The 12 Best Treadmills to Upgrade Your Home Gym

This NordicTrack’s T-Series is a less beefy version of its more expensive models that keeps all the bells and whistles. It offers a library of on-demand workouts, smart incline adjustments, and an LCD display. “This treadmill is well-made and sturdy,” one reviewer says. “It doesn’t shake when I run and is easily portable.”

If you’re in the market for an affordable treadmill, consider this folding model. It’s a good option for beginners who don’t want to invest too much money upfront—or who want to stretch their budget for a larger home gym. The track is slim and the max speed is seven miles per hour, but most buyers don’t mind: “This treadmill is perfect if you don’t want your equipment to take a lot of space,” one buyer says.

The 4.2-star AirRunner requires no electricity to use—you power it yourself, allowing for a smoother, more natural workout that’s also eco-friendly. Unlike other models, it keeps track of your time, calories, speed, distance, and pace, so you have the numbers to monitor your progress. And walking or running on a curved tread is hard(er) work, meaning you’ll get the most out of each step.

Need a treadmill that doesn’t take up too much space? This top-rated option offers solid shock absorption, running programs, three levels of incline, and pulse-monitor handles in a folding design that’s easy to transport. Reviewers rave that it’s comfortable enough for post-surgery exercise—a game-changer for post-op walkers and runners.

“This is a great machine that offers a lot at a great price point,” says Desantis. “It has an iFit-enabled touchscreen for interactive training (trainers can adjust your incline, decline, and speeds), live classes, on-demand indoor and outdoor workouts, and stats tracking. The incline/decline features of 15% and 3% respectively will really work your lower body, too.”

With a maximum speed of six miles per hour, this treadmill is designed strictly for walkers. The heavy-duty construction features a tablet holder, a large walking surface, and a 350-pound weight capacity, meaning it’s ideal for walking newbies and experts alike. And its 4.4-star rating on Amazon doesn’t hurt, either.

Peloton’s group fitness training is also available in treadmill form. Just like its famous spin bike, the brand’s Tread offers live running workouts from the studio’s top instructors. “And if you already own a Peloton bike, your monthly subscription can be shared with your Peloton tread to get unlimited access to class content across both devices...at no added charge,” says Desantis.

The ultimate upgrade for your work-from-home setup isn’t a monitor or a fancy chair—it’s a desk treadmill. This portable model is basically just a belt with no handles, which means it can fit under standing desks and in even the tiniest rooms, keeping you from sitting in place all day long. “It’s small enough to put anywhere,” one buyer says. “Best purchase ever.”

“This is a great compact treadmill that delivers for people who have limited space,” says Desantis. “It was specially designed to fold up easily and conveniently to get the deck out of the way. You also get access to iFit interactive training and workouts here, too.”

This portable model, which would be the crown jewel of any home gym, is “quite easy to assemble,” a Walmart reviewer writes. It’s got a media stand, LED monitor, a top speed of six miles per hour, and we especially like its heart rate monitor grips, which are rare on an option this cheap.

“This is a stand-out in the budget-friendly category, offering some of the most extensive warranties available,” says Desantis. “It also has an integrated tablet holder and USB charging port, so you can charge your smart devices and watch a movie while you exercise.

If you’re over six feet tall, you also need to consider your treadmill’s surface length—and this option features an unusually long 60-inch belt. Buyers also love its backlit screen, 12% incline capacity, audio jack, and 30 preset training programs. “It's a great value and will meet my needs when I can’t get outside for a run,” one Amazon shopper wrote.