We’ve already looked at how to choose the right type of treadmill and how much you should expect to spend. The next question is what you’re actually getting for that extra money.
We’ve reviewed treadmills ranging from a few hundred dollars to well over $5,000, and price alone doesn’t always tell you how good a machine is. We’ve seen relatively inexpensive treadmills that offer tremendous value and much more expensive machines that we’d have a hard time recommending at their regular price.
So what are you actually paying for? Here are the areas we pay the most attention to.
Motor and Overall Performance
The motor has always been one of the first specs people look at when comparing treadmills, and it’s certainly important. It has to move the belt smoothly under your weight and maintain that performance as you change speeds and incline levels.
You’ll sometimes see treadmill motors rated using continuous horsepower (CHP) and peak horsepower. Continuous horsepower is the more useful number because it refers to the power the motor can maintain during use, rather than the maximum output it can reach for a short period of time.
That said, we wouldn’t choose one treadmill over another simply because its advertised motor is 3.5 CHP instead of 3.0 CHP. Motor ratings don’t tell you everything about how a treadmill will actually perform.
What matters more to us is how the entire drive system performs. Does the belt move smoothly? Does the treadmill respond quickly when you change speeds? Is it excessively loud? Is the machine designed to handle walking, jogging or regular running?
If you’re choosing between spending your money on a more substantial treadmill or simply getting a larger touchscreen and more entertainment features, we’d generally put our money into the machine itself.
Frame & Build Quality
This is one of the biggest differences you’ll notice as you move up in price.
Less expensive treadmills tend to be lighter and can sometimes feel less stable, particularly as you increase your speed. Better treadmills generally use heavier frames and more substantial components, which can give the entire machine a much more solid feel.
Weight isn’t everything, but we’ve found over the years that you can usually feel the difference between an inexpensive treadmill and a well-built premium machine pretty quickly once you start using it.
This becomes particularly important for runners, larger users and households where several people will be putting a lot of hours on the treadmill.
Running Deck and Cushioning
The running surface is where you actually interact with the treadmill, so we’d put this pretty high on the list.
A good deck should feel stable without excessive movement or bouncing, and there should be enough room for you to walk or run naturally without constantly thinking about where your feet are landing.
Cushioning also varies considerably from one treadmill to another. Some companies emphasize a softer feel, while others try to more closely mimic running outdoors or give you the option to adjust the cushioning yourself. None of these approaches is necessarily better for everyone.
What we don’t recommend is judging a treadmill simply by how thick the belt is. The belt is only one part of the system. The deck, rollers, cushioning and overall construction all work together to determine how the treadmill actually feels under your feet.
Console & Technology
This is probably the area that has changed the most since we first started reviewing treadmills.
Today’s consoles range from very simple LED displays to large touchscreens with streaming entertainment, trainer-led workouts and automatic speed and incline adjustments.
Technology can absolutely add value to a treadmill if you’re going to use it.
If interactive workouts motivate you to exercise more often, a large touchscreen and a platform like iFIT may be worth paying extra for. If you normally watch your own television or use a tablet while exercising, that same screen may add very little value for you.
We’re also big fans of simple controls. Regardless of how advanced the console is, you should be able to change speed and incline quickly without having to work your way through several screens.
And don’t forget about subscriptions. When comparing two treadmills, consider not only what the technology does but whether you’ll need to continue paying for it to get the experience you want.
Incline and Training Capability
Incline is one feature that we think adds real value because it can significantly change how you use the treadmill.
Even relatively inexpensive machines now offer incline, while more advanced models may give you higher incline levels, decline training and automatic adjustments during workouts.
That doesn’t mean the treadmill with the highest incline is automatically worth more to you. Someone who walks hills regularly may get a lot of use out of it, while another person may rarely move the treadmill above 3%.
As with most treadmill features, value depends on whether you’re actually going to use what you’re paying for.
Warranty and Support
We still pay close attention to the warranty when reviewing a treadmill, although we don’t think a long warranty automatically means you’re buying a better machine.
Look beyond the frame warranty, which is often the least important part. Parts and labor coverage can tell you much more about what protection you’ll actually have if something goes wrong.
We also consider the company behind the warranty. A great warranty isn’t particularly valuable if getting service or replacement parts turns into a nightmare.
We’ve seen warranty coverage change quite a bit over the years, so this is one area we’d always check before buying rather than relying on information from an older review.
So What Are You Really Paying For?
When you spend more on a treadmill, we’d rather see that money going toward better construction, a comfortable and stable running surface, reliable performance and components designed to handle years of use.
After that, features become much more personal.
A huge touchscreen may add a lot of value for one person and almost none for another. The same applies to extremely high incline levels, decline training, premium speakers and dozens of built-in workouts.
That’s why we don’t judge treadmill value simply by counting features. The best value is the treadmill that puts your money into the things that matter most for the way you plan to use it.
In Part 4: Details to Consider When Buying a Treadmill, we’ll get more specific about the individual specifications and details you should compare before making your final choice.
Summary
1. How To Buy The Best Treadmill For Your Budget
2. How Much To Spend On A Treadmill
3. What Gives Value To A Treadmill