Best Treadmill Brands for Home Use 

Best Treadmill Brands for Home Use

January 11, 2020

Walking or running on a treadmill has numerous benefits and is one of the safest ways to exercise. This is because less stress is put on your joints than if you were running on an uneven or flat outdoor surface.

In addition to this, you don’t need to turn to the streets in order to clock in those miles and get your heart pumping. Also, weather conditions don’t affect your workout schedule.

These days, no home gym worth the title is complete without a treadmill. But it wasn’t always this way. Let’s discuss the topic to turn you into a pro that can pick the best brand to use for your home gym.

How Treadmills Evolved into Our Homes

Originally, treadmills were only found in professional gyms and the homes of the ultra-rich. Think members of elite families and glamorous housewives. But how did treadmills come to be?

For people who aren’t fitness enthusiasts, running on a treadmill can feel a little bit like torture. As it turns out, the modern treadmill is a variation of a 1800s British punishment device called a treadwheel.

Tread wheels were used as a form of hard labor punishment for British prisoners as well as a means to keep them from being idle. Fast forward a century or so and the treadmill was born.

As labor-intensive jobs began being replaced by office-based jobs, people needed to exercise to combat the negative effects of leading a sedentary life.

Thanks to some strategic marketing moves, the treadmill provided the perfect solution to the need for exercise. Today, the treadmill industry is an eye-watering $1.4 billion market.

Treadmill Price Range

These days, treadmills aren’t only accessible to the wealthy. Everyday consumers have an assortment of budget-friendly treadmill options to take their pick from.

The treadmill market is saturated with products ranging from dirt-cheap to expensive. A cheap bare-boned treadmill can cost as little as $200 while treadmills with all the bells and whistles can easily cost upwards of $2,500.

Best Treadmill Brands

As the demand for treadmills rises, more manufacturers pop up to meet this demand. But the truth is: not every brand deserves your hard-earned money.

Are you considering purchasing a treadmill to bring you closer to achieving your fitness goals? If you are, it’s important to know that not all brands are the same.

To make sure you don’t end up with a useless piece of dust-gathering junk, opt for a treadmill produced by one of the industry-leading brands.

3G Cardio

3G Cardio is an Arizona-based company that manufactures health and fitness equipment for the everyday consumer. The company develops its products with a “simple by design” outlook and their treadmills embody this which is why their prices are hard to beat.

The range of treadmills that 3G Cardio offers includes the 80i Fold Flat, Lite Runner, Pro Runner, and the Elite Runner. 3G Cardio’s most popular treadmill model is their Elite Runner.

The Elite Runner can reach speeds of up to 12MPH, has an orthopedic belt and 15% maximum incline. It has a 4.0HP motor and can support users weighing up to 400lb.

3G Cardio Elite Runner Treadmill

In addition to their treadmills, 3G Cardio manufactures exercise bikes and vibration machines.

Bowflex

The Bowflex brand has been around since 1986. Nautilus, Inc. is a company based in Vancouver that markets and sells Bowflex fitness training equipment through various national & international channels.

Bowflex offers three different models of treadmills, all of which still sell very well. The BXT116 from the Results Series range is the most popular Bowflex treadmill.

The Bowflex BXT116 has a motorized incline up to 15% and reaches speeds up to 12MPH. It has a 4.0HP motor, a maximum weight capacity of 400lb and a connection to Bowflex JRNY.

Bowflex BXT116 Treadmill

The Bowflex product range includes home gyms, elliptical machines, body towers, HVTs, lateral trainers and fitness accessories.

Horizon Fitness

Horizon Fitness is a brand that is often found in the stores of premium retailers including its parent company Johnson and the premium Dick’s Sporting Goods. The brand was established in 1999 and is based in Wisconsin.

Their treadmill line-up features the GO Series and the STUDIO Series. Each series contains three treadmill models that feature patented technology. The most popular Horizon Fitness treadmill is the T101 from the GO Series, which is their cheapest model.

The T101 has a 2.5CHP motor and can reach speeds up to 10MPH. It can support weights of up to 300lb and has an incline range of 10%.

horizon fitness T101-05 Folding Treadmill, Black

Horizon Fitness also offers a range of ellipticals and cycling machines.

