If You Want to Feel the Burn, Try Running on These Incline Treadmills

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TREADMILLS OFTEN don't get the love and credit they truly deserve. Shielding you from scorching UV rays or biting cold winds, a trusty treadmill is a go-to choice for those days when the weather threatens to derail your running plans. But these days, treadmills offer so much more than just a weather backup; they're packed with modern features, and one capability really gets our heart rate climbing: incline.

The best incline treadmills offer an advantage to your training by increasing the intensity potential for treadmill workouts. Training on an incline has proved "extremely useful" for László Piringer, the Guinness World Record holder for the most consecutive days (an astonishing 120!) running a half marathon distance on a treadmill. "It not only builds strength but helps burn calories." Particularly for those living in flat areas, the best incline treadmills are invaluable tools for preparing for uphill challenges and training programs.

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

Our expertise extends to testing and evaluating over 50 top-tier treadmills in the past few years. Our team—made up of certified personal trainers, competitive triathletes, and marathon runners—has left no stone unturned, scrutinizing every detail to compile a list of the very best incline treadmills for home use.

Within this piece, we'll share our recommendations and insights with the goal of assisting you in finding the perfect incline treadmill for you—one that aligns with your fitness level, training goals, budget, and personal preferences. We've also crafted an extensive buying guide, breaking down crucial factors when choosing an incline treadmill. Last but certainly not least, we'll touch on the benefits of incline treadmill workouts and provide some guidance on how to harness the power of incline treadmills to help reach your fitness goals.

Below, you'll find our carefully curated selection of the best incline treadmills of 2024.

Treadmill 22

The Bowflex Treadmill 22 is an absolute powerhouse. In fact, the brand regards it as its best home treadmill yet.

I've run on this treadmill in my own home for more than five years, and can confidently say it delivers outstanding workouts solo or when following on-demand classes with a trainer. Given its broad decline/incline range, it's my go-to for interval training and hills when I want to switch things up. It's also easy to setup thanks to straightforward assembly instructions (yes, you should actually read them), taking less than an hour for myself and a family member to complete from start to finish.

Bigger guys: take note of the 400-pound user weight capacity, which surpasses the industry standard by 100 pounds. The frame itself is solid and sturdy, and never gets shaky on me even when I'm running hard and heavy sprints.

The downside of how durable this beast is? It's unsurprisingly quite heavy. Weighing in at 336 pounds, moving it requires at least two pairs of hands (and some gusto), even with the included transport wheels. For this reason, you'll need to designate a dedicated spot for this treadmill, as it's not as compact or mobile as some other models when folded. That designated spot will need to be quite spacious as well, as this tread is wider (and a tad longer) than most comparable home machines.

On the plus side, the extra-large 22-inch by 60-inch deck more than compensates for its substantial footprint. Even taller guys can open up their stride on this machine and without feeling crammed or cut short.

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Commercial 1750

The NordicTrack 1750 has been a long-standing favorite among MH fitness editors and hardcore indoor runners for years, and with good reason: It’s an all-around winner. The 14-inch touchscreen is responsive and compatible with iFIT programming, and the newest edition features both incline and decline. Offering a range of -3% to 12%, the incline capabilities may be modest, but this machine shines when it comes to adjustability. While most incline treadmills offer adjustments in 1% increments, this tread breaks it down to 0.5% increments for a total of 31 incline levels.

Adjustments aside, the 1750 is one of the most stable and powerful treadmills we've run on. Other things to love include the 20-inch-by-60-inch deck, which is outfitted with generous cushioning (RIP to the now defunct SelectTech cushioning), and the new lower step up height.

The 1750 is like the person you knew in high school that was really smart and also good at sports. You wonder how they do it, but they’re just all around excellent at pretty much everything–like the 1750. The only two things we'd change on this machine would be to extend the 10-year frame warranty (we expect at least 15) and make the machine easier to move. Otherwise, this machine is a sure-fire winner.

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Run CX

Life Fitness is the only treadmill brand Piringer trusted for his Guinness World Record project. "I ran a half marathon on it for four months straight, everyday, and never had any problem," he told Men's Health. "It was really important to me with that project to have a treadmill I could count on, because encountering even a small minor error would mean I needed to start the whole record attempt over again."

Sturdy and reliable is the name of the game with the Run CX. This is a premium treadmill that's built to last, and it's durable enough to accommodate more than running, letting you work in lateral shuffles, and backpedals, too. If you're looking for a long-lasting, industrial quality machine at a high-end, home-gym price point, this is our top pick.

It delivers on a great running experience at home, helping to keep your knees and ankles protected against the stresses of running thanks to a seriously cushioned deck and FlexDeck Shock Absorption System. A host of on-demand classes that you can watch on a tablet keeps things interesting.

