The Best Incline Treadmill: What to Consider Before Choosing One in 2024

Choosing the right inclined treadmill involves evaluating your budget, current abilities, and aims to find a machine accommodating all factors for successful workouts.

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Overview

If your intention when working out is to get your heart racing while helping burn more calories, an inclined treadmill is worth looking into. You can run, walk, or jog on this gym equipment, outfitted with modern tech and additional features that make it easy to personalize your workout sessions.

The result when using an inclined treadmill is building your endurance and strength, and with many models available, choosing the best treadmill might be confusing. For your personal use, you will want to get the best, the one that ticks all the boxes.

In this article, we have analyzed the aspects and factors that help you identify the best-inclined treadmills that will give you value for your money. We break down the information in terms of functionality, durability, cost, and specifications.

Best Incline Treadmill

Best Incline Treadmill Overall:
Horizon 7.0 AT Fitness Treadmill

Best Folding Incline Treadmill:
Sole F63

Best Compact Incline Treadmill:
Sunny Health And Fitness (SF-T4400) Treadmill

Best Incline Treadmill for Running:
NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Best Incline Treadmill for Walking:
Echelon Stride 6

Our Top Picks

#1 Horizon 7.0 Fitness Treadmill

Key Specifications:

  • Material: Plastic, Metal
  • Dimensions: 76″D x 35″W x 66″H
  • Speed Range: 0.5-12 mph
  • Incline Range: 0-15%
  • User Weight Limit: 325 pounds
  • Special Features: Foldable, Bluetooth, QuickDial controls

What we love:

  • Seamless app integration for personalized media experience
  • Customizable cushioning and large belt for comfort
  • Intuitive QuickDial controls enhance workout efficiency
  • Diverse workout programs cater to all fitness goals
  • Swift incline and speed adjustments ideal for interval training
  • Easy, compact storage with FeatherLight folding system
  • Additional amenities: Bluetooth speakers and cooling fan

What to consider:

  • Weighs 277 pounds, and may require assistance to set up
  • Maximum user weight is 325 pounds

Why we choose Horizon 7.0 Fitness Treadmill:

Horizon Fitness Treadmill strikes the perfect balance between innovative technology and robust build quality. With its emphasis on user convenience and diverse functionality, it adapts to any fitness regimen, making it a standout choice for home workouts.

Overview

Horizon Fitness Treadmill offers an immersive exercise experience, bringing the convenience of a health club into the comfort of your home. It provides a spacious 60-inch belt paired with Variable Response Cushioning, ensuring a comfortable stride for users of all intensities.

The Rapid Sync drive system responds swiftly, facilitating dynamic interval workouts. Not only does it flaunt a heavy-duty, performance-oriented design, but it also includes premium features that complement any routine—like an integrated device holder, USB port, and diverse program options—all displayed on a vivid 7.25″ LCD screen.

Whether it’s a leisurely walk, a challenging hill climb, or a vigorous run, this treadmill is engineered to accommodate your every step.

#2 Sole F63

Key Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 77″D x 35″W x 67″H
  • Maximum Horsepower: 3 HP
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Recommended Uses: Indoor use
  • Special Feature: Foldable
  • Maximum Speed: 12 MPH
  • Item Weight: 224 Pounds
  • Material: Alloy Steel

What we love:

  • Powerful Performance: 3.0 HP motor for reliable operation.
  • Customizable Workouts: Multiple fitness programs for varied preferences.
  • Efficient Design: Space-saving with easy fold-and-store mechanism.
  • Adaptable Speed: Impressive range of 0.5-12 MPH.
  • Smart Technology: Enhanced with Bluetooth capabilities.
  • Large Running Surface: Spacious 20″x 60″ belt.
  • Easy Delivery: Clear instructions for a smooth delivery process.

What to consider:

  • Delivery Instructions: Provide accurate contact info for delivery scheduling.
  • Accessibility: Extra costs or delays for rural or hard-to-access areas.

Why we choose Sole F63 treadmill:

Sole F63 Treadmill is recognized for its blend of quality, durability, and technological integration—ideal for discerning fitness enthusiasts. Its substantial motor, a vast array of programs, and connectivity make it an asset for anyone serious about their home workout.

Overview

Sole F63 Treadmill presents an enticing proposition for fitness aficionados seeking a gym-quality experience in their domicile. Not only does its brawny motor ensure longevity and top-tier performance, but its array of workout programs is second to none. It provides the user with the tools to sculpt the exercise regimen that precisely fits their needs.

