The best treadmills for indoor walking and running, tested

Score: 92/100

Peloton may be synonymous with cycling (check out our Peloton Bike Plus review), but the brand has done a fine job with its first foray into the world of treadmills.

The Peloton App provides a seemingly endless supply of workouts — with running options available alongside alternative offerings like strength and yoga sessions — and creates a sense of community by connecting you with fellow members.

There are live leaderboards to show how you compare with Tread users who have completed the same workout, other runners can send you high fives to congratulate you on a great effort, and classes are led by Duracell Bunny-like instructors whose infectious energy helped our testers push harder than they would if running alone.

It doesn’t fold away, so isn’t a good fit for smaller rooms, but we still liked the Peloton’s sleek overall design. The fact there was no plastic bumper at the front of the belt also drew praise as we caught our feet on this when using other models, and the use of adjustable speed and incline dials on the treadmill’s arms (rather than the usual buttons on the control panel) was a masterstroke.

Score: 90/100

Coming in just behind our Peloton winner, there’s a lot to shout about with this sleek NordicTrack offering. It boasts top speeds of 20kmph, incline options from –3% up to 12% and a crystal-clear pivoting touchscreen for workouts on and off the treadmill.

On that note, there are over 10,000 (!) workouts to choose from via the iFIT app (our fitness pro loved the variety and said the instructors were extremely engaging), and automatic speed and incline adjustments, allowing you to focus on your runs and hikes without having to fumble for buttons.

According to our expert, the generous deck offers just the right level of cushioning – it’s springy and responsive without feeling unstable underfoot. There are two water bottle folders and a built-in fan, however it wasn’t the strongest.

Though you do need a good chunk of space for the 1750, it has an EasyLift assist system, so folding and unfolding it is a faff-free process. Overall, a stellar piece of kit for runners of all levels and a worthwhile addition to any home gym.

Score: 81/100

If you like the sound of the feature-heavy treadmills above but simply don’t have the space, let us introduce you to the Echelon Stride-6s. It’s extremely compact and folds completely flat, so you can easily store it away when not in use.

Our tester rated the Echelon app, which is packed with a plethora of live and on-demand classes, plus leaderboards to keep you accountable. Classes are delivered via a crisp 10-inch HD touchscreen and there’s a neat console which reveals your stats and helps you keep track of your progress.

It offers a 20kmph top speed and a respectable 12% incline, which should be sufficient enough to challenge most runners. Adjusting these was quick and easy thanks to sliding dials on the sidebars. There are two conveniently placed cup holders, charging ports to plug in your tech and heart rate sensors on the handlebars. The built-in fan was a tad disappointing, though.

Our fitness pro did experience some wobbling at top speeds and the deck might be too small for some. On the plus side, the motor is almost whisper quiet.

Score: 81/100

Setting up a treadmill can sometimes be a stressful affair, but there’s no such problem with this sleek Technogym running machine. Your purchase comes with free installation – no need to worry about faffing around with screws and bolts – as well a training session with a Technogym expert so you can get to grips with your new running buddy quickly and safely.

Thanks to the stellar customer service and support, our expert found the treadmill refreshingly simple and intuitive to use. There’s one lever to adjust the incline, one for speed and another for stopping and starting. There’s a quick start function so you can get going without fiddling with any controls, and we loved the accompanying Technogym app, which is jam-packed with engaging guided workouts and scenic running routes, and there's auto-adjust speed and incline functionality. It also links to third-party apps like Strava and Zwift, or you can just stream Netflix as you rack up the miles.

Unlike many premium running machines, MyRun’s design is neat and compact, so it won’t take over your entire living room. It’s also much more aesthetically pleasing than most treadmills. We found it moved smoothly at even the highest speeds, the motor was whisper-quiet and the data screens (which you can access via the app) were detailed and clearly presented all our main statistics.

Coming in at over £3500, it isn’t cheap, but if you can afford to splash out, it’s undoubtedly worth it.

Score: 79/100

Looking for a gym-quality treadmill experience at home for under £2,000? You can’t go wrong with the JTX Sprint-8 Pro, which comes in at £1,449.

The sleek machine ticked all the boxes for our experts, who were impressed with the generous running deck and solid steel frame. It didn’t shake once during our rigorous testing, and it was seriously smooth underfoot, even at higher speeds. This makes it a good choice for those with a larger frame or a heavy footfall.

