beneath it, treadmill noise is still a problem. Like the other treadmills on this list, the LifePro Folding Treadmill would still like to see rubber matting used beneath it. Unfortunately, there is no absolutely quiet treadmill.
5. Over $1000: The NordicTrack 1750 Treadmill
The last category on our list is the over-$1000 price range. At this level, knowing what is the best treadmill is difficult. One thing, at least, is clear: You are paying for luxury—these treadmills can be worth it depending on your situation. Now, you might be wondering: How much is a treadmill in this price range? We’ve seen ones that go for as much as $3000. Thankfully though, the one we think is most worth your money is the NordicTrack 1750 Treadmill—a treadmill from a company that has dominated the high-end treadmill market in recent years. It is for good reason, too. The programs that this treadmill offers are endless and well-designed. Through the LED touchscreen, coaching programs are streamed to you as you run. What’s more, these programs automatically adjust the speed and inclination at which your treadmill is set, imitating the real-world conditions of a run through the Spanish alps. According to Amazon treadmill reviews, however, the programs that are the central selling point of this product aren’t included with the product. That is, this treadmill requires you to pay a yearly subscription to access its training programs. This is a deal breaker for many consumers who find it ridiculous to pay for a product beyond its up-front price. Fair enough. Yet, if you are willing to spend the extra thousand for a top-of-the-line treadmill, the extra money going toward the subscription shouldn’t seem that bad. After all, how much a product costs is relative—it depends on the buyer’s circumstances, not on the flat cost of the product. Nevertheless, even with the NordicTrack 1750 Treadmill, you will still have to deal with treadmill vibration and the consequent treadmill noise. A rubber exercise mat is a must when it comes to any treadmill—not just this one. Besides, if your home gym isn’t equipped with rubber flooring, then that should likely be your first priority. Rubber flooring should be installed under any exercise equipment, not just treadmills.
Summary: What’s the Best Treadmill on the Market?
What’s the best treadmill on the market? There is no one best treadmill for home use—the best treadmill for you depends on your budget. If you can afford to splurge over $1000 on a treadmill, then the NordicTrack 1750 Treadmill is your best bet. The features that this product comes equipped with are world-class. It truly is something to behold. But, for practical purposes, less expensive treadmills get the job done all the same. At the lower end of the price ranges, you have plenty of options. Many are foldable and offer the same basic functions that something like the NordicTrack 1750 Treadmills offers. As we’ve mentioned, you do not need an expensive treadmill to get a good workout. Expensive treadmills tend to increase to enjoyability of the workout and not the quality of the workout itself. When it comes to workout quality—especially the quality of your cardiovascular exercises—the onus rests mainly on you.
Again, we compiled this list based on certain factors: prices, Amazon treadmill reviews, and brand websites. Using prices, we categorized each treadmill into a certain group. Amazon treadmill reviews gave us windows into the subjective experience of using each product—data which is often underutilized. Finally, looking at the websites of the best treadmill brands gave us the objective qualities that each treadmill advertised. Combining these objective qualities with users’ subjective experiences lent us the holistic perspective with which we offer you, dearest readers, a guide to buying your next treadmill. Just don’t forget the rubber mats.