Meanwhile, its space-efficient design respects the home environment, tucking away neatly after each use. With the ability to connect to external devices and apps, users can track progress, revel in their favorite tunes, and optimize training with unfettered ease.

#3 Sunny Health And Fitness (SF-T4400) Treadmill

Key Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 25.5″D x 60″W x 50″H
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Recommended Uses: Residential
  • Special Feature: Integrated Digital Monitor
  • Maximum Speed: 9 MPH
  • Item Weight: 103 Pounds
  • Material: Alloy Steel

What we love:

  • Peak Performance: 2.20 HP drive system for speeds up to 9 MPH.
  • Adjustable Incline: Manual adjustment with three recline levels.
  • Safety First: Emergency stop brake for immediate halt.
  • Convenience: Easy folding mechanism & soft drop system.
  • Interactive: Handrail controls and large LCD for performance tracking.
  • Program Variety: 9 built-in workout programs for diverse training.
  • Device Friendly: Integrated holder for smartphones/tablets.

What to consider:

  • Weight Limit: Designed for users weighing up to 220 lbs.
  • Surface Size: Features a running area of 49 L x 15.5W inches.

Why we choose Sunny Health And Fitness (SF-T4400) Treadmill

This treadmill from Sunny Health & Fitness is ideal for residential use, combining safety, convenience, and interactive elements to elevate the workout experience at home. It is engineered to fit into the flow of daily life seamlessly, ensuring a commitment to health remains steadfast.

Overview

Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill transcends the basics of indoor workout equipment, offering a plethora of features that motivate and engage. The robust construction assures longevity, while the flexibility of workout options caters to various fitness levels and preferences.

Vital data such as speed, time, distance, caloric burn, and pulse are displayed clearly, keeping users informed and focused on meeting their fitness goals. It stands out for its user-centric design, accommodating devices for entertainment or fitness apps, and is a testament to the brand’s commitment to creating a product that is not just a machine but a cornerstone for a healthier lifestyle.

#4 NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Key Specifications:

  • Item Weight: 282 Pounds
  • Dimensions: 78.5″D x 36″W x 65″H
  • Material: Alloy Steel
  • Maximum Speed: 12 Miles per Hour
  • Maximum Incline: 12%
  • Maximum Horsepower: 3.6 HP
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Item Weight: 282 Pounds
  • Assembly Required: Yes

What we love:

  • Innovative iFIT Technology: 30-day trial included, featuring 10,000+ global workouts.
  • High-Quality Audio: 2” built-in speakers for an immersive experience.
  • Powerful Performance: Robust 3.5 CHP motor for consistent power output.
  • Spacious and Durable: Comfortable 20 x 60 non-stretch and 300 lb. user capacity.
  • Superior Foldability: SpaceSaver design with Easy Lift Assist.

What to consider:

  • Internet Dependency: Requires internet and WIFI for iFIT.
  • Subscription Required: iFIT Membership auto-renews monthly.

Why we choose NordicTrack Commercial 1750:

NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill sets the benchmark for at-home fitness equipment, with its blend of durability, cutting-edge technology, and an array of features designed to simulate real-world terrain right in your living room.

Overview

This treadmill is more than just a running machine; it’s a comprehensive fitness experience. With its unique automatic incline and decline capabilities and on-demand iFIT workouts, personal training comes to life, motivating users to reach their highest potential.

The high-definition touchscreen offers both entertainment and valuable workout statistics, further enhancing the user’s engagement. Its foldable design is perfect for modern homes, stressing the importance of space efficiency without sacrificing functionality.

With a powerful motor, spacious running area, and durable construction, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill is built to withstand even the most intense workouts. Additionally, its sleek design adds a touch of modern elegance to any room.

#5 Echelon Stride 6

Key Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 115″D x 60″W x 128″H
  • Brand: Echelon
  • Color: Black
  • Item Weight: 70.8 Kilograms
  • Material: Alloy Steel
  • Maximum Speed: 12 Miles per Hour
  • Running Deck Size: 20″ x 55″
  • Special Feature: Foldable
  • Recommended Uses for Product: Indoor Cycling, Cardio, Walking
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Maximum Horsepower: 1.75 HP

What we love:

  • Auto-fold Technology: Effortless storage with patented design.
  • Performance: Max speed of 12 MPH, 10% incline.
  • Design: Sleek, space-saving with a generous-sized running deck.
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth enabled, featuring USB charging.
  • Safety: Integrated handlebar sensors and safety stop lanyards.

