Best Treadmill for 2022 – CNET [CNET]

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Bowflex

The Treadmill 22 is the latest and most advanced model from Bowflex, and it’s designed to please (mostly) everyone. Built like an absolute tank, this treadmill has a 4-horsepower motor, a 22-inch-wide by 60-inch-long running path and Comfort Tech deck cushioning that helps absorb shock even at higher running speeds. During testing, it was the best treadmill for stability, too. No matter how fast I was running, the treadmill didn’t shake or wobble. I felt fully supported.

It has the largest incline range on this list, going from -5% decline up to a 20% incline to simulate running up and down hills, and supports the highest user weight (400 pounds). The incline and speed controls are on the handles and the stability bars, which made it easy to control the treadmill in the middle of my workouts.

This incline treadmill has an adjustable 22-inch touchscreen that allows you to follow along with trainer-led workouts (via the JRNY which requires a subscription) or lets you stream your favorite shows from a handful of popular streaming services. The only downside here is that if you decide to stream, the show ends with your workout. You can’t add time or switch to another workout without exiting the program and starting over, which was a bit of a bummer.

While the Bowflex Treadmill 22 has a lot going for it, make sure you have the space before ordering it. At 85 inches long, 39.6 inches wide and 70 inches tall, it’s pretty beefy. It does have a SoftDrop folding system that reduces its total footprint by more than 40%, but it doesn’t fold up completely so you’ll still be sacrificing a decent amount of floor space.

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Assault Fitness

If you have the money to drop on a serious machine, you can end your best treadmill search with the AssaultRunner. Powered by your movement, rather than a motor, this manual treadmill naturally forced me to work harder during my runs, which translated to increased calorie burn and a more intense workout. 

It doesn’t have any of the bells and whistles of the other machines — running on this treadmill certainly won’t be an excuse for you to watch your favorite TV show — but it does track calories, distance and pace, among a handful of other metrics. And I didn’t even miss the extra features. Because I had to work harder to move the belt, I felt more immersed and committed to my workout, rather than just trying to get through it while I watched Euphoria.

With its curved running surface and shock-absorbing treadmill belt, it’s also one of the most biomechanically correct treadmills. It forced me to have proper running form and my movement felt more natural, which makes you less prone to injury even if you are working harder. This is an expensive treadmill and despite its rather large footprint, it’s lighter than most other treadmills on the market.

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NordicTrack

The NordicTrack Commercial 2950 treadmill got a redesign in 2021, and the attention to customer feedback shows. This version is equipped with a 4.25 continuous horsepower commercial motor and a 22-inch deck that sits on top of 2.5-inch precision non-flex rollers for frictionless movement, even at higher workout speeds. The base is stable and can handle different body weights with ease — there’s a 100 pound difference between my boyfriend and me, and it didn’t shake or stall with either of us.

The RunnersFlex cushioning in the deck allows you to choose between a real road-feel or engaging dampers that soften impact on your joints and reduce the risk of injury. I tried both, but preferred the dampers, since it seemed like a solution for the shin splints I’ve experienced with other treadmills. That being said, the real road-feel is a great option for marathon runners or anyone who needs to stay on top of training in the winter and wants a more translatable experience.

Like the Bowflex, this treadmill has an ultra-large 22-inch touchscreen, but one thing that gives the NordicTrack treadmill an edge over the others is the live control offered through its iFit subscription. During my live workouts, the NordicTrack Commercial treadmill automatically adjusted from a -3% decline to a 15% incline to simulate whatever I was following along with on the screen. In my opinion, the iFit membership is a worthwhile additional monthly cost.

At a retail price of $2,300, the NordicTrack treadmill is one of the most expensive treadmills on this list (if you purchase this machine directly from the site, you’ll get a free 30-day membership to iFit too), so you’ll have to figure out which features would make it the best treadmill for you. Consider whether you want a more intense manual workout or interaction with trainers and extra smart features.

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Best Buy

Another option from Icon Health & Fitness — the parent company of NordicTrack — this treadmill is a more budget-friendly option that still gives you access to iFit integration. If that’s what you’re looking for, this may be the best treadmill for you. The ProForm Pro has a 10-inch smart touchscreen embedded right into the console so you can follow along with trainers as you run while simultaneously tracking your calories, speed and heart rate. The display doesn’t have as much wow factor as the 22-inch screens, but it does the trick and has all the same functionalities as the NordicTrack 2950.

