Treadmills
This article appeared in Treadmills have long been the most popular home workout machines, commanding more than 50 percent of the market. Running is the gold standard of cardiovascular exercise, after all. We tested 29 treadmills, analyzing ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range, quality and durability of construction, safety, and more.
All treadmills have a motor that powers the moving running deck. Spending more on a treadmill usually buys you more horsepower, sturdier construction, better hardware, a longer deck, and a longer warranty. The top-rated Precor 9.31, a powerful, well-built model that scored well across the board, is also the most expensive at $3,300. Spend a little less and you can still get a decent machine that will provide a good workout. The Sole F63, a very good and easy-to-operate folding treadmill, is a CR Best Buy at $1,000.
Some treadmills, including the PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR and LifeSpan TR2000, have a negative-incline option to simulate downhill running, which works different muscle groups. Other models offer adjustable cushioning. A good version of this feature, found on the NordicTrack A2550, allows you to alternate the feel of your workout from running on concrete to running on a padded track.
Some treadmills come with gadgets such as an MP3 dock with speakers or a headphone jack, which might be worth it if they entice you to work out more. One machine, the LifeSpan TR1200i, includes a built-in step counter for those who like to measure their progress that way. It also has the USB tracker if you prefer a more high-tech system. But you could purchase a highly rated pedometer separately for as little as $30, so don't let that sway you too much.
The folding Best Fitness BFT1 earned a rating of Don't Buy: Performance Problem because its incline feature malfunctioned on two of the three treadmills we tested. The incline controls on one stopped working completely shortly after testing began. On another the "up" incline worked fine, but pressing the "down" button turned off power to the belt's motor and the machine coasted to a stop. Sometimes, pressing the "down" button again would turn the machine back on, and pressing the power button worked when that did not.
