These Folding Treadmills Are Calorie-Burning, Space-Saving Machines

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WE'RE HUGE FANS of treadmill-based cardio workouts, which is why we've previously shared our picks for every type of model, from the best treadmill desks to the best treadmills overall. Treadmills are a near-perfect workout machine versatile enough for fitness enthusiasts of all stripes, whether you're looking to get in a 30-minute daily walk, routine jogs, or a comprehensive run training regimen. The problem, though, is that treadmills are big. They take up a ton of room in your home, making them a no-go for some. The solution? The best folding treadmills have every feature you need for a great workout, plus, they can be conveniently stowed away when you're done.

Read more: How Men's Health Thoroughly Tests and Reviews Fitness Products

The best foldable treadmills are similar, if not identical, to the “real thing” in every meaningful way. Most are just as durable and cleverly engineered, with the addition of intuitive folding mechanisms. The best folding treadmills feature stable walk/run decks, handrails, and a screen that's either “dumb” (non-LCD with only the most essential workout stats) or “smart” to pair with your smartphone via Bluetooth and possibly even a dedicated mobile app. The best folding treadmills have these essential features and more, offering convenience without compromising your long-term investment.

The only difference, of course, is that folding models collapse down to a relatively small footprint that can be pushed or rolled out of the way when not in use. The best folding treadmills need to strike a balance between compactness and sturdiness, ensuring that they can withstand regular use while being easily stored in smaller spaces.

If you're ready to take the plunge on your first folding treadmill or are looking to upgrade your home workout space with a compact cardio machine, we're here to help. We've done the hard work for you by comparing and personally testing top-selling models from the best brands. Below are our top 10 picks for the best folding treadmills worth buying in 2024.

T 6.5 S Folding Treadmill

Another great option from NordicTrack, the T 6.5 S is far more affordable than many of the brand’s premium options. At around $800, this is our go-to choice for the best overall folding treadmill of 2024. The 300-pound weight capacity and 10-mph max speed ensure that it’s durable enough for everything from casual, weight-loss-inspired walks to light run training. The 10% max incline adds plenty of extra challenge, and the fact that it auto-adjusts makes for more hands-free workouts. At 55” x 20”, the running deck is well-sized (though not huge) for just about any intensity or flavor of workout. While the screen is small (you won’t be watching Netflix on this one), it does help you stay focused on your workout and provides all of your essential metrics at a glance. We also love that the folding mechanism is extremely intuitive, making this one a snap to store when you’re done training for the day.

Of all of the models in NordicTrack’s T Series of folding treadmills, the 6.5 S strikes the best balance of features, size, power, and price. It’s a great option for fitness enthusiasts who are just starting out on their fitness journey, as well as more skilled joggers and runners. However, runners who sprint and speed train regularly, and taller guys, may require more features and durability than this model offers.

Read more: Best Cardio Machines

TR5500i Folding Treadmill

LifeSpan Fitness’ TR5500iM is among the brand’s flagship folding treadmills. This is another treadmill built for runners with a hardcore, 4-horsepower motor that’s good for a 13-MPH max speed and can keep up with speed training and sprinting on the regular. Thirteen levels of incline add plenty of challenge to your workouts.

Underfoot is a 60” x 22” running deck with eight compression shocks that make this model not only more comfortable, but quieter and more stable, too. It works out of the box with a full-color 10-inch display that includes 50 different built-in workouts that all pair wirelessly with your smartphone for added functionality.

Read more: Best Ellipticals

Sole F63 Treadmill

At around $1,200, this is a solid mid-range option for at-home joggers and runners looking for a step up from more entry-level folding treadmills. Even at its surprisingly affordable price point, the F63 offers plenty of essential features, including a 3-horsepower motor that maxes out at 12 miles per hour. A dozen incline levels help mix up your workouts and get your heart pumping even more.

Sole Fitness pares down the fancier features—there’s no big, beautiful touchscreen display on this model, for example. But there is a built-in tablet holder, so you can bring your own entertainment. It can pair with MP3 players and compatible smartphones, too, so you can listen to your own tunes through the integrated speakers.

Read more: Best Folding Exercise Bikes

Commercial 2450 Treadmill

NordicTrack’s Commercial 2450 features a hardcore, durable frame built to handle whatever you throw at it. It’s extremely stable, especially for a folding treadmill, and supports up to 300 pounds of user weight. Coupled with a sturdy deck and a max speed of up to 12 miles per hour, this is another great option for joggers and runners alike. While the incline range is slightly less than the T22’s (“only” -3 to 15%), it’s still enough to add plenty of variety and challenge to any workout regimen. We especially love the auto-adjusting speed and incline for completely hands-free workouts so you can focus on the burn. The generously sized 22-inch touchscreen display connects to iFIT’s deep catalog of professional instructor-led cardio sessions, too.