With a max speed of 20kmph (that’s a 4:40min per mile pace) and a respectable 15% incline, it’s suitable for both couch-to-5kers and speedsters. There are lots of pre-set workouts to choose from, or if you prefer interactive coaching, there’s a device holder and built-in speakers for streaming sessions.

The motor was pretty quiet (ideal for 6am sessions before work), it was easy to adjust the speed and incline during our runs, and there’s a heart rate monitor for more focused training. The machine also comes with a three-year warranty for peace of mind. Though it's foldable and has a wheeled base, we found it difficult to move around and store away, but that was our only quibble. Overall, a quality piece of kit that’s suitable for the whole family.

Score: 78/100

This Domyos treadmill doesn’t have all the mod cons of more expensive models, but it still impressed our testing team with a solid all-round performance. They praised the robust, high-quality steel frame and appreciated the cushioned belt, which provided sufficient bounce while protecting their long-suffering knees.

Its top speed of 18km/h should be plenty for most, while it has a decent 10% incline for replicating hilly routes, and there are no fewer than 32 pre-set workouts to suit all experience levels.

The motor is fairly quiet, so there’s no need to worry about waking up your neighbours during early morning runs, and it can be folded away – ideal for those who don’t want a cardio machine to take over their entire living room. There’s no fancy touchscreen but the backlit console displays all your key stats clearly, including time, distance, pace and calories burned. According to our experts, it’s incredibly easy to navigate, with large buttons for adjusting the speed and incline as well as pausing and ending a session.

As a bonus, there’s a tablet holder and built-in speakers so you can stream Netflix during more relaxed sessions. You also get a fan to keep you cool as you work up a sweat and a chest strap to monitor your heart rate accurately.

Score: 77/100

If you struggle to get your steps in when it's miserable outside (us too), a walking pad is the perfect solution. Unlike most of the other treadmills in our round-up, this UREVO design, which has a slim flat base and no handles, has been created specifically for walking and light jogging, reaching speeds up to 6km/h. It’s a great option if you work from home and want to be more active during the day – all you need is a standing desk converter and you’re good to go.

According to our expert, it couldn’t be simpler to use – simply plug it in and get moving. Despite the purse-friendly price tag, the build is surprisingly sturdy, there's a nice level of cushioning on the belt and it’s quiet enough to use in a shared space.

There’s a basic but easy-to-read LED display, which toggles between your time on the pad, speed, distance and calories, allowing you to keep track of your progress, and you can switch up the speed or pause the machine using the remote control.

It scored highly for accuracy in terms of step count and speed, and thanks to its compact size, you can store it away under the sofa when not in use. Just note, it may be too small for anyone on the larger or taller side (over 6ft).

Score: 74/100

The second Domyos treadmill in our round-up, the RUN500 is £200 cheaper than the T900D above, yet it’s still brimming with impressive features.

Unlike many small machines, which can feel unstable and rattly, the design proved extremely sturdy, even when running at faster speeds. Though on the narrow side, there was sufficient room to run, and it felt comfortable and smooth underfoot. Its petite stature and neat, folding design also mean it’s ideal if you’re short on space.

Our expert raved about the generous touchscreen console and bright LED display, which shows your stats, including time, distance, speed, calories and pace. You don’t get a built-in screen (perhaps not surprising for the price) but you can plug in your phone or tablet and work your way through the 30 pre-set workouts. The machine is also super quiet.

The top speed of 16kph should be more than enough for the average runner and the 10% incline is fantastic for hilly walks and runs. The sidebars are a tad short, and the water bottle holders are tricky to reach mid-run, but these are minor quibbles for an otherwise reliable machine.

Score: 74/100

Another offering from the experts at JTX, this one is an excellent choice if you’re short on space. It’s lightweight, compact and can be stored completely flat, with a handy wheeled base to make lugging it around the house a doddle.

As for space-saving credentials, it earned our experts’ seal of approval for its simple yet effective design. It has a max speed of 16km/ph, with 36 pre-set workouts and the option to create your own personalised routines based on your goals. At under £600, it doesn’t have a touchscreen, but it can be linked to a phone or tablet to stream sessions from your favourite running apps or just catch-up on your favourite shows as you wrack up the miles. It also has a large digital display – showcasing your speed, time, distance and calories burned – to help you keep track of your progress.

The speed buttons located on the handlebars were easy to reach and adjust mid-run, the smooth-moving belt provided a stable surface for all our walks, jogs and runs (no wobbling reported), and the motor was one of the quietest out of all the machines we tested.

Just note, there are no incline or decline options, so look to one of our other options if hiking or hill running are your thing.