11 Best Treadmills in 2024, According to Running Experts

Best Budget Treadmill

• Pros: Relatively affordable, beginner-friendly, simple design
• Cons: Limited workout programs

“This no-frills treadmill is excellent for beginners, but even the most avid runners can find something to like about it,” Garret Seacat, CSCS, head coach of Absolute Endurance in Manhattan, Kansas, previously told SELF. With its more limited (but still practical) speed and incline range, classic folding mechanism, and handful of preprogrammed workouts, the Horizon T101 checks those aforementioned essential boxes, at a competitive price point.

• Membership and app options: N/A | Max speed: 10 mph | Max incline: 10% | Max decline: 0% | Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Belt length: 55 inches | Folding options: upright

Best Budget Smart Treadmill

• Pros: Relatively affordable for a smart treadmill, streaming classes available through Echelon membership, very easy to fold
• Cons: Very heavy (according to reviewers)

If you want a tread with higher-tech features like live and on-demand classes, Bluetooth connectivity, and a large touchscreen display but want to avoid dropping thousands of dollars, check out the Echelon Stride-S folding treadmill, which won a 2023 SELF Home Fitness Award in part for its slightly more accessible cost. Our tester was also impressed by its impact-absorbing running deck and exceedingly easy storage system: It folds easily when you press the lever at its base—all you have to do is push down the handrails and lift it into a standing position.

• Membership and app options: Compatible with the Echelon Premier Membership, which costs $40 per month on a monthly plan | Max speed: 12 mph | Max incline: 12% | Max decline: 0% | Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Belt length: 55 inches | Folding options: upright

Best for Everyday Runs

• Pros: Durable, reliable performance, streaming platforms compatible with display
• Cons: Some reviewers report difficulties with the SOLE+ app

For regular runners who prioritize reliability over high-tech add-ons, the Sole F80 treadmill is a great fit. Kaitlin Gregg Goodman, pro runner and head coach at Running Joyfully, tells SELF that she chose this model for her own home gym because of its generous warranty and sturdy design that allows for speedy paces: “It’s been a great investment.”

While it doesn’t offer on-demand or live classes, the F80 comes with 11 preset running programs and can connect to WiFi or Bluetooth to play your favorite workout playlist through its speakers. Plus, its display can link up with a range of streaming video apps like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

• Membership and app options: Compatible with the SOLE+ app, which records and summarizes the user’s workout history and tracks their progress | Max speed: 12 mph | Max incline: 15% | Max decline: 0% | Weight capacity: 350 pounds | Belt length: 60 inches | Folding options: upright

Best for Walking

• Pros: Good for small spaces, comfortable, budget-friendly
• Cons: Low weight capacity, incline must be adjusted manually

This SELF Home Fitness Award–winning compact treadmill has a supportive cushioned deck that our testers enjoyed using for walking (the tablet holder makes it easy to read or stream shows at the same time). That said, it can also be used for jogs or even casual runs thanks to its top speed. We also liked Sunny Health & Fitness’s SF-T4400 model for its ability to be stored vertically, heart-rate-monitor-equipped handlebars, three incline options, simple LCD display, and nine workout programs.

• Membership and app options: Compatible with the SunnyFit app via Bluetooth | Max speed: 9 mph | Max incline: 4.37% | Max decline: 0% | Weight capacity: 220 pounds | Belt length: 49 inches | Folding options: upright

Best for Classes

• Pros: Excellent training program options, in-depth metrics, easy to use
• Cons: Doesn’t fold, heavy

Much like Peloton’s cult-favorite Bike, the SELF Certified and Home Fitness Award–winning Tread provides an immersive, studio-style experience right at home. One of our testers wrote that it was easy to set up and start using, it’s relatively quiet, and its in-depth stat-tracking is truly impressive. The Tread records your speed, heart rate, pace, and distance—plus it notes the timeline of your runs (including your warm-up and cooldown periods) and your personal milestones.

Amanda Nurse, an elite runner and founder of Wellness in Motion Run Coaching in Boston, tells SELF that the Peloton Tread’s offerings (arguably the brand’s claim to fame) are “top-notch,” with options that range from cross-training classes to long runs with scenic onscreen views. And, over time, Peloton’s corresponding app will learn your preferences and offer more personalized recommendations for workouts and trainers.