Commercial X22i

Looking for an incline treadmill that's up for some serious hills? Allow us to introduce you to the X22i. This powerhouse boasts a wider incline range than any machine we've tested, spanning from -6 percent up to a super steep 40 percent. That's over double the incline/decline capabilities of most treadmills we've put to the test.

Now, a 40 percent incline might sound extreme, and you're right; it's aggressive. You won't find many runners or training programs that fully utilize this machine's incline potential. But NordicTrack equips this treadmill with multiple sets of handlebars, including handrails and upright handles that let you mimic a sled push and hold on tight when tackling steep verticals.

With a price tag hovering around $3,500, this treadmill sits in the premium category, but it's worth every penny. It packs a punch with a whopping 47 adjustable incline/decline levels, giving you a ton of control and range over your workout intensity. The deck is one of the most spacious we've seen on a treadmill, perfect for taller folks or those with exceptionally long strides. Not to mention, that spacious deck comes with generous cushioning that you can really feel cradle and propel each stride.

Under the hood, a robust 4.25 CHP motor ensures it can keep pace with even the most dedicated runners (typically, 3.0 CHP suffices for consistent runners). The 22-inch HD touchscreen adds a layer of entertainment and interactivity, offering streaming options and access to iFIT workouts with a paid subscription.

Despite its beastly performance capabilities, this treadmill surprises with its quiet operation. Whether you're adjusting speed or incline, it won't disrupt your household peace. However, it's important to note that the step-up height is noticeably higher than most comparable models. This might not be the best fit for individuals with balance issues or difficulty climbing stairs.

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Treadmill 10

Bowflex makes reliable treadmills—there's no mistaking that. The treadmill 10 is a slimmed down, slightly less powerful version of the workhorse Treadmill 22, priced $800 cheaper but still a superstar when it comes to incline training.

If you're into steep training, the Treadmill 22 might be more up your alley with -5 percent to 20 percent decline/incline, but the Treadmill 10 offers a -5 percent to 15 percent grade that is perfectly suitable for most people.

Running on this treadmill actually feels great, thanks to its spacious 22-inch wide by 60-inch long deck. It can handle speeds up to 12 miles per hour without producing noticeable rattling or noise, making it suitable for most runners and home use.

In terms of size, its substantial footprint is made more reasonable by an easy folding mechanism that makes stowing away when not in use convenient and practical.

On the downside, its 10-inch touchscreen may feel a bit small for some users, and it lacks the ability to tilt for better viewing, which can be inconvenient during some workouts.

F63

Looking for an affordable treadmill that delivers solid performance without breaking the bank? Check out the Sole F63. It combines incline capabilities with a solid 3.0 CHP motor and is priced at just $1,200, impressing us right from the start.

Sure, you won't find all the bells and whistles that come with pricier models, but for its cost, this treadmill shines where it counts. It boasts a generously cushioned 20-inch wide by 60-inch long deck, making it an excellent choice for users of varying heights. Plus, it's got a user-friendly folding mechanism that makes storage a breeze for those tight on space. And let's not forget the added bonuses: a USB charging port, Bluetooth speakers, a heart rate monitor, seamless app connectivity, a convenient device holder, and a clear LCD screen to keep tabs on your metrics.

You'll even get an exceptional lifetime frame warranty and a limited motor warranty, protecting your investment in this already reasonably-priced machine.

It's worth noting that this treadmill weighs a hefty 254 pounds, which can be a bit of a challenge during assembly. On the bright side, that weight contributes to its durability, ensuring it can support users weighing up to 325 pounds.

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Stride Treadmill

The under $1,300 Echelon Stride is a great choice for someone who wants an incline treadmill for walking only. It offers up to a modest 10% incline, which quick adjust buttons along the display that are responsive and easy to navigate.

At this price point, you can typically expect a noisy machine. But the Stride impressed us, operating with surprisingly little noise, making it ideal for home use.

First impressions of this machine: it's slim and takes up way less room than say, a NordicTrack or Bowflex tread. On the bright side, that means it takes up a smaller footprint in your home gym. On the downside, a less powerful motor and less durability. The 1.75 CHP motor is downright weak compared to the industry standard of 3.0 CHP, which is why we find this machine more suitable for walking than running. Although this machine does max out at 12 MPH, we wouldn’t recommend it for people who plan to train running on their treadmill.

If you’re short on space, you’ll also love that this treadmill folds completely in half to just 10 inches wide (another major plus of the small frame). Unlike some treads that fold into a still-bulky silhouette, this one can easily fit under beds and couches for storage. I found folding down the handlebar and console and rolling this machine onto its wheels simple and doable without an extra person, too.

Folding Treadmill with Desk

Unlike most under desk treadmills we've tested, this one comes with a standing desk that can be adjusted to your preferred height and incline capabilities. Three levels of adjustment offer a slight grade for walking, ideal for those who want a little more intensity while multitasking at their desk. Work, watch a movie, game—whatever. You can do it all while upping your step count with this treadmill.

Incline, speed, pause, and other functions are controlled via buttons on the handrails, allowing for quick and easy adjustments. A digital LED display (housed on the desktop) shows the user performance metrics like speed, time, distance, calories burned, and heart rate.

It's super quiet, so you won't disturb roommates, or your significant other. The electric motor features an advanced noise reduction system, all the while producing a powerful 3.25 horsepower. With a top speed of 8-mph and built-in speakers, this product offers a lot of robust features for the price.

How We Selected the Best Incline Treadmills

We've run on a lot of treadmills. For the past 24 months, Men's Health Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM, and Fitness and Commerce Editor, Talene Appleton, NASM, consulted on the best incline treadmills for home use. Our dedicated team of Men's Health fitness editors and experts have rigorously tested the best treadmills from reliable, top-rated brands to evaluate them on their performance, user experience, size, durability, incline capabilities, and overall value.

To ensure a comprehensive and thorough assessment of each product, the team has put each treadmill through the wringer with a variety of workouts, including sprints, long-distance runs, and tempo runs. Collectively, we've logged nearly 80 miles on each tread, allowing us to gain valuable insights into how they stack up against other options on the market.

In short, we've spent years writing, researching, and running on treadmills from top brands like NordicTrack, ProForm, Bowflex, Sole Fitness, AssaultFitness, Horizon and countless others, and use our informed opinions to select products and ensure that our recommendations are of the highest quality.

Benefits of Incline Treadmills

"Training on an incline is extremely useful," emphasizes Piringer. This holds particularly true for those who, like Piringer, reside in regions where the terrain tends to be quite flat. Having the ability to train on an incline setting becomes a valuable asset, especially when gearing up for specific challenges or training regimens that demand uphill running. "It makes you stronger and helps burn calories," he explains.

In fact, recent research highlights the benefits of incline workouts, demonstrating that they elevate your heart rate and facilitate a higher calorie burn compared to running at the same pace on a flat surface. In short, incorporating incline training into your routine can help you build strength, increase endurance, and maximize the efficiency of your workouts.

David Siik, founder of @precisionrun by Equinox, explains that the benefits of running and walking on an incline boil down to the increased energy spend (remaining calories burned) caused by the increased power needed to climb vertically.

Siik's favorite benefit of incline training, however, is that it can significantly reduce the stress and impact on the knees compared to running on a flat grade. "The magic incline for runners is around the 3% incline, but variation is key to experience the full benefits of incline," he says. "Steep inclines have wonderful energy burning benefits, but also can wear down the knees over time if done frequently." Part of the beauty of an incline treadmill is that it allows you to play with a wide spectrum of programming.

The best part is that incline treadmills aren't limited to intense workouts; a wide range of ages and fitness levels can reap their benefits. Consider under-desk and foldable treadmills with incline settings, which can be used for leisurely walking while using a computer or watching TV. Case in point: an incline treadmill is a great machine for those just starting out as well as for advanced runners looking to take their training to the next level.

What to Look for When Buying an Incline Treadmill

Buying a treadmill is a big investment—maybe not as much as buying a puppy or a new SUV, but there’s still substantial commitment involved. Here are a few things to consider before bringing home your first (or next) incline treadmill:

Dimensions and deck size: Most home gym equipment takes up significant floor space. That’s doubly true for treadmills. Check the dimensions of any treadmill you're currently shopping and be sure to add at least 1-2 feet in every direction and three feet or more behind the treadmill (the area you step on to the machine from) for maximum safety.

You’ll also want at least 15” inches above your own height when standing on the treadmill. So, if you’re 5’10” (70 inches), make sure your ceiling height is enough to accommodate 85 inches, plus the height of the treadmill belt.

The industry standard for a walking treadmill deck is 55 inches by 20 inches and is at least 60 inches by 20 inches for running. You may be able to get away with running or walking on shorter decks, but this means altering your stride length, which means you’ll have to think about every step you take. Look for an XL deck if you're 6-foot or taller.

Stability: This might seem obvious, but double-check that all four corners of the treadmill are firmly in contact with the floor after setup. Many home floors aren’t 100% level (you'd be surprised). You want to make sure that your treadmill is well-planted to minimize the risk of slippage, shifting, or tilting.

Incline capabilities: If you're looking for a treadmill specifically for incline training, be sure it offers at least 15 adjustable levels. We're talking a minimum of 15 percent incline, and at least three percent decline. If you crave steeper hills, look for options with 20+ percent incline capability.

