The 8 Best Cushioned Treadmills to Keep You Comfortable During Your Cardio Workout

Cushioned treadmills can make a big difference in your workout by taking stress off of your legs and joints. Here’s our guide to the best cushioned treadmills.

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Exercising on a treadmill with cushioning versus a machine without any is like day and night. Not only do cushioned treadmills help make your workout significantly more comfortable, but they serve an important purpose of shock absorption. Since treadmills are high-impact workouts, the shock of your feet constantly hitting the ground, especially if you’re running on an incline or decline, can put serious stress on your joints. Cushioned treadmills help alleviate this issue by absorbing some of the impact for you.

If you’re struggling to find a top rated treadmill focused on comfort, then we can help. Our best cushioned treadmills guide will share our favorite comfortable treadmills and what makes their shock absorption technology unique. We’ll highlight their features, prices, build and more, while also sharing our top tips for how to maximize the benefits of using a treadmill—plus, everything else you should consider before making a purchase.

Our Picks for the Best Cushioned Treadmills:

• Best Overall Cushioned Treadmill: Sole Fitness F63
• Best Heavy-Duty Cushioned Treadmill: NordicTrack EXP 7i
• Best Folding Cushioned Treadmill: Echelon Stride Auto-Fold
• Best Cushioned Treadmill for HIIT Workouts: Sole Fitness F80
• Best High-End Cushioned Treadmill: ProForm Pro 9000
• Best Cushioned Treadmill for Walking: Sunny Health & Fitness Premium Folding Auto-Incline
• Best Compact Cushioned Treadmill: Echelon Stride Auto-Fold
• Best Cushioned Treadmill for Workout Classes: NordicTrack EXP 7i

Best Overall Cushioned Treadmill: Sole Fitness F63

Sole Fitness

Key Features:

• Price: $1,799.99
• Speed and incline controls on arm rests
• Easy Assist folding for easy storage
• Speakers are Bluetooth compatible
• Powerful 3.0 horsepower motor

While there are numerous cushioned treadmills that stand out in features, price and design, our best cushioned treadmill overall is Sole Fitness F63. This machine is Sole Fitness’ entry-level treadmill, but that doesn’t make it simple by any means. Our favorite cushioned treadmill comes with a powerful 3.0 horsepower motor that can support higher speeds without overheating, a max speed of 12 miles per hour and up to 15 levels of incline. This means that this cushioned treadmill can be used for anything from light walks to uphill runs, thanks to its versatility and compatibility for all fitness levels. While Sole F63 can be used with the brand’s subscription fitness platform Studio, which costs $19.99 per month for on-demand classes led by personal trainers, buying a membership isn’t necessary since there are six built-in workout programs.

Aside from a wide range of speed and incline options, we also love this machine for its standout features. Sole Fitness F63 has Bluetooth-compatible speakers that can connect to your smart devices, pulse grips act as a heart rate monitor and a USB charging port. It also has Easy Assist folding technology that lets you fold your treadmill when not in use. Most importantly, however, this foldable treadmill has light cushioning throughout its 20-by-60-inch running surface. While the cushioning is on the more gentle side, it’s enough to lessen the impact of walking and jogging, although you may still feel some impact if you run at a higher speed.

Pros:

• Lifetime warranty on frame and motor
• Chest strap included for heart rate monitoring
• Smooth and quiet workouts
• Locks into place when not in use

Cons:

• Lighter cushioning may not reduce running impact
• Few high-tech features

Best Heavy-Duty Cushioned Treadmill: NordicTrack EXP 7i

NordicTrack

Key Features:

• Price: $1,199
• Adjustable FlexSelect Cushioning
• Incline range of up to 12 percent
• Seven-inch smart HD touchscreen
• Can be used with an iFIT membership

If you’re looking for a heavy-duty cushioned treadmill that’s built to last and withstand tough workouts, look no further than NordicTrack EXP 7i. This entry-level NordicTrack treadmill comes in as our top pick in this category because of its sturdy design and fair price point. It has a mid-range 2.6 horsepower motor, a roomy 20-by-55-inch cushioned running deck and is heavy enough to be stable during both walking and running workouts. It also runs on the larger side, which is a bonus for taller users or those with longer strides. NordicTrack EXP 7i has an incline of up to 12 percent and a max speed of 10 miles per hour, making it suitable for steep climbing.

