Bust out a great workout from the comfort of your home office or makeshift gym—then fold the Echelon Stride-6 up to store it out of sight.
Our Tester’s Take
The Echelon Stride-6 makes a compelling case for anyone looking for a compact incline treadmill that doesn’t sacrifice style for functionality. Its sleek design isn’t a total eyesore, and it folds to just 10 inches flat, making it incredibly easy to stow away when you’re not using it. It’s great for studio-dwellers or folks opting for a joint office-gym setup—we regularly rolled it up against a spare wall, and could even fit it under our bed.
With speeds up to 12 mph and 12% incline, there’s little you can’t do with this treadmill. While its lightweight design may feel a bit shaky at top-end speeds, we appreciated everything this model did to cut down on nonessentials in order to keep the price in check. Case in point: Rather than a big television-like screen like you’ll find on some of its competitors, this treadmill instead offers a large device-holder that can securely hold your own tablet or phone.
If price is the biggest factor, then you can’t go wrong with the Xterra TR150. It’s a simple, affordable incline treadmill—and that’s our favorite thing about it.
Our Tester’s Take
Look, we’ll come right out and say it: Scoring a deal doesn’t come without compromise. While you can’t beat the Xterra TR150 on price (find it regularly on sale for less than $400), this treadmill is not made with all the bells and whistles of its higher-end peers.
The Xterra TR150’s running surface is decent, measuring just 10 inches shorter than most premium models. While this will work well for most users, it might feel a bit cramped for taller runners or those who prefer room to extend their stride. And while the machine can reach an impressive 10 mph, we didn’t feel super comfortable with the steadiness at the highest speeds. (Not to mention, the relatively modest 2.25 horsepower motor is not inherently designed to endure long or intense sessions—so if you’re going to run it hard, don’t expect it to last as long as pricier models.)
Lastly, this treadmill does offer three incline levels. However, it’s adjusted manually, meaning you have to stop your workout and physically adjust the incline settings, rather than having an automatic incline feature controlled from the console. If you’re focused on mostly walking or doing some easy jogs or light runs (and using a set incline during your entire workout), this could be a solid solution—but it won’t fly for interval or HIIT workouts.
A strong contender in the budget-friendly category, the compact Merach T12 Treadmill offers a good range of features for people looking to get more steps in at home.
Our Tester’s Take
People who are over 6 feet or have long running strides will usually feel most comfortable on a treadmill with a running surface that’s 60 inches long. However, when we walk, our stride shortens, which means you may not feel as constricted if you’re using a treadmill purely to boost your daily step count.
More comparable to a walking pad, the Merach T12 Treadmill’s running deck measures roughly 16 inches wide by 43 inches long, making it the most narrow and also the shortest on our list. (That being said, its relatively compact size is ideal for smaller spaces.) Unlike most walking pads, this one does have incline capability, which maxes out at 6%. The machine is also surprisingly quiet, even at its higher speeds, making it a good option for apartment living or shared spaces.
If you’re primarily looking for a reliable, incline-capable treadmill for the occasional uphill hike, the Merach T12 offers solid performance at a reasonable price point.
The Peloton Tread is more than just an incline treadmill. This is a full-on workout experience that keeps you coming back time and time again.
Our Tester’s Take
If you’re looking for the best incline treadmill that also offers top-notch classes, it’s hard to beat the Peloton Tread. “Treadmills are not my first choice for an at-home workout, but the Peloton Tread gave so many guided sessions with motivating instructors,” says one GQ tester, a former Division I track and field athlete. “The system’s navigation made it easy to find workouts based on my preferences within a few seconds. I typically avoid endurance running, but the Peloton Tread made it enjoyable; I wasn’t grueling over the session and watching the timer the entire time.”
The machine itself is a solid option for incline training. The touchscreen is huge and crystal-clear and can be angled, making it easy to follow along with whatever class you’re in. While the transition from highest (12.5%) to lowest (0%) incline points is not particularly fast, it is incredibly smooth. “There is no jerking sensation between transitions, nor can you hear any audible noise if you’re still watching a session,” our tester notes. (Keep in mind, this is another model where the incline stays at the height you set it on after you’ve turned it off, so you’ll want to reset the incline to 0% before you end your session.)