Life Fitness

Life Fitness is an all-American fitness company that is responsible for the development of the very first electronic stationary bicycle. The company was established in 1977 and its headquarters can be found in Illinois.

The Club Series, Platinum Club Series, Integrity Series, and the T & F Series are the treadmill lines Life Fitness has on offer. Of all their treadmills, the T5 and F3 are the most popular models.

Both treadmills have a 3.0HP motor and that’s where the similarities stop.

The T5 has a maximum user weight of 400lb, a 15% incline and can reach speeds up to 12MPH.

The Life Fitness F3 can accommodate users who weigh up to 350lb, has a 12% incline and a maximum speed of 10MPH.

Life Fitness F3

Life Fitness also produces an assortment of strength training tools and accessories as well as indoor cycling machines & rowers.

LifeSpan

LifeSpan was formed in 2001 and the brand has surpassed even its own expectations. The brand is recognized within the fitness industry and has been the proud recipient of several awards. LifeSpan offers a range of products for both the home and the workspace.

The LifeSpan portfolio of treadmills includes 11 different options to meet different needs. They even offer treadmills with built-in desks for those who work from home. The TR4000i folding treadmill is the company’s most popular treadmill.

The LifeSpan TR4000i has a 3.25HP motor and can handle weight up to 350lb. It has 13 levels of incline and can reach speeds up to 12MPH.

LifeSpan TR4000i Touch Folding Treadmill | At Home Fitness Treadmill

In addition to their treadmills, LifeSpan also produces stretching machines, rowers, exercise bikes and ellipticals.

NordicTrack

The NordicTrack brand belongs to the Utah-based ICON Health and Fitness group. The brand was developed in 1975 and has gained a reputation in the industry for producing classic fitness equipment.

NordicTrack has three lines of treadmills: the T Series, Commercial Series, and the Commercial Incline Treadmill Series. All lines are extremely popular, but a few models continuously top the charts:

  • The C700 offers a 300lb weight capacity, a 10% incline and speeds up to 10MPH. It has a 2.75HP motor. 
  • The NordicTrack 1750 from the brand’s Commercial Series. It has a 300lb max user weight, but includes a 3.75HP motor, a 15% incline and is capable of reaching 12MPH.
  • The T 6.5 Si has a 2.6HP motor, an incline of up to 10%, a maximum speed capacity of 10MPH and can accommodate weights up to 300lb.
  • The T 9.5S from the T Series range features a 3.6HP motor, a 12% incline, a maximum weight capacity of 300lb and a maximum speed of 12MPH.
NordicTrack T 9.5 S Treadmill- Includes 1-Year iFit Membership

On top of producing some of the best treadmills on the market, NordicTrack also manufactures ski machines, incline trainers, ellipticals, exercise bikes and a plethora of accessories.

Precor

Precor has been providing personalized health and fitness experiences for over three decades now. Precor's parent company is none other than Amer Sports, a leading sporting goods company. The company is headquartered in Washington.

Precor has one line of treadmills called the Experience Series. The Experience Series is made up of 10 different treadmill models of which the TRM 425 is the most popular.

The Precor TRM 425 has a 3.0HP motor and a maximum weight capacity of 300lb. It offers speeds of up to 12MPH and has an incline of up to 15%.

Precor TRM 425 treadmill review

The Precor brand also offers a range of cardio and strength equipment. Their offering includes exercise bikes, ellipticals, climbers and rowers.

ProForm

It seems as though ICON Health and Fitness is the world’s leading distributor of fitness equipment for a reason. ProForm is yet another brand that falls under the ICON Health and Fitness umbrella.

ProForm has four different treadmill lines, being the Pro Series, the Power Series, the Performance Series, and the Thinline Series. The Pro and Performance Series continue to do well and are the brand’s bestselling range. Of the ranges, the Pro 5000 and the Performance 600i are the most sought-after models.

The Performance 600i has a 2.75CHP motor and can incline up to 12%. It has a maximum weight capacity of 325lb and reaches speeds up to 12MPH.

The Pro 5000 has a 4.0HP motor, an incline up to 15%, maximum speeds of 12MPH and a weight capacity of 300lb.

