5 Best home treadmills UK 2024: Tried and tested for running, walking, hiking & more
CONSIDERING a treadmill for your home? With so many options out there, finding the right one can feel overwhelming.
To make things easier, I’ve pulled together the best home treadmills, so you can find the perfect fit for your space.
There are a few essential things to consider when shopping for a home treadmill that can make all the difference.
Are you after a simple machine for your daily runs, or would you prefer one with on-demand classes and instructors to keep you motivated?
Next, think about your budget: you can go for a basic walking and running treadmill for a few hundred pounds, or invest in a ‘smart treadmill’ with a subscription for classes and challenges.
If you’re an experienced runner, you might want a treadmill with both incline and decline functions, or one that connects to a heart monitor and adjusts speed and incline automatically based on your run.
Or maybe you’d prefer a treadmill with an instructor guiding you through scenic runs or a real-time race experience.
It can get a bit complicated deciding which treadmill to choose, but whatever your needs, we’ve got you covered.
Read on for our full review of the best treadmills to use at home 2024 UK.
Best treadmills at a glance:
- Best overall: Nordictrack Commercial 1750
- Best value: Opti Compact Walking Treadmill
- Best mid-range: Echelon Stride-6s Auto-Fold
- Best premium: Peloton Tread
- Best non-smart tech treadmill: Horizon T101 Treadmill
Peloton Tread
Peloton Tread, £3,345
(£39/month membership for classes)
Pros: Really smooth belt to run on, fun game options, speed adjustment is quick, great classes, good choice of music
Cons: Very expensive
Rating: 4/5
This is a treadmill with all the bells and whistles if you have the money to splash out on it.
The Peloton Tread is an eye-watering £3,345 plus the £39 monthly cost of the app to access classes, but I can see why: it’s as entertaining and motivating as it is functional.
The treadmill is delivered to most addresses by engineers who will set it up for you and even give you a little run-through of the hardware and software.
The Peloton treadmill is larger and heavier than some models like the Echelon, and it doesn’t fold up, so make sure you have the space for it.
The belt is super comfortable, and its sturdy weight gives the treadmill great stability with zero movement.
The touchscreen is one of the biggest I tested, plus there are two cup holders, a spot for your phone and accessories, and a safety stop key to use when it’s not in use.
The screen lets you join workouts and classes via the app, but you can also stream Netflix, Disney+, NBA games, Peloton documentaries, or even read on Kindle while you walk.
The streaming option is actually a really great way to get in an extra walk or recovery run, knowing you can just watch one of your favourite shows as the time does fly by.
The classes themselves are very varied, offering everything from endurance, intervals, HIIT, scenic runs and hikes and more, as well as bootcamp sessions that incorporate strength training.
The app also includes outdoor runs, yoga, and other activities that don’t need a treadmill.
One of my favourite features is the gaming element, ‘Peloton Lanebreak,’ where you adjust speed and incline to stay in the right lane and match the beat of the song.
What’s great about Lanebreak is that the treadmill has an auto mode, which automatically adjusts speed and incline, so you don’t have to do it manually.
I’d recommend starting manually to get the hang of the game, but you can switch to auto or make adjustments as you go.
The speed (up to 20kph) and incline (12.5%) are controlled by large dials on the treadmill’s arms, and both adjust much quicker than on other models.
This is ideal for sprint sessions, because on other treadmills, you can be waiting a few seconds for the speed to slow and speed up.
The Peloton instructors are super polished and well-versed in getting you motivated: they even have record-breakers and professional athletes in their midst, and are bonafide celebrities in their own right.
Peloton keeps you motivated with leader boards, challenges, and reward badges to encourage regular treadmill use.
A standout feature is its music selection, offering exclusive “Artist Series” workouts featuring stars like Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and The Rolling Stones.
This is a premium treadmill, designed for fun and improving running speed and endurance.
But, if you’re a trail runner or ultra-marathoner looking for an outdoor feel, this might not be the right fit.
It lacks decline running and longer classes, although an ultra runner instructor does lead some sessions.
Echelon Stride-6s-10 Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill
Echelon Stride-6s Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill, £1,799
(from £19.99/month membership for classes)
Pros: Easy to set up and use, comfortable to run on, good classes, fold to put away
Cons: Small screen, less polished than some of the other smart options
Rating: 4/5
The Echelon Stride is delivered in a large box, and you do have to set it up on your own, but it’s super easy to do.
Cut open the box, wheel out the treadmill, and unfold each side—the tread pops into place in minutes. When you’re done, simply fold it back down and store it upright.