• Membership and app options: A Peloton All-Access membership costs $44 per month and is required to use the Tread and stream classes | Max speed: 12.5 mph | Max incline: 12.5% | Max decline: 0% | Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Belt length: 59 inches | Folding options: N/A

Best for Hill Training

• Pros: High incline capability, large display
• Cons: Pricey, doesn’t fold

The NordicTrack X32i smart treadmill is a favorite of Richardson’s for hill training, specifically. It has a much wider incline range than other machines on our list, maxing out at a whopping 40 degrees. This feature also means the machine is well-suited to hikers preparing for a rigorous trek. You can change the tread’s incline manually or enjoy automatic adjustments during iFit classes. Another maximalist feature worth noting is this treadmill’s 32-inch HD touchscreen. It’ll help you feel immersed in the nature scenes onscreen and better follow along with off-tread workouts like yoga and strength training (also available through iFit).

• Membership and app options: Comes with a free 30-day iFit trial membership | Max speed: 12 mph | Max incline: 40% | Max decline: -6% | Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Belt length: 65 inches | Folding options: N/A

Best for Interval Training

• Pros: Easily adjustable settings, responsive performance
• Cons: Doesn’t fold

Emma Graves, NASM-CPT, instructor and trainer at Life Time River North in Chicago, tells SELF that Technogym’s MyRun treadmill is easily her top pick for coaching, generally, and interval training, specifically: “I most appreciate the quickness at which the treadmills change speeds, as [our classes] have sprint intervals as short as 15 seconds.” The console features two paddle-like dials to control the machine’s speed and incline, so you can adjust with a quick tap. Technogym’s 2022 SELF Home Fitness Award–winning machine runs so reliably and transitions between speeds so smoothly that her class participants never have to worry about losing their rhythm when they adjust the pace.

• Membership and app options: It’s compatible with the Technogym Live app as well as third party apps like Zwift and Rouvy. Just connect your tablet to the treadmill via Bluetooth to load your app of choice | Max speed: 12 mph | Max incline: 12% | Max decline: 0% | Weight capacity: 309 pounds | Belt length: 56 inches | Folding options: N/A

Best Splurge

• Pros: Bouncy ride, unique cushioning, customizable workouts
• Cons: Very expensive

Multiple running coaches recommended Woodways, which use running decks made of segmented slats instead of conventional treadmill belts. This unique feature creates a bouncy, springy ride which “helps reduce shock to the joints, and, in my experience, mimics most closely the feel of outdoor running,” Yusuf Jeffers, NASM-CPT, a USA Track & Field (USATF)–certified coach at Tone House and Mile High Run Club in New York City, tells SELF.

The SELF Home Fitness Award–winning 4Front, specifically, topped experts’ lists. “I’ve been running on this Woodway for almost a decade and I can say it’s hands down the best treadmill on the market,” Lindsey Clayton, a certified running coach, instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp, and cofounder of Brave Body Project, tells SELF. “You can feel the difference when you run on it compared to your standard flat belt treadmill.”

While 4Front’s exceptional ride is its star feature, it also comes with a streamlined display that tracks performance metrics like heart rate, speed, pace, and distance. Plus you can create your own custom workouts and save them on the machine’s console, so they’re ready to load the next time you lace up.

• Membership and app options: N/A | Max speed: 12.5 mph | Max incline: 15% | Max decline: 0% | Weight capacity: 400 pounds | Belt length: 68 inches | Folding options: N/A

Best Under-Desk Treadmill

• Pros: Space-saving design, can store under furniture
• Cons: Low weight capacity, limited functionality

Sydney Bueckert, NASM-CPT, lead in-house fitness instructor at Sunny Health & Fitness in California, previously recommended the Walkstation to SELF for its portability and compact size. It’s the perfect little walking treadmill to slide under your standing desk or roll out when you’re in the mood for a low-impact workout. Just bear in mind that it has a limited speed range, so it’s strictly meant for strolling.

• Membership and app options: N/A | Max speed: 3.75 mph | Max incline: N/A | Max decline: N/A | Weight capacity: 220 pounds | Belt length: 39 inches | Folding options: flat