The 9 Greatest Treadmills for Runners in 2024

Simply so you realize: The tread folds up, so you may get again some flooring area if you’re not utilizing it, however our tester says the Horizon 7.4AT isn’t compact sufficient to retailer underneath furnishings.

Greatest Compact Treadmill for Runners: Echelon Health Stride 6s-10

Execs

• Foldable and comes with horizontal and vertical transport wheels
• Massive tread deck when in comparison with general footprint
• Can simply combine with common apps like Strava and Apple Well being
• Can play music by means of built-in audio system by way of Bluetooth
• Shortly modifications pace

Cons

• Some may discover the 10-inch touchscreen too small
• At $1,900, on the upper finish of treadmill prices
• Much less cushioned, which can be tougher on joints

Why we picked it: Thomson notes that along with the usual options you’d anticipate from an excellent treadmill for runners (like stability, pace choices, and an extended belt), the Echelon Health Stride 6s-10 consists of extras that make for a extra elite efficiency. As an illustration, it has a built-in coronary heart charge monitor “to be sure you’re staying within the [targeted] zone,” he says.

Our fave options: With a 20.5” by 60” tread belt, customers could have a big floor to run on—but the general footprint of this treadmill is surprisingly small.. Our testers additionally preferred the tread’s high-tech options, reminiscent of built-in audio system that join with Bluetooth, straightforward integration with common apps like Apple Well being and Strava, and a touchscreen show. (It additionally connects with the Echelon Match app, which begins at $12 monthly.)

Simply so you realize: Our testers didn’t discover the Echelon fairly as well-cushioned as different treadmills in the marketplace. (That’s not at all times a foul factor: Thomson says he really prefers a treadmill with much less cushioning as a result of it’s extra just like the expertise of out of doors operating.) However if you happen to’re operating on a treadmill in an effort to go simpler in your joints, this will not be the machine for you. A few of our testers additionally discovered the display a bit of onerous to see whereas figuring out.

Greatest Industrial Treadmill for Runners: Life Health RunCX

Execs

• Excessive consumer weight capability
• Excessive incline max at 15%
• Huge tread belt

Cons

• Costliest possibility on the checklist
• Heavy at 339 kilos
• Doesn’t fold

Why we picked it: Sure, the Life Health RunCX is pricey, nevertheless it’s additionally designed to face as much as long-term use, like one you’d discover at a business fitness center. It has a excessive weight capability (400 kilos), a excessive incline share (15%) for super-tough exercises, and one of many largest operating surfaces obtainable in the marketplace.

Our fave options: This treadmill accommodates runners of many sizes, stride lengths, and ages because of its huge tread belt and shock- absorbing deck. Its Bluetooth capabilities permit for simple pairing with many mainstream smartwatches and telephones. Whereas it doesn’t include a built-in display for streaming lessons, the RunCX does have a show (for exercise metrics like pace and incline) and a device-holder that’ll work for an iPad or telephone.

Simply so you realize: The hefty price ticket is likely to be a deterrent, however Life Health does provide financing choices to melt the blow. It’s additionally value noting that this machine is heavy, at 339 kilos, and it doesn’t fold, so if you wish to transfer it to a brand new location you’ll need assistance.

What runners ought to search for when purchasing for a treadmill

Not each runner has the identical wants from a treadmill. As an illustration, of us trying to ease their joint ache may want a super-cushioned belt, whereas runners with lengthy strides may want extra room for every step. Under, specialists break down the important thing elements one of the best treadmills for runners share—and you may decide and select from there which options to prioritize for your self.

Price

Any manner you chop it, a treadmill is an funding. Decrease-cost treadmills—beginning at about $500— can completely examine off lots of the containers runners search for (like huge pace ranges and a cushioned deck). However if you happen to’re searching for options like responsive touchscreens, app-pairing means, and decline choices, you need to put together to spend extra; high-end machines could be north of $2,000.

Stability

Working on a shaky treadmill could be annoying at finest and scary at worst (howdy, slips and falls), which explains why Thomson says he prioritizes “stability and firmness to the deck” when evaluating treads. Treadmill runners can even need to prioritize machines which have a secure belt to keep away from sliding round in addition to a belt that’s lengthy sufficient and huge sufficient to accommodate their stride.

Pace

If you happen to’re operating on a treadmill—significantly for interval coaching or sprints—the machine’s pace functionality will likely be a key precedence. Past simply the utmost mileage per hour, it might be essential to notice how rapidly a tread can modify to hurry modifications; when interval coaching (the place each second counts), as an illustration, lengthy lags can mess along with your exercise movement.

Cushion

As Thomson sees it, one of many largest advantages of treadmill operating (in comparison with operating on pavement) is much less impression on the joints. And cushioned treadmills improve that shock absorption much more.

For that reason, our testers paid particular consideration to how cushioned a treadmill felt, and the way the foot strike in contrast with operating or strolling exterior. Whereas it might be onerous to know precisely how shock-absorbing a treadmill is with out making an attempt it out your self, you’ll be able to maintain an eye fixed out for point out of impact-breaking supplies reminiscent of ProForm’s ProShox cushioning.

Incline and decline choices

An incredible treadmill for runners ought to have the ability to mimic the sorts of terrain you may encounter within the outside, April Gatlin, an American Council on Train (ACE)-certified private coach based mostly in Chicago, tells SELF. “Outdoors of mirroring the out of doors expertise, it helps so as to add incline to help in constructing the posterior chain of the physique [the lumbar, hamstrings, gluteals, extensors, and calves] to strengthen towards muscular imbalance.”

Based on Thomson, a 12% incline is an efficient benchmark that runners ought to search for in a treadmill. A lot of the choices on our checklist do hit that 12% mark, and a few go even larger (hello, Life Health RunCX and Horizon 7.4AT), and a few provide decline choices too.

Motor

One other issue to contemplate when shopping for a treadmill is its motor—and the extra severe of a runner you’re, the stronger the motor you’ll need in your machine. Kai Ng, a USA Observe & Area (USATF)– and RRCA–licensed operating coach based mostly in New York Metropolis, beforehand informed SELF that runners ought to search for a treadmill with at the very least 3.0 horsepower (HP).

Noise and portability

If you happen to’re dwelling in a smaller area or share your private home with individuals who is likely to be disturbed by a loud treadmill, these elements could be further essential. Gatlin means that before you purchase a treadmill, you need to ask: “How a lot noise does the treadmill make when in use? Is it area environment friendly, or can it simply be saved?” she says.

How we examined these treadmills

To ensure we solely advocate the perfect treadmills, our skilled testers run on them to make sure they maintain as much as onerous exercises. For extra particulars, you’ll be able to check out our full fitness-equipment-testing methodology, however listed here are the principle elements our testers thought-about when evaluating one of the best treadmills for runners:

Sturdiness, steadiness, and shock absorption

While you’re operating on a treadmill, steadiness is essential. Whereas operating and strolling on these treadmills in 15- to 20-minute classes, our testers paid explicit consideration to how regular and sturdy every treadmill felt, in addition to what the shock absorption was like (i.e., how a lot you felt every foot strike in your legs and knees). To attain for sturdiness, our testers think about the next questions on every tread: