This article is all about the best rated treadmills for running or walking. If you want to know which treadmills are the top rated continue reading to the end.
Running on the treadmill is not exactly as fun as being outdoors when the weather is nice, but this is not how the weather is all year round.
Treadmills these days come with a variety of different features to make some prefer running inside.
Having a nice treadmill is not always that cheap. However, you will get years of use from your investment and be able to run whenever you want. No more needing to cancel your training due to rain or snow. Safety is also a great feature if you prefer running at night opposed to day.
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What Determines a Treadmill for Running?
The motor on the treadmill is one of the main components that make them work well for runners. You have to keep in mind that running requires the motor to use more power. This causes the motor to be used 2-3 times more than those that jog, and a small motor can burn out quickly when this occurs.
A treadmill for running also needs to have easy access to increase and decrease the speed. Running at a top speed is great for your training, but you need to be able to slow down when fatigue kicks in. Sometimes you may not even be aware of your legs about to give out.
New age treadmills also can be classified for running based off of the treadmill length and width. Running requires nice strides, and if the track is too short or narrow this becomes difficult to reach full potential. Those that are cross country runners would also want features for incline and decline.
Best Rated Treadmills for Running
The following treadmills will help you get a good idea for what treadmill best fits your needs. There are budget treadmills available, but in the long term they may not be worth the investment as the ones a bit pricier. The choice will be yours to determine what best works for you.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
NordicTrack is one of the leading treadmill companies that offer commercial grade treadmills for an affordable price. This specific model comes in around $1,700, and those with similar features actually cost nearly double the price.
You can check out this treadmill on Amazon by CLICKING HERE
Treadmill Features:
- 3.75 CHP DurX Commercial Plus Motor
- 0-12MPH Quick Speed Adjustment
- 3%-12% Incline
- 22×60 Inch Treadmill Track
- Manual FlexSelect Cushion
- 10 Inch HD Touch Screen
- iFit Ready
- Folding Space Saver Feature
The 3.75 CHP DurX motor definitely provides you the power and lifespan to execute years of treadmill use for running. The system is also self-cooling and designed to withstand even multiple daily uses.
The treadmill track is spacious for taking long strides and around the same specifications as all treadmills of this type. One of the unique features is the FlexSelect track. On this specific model the adjustment is manual, but regardless the use of it is particular to runners.
FlexSelect cushion has two modes. One is impact mode to protect your joints and absorb all impact. The second mode is firm as if running on pavement, but does still reduce impact for safe running durations.
The 10-inch HD screen is touchscreen and provides a realistic feel for running outdoors with the iFit trainer. This training feature gives the preset options to adjust the speed for you as if the trainer was pushing you to exercise harder. Definitely a contender for a well-rounded treadmill for running.
Bowflex BXT116 Treadmill
Bowflex is not necessarily new, but has not been around as long as brands such as NordicTrack. Regardless, you can get a great running workout in with this full featured treadmill. This product comes in just under $1,600, which is slightly less than the previous treadmill.
You can check out this treadmill on Amazon by CLICKING HERE
Treadmill Features:
- 3.5 CHP
- 0-12MPH Quick Speed Adjustment
- 3%-15% Incline
- 20×60 Inch Treadmill Track
- Impact Absorption
- 7.5 Inch Backlit LCD Screen
- Folding Space Saver Feature
The Bowflex BXT116 treadmill does not exactly have the same features as the NordicTrack, which is one reason why this product is slightly cheaper. However, it does make up for it with some increases to specifications.
The treadmill width is 2 inches less and length stays the same. Overall, this is not a deal changer unless length had been shortened instead. The track is impact absorbing and still perfect for running and protecting your joints, but you just lose the pavement-like running ability.
There is no interactive screen. You simply have the generic backlit LCD screen displaying all the metrics being recorded for that workout. A tablet holder is available if you still want to use iFit trainer.
A plus to the Bowflex is that the incline actually goes to 15% instead of the standard 12%, which gives you more training options at the incline position. Also, Bowflex is above standard being able to hold a runner with the max weight of 375lbs. The common standard is 300lbs for commercial based treadmills.
IN10CT Health Runner
Cost effective treadmills are available, but if you truly want a treadmill that is specific to runners then a curved version might work best. This type of treadmill forces you to run with good form in an upright position. The speed you can do is even sprinting at your controlled pace by either leaning in, or leaning back to slow down.
You can check out the Health Runner Treadmill on Amazon by CLICKING HERE
Truly a remarkable piece of equipment that takes all impact off of your joints. There really are no big features such as a touchscreen or anything like the previous treadmills.
Treadmill Features
- Manual Treadmill
- No Power Needed
- Stops When You Stop
- No Impact Track
- Digital Tracker
This treadmill was first designed for rehab clinics and Olympic runners to take impact off the joint and allow recovery. Now they have been made available for the normal consumer to purchase. Though it may lack high tech features normally thought of, the IN10CT Health Runner definitely provides better running capabilities.
Treadmills for Running are Performance Based
The bottom line is that if you want a treadmill specifically for running, then you would want to invest some money for long term intense use.
The features that come with the treadmill are up to you when making the purchase, but regardless these three treadmills for running. Explore the different consumer ratings to see what others have to say about their products.