Adding a folding treadmill to your home is a great way to make daily walking a bit more accessible, especially if you don’t have a ton of time (or space) to spare. It can easily store under your desk or bed when it’s not in use, and then slide right out to help you stay active on days with particularly busy schedules or bad weather. Plus, this compact piece of equipment is more budget-friendly than higher-end smart treadmills like ones from Peloton or ProForm. To help you find the best folding treadmill for your home, we reached out to fitness experts for advice.
Think about your fitness goals and how you’ll use the treadmill, Sean Penwell, MD, ACSM-certified personal trainer and CEO of Healthstar Co, tells SELF. Are you getting back into a workout routine and just need an easy-to-use treadmill for walking or slower jogging? Are you mainly looking for a super-compact option to pair with your standing desk? Are you short on floor space, but want to do some running? Once you get a better idea of your priorities, then you can focus on more specific features to make your final choice. Exercise Treadmill
The speed range of the treadmill will dictate what kind of workouts you can do. “Some compact folding treadmills are small and sleek, but top out at just three miles per hour (mph). For most people, three mph is at the high end of average walking speed, so don’t expect to do any brisk power walking at this speed, let alone running,” Dr. Penwall says. “And if you’re already running an eight-minute mile, you’ll want a treadmill that can go at least 7.5 mph.”
You don’t want to end up with a treadmill that’s too big for your home—so be sure to measure the area where you plan to use and store it, then cross-reference those specs with dimensions of the tread itself, Sydney Bueckert, NASM-CPT, lead in-house fitness instructor at Sunny Health & Fitness in California, tells SELF. Doing so will ensure you can enjoy the treadmill and tuck it away without hassle. Bonus points if it has wheels: “Heavy lifting or complicated maneuvering is just one more barrier to getting your workout in, so checking for something as silly and simple as wheels can really improve your at-home experience.”
Then there’s the shape of your treadmill—you may need to put aside more room than you think, depending on how your machine compacts. “Very few modern treadmills fold completely up and will be more of a V-shape,” Garret Seacat, CSCS, head coach of Absolute Endurance in Manhattan, Kansas, tells SELF.
Next, look at your treadmill’s incline capabilities. Some machines have a manual incline—meaning you’ll have to physically get off the treadmill to change the degree—while others have automatic adjustments. Many folding treadmills don’t offer a huge range of incline levels, but if you’re hoping for a more challenging home workout, it may be worth looking into this option.
It’s also important to note that folding treadmills often have lighter maximum user weight limitations compared to non-folding models, because they’re built for portability as opposed to sturdiness. Folding treads generally range between 200 and 300 pounds, whereas the weight capacity of traditional or higher-end treadmills can be up to 400 or 500 pounds, depending on the brand.
Depending on how you plan to use a treadmill, there are other details you may want to look for, too. Dr. Penwall specifically points to app compatibility, live-streaming classes, and access to online communities where you can share your fitness goals and progress with other users.
Now that you have a better idea of what to expect from a folding treadmill—and which features might be more important for your individual goals—take a look at the best options from top brands and retailers like Amazon, NordicTrack, Horizon, and more, according to fitness experts.
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If you’re hoping to log some fast miles on your treadmill and still save space, consider the NordicTrack EXP 7i. “The product is durable, and is simply one of the best treadmills available, folding or not,” DJ Mazzoni, MS, CSCS, medical reviewer at Illuminate Labs, tells SELF. You can enjoy unlimited trainer-led workouts through iFit and stream them on the tread’s seven-inch HD touchscreen. Although it doesn’t fold completely flat, it does store upright when not in use.
“This no-frills treadmill is excellent for beginners, but even the most avid runners can find something to like about it,” Seacat says, adding that it has a classic folding mechanism and enough updated features to keep it current. The Horizon tread provides cushioning on its running surface, which can help reduce impact on your joints. It also includes a tablet mount with charging ports, so you can stream a show or fitness class on your own device.
By Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T.
Because they tend to be lighter than treads that store upright, ones that fold flat are considered to be sturdy enough for walking, but not great for running. This Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill breaks the mold as it falls into the latter category, so you can store it under a bed or couch, but has a speed range that should suit most runners. Bueckert adds that it offers some unique nice-to-have features, including ports for USB and headphone cables, a device holder, and nine preset workout programs.
Given its lower maximum speed, the Walkstation Slim Treadmill is an especially good pick for anyone who likes to stroll while they work or is just getting into walking workouts. It tops out at a brisk walking speed, so it’s made to help you log some steps and get your heart rate up in a low-impact way. “And, because of its compact size, it’s easy to move around or roll right into storage,” Bueckert adds.
The Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill is not only compact and more affordable than other models, but has a surprisingly versatile design too. When the handrail is raised, the treadmill is in “jogging mode” and its maximum speed increases. When the handrail is down, the “walking mode” kicks in and the top speed decreases. It’s also built to be relatively unobtrusive in your home, as it weighs 70 pounds and has a very quiet 2.25 HP motor. If you’re hoping to walk or run more without dropping a ton of money, this Goplus tread is a solid option.
By Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T.
The WalkingPad has achieved TikTok fame and glory in the last couple years for its space-saving design, ease of use, and the boost it adds to users’ WFH days ( some fans hop on during Zoom meetings, while others use it as a welcome distraction). Its running surface provides plenty of shock absorption and has a unique step sensor that automatically adjusts its speed to match your steps. Plus, you can store it either vertically or flat under furniture.
Victoria Brady, ACE-CPT, a personal trainer for Fyt, likes this model from Sunny Health & Fitness for its built-in workouts, which allow you to simply lace up your running shoes, choose which preset program sounds good, and get moving. For those curious about their fitness specs and metrics, the handlebars on this treadmill not only feature speed and incline setting buttons, but they can measure your heart rate with a touch too. All that helpful info is viewable on the machine’s LCD screen.
Another top pick of Seacat’s is the Xterra TRX3500. It has a larger, 60-inch running deck that can feel more comfortable for taller people with a longer stride. Best of all, the treadmill has Bluetooth speakers, and it can connect to community-based fitness apps like Zwift “to allow you to race against friends and other runners in a digital world,” says Seacat. However you like to work out, you can enjoy straightforward and motivating exercise programs on the 6.5-inch LCD display.
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
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