What we like the most about this treadmill is its focus on ergonomics and comfort. This machine is designed with FlexSelect Cushioning, or adjustable cushioning that you can change to fit your preferences. This nifty feature lets you transform your running surface from plush to more firm, the latter of which can be useful if you’re trying to recreate the feeling of running outdoors. This NordicTrack treadmill also includes a cooling fan and water bottle holders on each side of the console, which can help make your workout more comfortable (and keep hydration in reach). It’s also compatible with an iFIT membership, which costs $15 per month for trainer-led classes.

Pros:

• Interactive and tilting touchscreen
• Cushioning can be adjusted from soft to firm
• High incline range for steep climbs
• One-touch speed and incline controls on console

Cons:

• Smaller touchscreen may strain eyes
• Cooling fan too low for taller users

Best Folding Cushioned Treadmill: Echelon Stride Auto-Fold

Echelon

Key Features:

• Price: $1,299.99
• Eight built-in workout programs
• Vertical and horizontal transport wheels
• Extra-wide console with large display
• Folds to just 10 inches tall

Folding treadmills come with numerous benefits. Not only are they a smart space-saving solution for if you have a small living space, or use your treadmill in gathering areas like living rooms, but they offer the convenient option of putting away your treadmill when it’s not in use. Our best folding cushioned treadmill is Echelon Stride Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill, which has the ability to fold to just 10 inches tall. While this compact treadmill may run on the smaller side, its size doesn’t affect its capabilities. Echelon Stride Auto-Fold has a max speed of 12 miles per hour and 12 incline levels, with a max grade of 10 percent.

Suitable for both beginners and advanced runners alike, this folding treadmill has built-in cushioning with impact-absorbing elastomer to help reduce impact while exercising on it. It also has an extra-wide console with larger metrics, which can be helpful for those who wear glasses or contacts (no more squinting trying to determine your calories burned). While this treadmill may run on the simpler side for its price tag, the fact that it can fold to less than one-foot tall is a winning feature that makes this compact machine attractive for smaller home gyms.

Pros:

• Less than 12 inches tall when folded
• Roomy display with large metrics
• Lighter weight of 156 pounds is easy to move
• Side steps make it easier to step off machine

Cons:

• Weaker 1.75 horspower motor
• May feel too small for taller users
• Echelon membership required for on-demand classes

Best Cushioned Treadmill for HIIT Workouts: Sole Fitness F80

Sole

Key Features:

• Price: $2,799.99
• Strong 3.5 horsepower motor
• Cushion Flex Whisper Deck reduces impact up to 40 percent
• Fully-loaded console with one-touch keys for all features
• Includes Bluetooth connectivity

If your fitness goals include HIIT workouts, or high-intensity interval training, it's important to buy a treadmill that can support quick changes from light to challenging bursts of exercise. Our top cushioned treadmill for HIIT Workouts is Sole Fitness F80, which is two steps up from the Sole Fitness F63 model we mentioned earlier. This upgraded Sole Fitness treadmill has a stronger motor with 3.5 horsepower, 15 levels of incline and a fully-loaded console with one-touch keys for speed, incline and preset program changes. For HIIT workouts in particular, there’s a built-in HIIT program, but you can also do HIIT workouts on your own terms; the one-touch keys have wide speed and incline ranges that let you change your workout intensity on the fly.

One of the best features the F80 treadmill offers is its Cushion Flex Whisper Deck, which is designed to reduce impact up to 40 percent. This means the machine absorbs nearly half of the shock your body would normally feel while running on asphalt. In addition, Sole F80 has a number of connected features that include a USB port for charging your devices, Bluetooth audio speakers to stream music through and a tablet holder. It also has a nine-inch backlit LCD display that tracks metrics like speed, time, distance and more.

For more information on this cushioned treadmill, check out our Sole F80 review!

Pros:

• Easy Assist folding offers convenient storage
• 15 levels of incline for more HIIT workout options
• Convenient console with more than 30 one-touch keys
• Built-in heart rate sensors on hand grips

Cons:

• Difficult assembly
• Some users report issues with customer service

Best High-End Cushioned Treadmill: ProForm Pro 9000

Amazon

Key Features:

• Price: $2,299
• Speed and incline auto-adjusts with iFIT workouts
• Oversized 22-inch Smart HD touchscreen
• Powerful 3.6 CH Mach Z motor
• 13 incline and 12 speed one-touch controls

We consider any treadmill with a price tag of more than $2,000 falls into the higher-end category, and our pick for best high-end cushioned treadmill is the ProForm Pro 9000. If you’re looking for a splurge, this high-tech machine comes loaded with interactive and comfort features. It has a 22-inch Smart HD touchscreen that you can use for iFIT workouts, which this machine is compatible with. One great perk of getting an iFIT subscription with a ProForm Pro 9000 is that the machine will auto-adjust its speed and incline to match trainer-led programs, so you don’t have to worry about making changes on your own. Its wide incline range of negative three percent decline to 12 percent inline also makes this machine a great option for weight loss and challenging uphill climbs.

