Home Treadmills

Anyone who has even the most basic knowledge of health and fitness has seen a treadmill. A way to mirror running, without having to leave the gym or the comfort of your own home, treadmills are the go to tool when people are looking to burn those calories, burn fat and get fit.

The major advantage of a treadmill is this: Everyone knows how to run, or at least walk, so everyone can use one without instructions. As long as you can get around on your own two feet, you can benefit from the health and fitness aspects of a treadmill.

Treadmills are great for:

• Burning calories (around 100 calories per mile)
• People who already run a lot, as treadmills are much safer and more controlled than the outside world
• Cardiovascular (heart and lung) health and fitness
• Bigger, stronger legs

Treadmills might not be so good if:

• You have joint issues, as treadmills can be quite high impact if you use them regularly
• You want to work more than your lower half

What are the different types of treadmill?

Standard treadmills

The standard treadmill is probably what comes to mind when when we say the name.

Most people picture a large running deck turning at high speed, surrounded by support bars for you to hold on to if necessary, with a large control suite (and maybe a screen) at the front.

Most, if not all decent treadmills follow this formula. Because it works.

What tends to change is the individual aspects of each treadmill. Things like:

• Motor size – which affects maximum top speed
• Frame construction and quality – which affects weight capacity, as well as how sturdy everything feels when it’s in use
• The running deck – Better treadmills will have a much larger running deck, which is a lot more spacious and comfortable to run on, as well as adding more cushioning and sound dampening, so it also feels better to run on.
• The controls and screen – including full HD touch screen control systems on more expensive models
• Extras – like water bottle holder, heart rate monitors, and more.

Folding treadmills

The average treadmill takes about 18 square feet of floor space, being about 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. But because they need more space to the sides and rear to account for swinging arms, and just getting on and off of the thing, in reality storing your treadmill can take up to 80 square feet.

A lot of homes simple don’t have that space free, which is why a lot of manufacturers offer treadmills that have a running deck that folds up when they’re out of use, cutting the space it takes in half.

Incline treadmills

An incline treadmill is exactly what it sounds like. A treadmill that can incline the belt, as if you’re walking or running up (and sometimes down) a hill.

The benefits of this are huge. Raising the incline by as little as 5%, which barely counts as a hill, and you burn almost double the calories simply by walking.

Incline treadmills tend to be more expensive, both because of the extra machinery that goes into inclining the entire running deck, and the extra stability that it requires, and also because it takes a lot more power to run a belt upwards, so the onboard motors have to be much bigger and more powerful.

Walking machines or walk pads

The last type of treadmill, walking machines are designed for people who work from home or need to rehabilitate after an injury. They tend to be smaller, with a very low top speed and a low powered motor, and no guide rails.

How much do treadmills cost?

Like all health and fitness gear, there’s a wide variety of systems out there, ranging from simplistic walking machines all the way to commercial class monsters that cost more than a small car.

There are great options in all price ranges, and what you should spend depends entirely on what you need and what you want to get out of it.

Budget

Budget treadmills tend to sit at a maximum of around £200-300. At this level, expect slow, weaker motors and smaller running decks. This makes them more suitable for walking or a slow jog, rather than intense, heavy training.

At this level, expect simple LCD screens and very few training programs, with few to no concessions to luxury or convenience.

At the upper ends of the price range, you might expect to see the ability to link to a tablet or phone via USB or Bluetooth, and possibly interactive fitness apps.

Example budget treadmills include

The JLL T450

The Dripex 2

Mid-range runners

A mid range treadmill will strike a balance between cost and options. It’s surprisingly hard to generalise what to expect at this price, because it can vary wildly between manufacturers and the design choices that were made.

What can be expected is larger, more powerful motors that are comfortable running at high speeds for longer periods of time.

If you’re buying a treadmill aimed at runners and hard training, larger running decks, high quality heart rate monitors and even powered inclines might be standard.

On the other hand, a mid range treadmill aimed at the home fitness market might focus more on cushioning and running comfort, as well as a built-in HD flatscreen tablet for fitness classes (or Netflix!)

Example mid range treadmills include:

The Sportstech FX300

The NordicTrack T 7.5S

High-end ‘Commercial-style’ treadmills

Commercial class treadmills are the epitome of exercise systems. Top speeds in excess of 15mph, run by motors that put out several horsepower at a constant, comfortable speed. However, you pay for this, with the minimum price tag sitting at over £1000.

