If it’s too hot, cold, or wet to run outdoors (or you just don’t feel like interacting with the outside world), having a treadmill at home can be the key to keeping your training plan on track, making it simple—if not easy—to hit the exact paces you want. And having a good tread isn’t just convenient, it can also help you add some variety to your running routine (hello, recovery walks, HIIT workouts , and hill runs ). “As much as I’m an outdoor runner, I find treadmills valuable when the weather’s bad or if you have kids and you just can’t leave the house,” Alli Felsenthal, a United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy–certified running coach and V.
DOT performance coach, tells SELF. She adds that treadmills can also be safer than running outside (especially after dark ). With so many options out there to choose from, we asked experts in the running industry what they consider the best treadmills for home use.
Then our vetted testers did the, well, legwork to see how the machines perform mile after mile. They sweat over all the small stuff (like water bottle storage and control button responsiveness) to help you find the right treadmill for your home. Top picks for the best treadmills Best Treadmill Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Best Treadmill for Running: Sole F85 Treadmill Best Folding Treadmill: NordicTrack EXP 10i Best Compact Treadmill: Echelon Fitness Stride-8s Best Treadmill Under $1,000: ProForm Carbon TLX Best Value Treadmill: BowFlex Treadmi.