Often, people have a number of different criteria when it comes to purchasing a treadmill. They want a cost-effective model, or one that can fit in small spaces. Maybe they want one that works with a desk, or one that has a place to hold their tablet. But in this article, we will be looking at the best home treadmill for running.
This means that our number one focus will be on running experience, and how well a treadmill will be able to cope with running long distances or running at top speed. We will look at shock absorption, as this is incredibly important for runners. We will also review the value for money of the treadmill as well as the noise it makes as these are still important considerations for people looking for a new treadmill.
In this article we will be reviewing eight treadmills that are (in our opinion) the best home treadmills for running. That means that we will be focusing on how good they are for running on over all else. Let’s take a look at them.
| Name | Price | Durability | Power | Comfort | Noise | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precor TRM 445 Precision Series | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 19/25 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack Commercial 2950 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 21/25 | Check Price |
| Bowflex BXT216 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 21/25 | Check Price |
| Sunny Health Performance SF-T7820 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 18/25 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack T 9.5 S Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 19/25 | Check Price |
| Cybex 770T | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 19/25 | Check Price |
| Nautilus T618 Treadmill | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 18/25 | Check Price |
| ProForm Pro 2000 Treadmill | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 20/25 | Check Price |
Home Treadmill for Running #1: Precor TRM 445 Precision Series
The Precor TRM 445 Precision Series treadmill is a seriously good piece of kit. While it may seem a bit pricey, this is more than made up for by the high durability of the treadmill. Being made with high quality parts and offering a 10-year parts and wear warranty (as well as lifetime frame and welds) means that this treadmill could last you over a decade of use.
The Precor TRM 445 offers a top speed of 12mph, a 2% decline, and a 15% incline, allowing you to simulate all manner of terrain. While it only offers a 3 CHP motor, this treadmill is still fantastic for running. It provides a ground effects impact control system which is patented technology exclusive to Precor. It also offers integrated foot plant technology, which reduces stress on the knees and ankles.
Reducing stress on the joints as well as providing incline and decline options makes the Precor TRM 445 the long-distance runners’ friend. It may not suit sprinting due to its average motor, but if you usually run 5km or more then this treadmill will provide everything that you need.
Home Treadmill for Running #2: NordicTrack Commercial 2950
The NordicTrack Commercial 2950 is the most powerful home treadmill that we have encountered, offering a 4.25 CHP motor, a -3% decline and a 15% incline, this treadmill will allow you to run as hard as you can for as long as you can. Obviously, this treadmill is going to be amazing for longer distance runs, but it will also allow you to sprint as hard as you can too.
As with the Precor treadmill, the NordicTrack is sold at a premium price, but its incredibly durability will make the investment worthwhile. There is no reason why you would need to purchase another treadmill within 10 or 15 years! That’s using it every day for an hour at a time. If it did fall apart, the treadmill is protected by a 10-year frame warranty, a 2-year parts warranty, and a 1-year labor warranty.
For such a large treadmill it is surprisingly quiet, this is mostly due to having a powerful motor that can easily handle the top speed. The NordicTrack Commercial 2950 also comes with a 1 year’s free subscription to iFit, a recorded personal trainer that can transport you to exotic locations through the treadmill’s 22-inch smart HD touchscreen.
If you find the idea of running on a treadmill for 60 minutes boring, then following a recorded trainer through forests and up mountains (using that excellent incline feature) will help make your run exciting, it will also help to motivate you to run harder or for longer (or both). The year’s subscription can be extended but you will have to pay. Obviously, if you love the feature then it is worth paying, but if you don’t really use it you can cancel before paying anything.
Home Treadmill for Running #3: Bowflex BXT216
Bowflex are a well-respected company known for their innovation and the quality of their products. They only offer two treadmills, the Bowflex BXT116 and the Bowflex BXT216. The BXT216 is slightly more expensive, though both are very reasonably priced. The BXT216 is the treadmill that we are reviewing as in our opinion it is one of the best home treadmills for running.
