Best at home treadmills to stay fit no matter the weather

Mobvoi’s home treadmill ticks a lot of boxes if you’re after something moveable. With built-in wheels and a shade over one metre, this lightweight treadmill is easy to set up anywhere you fancy a run. Other than its convenient size and shape, this design is pretty simple and no-frills, but the running belt is decent (if rather short, so it’s best for walkers and more petite runners) and there’s an attachable phone stand and built-in Bluetooth speaker, so you can follow workouts on your phone. The LED screen is good quality and we also like that you can control your running speed with a remote control.

Runners who need that extra motivational push to keep them working out regularly from home should pick a treadmill that includes a subscription to a workout plan. There are plenty to choose from, but if you’re able to splash some cash on your running routine, our top pick is Peloton’s Tread.

This high-end treadmill is excellent quality – but it costs it, and you’ll also need to buy an All-Access Membership (£39 per month or £12.99 per month for new app members) to follow Peloton classes, unless you just want to run at your own pace. What you get in return are unlimited live classes with instructors, plus tracking of your workouts and progress over time. If you need to kick-start your running fitness and you’ll use a treadmill daily, this could be worth the spend.

The not-very-snappily-named Bowflex BXT8Ji is the brand’s newest treadmill and has been dubbed the ‘perfect, affordable option for those looking to add running or walking into their daily workout routine’. It’s a good option for regular runners who don’t need a top-of-the-range model but still want to clock regular miles in at home, as the BXT8Ji offers good techy extras, including a heart rate monitor and an LCD screen with 26 built-in workouts to choose from.

This well-built machine feels like it’ll last you years of use but is also foldable and has wheels, so it works for smaller spaces too. On testing it, we were also impressed with the comfortable running belt and motorised incline.

Decathlon offers a good range of affordable treadmills, but what stands out about the T540C is its lack of noise. This machine is as quiet as some models we tested that are more than twice the price.

There are limitations here – this design feels a tad flimsy and Decathlon themselves reckon it should only be used for five hours a week, so serious runners may need something heftier. It’s easy to fold and store, though, and the Domyos E-Connected app offers 24 workout programs and allows you to track your training. It’s a bit basic but still a nice extra to have at this price point.

On a serious budget? Opti’s small but functional running machine costs under £200 but still delivers if you don’t mind picking something simple for the odd indoor workout. This treadmill isn’t tough enough to withstand long daily workouts, but for occasional lunchtime jogging sessions, for getting your walking steps in daily or to see you through a winter or two when it’s too grim to jog outside, it’s surprisingly effective.

The LCD screen is decent and offers 15 workouts to follow, and the treadmill folds away easily. If you aren’t sure if you can justify a posher treadmill, this design could suit you.

Folding treadmills often sit at the cheap and cheerful end of the market – not so Echelon’s Stride, which is a quality machine you can use daily and that feels like it’ll last as you jog mile after mile. Once you’re done working out, the Stride folds up into a surprisingly compact size – just 30cm in width - so it’s ideal for runners who are serious about their sport but have limited space at home and want to store their new pride and joy under the bed or in a cupboard.

On testing it, we found cycling between speeds and inclines quick and easy. If you like the idea of guided workouts you can add on Echelon’s app membership for live workouts from £19.99 per month.

Regular runners with plenty of space in a home gym or a garage can consider investing in a full-size treadmill of the type you’ll find in a proper gym. While non-folding, larger treadmills are bulky and expensive, they also offer the best long-lasting quality, so they’re worth the investment over time if you work out at home regularly or if the whole family plans to get a few runs in each week on the same machine.

NordicTrack’s Commercial X22i is a big behemoth of a treadmill but it packs in brilliant features, including a big range of inclines and a great screen display.

You can add a treadmill to the smallest of spaces with JTX’s slim and compact design, which is easy to assemble, simple to use and can be folded up fast by one person and leaned against a wall or slid under a bed in no time at all.

At 43kg, this was one of the lightest running machines we tested, and was also the easiest bit of kit to move about if you live on your own. Despite being compact, JTX’s offering is a surprisingly efficient machine once it’s unfolded and ready to go, with 40 built-in workouts and a top speed of 16mph. Great value for money.