Best Treadmills Under $2,500

With a 22″ screen and other great features, a gym-quality workout can be had in the home here. Photo by: Oleksandr Kosheliev / TreadmilReviews.net

Top by Category

The best treadmills under $2,500 have high-end components and earn great overall reviews. Favorites in this price class carry long residential warranties, and some are hardy enough for light commercial traffic too. Strong basics they share are club-quality motors, spacious and low-maintenance tracks, and reliable electronics with useful workout programming. Special features vary widely from brand to brand, but often these treadmills are equipped with their manufacturers’ best technologies. Examples below include features such as foldable frames, touchscreen control panels, Bluetooth compatibility for data logging, and automated track incline/decline to simulate outdoor training.

1. Best Overall – NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Where to buy NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Check price at Dick’s Sporting Goods Check price at Amazon Where to buy NordicTrack Commercial 1750 $2,299 See details $2,299 See details

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 has earned a top spot in customer reviews as a folding treadmill that suits both runners and walkers. It’s easily our top pick for the best treadmills under $2,500, scoring high for its construction and programming alike. It’s nearly as powerful as the Commercial 2950, and from a tech standpoint is nearly identical.

Like most iFit-enabled treadmills, the Commercial 1750 has AutoAdjust technology which allows the live trainers to control the machine during workouts. And this is a big bonus when combined with a treadmill which features 15% incline and -3% decline, as well as a 0-12 mph speed range. What’s more, it helps you make the most of iFit virtual outdoor training. As your program shows an uphill path, for example, your treadmill will tilt to match. Other highlights for the new NordicTrack 1750 include Bluetooth heart rate monitoring capability and Bluetooth audio connectivity to help keep you entertained through your workouts. This model includes a much-improved premium audio deck designed to provide immersive workouts.

Aside from the shortening of NordicTrack warranties overall, there’s little we can fault about this one— it will come down to whether or not you see yourself benefiting from the subscription model of streaming training with iFit. When on sale, the new NordicTrack Commercial 1750 offers top value in terms of performance, electronics and overall quality.

See our in-depth review of the NordicTrack Commercial 1750.

Key Specs

2. Best Runner-Up – LifeSpan TR4000i

Where to buy LifeSpan TR4000i Check price at Walmart Where to buy LifeSpan TR4000i  $2,399 See details

The LifeSpan TR4000i Folding Treadmill is high quality, feature packed and surprisingly affordable. LifeSpan treadmills in general (foldable or non-foldable) are respected for their durable components, impressive biomechanics and generous programming options. The steel-framed LifeSpan TR4000i Treadmill outperforms its series’ other folding treadmills thanks to an extra-thick 60? track and 3.25 HP motor.

This model also has a reversible deck to provide twice the longevity of other LifeSpan folding treadmills. The 1? thick Phenolic deck helps to reduce workout noise, and the machine includes transport wheels, two front- and two rear-mounted, for easy movement. In addition to a cooling fan, the LifeSpan TR4000i offers dual Bluetooth speakers, as well as an Intelli-Step, a feature which works like a pedometer measuring steps taken. This model is LifeSpan’s best folding treadmill and great value at under $2500 for both its online sale price and full price.

See our detailed review of the LifeSpan TR4000i.

Key Specs

3. Best for Comfort and Stability – Echelon Stride-5s

Where to buy Echelon Stride-5s Check price at Echelon Where to buy Echelon Stride-5s  $2,199 See details

The Echelon Stride-5s treadmill serves as the top of its brand’s lineup for the 2022 season and with good cause. Spacious and powerful, it’s a sizeable treadmill and requires some space in your home. Some of the big plusses include a 24″ HD screen built for interactive training with the Echelon Fit app, a 3HP motor, and super-sized 22? x 60? running surface. With a 0-15% incline and 16 levels, as well as up to 12.5mph in speed, there’s little chance you’ll outgrow the Echelon Stride-5s treadmill.

Other helpful information includes purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. One downside is the warranty. Your purchase comes with a 1-year plan, with an additional year able to be added for $119, and a 3-year warranty plan for $199. Most comparable units offer at least 10 years for the frame and 5 years for the motor.

In terms of price and performance, the Echelon Stride-5s matches up well against the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 or NordicTrack Commercial 1750. The fact that it can support up to 400 pounds of user weight affirms the structural quality.

Read all about the Echelon Stride-5s in our detailed review.

Key Specs

Comparing Treadmills Under $2,500

Treadmills priced from $2,000 to $2,499 tend to be high quality. Choosing a top-rated machine from this category, you can expect years of trouble-free training. Some of the best treadmills under $2,500 carry five-year residential warranties on parts and electronics. Many are hardy enough for light commercial use too. Great options are available for daily runners and walkers alike: traditional treadmills, incline trainers, and space-saving foldable treadmills with commercial motors, automated incline controls, Bluetooth for fitness tracking, interactive video workouts and much more. Here are notes describing standards for this price category.

Electronics on $2,000 to $2,499 Treadmills

For many home treadmill brands the top models under $2,500 feature their best electronics. Some brands’ electronics support digital entertainment as well as workout programming; common nowadays are convenient console-based iPod controls,touch screens for web browsing, and integrated social media apps. Other brands take the “classic” approach to treadmill console design, keeping the focus on useful workout programming. In any case the electronics tend to be high quality. In lower price tiers sometimes there’s no electronics warranty at all, but the best treadmills under $2,500 carry the customer-friendly promise of free console repair/replacement for at least two years.