Then there’s the comfort functions. The roomy treadmill belt has a 20-by-60-inch running surface built with patented ReBound Pro cushioning, which softens the deck and absorbs impact during treadmill running or walking. It also has a large fan with adjustable levels of breeze to help you stay cool, and precision-balanced rollers to keep your home workouts stable. In addition, the Pro 9000 offers EasyLift Assist, which lets you fold the treadmill in just one push.

Pros:

• Interactive touchscreen offers cinematic experience
• 3.6 horsepower Mach Z motor can support high-speed sprints
• Folds and locks with one push
• Dual built-in speakers are Bluetooth compatible

Cons:

• iFIT membership required for all interactive features
• Some customers say touchscreen is slow

Best Cushioned Treadmill for Walking: Sunny Health & Fitness Premium Folding Auto-Incline

Sunny Health & Fitness

Key Features:

• Price: $799.99
• Soft-drop system gently unfolds treadmill
• Transportation wheels for easy transport
• 15 levels of automatic incline
• Pulse sensors on hand grips

If you love to walk, our best treadmill for walking is Sunny Health & Fitness Premium Folding Auto-Incline Smart Treadmill. This budget-friendly treadmill has a max speed of nine miles per hour, which makes it a great fit for walking workouts that don’t require high speeds. It also has 15 levels of automatic incline so you can walk uphill. We enjoy this treadmill for its clean interface and display, which includes one-touch controls for speed and incline and tracks all of your important metrics, like calories burned, time, distance and more. One unique feature that this display also tracks is your body fat percentage, so this is a good treadmill to consider if weight loss or weight gain is one of your health goals.

Sunny Health & Fitness Premium Folding Auto-Incline Smart Treadmill is one of the few treadmills in its price range that offers a cushioned running deck—proving that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort in exchange for a good deal. While its lower horsepower of 2.2 and max speed of nine miles per hour may not be the best fit for running, those who aren’t runners or prefer walking should have everything they need for a good workout. This machine can also fold and includes a soft-drop system for hands-free unfolding.

Pros:

• Clean interface and display
• Hands-free unfolding with soft-drop system
• Budget-friendly price point
• Metrics include body fat percentage

Cons:

• Very small running surface
• Max speed of nine miles per hour

Best Compact Cushioned Treadmill: Echelon Stride Auto-Fold

Echelon

Key Features:

• Price: $1,299.99
• Auto-fold feature allows for easy storage
• Rubber running deck absorbs impact
• Four-and-a-half-foot running deck
• Built-in steel transport handle

In addition to being our best folding cushioned treadmill, Echelon Stride Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill doubles as our best compact cushioned treadmill. On top of its space-saving features that include the ability to fold to just 10 inches tall, the Echelon Stride comes with a small footprint that makes it a compact choice even when it’s unfolded. Its running deck is just four-and-a-half feet long (or 55 inches), and the machine itself is only 31 inches wide. It also has a shorter height of 49 inches, which can be helpful for spaces or home gyms with low ceilings. For an even more compact design, you can also look at under-desk treadmills, which are small enough to tuck under your workspace (and can help you stay active while working).

Pros:

• Fits most small spaces
• Shorter height good for home gyms with low ceilings
• Transport handle lets you easily move the treadmill
• Higher max user weight of 300 pounds

Cons:

• Treadmill might be too small for taller users
• Shorter handrails compared to other models

Related Post: The Best Treadmills for Heavy People

Best Cushioned Treadmill for Workout Classes: NordicTrack EXP 7i

NordicTrack

Key Features:

• Price: $1,199
• Google Maps feature lets you workout anywhere in the world
• Digital premium speakers for elevated sound
• Hands-free workouts with iFIT classes
• Learning technology learns your preferences and metrics

If you’re a fan of workout classes, the NordicTrack EXP 7i also doubles as our best cushioned treadmill in this category. This heavy-duty machine is compatible with iFIT, a fitness subscription platform that offers live and on-demand fitness classes. You can watch these classes on the tilting seven-inch HD touchscreen. When following an iFIT class, the NordicTrack EXP 7i will auto-adjust its speed and incline to match directions provided by the personal trainer leading the program, offering a hands-free workout that lets you focus on running or walking. The display also comes with digital premium speakers that help elevate your audio experience as well.