What to consider:

  • Portability: While foldable, weighs 70.8 kilograms.
  • Warranty: Comes with Echelon’s 12-month limited parts and labor warranty.

Why we choose Echelon Stride 6:

This treadmill is the epitome of functionality that meets innovative design. Echelon Stride’s commitment to convenience without compromising on quality makes it a standout choice for home cardio equipment.

Overview

Echelon Stride Treadmill is a striking fusion of technology and ergonomic design, optimized for the modern fitness enthusiast. Its auto-fold technology redefines the user experience, offering a seamless transition from strenuous workouts to compact storage.

This treadmill’s integrated handlebar heart rate sensors and user-friendly display empower users with real-time fitness tracking, ensuring every jog, walk, or run is accounted for. The Echelon Stride isn’t just a piece of equipment; it’s a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle, promoting a convenient and adaptable workout environment for all fitness levels.

Benefits of Working Out on A Treadmill With Incline

All workout sessions have their benefits; the same applies to treadmill workouts. Besides getting to work out in the comfort of your home, inclined treadmills let you experience various benefits. These benefits are:

Burn More Calories

The incline and decline features make you walk upward and downward, which works your glutes and hamstrings. These workouts push your body, making it work harder than walking on a flat surface, contributing to a higher and increased caloric burn.

Strengthens Your Leg Muscles

Working out on an inclined surface specifically targets your glutes and calves, helping strengthen your lower body and legs.

Variety of Workouts

Inclined treadmills allow for versatile workouts like running, walking, or jogging.

Improves Your Cardiovascular

Inclined treadmill workouts can be intense and vigorous as they are not on a flat surface; your heart rate becomes elevated as it needs to work harder; this helps train and strengthen your cardiovascular system.

Less Impact on Lower Joints

Working out on an inclined surface reduces the impact you feel on your lower joints as opposed to exercising on a flat surface where your feet have to get into the ground, putting considerable strain on your knees and ankles.

Improves Stamina and Endurance

The incline/decline feature on these treadmills creates the illusion of going up and down a hill, making your body and heart work harder, which in turn leads to boosted stamina and endurance. With different speeds, incline, and decline settings, you can tailor your workouts, making your body stronger.

Things to Remember Before an Inclined Treadmill Workout

As with any workout regimen you start, you will want to get started on the right foot and use the gym equipment correctly. Below are the key steps to follow to ensure you use the treadmill right. They are:

  • Ensuring you warm up before getting on the treadmill to pre-work your muscles and prevent injuries
  • Slowly easing into the treadmill workout and increasing the incline. Adhering to this step helps your body get used to the incline levels and their intensity
  • Maintaining the right posture ensures your body and shoulders are relaxed while keeping your core engaged
  • Modify your stride according to the increasing incline.
  • Maintain consistency in your choice of incline/decline and level of speed during a session. Sudden and inconsistent changes during a single session can put excessive strain on your body.
  • When you’re done with your workout, warm down and do some stretches to slow down your heart and prevent injuries

Tips to Improve Your Performance on Treadmill Inclines

When working out, it is key to ensure you get the most out of your sessions. In the case of treadmill inclines, you can master and adapt some tips that can make you a pro and help you work out effectively. They are:

  • Start slow, then gradually increase the inclines
  • Incorporate and introduce different types of incline workouts into your regimen. They can include pyramid inclines and exercising on a flat surface in addition to hill intervals to help your muscles adapt to a variety of workouts
  • Please pay attention to your body and the signals it’s sending during the workouts. Take note of any pain, excessive fatigue, or strain, and take necessary breaks to give your body time to recover
  • Incorporate other forms of workouts that build your body strength, enhance faster muscle growth, and hasten caloric burn
  • Maintain consistency
  • Alternate the inclines from the lowest to the highest to increase endurance
  • Track and keep an eye on your heart rate to match your workouts to your cardiovascular target
  • Allocate yourself days to recover after the workouts
  • To ensure you are working out correctly, consult fitness experts

Key Factors to Consider Before Getting an Inclined Treadmill

An inclined treadmill is an investment that requires you to spend a considerable amount of money and factor in the aspect of space to place it. For this particular type and model of treadmill, the key factor to focus on is the incline capability of the equipment you will get. That aside, there are other factors to consider, and they are:

Price Tag

You will want to work with what is within your budget. The more high-end models come at a high cost, but you can still get great models that fall within the mid-range price bracket or the more budget-friendly models.