The first thing that you notice about this treadmill is the very powerful motor, at 4.0 CHP this motor is the second most powerful on this list (just past the NordicTrack Commercial 2950 that we reviewed earlier). With a top speed of 12mph and the ability to increase the incline by 15% this treadmill ticks a lot of boxers for any serious runner.
The Bowflex BXT216 also offers excellent comfort and unbeatable shock absorption thanks to the use of Comfort Tech, known as the gold standard for impact absorption. You can walk off a treadmill after a highly intense run and feel no ill-effects on your knees, ankles, or hips. Bowflex also offers a free RunSocial App, which provides 19 locations and 27 routes for you to follow on your tablet while running.
Home Treadmill for Running #4: Sunny Health & Fitness Performance Treadmill SF-T7820
Sunny Health & Fitness have a great reputation for providing good, quality products at reasonable prices – as such we have given them a five out of five for their value for money. This is a much lower priced treadmill than many on this list, and it should therefore be judged with this fact in mind.
This treadmill is for the serious runner on a budget. The motor is the weakest of the eight treadmills on this list at only 2.5 HP, and it only offers a top speed of 9mph. However, it is incredibly durable, and is surprisingly comfortable with a spacious running deck. The treadmill also offers a 15% incline, which will help increase the intensity of a run – and softens the blow of not being able to go past 9mph. Running at 9mph at a 15% incline is going to burn more calories and require more effort than sprinting at 12mph on a flat surface.
If your budget does not stretch to some of the better models on this list, then the SF-T820 performance treadmill by Sunny Health & Fitness is a fantastic compromise. Delivering a high-quality run at a reasonable price.
Home Treadmill for Running #5: NordicTrack T 9.5 S Treadmill
Another NordicTrack treadmill makes this list, they really are the number one treadmill manufacturers around! The NordicTrack T 9.5 S Treadmill is a lower-priced offering than the previously mentioned NordicTrack Commercial 2950, though that does not mean a drop in quality. The NordicTrack T 9.5 S offers a 3.6 CHP motor and a top speed of 12mph. It is also capable of increasing the incline to help you run at a higher intensity.
Just like the Commercial 2950, the T 9.5 S treadmill provides a free year’s subscription to iFit. This technology is really starting to become popular as it can make a normal treadmill session feel exciting and new. Allowing you to run in many different locations, and automatically adjusting the incline to simulate the terrain that you are supposedly running in.
As with all NordicTrack treadmills, the shock absorption is excellent. This treadmill uses FlexSelect cushioning to soften the impact on your joints as you run. However, if you want to simulate running on a hard surface such as a road (which allows you to run harder and with more power) you can reduce the cushioning. A really cool way to tailor your workout to your specific needs. This is such a good treadmill for runners, and at an affordable price.
Home Treadmill for Running #6: Cybex 770T Treadmill
This is a proper gym ready treadmill that is ideal for home use (if you’re looking for a seriously durable treadmill). With a max user weight capacity that is 100lbs more than usual (400lbs when most treadmills are 300lbs), the Cybex 770T treadmill can withstand anything. Except for a 401lb person!
The treadmill has a superb warranty, with ten years on the frame, seven years on parts, and one year on labor. Good warranties are usually a sign that the manufacturer is confident in their product. The treadmill is also great from a safety point of view. It uses Amrz stability bars to prevent injury, helping you to easily grab hold of something if you’re beginning to lose your balance, or lose your footing.
The cushioning is also impressive, the Cybex 770T treadmill uses the shock-absorbing Intelligent Suspension Deck. This will help protect your knees and joints from the rigors of a hard run.
This is what is expected from Cybex products, something that you can plug in and be fully confident in. A treadmill that will run hard, will ensure safety, and one that looks exactly like you’d want a treadmill to look. While Cybex models aren’t always the cheapest, they are great value for money. Particularly when you factor in lifespan.