As NordicTrack’s flagship foldable treadmill, this is an ultra-premium product with pretty much every bell and whistle you can imagine. So, we’re hard-pressed to find much to gripe about. But you’ll pay handsomely for the privilege of this model, too. The retail price is right around $3,000, although frequent sales knock $200 or more off that price tag, and free standard delivery is included. So there’s that.

Read more: Best Exercise Bikes

Stride Treadmill

If you’re shopping folding treadmills, there’s a good chance you’re concerned about space. Echelon’s Stride Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill is an easy pick for the best folding treadmill for small spaces. Its stand-out feature is its patented, push-button Auto-Fold technology that effortlessly collapses this model down to just 10” tall—short enough to stow under many modern beds. When you’re ready to work out, it unfolds into place with a decently sized 55” x 20” running deck. Coupled with a solid 300-pound capacity and a 10-mph max speed, it’s more than capable of handling everything from jogging to light run training. The built-in console screen is extremely basic, though we like the ultra-clean layout. It works best when paired with your own tablet, however.

At around $1,300 with free entryway delivery, this is another well-priced, midrange folding treadmill option. With hundreds of mostly positive buyer reviews between the official Echelon website and Amazon (where it’s an Amazon’s Choice pick), it’s clearly a favorite among buyers. Just make sure you have your own tablet to make the most of this model.

Treadmill 22

Like most of Bowflex’s best home gym equipment, the Treadmill 22 is a serious piece of kit. The beefy, heavy-duty construction feels like a commercial-grade machine built for home use. Where many treadmills (foldable or otherwise) max out at a sub-300-pound weight capacity, the T22 is sturdy enough to support up to 440 pounds. This makes it an excellent option for joggers and runners, especially when you consider its max speed of 12 miles per hour. A wide incline range of between -5% and 20% offers a great variety of challenging pitches for every type of fitness enthusiast. Every workout option is easily adjustable with an intuitive interface that you can access without breaking your workout. Plus, there’s a boatload of multimedia and interactive features—everything from professional instructor-led workout classes to your favorite streaming services—via the built-in touchscreen.

Construction wise, there’s nothing we dislike about the Bowflex T22. It’s our hands-down pick for this year’s most durable treadmill overall. The only real downside is the price. This is a flagship, feature-rich machine that doesn’t come cheap. The all-in price tag starts at nearly $2,800, not including a minimum $200 delivery surcharge (for the contiguous U.S.). And this is such a high-demand treadmill that Bowflex is warning of lead times of up to 8 weeks, so if you want one, it’s best to order now.

7.8 AT Treadmill

Another winner from Horizon Fitness, the 7.8 AT Treadmill is billed as “the ultimate runner’s treadmill.” It has all the chops to deliver, too, including a rugged frame with a generous 60” x 22” running deck built with three independent cushioning zones.

Ultra-responsive QuickDial controls and Bluetooth-compatible run programs make hands-free training a breeze. The 9.3-inch full-color display works with the Peloton and Zwift workout libraries, so your runs will never get boring. This model is pricey at roughly $2,700 (not including delivery) but we’re firm believers in the fact that you (usually) get what you pay for.

Carbon TLX

We’ve long been fans of ProForm’s entire catalog of home fitness equipment. As the “sideways” brand to NordicTrack, the company offers most of the same high-tech features and specs. This model, in particular, dials back some of the highest-end functionality typically reserved for the more premium options on our list. The Carbon TLX features a smaller, 7-inch screen, for example. In this case, that also means you get a 3.0-horsepower motor, a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour, and it tops out at a 12% incline. The maximum weight capacity indicates slightly less durability than some bigger-bodied models, but still supports a solid 300 pounds.

All of these numbers make this tread more than adequate for beginner and entry-level joggers and runners looking to score their first (or second) treadmill at a more reasonable price. One bonus feature is that this model does connect to the iFIT library of workouts, so you’ll never get tired of your regular jogs.

7.0 AT Treadmill

Horizon Fitness’ 7.0 AT Treadmill is a solid model that delivers plenty of bang for your buck in an easy-to-use format. It offers all the most essential features, including a max capacity of 325 pounds and a max speed of 12 MPH, so it’s durable enough to survive plenty of abuse. The incline range varies from 0 up to 15%, which should be enough to challenge even the most hardcore runners. There’s no decline option, but most users won't miss it in their training. Plus, the design relies on a tri-zone cushioning system underfoot for maximum comfort on the hardest runs.

For around $2,000 (and often on sale for much, much less), the Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT strikes a solid balance between features, build quality, price, and ease of use. It’s not the flashiest model on the market, nor the cheapest. But, for fitness enthusiasts who love to walk, jog, run, or any combination of the three without fussing with advanced features or skimping on the essentials, it’s a near-perfect option.

Pro 2000

We’re big fans of ProForm’s entire Pro-series of treadmills. The Pro 2000 Folding Treadmill is another solid midrange model that ticks all the boxes, even for runners who are more likely to be hard on their equipment. The 3.25-horsepower motor delivers a top speed of up to 12 miles per hour with up to 12% incline. Workouts on the 10-inch Smart HD touchscreen sync automatically to your speed and incline to match the on-screen terrain, so your virtual workouts feel more lifelike. In short: This is our pick for the best folding treadmill for home gyms because it's a reasonably sized, reasonably priced model with everything you need to train at home comfortably.