Siik strongly recommends prioritizing how the treadmill performs once it's set to a steep incline. "This aspect is crucial. While most treadmills can reach a 12% incline, what matters most is how stable they feel when you're actually at that steep angle," he says.

The primary concern is the treadmill's stability on steeper inclines. Does it exhibit any wobbling or side-to-side shaking? Incline training naturally exposes your body to more aggressive angles from head to toe, making essential to have a super stable platform beneath you.

Durability and power: Most brands are transparent about their treadmills' maximum weight capacity and motor horsepower, but some (cough, Bowflex) don’t disclose the full spec sheet. For reference, you should look for at least a 300-pound weight capacity and a 3.0 CHP motor if you plan to run or sprint regularly.

Additional features: Some treads add extra shock absorption and cushioning in the belt to minimize the impact on your knees, ankles, and joints. The best treadmills also offer touchscreen displays with web-connected features like interactive, trainer-led studio classes. Just know that, in most cases, these require an ongoing subscription that could add up over the years.

Piringers reminds that virtual running programs can make treadmill runs less "boring," allowing users to run all over the planet on pre-programmed training programs and routes that can be viewed on the display. "I think it’s super fun and visually stimulating. It can get pretty monotonous running on a treadmill without," he says.

Noise: Treadmills can—and often do—make a lot of noise, especially for your downstairs neighbors (if you live in an apartment) or housemates (if you live in a multistory house). If you think this might be an issue, consider a treadmill mat to help minimize the noise.

Transportation: Moving a treadmill into a confined space, like a small bedroom or basement, can be challenging. Often, it makes sense to hire experts to do it for you.

If you’re the handy type, you can opt to disassemble the treadmill. Start by moving, then reassembling the deck, then the uprights, then the console, in that order. Otherwise, most companies will move and assemble the machine for an additional fee.

Budget: There’s no getting around the fact that treadmills aren’t cheap. Some of the best incline treadmills can run north of $3,000, but you don’t have to spend a small fortune to land a decent model. The best budget to mid-range models are priced between $1,000-$3,000. While that’s not chump change, it’s a worthwhile investment if you’re planning to integrate jogging or running into your regular fitness routine.

Warranty: The industry standard for a treadmill frame warranty is 15 years to life. This is the standard for mid- to high-dollar treadmills, but if you’re buying some random machine off of Amazon for $200, don’t expect this type of guarantee.

Can an Incline Treadmill Help You Lose Weight?

Absolutely, walking or running on an incline treadmill can be a fantastic tool for weight loss. When you exercise at an incline, whether walking briskly or running, you can up the intensity and engage more muscle groups, including your leg muscles and core, which can increase calorie burn. In fact, studies have shown that incline workouts can help you burn calories at a faster rate compared to flat surface workouts at the same speed.

Plus, the increased intensity of uphill exercise elevates your heart rate and promotes the 'afterburn' effect, where your body continues to burn calories even after you've finished your workout.

What Brands Make the Best Incline Treadmills?

You can find an excellent treadmill at almost any budget, depending on your priority features. While you'll discover many treadmills on Amazon, we recommend buying directly from the brand's website when possible for a more direct customer service experience. Some of our favorite brands producing dependable treadmills are Bowflex, NordicTrack, Sole, ProForm, Echelon, and Life Fitness.

What Muscles Groups Does Walking/Running On An Incline Treadmill Work?

Unlike outdoor running, where you constantly adapt to uneven terrain, incline treadmill workouts provide a controlled and stable environment to engage certain muscle groups. As Piringer points out, running/walking on a flat treadmill may work fewer muscle groups compared to outdoor running. But on an incline treadmill, your leg muscles, including your quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves, work harder to push against the incline. Your glutes and hip flexors also come into play to maintain your balance and propel you forward.

Incline setting can also place recruit additional engagement from your core muscles as they work to stabilize your body and maintain proper posture.

What is the Ideal Incline Range for Training on a Treadmill?

Balancing your incline levels with appropriate speeds is crucial for optimizing benefits while minimizing impact, which is why our answer differs for walking versus running.

"In our Precision Run formats, we prescribe the majority of our inclines in the 3-6% incline range," explains Siik. In Precision Walk formats, he most often uses a range of 6-15%.

Siik says incline science is more complex and rich than most people give it credit for. "We have a 5% incline rule Precision Run, meaning we don't program maximum sprint speeds on inclines over 5% incline due to the propulsive forces," he explains. "Incorporating this aspect into our method has reduced the risk of injuries and ensures a challenging yet safe workout experience."

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. We're up-to-date on industry standards (motor horsepower, warranty, incline/decline options, and speed) and the components that make up an excellent treadmill versus a ‘meh’ one.

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. So, if you’re going to trust anyone to help you make a buying decision here, it should be us.

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