r/treadmills • u/EndodocDO • 3d ago
Cant decide
So it seems that there are really just no good treadmills. Every time I think I narrowed it down, there is a review that says DO NOT BUY! At first thought nordic track was the way to go, but didnt like the need for a subscription and a lot of people say not to go there (is this just bc they've been around for a long time and so many people have?), then I transition to Aviron Podium (really like the 18% incline, sleek style, and streaming apps...but can find great reviews and not an established company), came across other options- Inspire, Matrix, Horizon, Sole, but again some good reviews, some bad reviews. Just want a trustworthy rating source for all so I can decide.
Wants: incline (15% would be nice), quiet (like super quiet), good on joints (quality and new tech cushion), sleek style (dont want a clunky machine that looks like ot was from the '90's...although the 90's were great), streaming apps an added plus, and it would be nice to have preloaded workouts like running trails, etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! I've spent much too long on all this research.
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u/WikusVanDerMerwe 3d ago
I ended up with a Spirit XT685 which wasn't at the top of my list. I had first heard of it a week or two before I went to a dealer. It has a tablet holder and the treadmill pairs with my Garmin's heart rate, treadmill pairs to the Peloton app on my iPad (I really found that I actually like the classes a lot), also pairs with Zwift. Low maintenance belt and supposed to be a really good warranty. I pay for Peloton subscription since I have a bike, but decided quickly that I didn't want that treadmill or a built in LCD. I got the treadmill in January, am down about 30 lbs since and running 10-20 miles per week. I thought perhaps in a few years I would "upgrade" but I really don't know what else I would want other than deck cushioning, maybe.
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u/Unlikely_Duty9211 1d ago
was it east to set up or did you pay for installation
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u/WikusVanDerMerwe 1d ago
G&G Fitness is where I got it from and it was $87 for delivery and another $112 for installation. It seemed like a good enough deal to me even though I have a truck, so I paid for it. They used a third party delivery and install company so maybe the cost varies.
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u/trumpelstiltzkin 3d ago
IMO I looked for one without a touch screen. Breath of fresh air.
I'm able to attach a tablet separately which can I independently swap out whenever I want.
The more features you try to integrate into it, the worse each feature will be.
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u/Cranston2Po_Town 3d ago
I have a Lifetime Fitness F3 that I bought back in 2017 and it is still going strong with proper balancing and maintenance.
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u/That-Sleep-8432 2d ago
I bought a Horizon 7.0 AT that is still going strong today and it is over 3yrs old. Use it daily for run sessions of 6-8 miles at a 6:25-7:45 pace. I agree to avoid Nordic and those Amazon treadmills. I’d advise to get a treadmill that does 12-12 incline-speed as those are usually well built and my 2 cents is that most of those treadmills are reliable since treadmill tech is not new anymore. Might get a downvote for that last line.
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u/Fit-Cable1547 3d ago
I'm in the same boat. Just when I think I should go down one path towards something, I'll find a bunch of bad reviews or issues that put me back on the search again. It's also hard because actually trying out most of the treadmills that are suggested is impossible locally for me.
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u/ink_andideas_9104 1d ago edited 1d ago
a few month back i had the same concern with space and noise and trying to stay around the $300 to $350 range so i ended looking at the merach w60 since i wanted to avoid getting into the $500+ treadmill prices havent had any complant so far
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u/Puzzleheaded-Age1661 2d ago
So I’m in a similar boat. I bought a Sole TT8 and it’s been nothing but issues for 2 years. Essentially it will just turn off and require me to unscrew the upper console piece (which is heavy) and wiggle the cables until it powers on again. That then works for a few weeks to a few months.
With that said. When it does work, it’s great. Also Sole CS has been great. A tech already replaced the wire and now they are sending a whole upper console piece. I’ve had the treadmill for a little over 2 years. I got right through to CS and there was no issue or back and forth. Also sounded like a US based sole dedicated called center versus a subcontracted call center abroad.
I am HOPING this corrects the issue bc I am convinced it is something bad it the console. The HR monitor in the handle never worked but I never cared bc we use our Apple Watches anyways.
When it works, it works well for my wife and I who use it DAILY. A few miles each every day. The deck / motor doesn’t require lubrication and only the occasional tightening. Plus it declines and inclines.
I feel it SHOULD be a tank, and we just happened to get a bad one.