At -3% decline to 12% incline, it has a narrower incline range than the NordicTrack and a slightly less powerful 3.25-continuous-horsepower motor, but it’s more than sufficient for most runners (or walkers). It easily accommodated both my boyfriend and me and didn’t stall, lag, or shake at all at any speed. The 20-inch tread belt is equipped with ReBound Pro Cushioning, ProForm’s patented shock-absorbing system, so my workouts felt much lower impact and I felt like there was less stress on my feet, ankles, hips and knees.

In addition to being budget-friendly, the Pro2000 is a great option if you want a solid machine, but don’t have a lot of extra space. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a compact machine, but it takes up considerably less space than some of the other models.

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Sole Fitness

Sole makes some of the best home workout equipment available to the public, and the Sole F80 is often considered the best treadmill among those designed for personal use. It combines a 3.5-horsepower motor with zinc-coated flywheels and a welded steel construction for smooth, frictionless movement. The Cushion Flex Whisper Deck is designed to absorb impact by as much as 40% (compared to running outdoors) and it supports up to 375 pounds. In short: This is a serious machine at a really reasonable price point for what you get.

It felt solid at all speeds, didn’t struggle under my weight or my boyfriend’s, and was one of the quietest on the list too. The sidebar controls also made it easy to adjust speed, which I appreciate when doing intervals. While it has an impressive incline range — it adjusts from 0 to 15 — there’s no decline capabilities. If you like to simulate running or walking on hills (I do), you won’t get that with this machine. You can go uphill, but not down.

While there is an LCD screen that shows heart rate, speed, pace and calories burned, this foldable treadmill falls short of the NordicTrack and Bowflex in that it doesn’t have a large screen where you can stream workouts or your favorite cardio show. It does have Bluetooth capabilities and a tablet holder, though, so you can make your own ideal guided workout setup if you want it to feel more like a smart treadmill.

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Horizon Fitness

If you’re looking for the best treadmill to get the job done on a budget, the Horizon T101 will suit your needs. You don’t get any extras here, but you do get a well-built machine, especially for the price. The Horizon Fitness treadmill features a 2.5-continuous-horsepower motor and 20-inch wide deck with cushioning supports that are zoned for walking, jogging and running. The zoned construction helped absorb shock, especially when I was running at higher speeds. It did wobble a bit during interval sprints, but I wouldn’t knock any points off for it since it wasn’t anything major and I expected it at this price point.

The console includes the basics — controls for speed and incline, as well as a display that shows calories burned, heart rate and other metrics — and it has Bluetooth connectivity. I have an iFit subscription so I was able to connect my tablet and follow along with workouts on the screen. You don’t get the same iFit integration without a NordicTrack or ProForm model, meaning the treadmill won’t auto-adjust, but it does the trick if you’re looking to save some cash.

Another win for the Horizon T101 is that it folds up pretty compactly for storage. It has a minimal footprint — 70 by 34 by 55-inch — to start, and when it’s folded that drops by about 50%. The deck folds almost vertically, unlike larger models that fold up but remain at an angle, so it’s less intrusive and a good option if you need to store it out of the way when you’re not using it.

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Amazon

If you want to fit a treadmill into a small space, you’ll have to adjust your expectations about what you’ll be able to get. The GoPlus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill definitely doesn’t have any extras, but it does offer a 40-by-16-inch running belt and a quiet 2.25-horsepower motor. While it’s less powerful than the CHP motors of some of the other options, it was suitable for my basic needs: work up a sweat and burn some calories. 

One of the benefits of this treadmill is that because of the way it’s designed, it can be used as a regular running treadmill or an under-the-desk treadmill to keep you moving while you work. I set it up under my standing desk and was able to get some movement in during meetings, which was my favorite thing about it. 

Keep in mind that because it has a less powerful motor, you’re not going to be able to run at top speeds if you weigh over 200 pounds. While this compact treadmill says it has a weight capacity of 265 pounds, many users say it caps out around 175 pounds for running. I weigh 150 pounds and had no problems, but it struggled a bit under my boyfriend’s weight, even at lower speeds.