ProForm Performance 400i Treadmill World-Class Personal Training in The Comfort of Your Home

The ProForm product line includes ellipticals, exercise machines, rowing machines, and hybrid trainers.

SOLE

SOLE Fitness began as a manufacturer for treadmills specifically for usage in the hospitality industry. SOLE’s products can be found in most hotels, including the likes of the Hilton Hotel and Hotel Monaco, and on luxury cruise ships. The company is headquartered in Utah.

The SOLE line of treadmills features eight different treadmill models. They range in price from $1,800 to $6,700. The TT8, F80, and F85 are SOLE’s most popular treadmill models & are truly standing the test of time:

  • All three models can reach speeds up to 12MPH and can incline up to 15%. 
  • The TT8 can accommodate weights up to 425lb and has a 4.0HP motor.
  • The F80 has a 375lb weight capacity and is powered by a 3.5CHP motor.
  • And finally, the F85 has a 4.0CHP motor and a maximum user weight of 400lb.
SOLE F80 Treadmill with Bluetooth Speakers

On top of producing premium treadmills, SOLE also produces ellipticals, exercise bikes, rowers and climbers.

Sunny Health & Fitness

Sunny Health & Fitness is an importer and distributor of high-quality fitness equipment at low prices. The company has been operating for over a decade and continues to satisfy customers with their premiere products. Sunny Health & Fitness has headquarters in both the US and China.

Sunny Health & Fitness offers an assortment of motorized and manual treadmills. They have different treadmills for different needs, from recovery treadmills to performance training treadmills. Their bestselling treadmills include the SF-T7515 and the SF-T4400.

The SF-T4400 has a weight capacity of 200lb, features a 2.2HP motor, is capable of reaching up to 9MPH and has a manual incline.

The SF-T7515 can support weights up to 250lb and speeds up to 8MPH, has a 1.0HP motor & an auto incline feature.

Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill

In addition to their impressive range of budget-friendly treadmills, Sunny Health & Fitness also distributes rowing machines, exercise bikes, ellipticals, steppers and an assortment of strength & fitness tools & accessories.

Treadly

Treadly is the innovative brand behind the world’s thinnest treadmill. Treadly, LLC is a New York based independent company that has been the recipient of numerous awards.

At the time of writing, Treadly has only one product in their offering: the Treadly. If you’d like to get your hands on the upcoming Treadly+ when it is released, pre-orders are now open.

The Treadly can reach a maximum speed of 5MPH, has a 350W motor and can support users of up to 220lb. It doesn’t offer any kind of incline adjustment.

A Treadly treadmill is a mere 3.5 inches thick and weighs only 64 pounds. Its unique design means it takes up hardly any space—slide it under your couch, slip it under your desk or place it inside your wardrobe.

Weslo

ICON Health and Fitness developed Weslo treadmills so that people can take care of their health, no matter what their budgets are. Weslo was established in 1977 and is one of the most affordable brands of treadmills available on the market today.

The Weslo brand has a range of different treadmills including the CrossWalk Series, Cadence G Series, and the Cadence R Series. Of all their products, the Cadence G 5.9 and Cadence R 5.2 remain the most popular models:

  • Both models can reach a maximum speed of 12MPH. 
  • The G 5.9 has a 2.25CHP motor, a 2-point adjustable incline and can accommodate a maximum user weight of 275lb.
  • The R 5.2 features a 2.5HP motor, a 15% incline and a weight capacity of 250lb.
Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Cadence Folding Treadmill, Easy Assembly with Bluetooth

Exercise bikes and a line of ellipticals can also be found in the Weslo product offering.

Final Thoughts:

And there you have it: the best treadmill brands for home use. Treadmills are fantastic pieces of workout equipment and they deserve their spot in your home gym. Make sure you conduct enough research on the make and model of a treadmill that will grace your home gym.

You can’t go wrong with any of the brands we mentioned. Use them and we’re sure no matter which one you opt for, you’ll be satisfied with the treadmill you end up purchasing.

Ready to work up a sweat? Start shopping!

About the author 

Kevin Lee

Health and fitness have always been a passion for me; whether its being in the weight room, going for a run before work or even participating in a half iron man triathlon. ShapeJunkie was created to share to knowledge and love of fitness with others.

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