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:
- Best value:
- Best mid-range:
- Best premium:
- Best non-smart tech treadmill:
Peloton Tread
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 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
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 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.