Like most of ProForm’s premium equipment, this treadmill has a premium price tag to match. With a retail price of around $1,600, it’s not cheap. But it is in-line with many of our other favorite midrange treadmills. Plus, ProForm includes free delivery. It is quiet, the belt is a decent size and it has a built-in fan. We highly recommend this treadmill both for the price and functionality. Perfect treadmill for a home gym.

Is Walking on a Treadmill Good for You?

The short answer is: Yes. Many studies agree that adding more steps into your daily routine is good for your overall health and may even extend your lifespan. How much walking you should do each day depends largely on your overall health, age, and other factors. So that’s a question worth asking your doctor.

How Much Horsepower Should a Folding Treadmill Have?

The right answer will depend on how you plan to use your new treadmill. Higher horsepower typically means higher maximum speeds. So, if you plan to run for extended periods, in general, you’ll want a folding treadmill with at least three horsepower. For walking and jogging, 2-3 horsepower is typically sufficient.

Can Treadmills Help You Lose Weight?

The short answer is: It depends. Any form of routine movement—including working out on a treadmill—can help with weight loss, provided you’re also following a healthy diet.

Can Exercising on a Foldable Treadmill Burn Belly Fat?

The idea that you can lose fat in a specific area of your body (known as spot reduction) has been consistently disproven by science. But adding activity and movement to your regimen can help increase your overall calorie burn, which may eventually lead you to lose fat around your midsection.

How Long Should My Foldable Treadmill Workouts Be?

Again, this depends on your current fitness level and overall goals. There is no best amount of time. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts are typically shorter but far more vigorous, while more traditional treadmill cardio might be lighter and more moderate, allowing you to workout for a longer length of time.

Do Foldable Treadmills Have Incline Settings?

Yup! Many do. As you’ve probably seen with some of our top picks above, many folding treadmills incline just like traditional treadmills.

What to Look for in a Folding Treadmill

To find the best folding treadmill for you, you’ll want to look for many of the same qualities and features that you’d consider in a traditional treadmill. That includes:

Size: Size is arguably the most important consideration of all because, frankly, if your new folding treadmill won’t fit in your home, it won’t do you any good. Take stock of your available floor space, and be sure to add a few feet around every side to allow for safe operation, especially if you’ll be running on it.

Maximum speed: A treadmill's top speed may or may not be important to you, depending on your personal workout regimen. Runners should consider models with a decent top speed of 10-12 miles per hour. If you’re more into walking or even jogging, this may be overkill. If you lean toward faster workouts, it’s also worth investing in a model that’s stable and sturdy enough to handle all that constant movement.

Incline: The best foldable treadmills offer variable incline settings. If you are using your new treadmill for race training, you may want the ability to throw some inclines/declines into the mix to better prep.

Capacity: If you’re a larger individual, be sure to note the weight capacity of any folding treadmill you’re considering. Most models today can support at least 220 pounds or more. Treadmills with higher capacities are also likely to be sturdier, which is why all of our picks support at least 300 pounds. So, even if you’re on the smaller side, but you like your fitness equipment to be overengineered for extra safety, you may want to consider a model with a higher weight capacity than you think you need.

Price: There’s no getting around the fact that most treadmills, especially folding treadmills, are pricey. While you can find budget-minded models for around $300-400, you’ll likely want to spend $700 or more for a better-built option. In most cases, you do get what you pay for, which is we suggest buying the best folding treadmill that you can realistically afford.

Why You Can Trust Us

At Men's Health, we take great pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy product recommendations. We believe that our readers deserve the best, which is why we always make sure to conduct thorough research and testing before making any recommendations. Our writers and editors thoughtfully select experts for collaboration on product recommendations, and are also experts in their own right, using their informed opinions to select products and ensuring that our content is of the highest quality.

Our product recommendations are purely editorial, and while we may receive free products to test and review, we only recommend the products we are most impressed by. We never let retailers or public relations contacts dictate our content or product coverage. Which is why you can trust us to provide you with reliable and unbiased product recommendations.

How We Selected the Best Folding Treadmills

Over the course of 18 months, we researched and personally tested many of the top-rated folding treadmills on the market. We carefully compared every spec and feature, from build quality and collapsibility to overall features and price. We also considered well-reviewed models with at least 200 positive buyer ratings on the retailer websites we trust most. The final list above represents our top picks for the best folding treadmills of 2024.

Read More About Our Favorite Home Gym Equipment

Best Treadmills | Best Foldable Rowing Machines | Best Exercise Bikes | Best Folding Exercise Bikes | Best Ellipticals | Best Cardio Machines | Best Home Gym Equipment | Best Power Racks | Best Folding Squat Rack | Best Adjustable Dumbbells | Best Weight Benches | Best Running Shoes | Best Workout Mirror

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