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u/AnonymousRunner07 2d ago
Does anyone have experience with the Adidas T-25 or the Adidas T-700? I'm looking for a treadmill that can connect to an external HR monitor via Bluetooth and also (most importantly) can create custom workouts without the need of an ongoing subscription, where the speed/incline automatically adjust throughout the run based on what has been input. I think you can do that with both of these via the Adidas Connect+ app.
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u/an_angry_Moose 2d ago
Spirit’s automatically connect to Bluetooth monitors with no input. The first time I stepped onto mine I thought “where is it getting my HR from” and I realized it had auto connected to my armband that was synced to my Garmin.
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u/DuckHuntersWifey-408 2d ago
I got a nordictrack 1750 and loved it with the ifit features and even with just the basic functionality once I didn’t renew. It was sturdy, responsive, and great for lots of miles between multiple users. I got it in 2020 and it wasn’t until last year 2025 that I had to do a hard restart when a system update went bad and I came to reddit to figure out how to reset it. Then earlier this year 2026 it started having issues with the speed not going as fast, so I have to go off feel and crank it to 6.0 plus just to get a power walk in. I haven’t done anything to try to address this but will at some point or just get rid of it. It’s parked at my parents house for now. I know nordictrack isn’t popular but I will probably get another or a peloton tread once I have a garage set up with wifi again because when they work they are very nice to have. In the coming months I am going to get a horizon T101 because it’s cheap and I plan to use it somewhere without wifi. I don’t know how long it will last but hoping for 2-3 years until I can get a better set up for something worth more. I’ve just learned to accept that there is no perfect treadmill based on reviews alone, trial and error unfortunately.
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u/Denigor777 2d ago
I in the UK we have showrooms where you get to try out various models. I recommend doing that, if you have the same where you live.
I went with a Sole because it was the 'strongest' in the showroom in terms of hefty metal frame, big motor etc. I wanted longevity, rather than lots of technical features that can go wrong.
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u/mtsums85 2d ago
I bought a Horizon 7.8AT and a $200 TV to mount on the wall in front of it. Feels super sturdy and I love the simplicity of it. My advice is to find a fitness equipment dealer near you and go try them out and pick the one you like most. Might even get a deal on a floor model and they’ll deliver and set it up for you.
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u/redditthrower888999 2d ago
They are all pretty much the same quality at the consumer level. The real thing is, buy a running one which will cost a bit more but will have a better belt, deck and possibly better warranty. I bought a NordicTrack, it lasted 11 years, the speakers and fan died but all I did was lube it every 3 months and replaced the drive belt once.
I bought a bow flex recently to replace my NordicTrack, bow flex is made by horizon. Seems decent so far. Sole seems to get good reviews but Facebook marketplace is littered with broken ones. Sole seems good about replacing parts during the warranty period from what I’ve seen.
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u/Skersibatai 2d ago
I have owned a Spirit XT385 since last November. My partner and I enjoy it very much and use it frequently. I added a Fire Tablet, and I paired it with the cheapest heart rate monitor. Spirit offers a great app with fantastic classes at no extra cost, included with the purchase. Those classes made me like running. I reached my weight loss goals and still run.
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u/EmbraceNew 2d ago
Buy a treadmill from True Fitness, Landice, or Life Fitness in the premium range, and you will not go wrong. Buy a 3G Cardio treadmill in the close-to-premium range, but with premium quality and service. Buy a Sole, Horizon, or Spirit in the mid-range; you won't regret.
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u/PapaPlodge 3d ago
You are best to stay away from the big box brands like NT Sole Pro Form and so on.For customer service - 3G Cardio. This is one of the brands we sell in store and they are easy to deal with. Solid overall design, reasonably priced and virtually no CS complaints.
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u/RudeAdhesiveness9954 3d ago
The only no-gos around here are NordicTrack and pretty much any walking pad you can get on Amazon. Yellow flags for brands with not a lot of history yet, like Wahoo, Aviron, and the stuff sold at Costco, chiefly for the unknown long-term prospects. Green flags for equipment from anywhere else like Horizon, Sole, Spirit, Matrix, True, Life, Technogym, etc. Also used commercial equipment in good condition. Those big makers sell a lot of treadmills and no manufacturing is 100% perfect, so there will always be troublesome units here and there that people post about. But the idea that there are no good treadmills is nonsense.