Treadmill Reviews & Buying Guides

What this treadmill hub covers

Our treadmill reviews pull together everything we've tested, from fold-flat walking pads that slide under a sofa to belt-driven machines built for daily running. This hub lists them all, and you can filter by type, brand and rating, or search by name to narrow the field to the kind of treadmill you're after.

If you're new to buying one, the sections below explain what separates a budget folding model from something closer to a grand, and which specs are marketing noise versus the ones you'll notice on day one. Start with the filters to narrow the field, then read the full review before you commit.

How we pick what to recommend

We run each treadmill the way a home user would: short walking sessions, longer intervals, and for the running machines, a sustained effort to see whether the motor holds its speed under load. Cheap motors sag when you push them, and that's the kind of thing a spec sheet won't tell you.

We also pay attention to the dull stuff that decides whether a machine survives a year in a spare room. How stable is the frame at speed? Is the fold mechanism a two-handed wrestling match? How loud is it through a shared wall? Noise matters more than most buyers expect, especially in a flat.

Ratings reflect value at the price, not against some imaginary ideal. A sub-£300 folder and a £900 incline trainer are judged on different terms, because they're bought by different people for different jobs.

The specs that actually matter

Motor power is quoted in continuous horsepower (CHP), and that's the figure to trust; peak horsepower is a flattering number you can mostly ignore. For walking, 1.5 CHP is plenty. If you plan to run regularly, look for 2.5 CHP or more, or the belt will struggle and the motor will run hot.

Deck size is the other big one. Taller runners need a belt around 150cm long; anything shorter forces you to shorten your stride, which gets uncomfortable fast. A top speed near 16 km/h covers most running, while walking pads often cap lower, which is fine for their job but no good if you want to jog.

After that, weigh cushioning, maximum user weight (give yourself a comfortable margin, don't buy right at the limit), incline if you want to train harder in less space, and the folded footprint. App connectivity is a nice extra, not a reason to overspend; plenty of good machines skip it entirely and lose nothing for walkers.

Matching the machine to your space and budget

In a small flat, a fold-flat walking pad or under-desk treadmill is usually the sensible call. Many fold to a few centimetres and tuck under a bed or sofa, and they're quiet enough for downstairs neighbours. The trade-off is a shorter deck and a low top speed, so they suit walkers and light joggers rather than runners.

Folding motorised treadmills sit in the middle. They handle running, fold upright against a wall when you're done, and cover most budgets. If you've got a dedicated room and run seriously, a non-folding machine with a longer deck and a stronger motor is steadier and tends to last longer, though you pay for it and it won't shift once it's in place.

On budget, think in tiers. The cheapest end is walking-pad territory and fine for that. Spend toward £500 and you get a usable running folder; past £1000 you're buying incline, bigger decks and better cushioning. Buy for the training you'll actually do, not the training you imagine you might.