The best treadmills for running in the comfort of your home

Pros: Guided app workouts | Foldable | Incline functionality
Cons: Expensive | Could be more powerful | Belt on the smaller side

• Max user weight: 136kg
• Screen: No
• Max incline: 10%
• Dimensions: 175cm x 79cm x 124cm
• Folding: Yes

By this point you've probably heard someone raving about Echelon's exercise bikes and rowing machines, and so it comes as no surprise that the brand's quality treadmill is another top-tier piece of kit for those who favour running workouts. The key benefit of the Stride is the fact that it's capable of folding itself up to just ten inches thick, making it a convenient option for anyone who has been putting off buying a treadmill because of how much space they normally take up. Once folded up and tucked away against a wall, the Stride takes up far less room than other large folding treadmills, giving you back plenty of precious floor and room space when not in use.

Folding design aside, there's some pretty smart technology on offer here. Its built-in display provides clear access to plenty of data, including all of the usual stats like heart rate monitor, speed, and distance. Through the Echelon Fit app or Bluetooth, you can access live or recorded classes to help you stay motivated too. These will have to be enjoyed via your own device (there's a holder for tablets), as there's no built-in display. That's a little bit of a disappointment at this well-over-one-grand asking price, but we imagine a hefty chunk of the RRP is going towards the super-slick folding mechanism and overall design.

If you're after an all-round treadmill that won't take up your entire living room, while being capable of providing an actual running experience rather than a tamer jogging session, this is the one for you.

Pros: Self-powered | Built for comfort
Cons: Not one for casual runners | Expensive

• Max user weight: 110kg
• Screen: No
• Max incline: N/A
• Dimensions: 200cm x 82cm x 157cm
• Folding: Yes

If you want your treadmill to look more like a tank than a piece of gym equipment, the militarily-titled Assault AirRunner could be your new house guest. With a large, cleated and curved deck, this is a handsome machine as well as an innovative one. The most unique selling point of the Assault AirRunner? It’s entirely powered by the runner, meaning not only that you’ll save on the lecky bill, but that you'll be able to run as fast as you can physically go on this deck. And with no limit on speed, there’s almost none on distance either: this is a treadmill that promises to perform for up to 150,000 miles. With comfort, endurance and speed all taken care of, this is a piece of equipment that requires your full attention so as to work for you. In other words, it’s the treadmill for the serious athletes out there.

Pros: Adjustable deck | Remembers user preferences
Cons: Very expensive | No included suite of classes | Large

• Max user weight: 180kg
• Screen: No
• Max incline: 0.5
• Dimensions: 202cm x 82cm x 155cm
• Folding: No

The fifth iteration of Life Fitness’ ‘T’ range, this beast of a machine takes an extraordinary 180kg for its maximum user weight, making it one of the most hardy on the market. While you might initially balk at the price, know that there are an array of unique and attractive features making this one a solid pick for those with higher budgets. Most notable? In a wildly innovative specification, users can adjust the deck from a soft grass-like surface to a track-mimicking option to one with a pavement-like hardness. Impressive. And while this big commercial gym stalwart may not come with a suite of classes included, it does boast the ability to “remember” its users preferred settings, allowing you to step on and immediately step up.

Pros: Huge screen | Guided workouts | Wide running belt
Cons: Doesn't fold | Expensive

• Max user weight: 136kg
• Screen: Yes
• Max incline: 12.5%
• Dimensions: 173cm x 84cm x 157cm
• Folding: No

Despite making its name with exercise machines of the two-wheeled variety, Peloton isn't just about super-slick, screen-toting spin bikes. The Peloton Tread is, as its name suggests, an equally slick treadmill, which serves up all of its maker's polished training classes on its huge 23.8-inch HD touchscreen, complete with front-facing speakers for clear sound. While speakers might be low on your list of priorities for a treadmill, if you're after a model with all the bells and whistles (namely, one with live and on-demand classes), then a decent set of audio chops is a must. After all, if you're straining to hear the instructor and music over the sound of the belt and your pounding feet, you're not going to have the best time.

Elsewhere, the Tread offers intuitively placed speed and decline wheel controls for effortless, easy adjustments. Aside from their obvious convenience, their placement means that you can ramp things up or down without hassle, letting you keep your focus on your running technique without getting distracted or stumbling off into the floor with a crash.

Stat fans will be pleased to hear that detailed tracking capabilities are included too, letting you see how your fitness is progressing for extra motivation over time. Of course, this being a Peloton-made machine, the Tread's utility is dependent on your signing up to its accompanying membership programme that gives you access to an ample library of both live and pre-recorded classes with the brand's Insta-famous trainers for £39 per month. Want to try before you buy? A 30-day home trial is available.