The Echelon treadmill has a small screen where you can log into the app for paid classes, offering everything from running and walking to hill hikes and outdoor runs.
You can choose from interval, endurance, rhythm (music-driven), and warm-up/cool-down sessions.
There’s also the option for boot camp classes which incorporate some strength training at the end, as well as training challenges which you can follow over a week or two to improve your running speed or endurance.
There’s no gamification like the Peloton and there’s less emphasis on the music, but there are a good few scenic runs to try out.
The treadmill feels stable and solid. Speed and incline controls are on the monitor (12kph, 10% incline) or on the dials (20kph, 12% incline).
I preferred the dials for ease. However, the monitor adjusts faster, which is ideal for interval and HIIT workouts.
The screen is small compared to Peloton and NordicTrack, but it still works for classes, but navigating and adjusting volume can be clunky.
The instructors are experienced runners and offer good motivation. They’re less polished than Peloton’s influencer-like trainers.
The fan at the bottom centre works well. The metal pads act as heart rate monitors. There are two cup holders, shelves for your devices, and a stop chain for safety.
Overall, it’s a great machine for running on, although there’s a slight forward movement when you’ve used the incline option: I watched the treadmill move closer to the wall in my room, but that was fixed when I added a treadmill mat underneath.
The app costs between £19.99 and £29.99 a month depending on which option you buy, and offers more than enough classes to keep you busy, with new classes offered daily and also the option of live classes.
Opti Compact Walking Treadmill
Opti Compact Walking Treadmill, £349
Pros: Very cheap, good quality for price
Cons: No smart tech, can’t hold bottles or tablet
Rating: 4/5
If you’re looking for something simpler to just get you moving, this Opti treadmill from Argos is an excellent option.
The version I trialled is the walking and stride version which goes up to 8kph and is for flat walking, as it doesn’t have incline options.
However if you’re looking for an incline, the Opti Motorised Folding Treadmill with Incline goes up to 12kph, with three manual levels of incline.
The treadmill I tested is on the budget end: it’s not a ‘smart treadmill’ like many of the others, which means that it doesn’t come with a screen or app that offers classes and workouts.
It does have an adjustable phone holder, though not big enough to hold a tablet, which you can use to watch videos or use some of the subscriptions offered with the other treadmills, such as iFit.
The treadmill itself is quick and easy to set up; it comes pretty much ready to go in the box, and just needs to be unfolded and plugged in, which takes a matter of minutes.
It’s also not too heavy to move around and comes with wheels on one end. It can be folded flat and stood against a wall to save space when your run/walk is done.
The treadmill is controlled by a small remote that takes AAA batteries, and the dashboard sits at the bottom, just above the belt. I actually liked looking down at it while using it.
You can adjust your speed with the remote and switch between distance, time, calories, step count, and speed on the display.
There’s also a pause option, so you can take a quick water break or restroom stop without losing your stats.
A couple of downsides: no cup holders, so you’ll need to place your water nearby, and the remote’s housing at the front is a bit bulky.
It can rattle when you’re running fast, but a quick fix is to place a flannel underneath it.
I mainly used the treadmill for walking while watching TV and for recovery or slow, long-distance runs. The 8kph speed was perfect for that.
But if you’re looking for faster running and an incline, check out the Opti Motorised Folding Treadmill with Incline version.
The treadmill has a comfortable belt which was good for both walking and running and it’s also not very noisy.
Overall, I really liked this treadmill and think it’s great value for money.
Nordictrack Commercial 1750 treadmill
Nordictrack Commercial 1750 treadmill, was £2,799 now £2,499
Pros: Has a decline option, really great scenic and studio classes, longer classes, rotating screen
Cons: Nothing much
Rating: 5/5
This was one of my favourite treadmills to train on: it’s kind of an all-rounder that has most of what the other treadmills offer plus a few extra bits.
Unlike the Peloton and Echelon, the NordicTrack seems to also be aimed at serious endurance runners who are looking to mimic their outdoor runs and hikes.
Not only does it have a speed offering of 19kph and a 12% incline, but it also has a 3% decline to mirror downhill sections of runs and walks.
The outdoor mirroring is best done by taking out an iFit subscription, which works with the treadmill.
The app offers a huge variety of outdoor runs, as well as lots of studio classes, but the outdoor runs and the instructors that run them, are a next-level calibre compared with competitor treadmills.
I put the treadmill on auto-adjust, so the machine automatically changes the incline to fit your virtual surroundings.
