The 9 Best Treadmills
Where Can You Find the Best Treadmills?
With so many people dropping their gym memberships and turning to home fitness, it's no surprise that these popular cardio machines have seen a dramatic rise in popularity. You may have even tried to shop for one, only to find that they're out of stock - indefinitely! Fortunately, there are several online retailers that have managed to keep up with demand on all types of treadmills, from budget models with the most basic features to the high-tech equipment with all the bells and whistles.
If you're buying a treadmill for the first time, you might feel a little lost as to what to look for. Your first consideration might be your budget, so keep in mind that you can get decent, entry-level treadmills for under $750. If money is no object, decide which features matter the most to you. For example, do you want the biggest variety of workouts? In that case, look for treadmills that have a wide range of incline settings: most machines with an incline will give you up to 15%, but some go as high as 40%!
Wednesday, December 8th
2021 Treadmill Reviews
Xterra
Xterra treadmills are made for just about everyone, from first-time home exercisers on a budget to joggers who want to sync their treadmill with their favorite fitness apps. This retailer has one of the widest selections of machines on the market, solid return policies and warranty coverage, and a strong reputation for providing good treadmills at impressive prices. The market for treadmills is very competitive, and Xterra manages to edge out its rivals for a first-place ranking.
Proform
Affordability, high-tech features, and a great reputation: what more could you want from a company that sells treadmills? ProForm gives you all of that and then some. Each machine they offer comes with a one-year membership to iFit's on-demand and live workouts, and you'll get a lot for your money with any of the five treadmills they sell. There's even one that folds up flat enough to fit under your bed! This is one of the best stores to shop for your treadmill.
Nordictrack
NordicTrack is one of the best places to get a treadmill. All of the models they sell come with a one-year membership to iFit, an award-winning fitness-on-demand platform, plus plenty of other features that make them one of the most popular brands on the market. For treadmills with great warranty coverage, up to 40% incline, and excellent longevity, look no further than NordicTrack.
Horizon
Horizon Fitness has been around for a long time, and you'll be impressed with their fully-featured-yet-affordable treadmill selection. Half of their machines are designed to respond instantly to changes in incline or speed, and they work very easily with your favorite on-demand or live fitness apps. But, with an alert from the BBB due to the company's more recent failures in keeping up with demand and responding to customer issues, Horizon Fitness stays in the middle of our rankings for now.
Bowflex
Bowflex isn't just for strength workouts anymore. Their selection of treadmills is small (just two models) but both have a nice set of features for a reasonable price - including integration with the JRNY app and a free two-month subscription with your purchase. Almost every other aspect of the Bowflex treadmill experience is "good enough" , from warranty coverage to return policy and customer feedback. You won't be wowed by what you find here, but you probably won't be disappointed either.
Peloton
Peloton is probably the first name that comes to mind when you think about getting live coached workouts on a treadmill (or bike, their original product). Is it the best option? Looking at Peloton's higher-than-average pricing, more limited-than-most warranty coverage, and extensive issues with delays in shipping and post-purchase service, you may find yourself considering higher-ranked companies for your purchase.
Precor
Precor enjoys a longstanding reputation among users of cardio equipment. Their treadmills can be found in many workout centers and home gyms, and the warranty coverage is better than most. On the downside, you'll get very few high-tech features with a Precor treadmill, despite having some of the highest prices in the industry.
Life Fitness
LifeFitness is a well-known brand of treadmills, often spotted at gyms around the world and known for being extremely sturdy over years of use. You'll find their machines have a much steeper price tag than most retailers', but without significant benefits to match. Factor in high shipping fees and delivery times ranging from 6-12 weeks, and you'll soon understand why LifeFitness treadmills come in low in our rankings.
Sole Fitness
SOLE Fitness used to be our first-place winner among retailers of treadmills. Unfortunately, their reputation in recent months has sharply declined - reflected by an "F" rating from the BBB, numerous complaints about missing deliveries and an AWOL customer service team. You'll have a better experience if you buy your treadmill somewhere else.
Continued from above...
One of today's most sought-after features in the home fitness world is the ability to access live workouts. This is a fantastic substitute for expensive boutique gym classes or even your average fitness center workout: take classes with top trainers from around the world, compete with other people on a live leaderboard, or access pre-recorded workouts (not just for the treadmill, but also for strength, yoga, and much more). Not every treadmill has that capability built in: you might have to prop up your tablet or smartphone on the machine's console and use a third-party app to get it done.
As you decide which type of treadmill you want and where to buy it, here are several additional factors to keep in mind:
- Availability. Does the retailer have treadmills in stock for immediate shipment? If not, how long is the wait time to get your machine delivered?
- Treadmill Features. If you need a machine with specific capabilities, like decline settings or Bluetooth connectivity, does the store offer something that works? Be sure to consider other features like folding vs. non-folding models, user weight capacity, room space requirements (especially if you're choosing a treadmill with a high incline setting), and so on.
- Price. Can you get a treadmill that fits your budget? Don't forget to factor in any required delivery fees: some retailers include shipping in the cost, but others may charge up to $400 for shipping and set-up!
- Reputation. What do customers say about the durability and overall performance of the treadmill? Are there any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau? Does the company get high marks for customer service?
- Warranty. What kind of coverage does your treadmill have if something breaks down? Most treadmills come with a lifetime warranty on the frame and welds and more limited terms on the motor, belt and electronics - but some only cover those components for a year or less!
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best online retailers of treadmills available today. We hope this information helps you find the right fitness equipment for your home - at the best price!
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