Incline/Decline Capability

With the price range you have set for yourself, you can look at the incline and decline options available within your price bracket and compare them. You will need to ascertain if this feature is automatic or needs to be done manually in the treadmills you will have narrowed down to.

Weight Capacity

Some treadmills have a smaller weight capacity that can be lower than 300 pounds, which is the standard minimal weight capacity. Others can accommodate up to 500 pounds.

Warranty

The warranty that comes with the treadmills varies, but the standard for the frame for the mid-priced and high-end units is 15 years to a lifetime. For the cheaper units, the warranty will be less than ten years for some.

Range of Speed

The speed levels vary from one treadmill to the other. Knowing the maximum and minimum speed capacities will help you determine the intensity and variety of workouts you can have on a treadmill.

Technological and Additional Features

Hi-tech features definitely elevate user experience and make your workout sessions more interactive, like an HD touchscreen for display purposes. Other additional features can include Bluetooth and stereo speakers, cushioning, a bottle holder, or a ledge to hold and place a tablet/phone or book.

Foldability and Portability

Most of the high-end inclined treadmills leave a huge footprint in your home due to their size; this can make their portability a hassle if they are not fitted with transport wheels. If it needs to stay in one position, then a smaller treadmill or one that has the foldability feature would be ideal.

Dimension and Size of The Inclined Treadmill

Inclined treadmills measure differently and come in different dimensions. The size of the treadmill you settle on is determined by the amount of space you have available in your home.

Power

From each brand’s website, you can get the full information and specs of the type of motor and the horsepower it carries in your preferred choice of incline treadmill.

Assembly

Most home gym equipment might require a professional or an individual with the know-how to assemble before use. The same applies to some models of inclined treadmills, so if your choice of treadmill needs a pro, you will also need to factor in the assembling fee. There are some units that you can easily assemble on your own.

final-sec verdictConclusion

Before getting an inclined treadmill, you must ensure you have covered all your bases concerning factors like the budget and space you are working with, weight capacity of the equipment, durability, and if its functionality is in line with your workout goals.

With your checklist and preferences, you can narrow down and pick your desired inclined treadmill from the options and models available. With the aspects and factors we have covered in this article, you will be able to make an informed decision on which treadmill to get for your home gym.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What incline level is more effective?
A. The best treadmill incline ranges from 1% to 4%. The caloric burn is high at this range, and your heart rate is elevated.

Q. What muscles will I build by working out on an inclined treadmill?
A. You will strengthen and build your posterior chin and calves muscles by running or walking on a treadmill.

Q. Does working out on an inclined treadmill help in weight reduction?
A. Yes, it does. Compared to working out on a flat surface, treadmill workouts have been known to burn more calories, contributing to a considerable weight reduction.

7 Sources

BodybuildingReviews avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in BodybuildingReviews, you can read more about the editorial process here.

  1. Caloric expenditure of aerobic, resistance, or combined high-intensity interval training using a hydraulic resistance system in healthy men - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25162652/
  2. Cardiovascular Endurance - What It Is & How To Improve It https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24754-cardiovascular-endurance
  3. Overtraining - What It Is, Symptoms, and Recovery - HSS https://www.hss.edu/article_overtraining.asp
  4. In Training, Consistency Is the Key to Your Fitness Goals https://www.nifs.org/blog/in-training-consistency-is-the-key-to-your-fitness-goals
  5. 3 Reasons Strong Glutes are Important - Methodist Health System - Omaha, Council Bluffs, Fremont https://bestcare.org/news/3-reasons-strong-glutes-are-important#:~:text=Their%20biggest%20job%20is%20in,and%20help%20prevent%20knee%20injuries.%22
  6. Regular breathing and proper posture when exercising is important - MSU Extension https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/regular_breathing_and_proper_posture_when_exercising_is_important
  7. What are the Benefits of Warming up Before Exercise https://howdyhealth.tamu.edu/why-warm-up/

Christine VanDoren. PT, CSN, NSCA, ACE

Christine VanDoren, PT & Nutritionist, is a Registered Nutritionist, Sports Nutritionist, and Personal Coach worked with Justin Bauer Fitness.
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