• Large Screens: The leading manufacturers tend to equip their $2K-and-up treadmills with wide display screens for easy reading. Sole, for example, provides a 10″ LCD on the TT8 Treadmill shown above. Matrix Fitness gives shoppers a choice of three consoles with their folding treadmills, with the top-tier option being a 10″ touch screen that’s compatible with interactive HD videos filmed in scenic destinations. NordicTrack also provides 10″ touch screens at this price point, and theirs have Android web browsers.
• Preloaded Workouts: The best treadmills under $2,500 have excellent program variety. Whatever your workout goal, you can quickly start high quality training. Programs are designed by certified personal trainers and support exercise for interval training, target heart rate, time/calorie/distance goals, and more.
• Customized Workouts: All treadmills have manual mode for controlling the speed and incline, but some of the best treadmills go a step further and let users save their favorite self-designed routines. Some of the best treadmills under $2,500 support multiple user profiles too, so each trainee can have a personalized program menu.
• Virtual Outdoor Training: In addition to having standard treadmill workouts, some of the most popular treadmills under $2,500 are compatible with popular technologies that simulate outdoor training: iFit and Virtual Active.
• iFit is an all-in-one fitness app. Besides logging data and offering other fitness features, it allows unlimited workout downloads in several formats including Google Maps. On treadmills with power inclines iFit Google Maps workouts replicate the rise and fall of any charted terrain — and if Google has captured a Street View of the route, the training is visually interactive too. Train in your own neighborhood, replicate a race route, or tour the world from your treadmill. iFit is included on cardio trainers from NordicTrack, ProForm and other brands owned by ICON Health & Fitness.
• Virtual Active video is captured in scenic destinations worldwide such as tropical island beaches, national parks, quaint villages and vibrant cities. Similar to the Google Street View effect described above, each video moves at the user’s pace to create an immersive experience. Furthermore, ambient sound is included with each Virtual Active tour. Some of these virtual outdoor workouts include guidance from personal trainers. Virtual Active is available on Matrix Fitness cardio trainers and others from Johnson Health Tech.

To best enjoy these interactive workout technologies, choose a treadmill that supports automated incline changes. Many treadmills under $2,500 have power inclines, and unlike cheaper treadmills some have power declines too.

• Wireless Data Logging: Modern treadmills make it easy to log fitness data, chart your progress and thereby keep motivation high. Various treadmills under $2,500 work with FitBit, ViaFit, iFit and countless other mobile apps to wirelessly track workout data such as pulse, time spent exercising and calories burned.

Performance

Many of the top treadmills under $2,500 are built for runners as well as walkers: They have commercial motors, high maximum speeds, spacious training areas and well-cushioned tracks. These machines are solid too, marked with user weight capacities of at least 300 pounds. The high performance of this price category’s folding treadmills for walkers and runners is especially worth noting. Comparing folding treadmills under $2,500 with those under $1,500, for example, you’ll see dramatic differences in most categories.

• Motors: We generally recommend machines with motors of at least 3.0 continuous horsepower for runners, and many choices in this price class exceed that minimum with 4.0 or 4.25 CHP drives. High quality treadmill motors operate quietly, help treadmill belts run skip-free, and carry lifetime warranties. Many support top speeds of about 12 mph.
• Belts: All tread belts are not created equal, but above-average belts are easy to find in this price class. Walkers can expect at least 20″ x 55″ tracks. Runners can get tracks with extra length and width; machines with 22″ wide belts and 63″ long belts are featured in our treadmill reviews. Furthermore, these tread belts are more durable than those in lower price classes. They tend to be multi-ply rather than single-ply, so they’re less prone to tearing, and they’re infused with lubricant to reduce the need for maintenance.
• Decks: Treadmill decks support the track. The better quality decks in this price class offer superior shock absorption, which not only promotes comfort but also reduces the chance of exercise-related injury and helps improve endurance. Some of the best treadmills under $2,500 have even been shown to support dramatically more efficient calorie burn. Getting a great deck on a folding treadmill in particular would be a challenge at lower price points, but here there’s no need to compromise.

Best Treadmill Warranties

Treadmills in this price class are built for long-term use. Components such as commercial quality wiring, 3″ track rollers and multi-layer tread belts let manufacturers provide especially generous warranties. Comparing treadmills just under $2,500 with those in lower tiers, you’ll see how they can deliver much better value in the long run. Here’s what to expect from warranties on the best treadmills priced from about $2,000 to $2,499:

• Frame, Motor and Deck: Lifetime coverage
• Parts: Five years
• Electronics: Five years
• Labor: Two years

Conclusion

The best home treadmills under $2,500 are built for long-term reliability. Many can handle light commercial traffic as well as daily home use. This price class offers an excellent selection of folding and non-treadmills with above average performance, valuable training programs, special features and generous warranties.

Recent Updates

October 19, 2022: Life Fitness F1 Smart treadmill has been replaced by the LifeSpan Fitness TR4000i due to price increase. Updated specifications to current models. Added FAQs and original images from test run.

June 20, 2022: Updated specs and replaced the NordicTrack 2450 with the 1750 due to pricing changes.