November 19th, 2020 | Updated on May 9th, 2023
Treadmills make it easy to exercise when you are in an enclosed environment, whether at home or the gym. Like every other piece of electronic equipment, treadmills have evolved from the traditional model that you could only use for walking or running to more intense machines with a variety of workout options.
Nowadays, there are smart treadmills with advanced features such as live treadmill workouts. These are workouts taking place in real-time, which you can participate in at home using the treadmill. Also, the treadmills come with preset workout programs that you can use for your chosen type of exercise.
Features Of The Best Connected Treadmill
Do you want to lose weight or do you want to build muscles? There are different programs to suit your needs when you are using connected treadmills. These built-in programs control the speed and incline of the machine automatically.
To guide you, here are the features of the best connected treadmills for 2021.
Connectivity
With connected or smart treadmills, you can access live classes from instructors. Therefore, you can experience training with an instructor at the comfort of your home. This is made possible by connecting using an app that is compatible with the treadmill.
For example, the Echelon Stride works with Echelon App, which allows you to access workouts from the treadmill.
Other treadmills support apps such as iFit which come with work out programs from fitness instructors from all over the world.
It includes the unlimited Google maps workouts in which you can draw a route on Google maps and experience the ups and downs of the terrain virtually.
Also, there is the Passport Virtual Active technology of which the workouts on the treadmill are shown on TV.
As you change the speed of the exercise, the audio and video also adjust. Therefore, the best connected treadmills are connected to an app, which allows for virtual instructor-based training.
You won’t be running or walking on the treadmill without any assistance since you can access instructor-led workouts.
Convenient Storage
Are you wondering where to store your connected treadmill? The best treadmills have an auto-fold feature. So, if you don’t have a lot of space, you can fold it and tuck it away.
Are you worried about storage? Don’t because you can find a treadmill that can occupy 10 inches deep. You can tuck this into a small space, even under the bed.
Test First
For you to get the best connected treadmills, you need to test. Does it do what it is claimed it does? Does it connect with the app? Does it incline? Check the speed and stride.
So, before you buy, test the treadmill first. You can go to department stores or sporting stores. In case you want to buy online and you can’t test before, then check the reviews.
Previous customers should have left honest reviews about the product. Only go for connected treadmills that have positive reviews about their performance.
Motor Power
The best connected treadmill should have motor power, enough to meet your needs. The motor power is given as continuous horsepower (CHP), and it ranges between 2.25 to 4.25 CHP for a home treadmill. The higher the power, the more powerful is a treadmill.
For people of up to 200 pound, it is recommended that a jogging treadmill should have 2.5 CHP or higher while a running one should have 3.0 CHP or higher. If your weight is more than 200 pounds, add 0.5 CHP. Some can accommodate users of up to 300 pounds.
The Stride
Do you intend to run on the treadmill? Do you have long strides? Then you will need a bigger track size than someone who is only walking. Running treadmills have a track length of 58” to 60” while those for walking have a length of 55”.
The standard width is 20”. However, you will find wider tracks of 22 inches. Make sure the track size fits your needs.
Speed
For a smart treadmill, the speed and incline depend on the in-built workout program you are using. However, the speed you will need depends on the type of training.
Most people are comfortable at a speed of 10mph. However, if you are in speed training, you will need a higher rate. Luckily, you will find treadmills that can reach 12mph at below $1,000.
Incline
Treadmills with incline burn calories faster and are more comfortable on the joints. They are also preferred for muscle development. That’s why one of the features of the best connected treadmills is the incline. Also, the inclines should be of different levels. For example, the Echelon Stride has 12 incline levels.
The maximum incline is 10%. However, you can find home treadmills with inclines of 15 and 20 percent. However, gym treadmills have up to 40% inclines.
The steeper the incline, the more calories they burn.