It’s common if not expected at this level to have a large HD screen, and most manufacturers also have bespoke fitness apps designed specifically for their systems that come at a monthly premium, but deliver targeted workouts directly to your machine.

It’s also common for the system to send your metrics directly to the PT running the training, so they can give you unique, personal fitness advice, just like your personal trainer at the gym.

While inclines aren’t expected at this level, it’s a common sight, with some of the most expensive systems out there putting out ridiculous numbers (like the Nordictrack X9i‘s ridiculous 40% powered incline.)

Finally, expect everything at this price to have a rock solid warranty, with some stretching to upwards of ten years.

Example commercial treadmills include:

The Peloton Tread

The NordicTrack X11i

How much should you spend on a treadmill?

The answer, as always, is to balance price against what you’re buying it for.

In general, more expensive treadmills are built much better, so expect a stronger motor that runs at higher speeds more comfortably, a stronger and far more stable frame that can handle more weight, and more built-in tech and widgets.

Very budget treadmills are generally only suitable for light, intermittent training. If you’re going to be serious about your cardio, you should at least be looking at mid-range prices, for the balance between features and cost.

The most expensive treadmills, for example the NordicTrack commercial series, are basically future proofed, with decade long warranties and enough tech

Running Machine FAQs

Are treadmills good for weight loss?

Like all forms of cardio, treadmills are great for weight loss, if you use them in the right way.

Weight loss tends to be a simple formula. Calories in less than calories out. Considering you can burn up to 1000 calories by running on a treadmill for an hour, regular treadmill use is a great way to lose weight.

Are treadmills bad for your knees?

One of the issues with treadmills is that over-running on them can cause aches and pains in your joints.

Ironically, treadmills, with all of their modern convenience, impact resistance running surfaces and cushioning, are actually softer on your joints than running on the road.

But because your body is being cushioned from a lot of the impact of long distance running, it can cause its own problems, including stress fractures and shin splints.

To avoid this, it’s recommended to start slow, cross train with weights and walking to strengthen the lower body, and warm up and down appropriately.

You might like our guide: Are Treadmills Bad For You?

Should you run on a treadmill with different shoes?

No. There’s absolutely no reason to run on a treadmill with the specific treadmill trainers you might have seen marketed by some sports companies.

In fact, doing this could do you damage in the long run, as your feet become conditioned to the cushioning and comfort of the indoor shoes, so they’re weaker and more prone to injury the next time you go for a run outside.

Are treadmills noisy?

Unfortunately, treadmills can be pretty noisy, especially at higher speeds. Thankfully, modern tech, and higher build quality, can make a huge difference here.

The noise comes from two things. One, the motor and spinning belt aren’t quiet, especially when you push your treadmill up to higher speeds and inclines so it has to work harder. You can mitigate this by buying a treadmill with a more powerful engine, especially a continuous horsepower (CHP) value much higher than you need, so it doesn’t have to work as hard.

The second cause is more obvious. You. As you run, you’re transferring force downwards into the treadmill. As you run, you can exert forces of up to three times your bodyweight downwards. Modern treadmills have cushioned running decks and impact absorbent surfaces to help deal with this, but it’s always going to be an issue.

Do treadmills use a lot of electricity?

A good treadmill can cost a hefty chunk of change, so wondering if it’s going to continue to cost you after you buy it is a fair consideration.

Thankfully, treadmills aren’t expensive to run, once you’ve bought them. While a treadmill can cost around 50p per hour to power, standard usage means that your treadmill is going to cost you a few quid per month, at best.

Is treadmill running better than running outside?

Established runners know that treadmill running is a very different beast to pounding the roads. Outside, you face wind resistance and roads that makes the surface and running experience unique moment to moment, which can help you burn more calories and learn to deal with different conditions.

If you’re interested in a more realistic indoor running experience, look for treadmills with an incline feature.

Inclines, especially powered inclines, are the best way to add a realistic feel and effect to your workouts, burning more calories and engaging all of the smaller supporting musculature that might not otherwise be used when you’re just running on a flat, level surface.

Are treadmills dangerous?

Like most exercise machines, treadmills can be dangerous, if you use them incorrectly.

Can treadmills be used upstairs?

Of course. Any floor that can hold you is going to be able to hold a treadmill. As long as the treadmill is put in a stable place, you’re going to have no issues with putting it upstairs.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that running on a treadmill generates a lot of noise, and there’s absolutely no way that other people in your home aren’t going to hear anyone running on a treadmill that’s been placed in an upstairs room.