Pros: Built-in touchscreen | Netflix, YouTube and more | Auto-stop safety system
Cons: Dated button design | Max user weight could be higher

• Max user weight: 110kg
• Screen: No
• Max incline: 12%
• Dimensions: 168cm x 44cm x 132cm
• Folding: Yes

Reebok's range of fitness machines are the perfect way to get started on creating a home gym and increasing your fitness levels. The GT40S is powered by a 2HP motor, which can run as high as 16kph if you feel like ramping up your sprints, while also allowing you to move between 12 different incline levels for long-distance runs and hill training with an elevation of 12 per cent.

The key advantage of this machine though, is how comprehensive the interface is, with console feedback on everything from speed to calories, 36 user programmes, MP3 connectivity, built-in fan and speakers, and hand grip pulse sensor. The 10.1-inch touchscreen can also be connected to the internet for more detailed measurements and can link with apps including Netflix and YouTube to keep you entertained during longer training sessions.

That's a heck of a lot of capability crammed into a treadmill that's hovering around the mid-range price. there's clever tech built into the belt/deck itself too. Reebok's ONE Series Cushioning has been specifically designed to soften the impact of each step, making it much easier on your joints in the long run. It has three distinct zones tailored to each phase, including a soft cushion zone to help absorb impact, and a strong cushion to aid transition. Lastly, there's a responsive cushioning zone to help propel you forward with each step, giving an extra boost to your regular running times.

Easily accessible incline controls are built into the handles for convenience, and there are also some heart rate sensors thrown in too. We'd recommend not relying on the handlebar heart rate sensors though, as holding them during running doesn't really feel that natural. Opt for a dedicated chest strap instead, if you're after stats on your ticker.

Pros: Compact | Remote control | Phone holder
Cons: Small belt | No incline | Not suitable for serious runners

• Max user weight: 120kg
• Screen: No
• Max incline: N/A
• Dimensions: 124cm x 69cm x 107cm
• Folding: Yes

Mobvoi's entry is available in a silver or black finish and stands out from the crowd with a minimal design and sleek curves. And when we say minimal, we mean it. Rivalled in compactness only by the likes of its WalkingPad competitor, this is one of the smallest treadmills money can currently buy. Thanks a running belt that's shorter and narrower than average, its footprint is minuscule — especially when the main guard rails are in the downward folded position. This configuration is known as walking mode, and you won't be able to reach the full horsepower top speed of 12kph for safety reasons. It does, however, mean that you can easily use the Mobvoi treadmill easily underneath a standing desk, without worrying about the rails getting in the way. If you want to kick things up a notch, bring up the rails, and you can go for a more intense jogging session.

Given its small size, lower speeds, and general nature, this is more of a walking or jogging device aimed at those looking to burn a few extra calories while watching TV or working. It's also an ideal choice for those looking to ease themselves into running, and its manageable dimensions make it perfect for small spaces.

It also comes with a remote in addition to touch controls and built-in Bluetooth speakers, while a tablet holder lets you control your music or distract yourself with a spot of Netflix during your workout. Granted, it isn't the optimal choice for fitness obsessives, but anyone getting into the Couch to 5K groove will find plenty to appreciate. Those looking to work through any mobility issues will also find this to be a worthy and affordable option, and the fact that you can slide it under a couch with zero fuss is hard to argue against.

Pros: Sleek looks | Live and on-demand workouts | Large touchscreen
Cons: Expensive | No built-in screen

• Max user weight: 110kg
• Screen: No
• Max incline: N/A
• Dimensions: 157cm x 75cm x 118cm
• Folding: Yes

For a sub-£1,000 price, ProForm's City L6 folding treadmill is a pretty good buy that will help you step up your workouts and bring them to the next level. One key advantage it offers is the fact that it's iFIT-enabled and comes with a full-access iFIT membership, providing you with interactive personal training direct to your home. This is a feature that can actively help you gain and keep your motivation, but it's got a clever trick up its sleeve too. Like some of the other more advanced treadmills on our list, the City L6 has some impressive specs, including automatically adjusting your speed to optimise the workout. In other words, if your trainer adjusts their resistance or incline settings during a session, the treadmill will follow suit, without you having to press anything. With lesser treadmills, you'd have to make these adjustments manually, taking you out of the moment and potentially distracting your form. It's a luxurious feature that you certainly have to pay for, but it's well worth the investment if you're planning to train regularly and take advantage of guided workouts as well.

The five-inch display might seem small at first, but it'll still easily help you keep tabs on how hard you're working with all of the statistics you need. An integrated device shelf is also great for securing your phone as you run, and given that you'll be relying on your phone or tablet for an entertainment/guided session screen, this is a particularly important addition. We'd have liked to see at least a small media screen at this price, but the fact that this is a unit that can fold its rails down completely flat, makes it stand out from other larger treadmills. Once folded, it can slip under tables and reasonably high beds, for maximum space-saving capability.