Best Treadmills Overall

Treadmills between $800 and $2,000 hit the sweet spot

Expert and user reviewers alike agree that with treadmills, you generally get what you pay for. If you're nervous about investing in a treadmill, it may help to know that according to a recent ConsumerReports.org poll of more than 1,400 subscribers, the majority of those that owned treadmills are happy with their purchase and use the machine at least as much as they'd originally planned to -- sometimes more.

If paying more than $800 for a treadmill just isn't possible, there are some well-received models that cost less, although treadmill experts aren't as confident about their durability. We cover those models in our separate report on budget treadmills.

If you want a treadmill that can accommodate light jogging and you have about $1,000 to spend, reviews point to the ProForm Power 995 ( *Est. $1,000) as one of the best bargain-priced models. Its 3.5 continuous-duty horsepower (chp) motor is unheard of this price range. (It's worth nothing that some reviews list this treadmill with a 2.75-chp motor, but the manufacturer's website lists it as 3.5 chp.) Treadmill motor ratings are notoriously unreliable because there is no industry regulation, but the continuous-duty designation is one of the better indicators of quality.

The ProForm 995's 350-pound weight capacity and 20-by-60-inch belt is also sturdier than usual in this price range, and can withstand occasional runs. It folds when not in use, has a maximum speed of 12 mph, and adjusts up to a 15 percent incline. Its warranty is also strong, with lifetime motor and frame coverage, one year of labor coverage and three years of parts coverage. But this treadmill's greatest strength may be its motivating features, particularly the touch-screen iFit Live, which allows you to race against other treadmill users via the Internet, or run real-world trails simulated by Google Maps. This treadmill's features and technology drew praise from several expert reviewers, including Treadmill Doctor and Fred Waters of Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com, who selected the Power 995 as a Value Buy, praising it for its "generous selection of workout programs," extra-long treadbelt and sound system.

The Sole F63 (*Est. $1,000) is another treadmill that gets good reviews in this price range, and Sole treadmills have an excellent reputation for quality. TreadmillDoctor.com calls the Sole F63 a "great value"; however, its 2.5-continuous-duty horsepower motor and 10-mph maximum speed just don't measure up to the ProForm Power 550. The Sole F63's 20-by-55-inch running deck is certainly adequate for this price range, and its lifetime frame/motor warranty is good, with three years of coverage for parts and electronics, and one year for labor. However, user reviews on Amazon.com indicate that the 2011 model may have a serious software error that sometimes renders the treadmill completely unusable, and several owners complain that trying to get the error repaired takes a long time. Amazon.com reviewers ended up giving the 2011 model of the Sole F63 just 3.5 stars out of 5, after about 20 reviews.

For those who plan to walk or jog regularly, the $1,000 to $2,000 price range is the current sweet spot for residential-use treadmills. These treadmills offer longer warranties, stronger motors, more advanced features and often have longer running surfaces than their less costly counterparts.

More reviewers recommend the Sole F80 ( *Est. $1,500) than any other treadmill, regardless of price. TreadmillDoctor.com, one of the most prolific treadmill review sites, gives the Sole F80 a Best Buy award, saying that it's "about as solid as you can get in the $1,500 range." Waters at Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com also picks the Sole F80 as a Best Buy, citing its quality components and reliable construction. The Sole F80 comes with a sizable 20-by-60-inch treadbelt, 3-chp motor, 15 percent maximum incline setting and a maximum speed of 12 mph. The maximum user weight is 350 pounds.

Other features include a wireless heart-rate monitor, built-in fans to cool you, built-in speakers and a folding deck to reduce the treadmill's footprint when not in use. Some users complain that the speakers are adequate, but not great, and that it's easy to stray outside the cooling fan's range. Sole offers a lifetime warranty on the motor, deck and frame, with five years of coverage on the electronics, belt and rollers. The two years of labor coverage is twice the typical labor warranty in this price range.

Experts say the Sole F80 is sturdy enough for running, so it's one of the best values for runners on a budget and is our Best Reviewed treadmill overall. The Sole F80 gets high marks from consumers at Amazon.com, with a 4.5-star average rating on the 2009-2010 model and a 4-star rating for the 2011 model, after more than 50 reviews. The slight drop in rating for the new model year might be due to complaints that speed adjustments are a little sluggish, but in general owners remain happy. One owner writes that, "Simply stated, this treadmill is a substantial piece of gear and gets the job done handily." However, users say the assembly can be a challenge, and most agree that the built-in fans are pretty weak; one reviewer describes them as "a puff from an asthmatic."

If you are a serious runner or are extra tall, reviewers advise paying the extra money for the Sole F85 (*Est. $2,000). It's very similar to the Sole F80, but has a more powerful 3.5-chp motor and an extra-wide 22-inch-by-60-inch running deck (2 inches wider than the Sole F80). The Sole F85 also has a higher user weight limit (400 pounds), and is backed by the same excellent warranty as the Sole F80. According to the experts at TreadmillDoctor.com, the Sole F85 is a good choice for regular runners. In fact, they've dubbed it "The best fold-up on the planet!" At Amazon.com, 13 users so far have given the 2011 version of the F85 4- or 5-star ratings, although a single reviewer complained that the preprogrammed workouts alternated between the treadmill's fastest and slowest speeds, making them unusable.