It also adjusts the speed to fit your fitness level: if it feels too fast or slow, you can still manually adjust and the treadmill instantly remembers and adjusts for the rest of the run and your next run too.
It’s constantly learning about your ability, which is quite frankly priceless for those who love running and want to improve their performance.
This same auto adjust works in the classes too, which offer all types of workouts including HIIT, endurance, intervals and more.
The instructors are very likeable across the board; I didn’t have a single annoying one in all the workouts I did.
One thing that can get a bit much at times is the instructors do talk non-stop through the whole run or walk.
When that’s for over an hour, it can be a lot – but you do have the option of turning the instructor’s voice down or off and turning the music up.
Mostly however, they’re very motivating and make the runs pass quickly.
The sound on the NordicTrack 1750 is really good quality (as is the picture on the HD screen) and you can also use Bluetooth to connect to your own headphones.
If you’re not into the iFit app classes, you can use the Google Maps feature to run anywhere in the world. Just pick a starting point, and Google Maps will generate the route as you go.
NordicTrack also offers simple running programs outside of iFit and lets you stream Netflix or Prime Video, so you can catch your favorite shows while you run.
The treadmill packs one of the most powerful motors I tested, yet it’s surprisingly quiet, though it does make a bit of noise when adjusting the incline or decline.
You can adjust the speed and incline via two sections on the dashboard—one for small increments and the other using km buttons.
Unlike the Peloton or Echelon, this treadmill doesn’t have dials, which I initially missed, but I quickly got used to it with the auto-adjust runs and hikes.
The 14-inch screen swivels 360 degrees for strength classes or yoga, so the treadmill stays out of your way. Plus, you can easily fold it up to save space after use.
Overall, this was such a great treadmill to try out: the perfect mix of fun classes and serious running. It’s a real winner for me.
Horizon T101 Treadmill
Horizon T101 Treadmill, £999
Pros: Good legacy brand, solid machine
Cons: No smart tech
Rating: 4/5
Horizon Fitness is a legacy brand that has been making training equipment since the 1990s, so it knows a thing or two about treadmills.
Horizon treadmills are known for their quality and durability, not the latest smart tech. In fact, a friend bought a Horizon model in 1998, and it’s still running strong!
The key to its longevity is the powerful motor, and the Horizon T101 is no exception. It’s compact, making it perfect for home use, and easily folds up when not in use.
The front of the treadmill holds most of the weight, so the back lifts effortlessly and lowers automatically with a simple foot-release mechanism.
While it lacks built-in smart features or subscription requirements, the T101 offers a spacious area for your phone or tablet, so you can connect to apps like Zones and Zwift.
Plus, its Bluetooth speakers make it easy to enjoy sound while you work out.
The treadmill dashboard displays speed, calories, distance and a rough heart rate.
It also comes with simple programmes such as manual, fat burn, time-based, distance-based, calorie burn and hill sessions for those who are happy without the use of a fitness app.
Speed and incline can be adjusted from the buttons on the dashboard or by rolling the handy little dials, which offer the option of going up in smaller increments.
The maximum speed is 16kph / 10mph and there’s an incline of 10%. The treadmill also has a small built-in fan and comes with a two-year parts and labour warranty.
I really enjoyed using this treadmill because it’s no-nonsense and I was able to think up my own workouts such as hill hikes and interval training.
It’s actually also pretty quiet and the belt felt well cushioned.
This treadmill is best suited to those who simply want to run or walk, and don’t want to pay extra for smart tech and a subscription to classes.
I’d definitely recommend it for runners who just want a really good technical machine that is going to last a very long time.
Before buying your treadmill
Think about where the treadmill is going to live, most delivery companies aren’t keen to take treadmills up the stairs, so do check that when making your purchase.
Another thing to consider is the type of floor the treadmill will be placed on.
Some treadmills can travel a bit if the floor isn’t grippy enough, but a quick and easy solution is to buy a treadmill mat to go underneath.
They are inexpensive, starting at around £40 depending on the size you need, and can help avoid a damaged floor too.
Where to buy treadmills in the UK
Treadmills for the home can be purchased directly from brands or from a number of sports and general department stores and retailers.
If you’re keen to buy now, I’d recommend the following places:
How we tested the treadmills:
The treadmills were put through their paces over an eight-week period by two testers, who assessed them both at home and in showrooms or gyms.
These testers, both qualified personal trainers and experienced long-distance runners, brought a wealth of expertise to the evaluation.
They tested the machines across a range of real-world conditions, ensuring each treadmill was thoroughly examined for performance, comfort, and durability.