Incline/Decline Training

Some treadmills offer incline plus decline to simulate downhill running

Most treadmills feature an adjustable incline that raises the front of the belt to create a 10 to 15 percent grade. This simulates walking or running uphill, which some fitness experts say is a great way to shape leg, hip and gluteus muscles. Plus, incline walking is easier on the joints than running, but still gets your heart really pumping.

Treadmills that decline -- tip down in front, to simulate running or walking downhill -- are harder to find. You'll work different muscles by running downhill than by running on a flat surface or uphill. Runners who do extensive indoor training for outdoor events, such as marathons and 10K races, find this feature particularly important.

The folding LifeSpan TR2000 (*Est. $1,500) is a well-reviewed choice at the low end of the price range for incline/decline treadmills. The Los Angeles Times particularly like its space-saving design. These reviews note that by locating the motor underneath the treadmill, the LifeSpan TR2000 makes room for a 56-inch running deck while shaving 14 to 16 inches off the size of a normal treadmill. This LifeSpan treadmill is capable of declining up to 4 percent, but it only inclines up to 8 percent, which is lower than the 10 percent to 12 percent incline of most regular treadmills. So for incline training, the LifeSpan TR2000 probably makes the most sense if you value the decline feature more than the incline.

Reviews say the LifeSpan TR2000 feels sturdy, comfortable and easy to use. Although its 2.5-horsepower motor is slightly less powerful than the 3-horsepower units you'll usually find in this price range, both it and the LifeSpan TR2000's frame come with lifetime warranty coverage (plus five years for parts and one year for labor). TreadmillDoctor.com calls the LifeSpan TR2000 a "decent quality unit" with terrific fit-and-finish, but critics there aren't overly enthusiastic about this older model. "The TR2000 is getting a bit long in the tooth...; it just seems to be dated," they conclude.

Endurance runner and cyclist Roy M. Wallack highly recommends the LifeSpan TR2000 in his review for the Los Angeles Times, but he reports that he felt the belt slip while running at 9 to 10 mph on the decline. "I weigh 180 pounds; the salesman told me he recommends this one for runners 165 or less," Wallack says. The weight limit for walkers is 350 pounds.

With each giant step you take in price, you'll get more powerful motors, longer running surfaces and better warranties. Experts prefer the PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR (*Est. $2,400), which offers more power (3 horsepower), a heavier weight limit (400 pounds), higher maximum speed (12 mph versus 10 mph) and a longer running surface (60 inches) than the LifeSpan TR2000. The PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR also has a higher 12 percent incline, with a 3 percent decline. The PaceMaster version doesn't fold up, however.

"My only criticism is the price," writes Fred Waters in his review of the PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR at Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com. "At that price you can get some heavy duty machines." Wallack, at the Los Angeles Times, has a similar complaint: "While firm, it's not as solid feeling at 205 pounds as the much heavier True and Spirit models," he writes.

Still, Wallack recommends the PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR. Unlike the LifeSpan TR2000, Wallack says the PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR includes preset programs that take advantage of both its 12 percent incline and 3 percent decline range. Runner's World magazine testers also like these programs, which vary the elevation every 52 feet to work different muscles. The PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR earns a Best Buy rating from another top review organization, and it's a runner-up on TreadmillDoctor.com's list of top buys. "The decline feature makes this one so full featured, it is hard to believe that they only want $2,500 for it," TreadmillDoctor.com says.

There are a few other hill-training treadmills also recommended by experts, but they are extremely expensive. As such, their feature sets are even more impressive, with more powerful motors, larger training surfaces and increased workout program variety. These include models such as the Bodyguard T460x (*Est. $4,200) and True ES9.0 (*Est. $5,900). Both are worthy of consideration for serious home trainers with big budgets who are looking for a top-quality machine. The Bodyguard T460x declines to 3 percent and inclines up to 15 percent; the True ES9.0 treadmill declines 3 percent and inclines 15 percent. "There is nothing else I would want in a treadmill personally if I had an unlimited budget," says TreadmillDoctor.com of the True ES9.0.

The Precor 9.35 (*Est. $5,000) is another pricey option with a 15 percent incline and 2 percent decline. The 22-by-56-inch belt size and 3-horsepower motor are only average for this price range -- the Bodyguard T460x treadmill boasts a 20-by-60-inch belt and 3.4-horsepower motor at a cheaper price. Still, Precor is known for making quality products. "Although pricey and ugliness aside, Precor makes one of the most solid home treadmills you can find," says TreadmillDoctor.com. The Precor 9.35 treadmill is also one of the treadmills selected by Olympic decathlete Bryan Clay in an article at SmartMoney magazine.

Experts also like the cheaper NordicTrack Incline Trainer X3 (*Est. $1,600) for incline training. The treadmill boasts a 40 percent incline (no decline), a 2.8-horsepower motor and maximum speed of 10 mph. TreadmillDoctor.com says NordicTrack's Incline Trainers provide "one of the best workouts you can get," and Fred Waters at Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com agrees. "If you want a killer workout, the Incline Trainer X3 is worth considering and the price is right," says Waters, although he thinks the 20-by-50-inch belt is too short for running. The NordicTrack Incline Trainer X3 also gets decent reviews at Sears.com, where 75 percent would recommend it to a friend. Owners say it provides a great workout, but others complain about NordicTrack's customer service or other quality-control problems. The pricier NordicTrack Incline Trainer TS3 (*Est. $2,000) also has a 40 percent incline, but it adds a 3 percent decline and a longer 20-by-55-inch belt as well.