Another good choice among midrange treadmills is the Vision Fitness T9200 Simple (*Est. $1,500), which is recommended by two of the best expert sources for treadmill reviews. The T9200 has a smaller running surface than the Sole F80 or F85 (20 inches by 54 inches), and it doesn't fold up. The T9200 treadmill comes with a 2.5-horsepower motor, with a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour, and it adjusts up to a 12 percent incline. The maximum weight capacity is 325 pounds. Vision Fitness provides a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, five years on electronics and parts, and two years of labor coverage. The T9200 comes with three console options, Simple, Deluxe or Premier; the Simple console comes with a handgrip heart-rate monitor and a basic display that shows only one metric (distance, pace, etc.) at a time. If you're willing to pay a little more for the Deluxe (*Est. $1,800) or Premier (*Est. $2,000) consoles, you get preset workout programs, a wireless heart-rate monitor and a full-color LCD display (with the Premier console).

Most reviewers test the Vision Fitness T9200 with the Simple console. Although it lacks workout programs, Runner's World magazine says this treadmill is a great value if you don't need the extra bells and whistles. "You get a first-rate running surface for a bargain price," the editors explain. Fred Waters at Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com says the T9200 treadmill is reliable and sturdy, but thinks the Sole F80 is a better value. The Vision Fitness T9200 also gets high marks in a recent independent test, where it posts very good ratings for ergonomics and durability. However, some testers at Runner's World are annoyed that the Simple console only displays one metric at a time.

Runner's World magazine also likes the LifeSpan TR4000i treadmill (*Est. $2,000), calling it one of the best treadmills for small spaces. The LifeSpan TR4000i has a folding design like the Sole F80, and testers say it folds up very compactly (not all treadmills do; sometimes they're so bulky, even when folded, that it's impossible to move them around or squeeze them through a doorway). The treadmill has a 3.25-chp motor, 20-by-60-inch running surface and a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour. It also has a USB drive, so you can store workout data on a thumb drive.

"The new i Series from LifeSpan is one of the most innovative features we've seen come to market," writes one of the TreadmillDoctor.com editors. The LifeSpan TR4000i also includes built-in speakers for your MP3 player, and a lifetime frame and motor warranty. Testers at Runner's World love the long running surface, and the editors write that although "Some fold-up treadmills rattle and shake, especially at higher speeds, we like the solid and secure feel of the LifeSpan TR4000i." Health magazine also picks the TR4000i as their favorite treadmill in a 2009 review. We could only find a smattering of user reviews for this model, but they're mostly positive.

The Bowflex Series 7 (*Est. $1,300) treadmill gets very good ratings on Amazon.com, with a solid 4-star rating after more than 230 reviews. The Bowflex Series 7 treadmill has a 3-chp motor, 20-by-60-inch belt, 15 workout programs and a maximum speed of 11 mph. However, its maximum user weight of 300 pounds is slightly lower than many other treadmills in this price range, including the Sole F80. Bowflex offers a 15-year warranty on the frame, 10 years on the motor and two years for parts; electronics and labor are covered for one year. In this price range, it's not unreasonable to expect a lifetime warranty on both frame and motor.

TreadmillDoctor.com says the Bowflex Series 7 treadmill is a great deal, and owners at Amazon.com love the sturdy deck and long running surface. "It's very sturdy, has nice shock absorption and feels great to walk and run on," one owner writes. However, multiple users say the fan was broken when the treadmill was delivered. More worrisome are user complaints that Bowflex's customer service was slow to fix problems when they happened to arise. According to TreadmillDoctor.com and company press releases, Nautilus, the company that owns the Bowflex brand, is struggling; this may explain some of the customer-service complaints.

If you're fond of watching television while you work out but can't put your treadmill in front of a TV, you might enjoy the Smooth 9.65 (*Est. $2,000), which receives a Best Buy recommendation from TreadmillDoctor.com. TreadmillDoctor.com calls this treadmill "A home run!" and if you're willing to pay about $100 extra, it comes with a 10.5-inch flat-screen television embedded in the console. The Smooth 9.65 has a hefty 4-chp motor, a longer-than-usual 21-by-64-inch running deck and an astonishing 55 programmed workouts.

TreadmillDoctor.com doesn't normally recommend treadmills with built-in televisions, because editors think that feature gives manufacturers an excuse to jack up the price. Even so, the Epic View 550 (*Est. $1,300) received a Best Buy award in 2010 and a runner-up slot in 2011. Editors say the treadmill is solidly built and has a roomy running surface, but warn that the handgrip heart-rate monitor is useless. The Epic View 550 has a 3.25-continuous-duty horsepower motor, 20-by-60-inch running belt, maximum speed of 12 mph and user weight capacity of 350 pounds. The few user reviews we could find at Costco.com are mostly positive; those who like the Epic View 550 say it is a great value, and the preprogrammed workouts help keep them motivated. However, one owner reports that the treadmill keeps shutting off in the middle of a run.