Why invest in a treadmill?

By having access to a treadmill at home, you can avoid the cost and the overcrowding that frequently happens at popular gyms and avoid having to run outside in all sorts of inclement weather. Treadmills are more versatile than you might first have imagined and can be used to switch up your workouts going from a gentle warm-up to using them as part of high interval training with sprint bursts. There’s nothing that quite gets the heart pumping better than a session on a cardio machine and a treadmill is an excellent example of a piece of fitness equipment that’s fun, challenging, safe, and also offers plenty of progression and versatility.

How do I fold my treadmill?

You will need to refer to your manufacturer's guidelines. Generally speaking, there are two styles of folding treadmills available - horizontal or vertical. Decide whether you’d prefer one that you can store upright in a closet or conveniently slide under your bed. While each will have slightly different operating mechanisms, they are for the large part straightforward and somewhat self-explanatory. If at all in doubt, consult your instruction booklet which should provide you with comprehensive instructions.

How should I maintain my treadmill?

We recommend that you get into a good habit of routinely maintaining your treadmill, especially if you use it frequently. We’d suggest that you keep the conveyor belt free of dust and debris to ensure that it always runs smoothly. It may require periodically lubricating to keep it in optimal working order. Each time you use your treadmill, it’s a good idea to wipe it over with a damp cloth, to remove any sweat that might subsequently lead to corrosion. Also, clean up any sweat that might have dripped onto the belt which might lead to injuries caused by slipping. Weekly, give your entire treadmill a thorough clean with a damp, clean cloth, paying attention also to the electronic display and all the surfaces to ensure that they are dust and debris-free. Monthly maintenance is also recommendable which should include unplugging and powering down your machine so that you can check that all the moving parts are still in good working order and that no dust or dirt has accumulated inside your motor.

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Our team of testers are athletes first. Editor Billy Brown is a former gym owner and boxer. Seiji Ishii is a rock climber, cyclist, dirt biker, and an American College of Sportsmedicine certified and degreed trainer. Editorial director Sean McCoy is an ultramarathon runner with finishes of the Leadville 100, Never Summer 100, and many other trail races under his belt. So we know and care about workout equipment. And we'll offer you the best advice we can find, whether you want to train to climb a mountain or reach a new personal record lift.