Home Treadmill for Running #7: Nautilus T618 Treadmill
Nautilus are one of the biggest fitness equipment companies in the world, and they are famous for their excellent resistance machines as well as their high-quality cardio machines. The Nautilus T618 treadmill is one of the best cardio machines they sell.
The first thing that you notice when you see this treadmill is how professional it looks. The Nautilus T618 treadmill is the sort of treadmill you would expect to see in a fancy gym or health spa. Many of its features back up that first impression.
Boasting a 3.5 CHP motor, this treadmill will perform admirably day-in day-out and easily be able to cope with the machine’s top speed of 12mph. The Nautilus T618 treadmill also offers a 0-15% motorized incline setting, which will allow you to recreate running up hills, and will massively increase your calories burned.
The running path is really good too, with a 20-inch width and 60-inch length allowing runners of all gaits to flourish. The belt also has a rebound deck cushioning system, which will really help to minimize the risk of injury by absorbing shock in your knees, ankles, and hips. The belt is 3 ply and has a thickness of 2.5mm.
The Nautilus T618 treadmill is designed to work in partnership with the free app RunSocial, offering 27 virtual reality routes across 19 locations. Just load the app onto your tablet and place it on your treadmill, which will help to increase your enjoyment of the run no end.
Home Treadmill for Running #8: ProForm Pro 2000 Treadmill
The final treadmill on our list is the Pro 2000 treadmill from ProForm, a fitness equipment company that is well-known and respected for its 30 years of experience. The ProForm Pro 2000 treadmill offers a 12mph top speed powered by a 3.5 CHP motor, it also offers a -3% decline, and 15% incline to help simulate many different terrains and racing experiences.
The treadmill also comes with iFit Coach technology, which allows you to map your own routes on Google Maps, or use one of hundreds of pre-arranged routes such as “Tour Asia” to create a run that you can perform on your treadmill. The app works on your tablet and can help transport you to different locations across the globe. Immersing you in amazing scenery that will really enhance the running experience.
This may just be the perfect budget treadmill for runners, with a decent amount of power, a challenging top speed, great incline and decline features, and one of the smoothest rides on this list. The ProForm Pro 2000 treadmill also has a 7-inch backlit display which will help you to gauge how hard you are working, and how long you’ve been running, as well as giving you a good indication of the amount of calories that you have burned.
Final Thoughts
We’ve taken a look at eight of the best home treadmills for running that are currently available. We have included a range of different products that will suit every budget. The ProForm Pro 2000 treadmill may be perfect for a hardcore runner who is on a budget, or alternatively you may prefer the Sunny Health & Fitness Performance Treadmill SF-T7820 which offers similar features for even less money.
Or you may fancy a slightly more durable machine such as the Nautilus T618 treadmill, that will last for years while also providing a really good running experience.
But if we are looking for our personal favorites, it really is a toss up between the NordicTrack Commercial 2950 and the Bowflex BXT216. The NordicTrack Commercial 2950 is without a doubt the best treadmill on this list, it has the most powerful motor, excellent incline and decline settings, and its durability is fantastic.
But at a generally cheaper price, the Bowflex BXT216 is just so impressive. It has a powerful motor, also offers great speeds, is durable, and has fantastic impact absorption. If you have an unlimited budget then the NordicTrack Commercial is the treadmill for you, but if not then the Bowflex BXT216 is your best bet.
Only seriously fit runners will ever need to push themselves hard enough to see the difference between the two treadmills, as both motors are so powerful. The NordicTrack does offer the 1 year subscription to iFit which really helps it stand out from the crowd, but again, this may come down to budget as you have to pay monthly after your years subscription runs out.
Bottom Line: The Bowflex BXT216 just manages to shade the NordicTrack Commercial 2950 due to its lower price range and the fact that it holds its own in power, shock absorption, and running experience. But either treadmill would be a fantastic investment.
