Treadmills for home use

Which treadmill for home use suits you?

The right choice depends on what you are going to do on the belt and how much space you have for it, not on the number of programmes on the display.

You mainly want to walk and reach your step count: a lighter motor and a narrow running belt up to 50 cm are enough. These machines are the lightest, the quietest and the easiest to put out of the way. Walking at a low speed asks little of the motor, so you do not need a heavy version here.

You are going to run, several times a week: choose a wide running belt of 51 cm or more and a heavier motor power. On a narrow belt you shorten your stride without noticing, and you feel that first in your knees and your lower back. Look at the continuous power rather than the peak power as well.

You want to do hill and interval training: go for a motorised incline. You adjust that while you are running and you can let a programme control it. With a manual incline you have to stop, step off and move the feet of the machine, and in practice that stops happening after a few weeks.

You have little space in the house: then a folding model is the logical direction. The running deck lifts upright after your session and the machine keeps only a fraction of its floor space. The fixed frames are with the non-folding treadmills, the models with a hinge with the folding treadmills.

You are rehabilitating or walking on medical advice: look for a low step-up height, sturdy handrails and a belt that keeps turning smoothly at very low speeds too. Heart rate measurement through hand sensors or a chest strap helps you stay within the zone you have agreed on.

You want as much treadmill as your budget allows: then work through the used treadmills as well. These include refurbished machines from a higher segment, with a heavier motor and a sturdier construction than you would get new for the same money.

Treadmill for home use or professional machine?

The difference is not in the top speed but in how many hours a day the machine has to run. A home treadmill is built for a few users and a limited number of hours per week. That means a lighter frame, a motor matched to that load, and usually more attention to entertainment and to compact storage.

A professional machine is built for continuous use by changing users. A heavier frame, a heavier motor, longer service intervals and a price to match. If you train a lot yourself or you are heavily built, a semi-professional version can be the sensible middle ground. For a practice, a gym or corporate fitness, look at the professional treadmills.

What should you look out for when buying?

Motor power

Power is not a question of speed but of durability. A lighter motor will reach the same speed, but it has to work harder with a heavier user, on longer sessions and on an incline. That costs service life. So look at the continuous power, not at the peak power, and choose generously if you are heavier, if you keep going for a long time or if you work with an incline.

Running belt: width and length

The width decides whether you can run freely or have to stay on your line. Up to 50 cm is fine for walking and easy jogging; from 51 cm you have room to run without watching the edges. The length matters most with a longer stride: the faster you run and the longer your legs, the more belt you need.

Incline

An incline makes a session harder without you having to run faster, and at home that is often exactly what you are after. Watch two things: whether the incline is motorised or manual, and how high it goes. The range runs from machines without an incline to versions that go well above twenty per cent for real hill training.

Maximum user weight

This figure says more about the frame and the motor than it does about a hard limit. Stay comfortably below it, certainly if you run: every step puts a multiple of your body weight on the deck. A machine built well above your own weight runs more quietly and lasts longer.

Cushioning and floor protection

A treadmill takes away part of the load you do get on tarmac, and for many people that is the reason to put one in the house. The cushioning sits in the deck and in the elements underneath it. Below that you still want a mat: it absorbs vibration, protects your floor and keeps the machine in place. You will find those with the treadmill accessories.

Display, heart rate and apps

A display does not have to be large to be useful: speed, time, distance and heart rate are what you really read while you are running. Heart rate measurement works through hand sensors or, more accurately, through a chest strap. Many machines can also be paired with training apps for routes, videos or schedules. Those apps are optional and usually ask for a paid subscription for the full functions, although some offer a limited free version or a trial period.

Our advice: choose the machine on your hardest session and not on your average one, because the running belt and the power are precisely the two things you cannot adjust later. Only then measure whether it fits: doorways, the turn on the stairs and the spot where it is going to stand. If you want to work through the full list of points, our blogs on discover which treadmill suits you best and 9 tips for buying a treadmill will help you further.

Who is a treadmill for home use suitable for?

• Walkers and anyone with a desk job. Walking quietly at a low speed asks little of the motor and combines well with a working day.
• Beginning runners. Pace and incline are fixed, so you build up calmly without setting off too fast.
• Anyone who wants to keep running all year round. No rain, no black ice and no darkness left as a reason to skip a session.
• Anyone recovering from an injury or an operation. Building up in measured steps in a flat, predictable environment, in consultation with your physiotherapist.
• Families with several users. A machine that stays comfortably below the maximum user weight of the heaviest user feels more comfortable for everybody.
• Anyone who wants to lose weight. Walking on an incline is one of the gentlest ways to burn a lot of calories without loading your joints.

A home treadmill is less suitable if several different people have to run on it every day, for example in a practice or a staff room. You then reach the ceiling of the frame and the motor sooner than you would think, and a semi-professional or professional version is cheaper over the whole service life. If you are unsure about the type, first have a look at the full range of treadmills.

Need help with your choice?

Would you like to buy a treadmill for home use but are you not quite sure which one suits your wishes and needs best? Then we are happy to help you further. You can reach our treadmill specialists by phone on +31 85 773 00 57, send an e-mail or visit our fitness store in Volkel, the Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions about treadmills for home use

How much space do you need for a treadmill at home?

While you are running you need the full length of the machine plus about a metre of clear space behind the belt so you can step off safely. Half a metre at the sides is pleasant, and above your head you count on your height plus the height of the deck. With a folding model you only need that space during the session; folded up, mainly the footprint of the frame is left.

Which treadmill is suitable for running?

A treadmill with a wide running belt of 51 cm or more, a heavier motor power and a maximum user weight well above your own weight. Running loads the deck with a multiple of your body weight at every step, so a machine built for walking then goes beyond its comfort zone. If you also want to do hill training, choose a motorised incline.

Is a treadmill better for your knees than running outdoors?

For many people it is, because the deck absorbs part of the shock that you take fully in your legs on tarmac and paving. The surface is also flat and predictable, with no kerbs and no potholes. It is still a load, so build up calmly and alternate with walking. If you have complaints, discuss pace and incline with your physiotherapist first.

How much electricity does a treadmill use?

A treadmill draws the most power when you switch it on and when you run on an incline or with a higher weight; at an easy walking pace the consumption stays limited. Connect the machine to its own wall socket and not to a long extension lead or a power strip with a lot of other equipment, because the voltage can then drop under load. That is better for the electronics too.

Does a treadmill make a lot of noise?

Most of the noise is not motor noise but vibration through the floor, and that is the part you can do something about. A mat under the machine, a well cushioned deck and starting calmly instead of sprinting together make the most difference. Do not put the treadmill in the middle of a room above a bedroom and keep some distance from the wall. Walking is clearly quieter than running.

Should you buy new or refurbished?

Refurbished is interesting if you want more machine than your budget allows new. You then often get a heavier frame and a heavier motor from a higher segment. Check what has been inspected and replaced and what warranty comes with it. New makes more sense if you want the latest display technology and app connections, or if you are going to use the machine intensively for years.