In addition, SmartAdjust machine learning technology modifies your workouts to fit your needs and personal metrics. Another great feature we love on this treadmill is its Google Maps integration (with a paid subscription to iFIT) . This high-tech capability lets you run or walk anywhere in the world, as long as the location can be found on Google Maps. Other treadmills we love for workout classes are Peloton Tread, XTerra Fitness TRX5500 Treadmill and NordicTrack Commercial 1750, but this machine has the best price.

Pros:

• Google Maps integration provides scenic workouts
• SmartAdjust technology modifies workouts to your needs
• Auto-adjusting speed and incline with iFIT classes
• Touchscreen can be tilted up or down

Cons:

• iFIT subscription required for premium workout classes
• Touchscreen is small for watching classes on

How to Choose the Best Cushioned Treadmill for You

There are a few important factors to consider before buying a new treadmill.

Price

Since many high-quality treadmills can easily cost $1,000 or more, price is a huge driving factor for these home gym purchases. Before shopping around for a new cushioned treadmill, determine your budget and how much you’re able to spend from a few different directions. First, consider how much you want to spend on the machine alone. Then, factor in any shipping, delivery and/or installation costs, since this can quickly add a few hundred dollars to your purchase. Lastly, determine if you’ll have any ongoing subscription charges for fitness apps or treadmill apps to use alongside your cushioned treadmill, like iFIT or Studio, or if you’ll need to invest in any training shoes, fitness equipment or accessories, like heart rate monitors.

Features

Features make a big difference in your treadmill experience. Whether you’re seeking out interactive workouts, preset training programs, cooling fans or folding capabilities, it’s important to make sure that any treadmill you buy is worth the price for the types of features it includes. However, if extra features don’t matter to you, then purchasing a basic treadmill that offers standard running and walking workouts should be enough to meet your needs (and, will save you money on splurging for a higher-end treadmill full of features that you just won’t use).

Incline

The cushioned treadmills on our list come with a wide range of incline levels. If you plan on doing any uphill or downhill running or walking, incline should be an important factor in your decision. If you prefer to exercise on a slight incline for a bit of extra challenge, then a larger incline range won’t make a big difference. However, if you want to do steep climbs or descends, be sure to seek out a cushioned treadmill with an incline range of at least 10 percent or more.

Speed

Like incline range, treadmills come with a variety of top speeds that can be as low as six miles per hour or as high as 12 miles per hour or more. If you’re a walker, speed shouldn’t matter too much, but runners should take note of a machine’s max speed before making a purchase. A higher max speed can also be helpful for interval training, since it will give you more options.

Size

Treadmills are some of the largest pieces of fitness equipment that you can add to your home gym. Since these machines take up a big amount of space, it’s essential to carefully check a product’s specs for its dimensions and measure your workout area. This will help guarantee that a treadmill will fit, but that you’ll also have plenty of room to comfortably exercise. A safe rule of thumb is to have five feet on all sides of you when you’re working out. If you’re placing a treadmill in your basement or a room with a lower ceiling, don’t forget to measure vertically as well. The last thing you want is to buy a treadmill that won’t fit in your home gym, and you’ll be stuck having to return an extremely large (and extremely heavy) piece of fitness equipment.

Build

All treadmills are built differently. Since treadmills have a typical lifespan of seven to 12 years when cared for properly, you’ll want to buy a machine that’s built to last. Look for treadmills with a stainless steel frame or aluminum build, which are two of the sturdiest materials (stainless steel is typically used in heavy-duty treadmills, while aluminum is used in lighter treadmills that can fold). Try to avoid treadmills made with plastic parts that can easily snap over time. Most treadmills only come with a one-year warranty on parts, so you’ll be stuck handling the damage.

How We Chose the Best Cushioned Treadmills

We chose the best cushioned treadmills on our list based on a number of factors. First and foremost, we looked at what cushioning systems each treadmill has, how much shock they absorb and what customers have to say about their comfort levels. We also considered price, features, connectivity, speed, incline range, space-saving technology and weight capacity. These factors combined helped us determine which treadmills were truly the most comfortable.

What Is a Cushioned Treadmill?

A cushioned treadmill is essentially a regular treadmill that has a cushioning system in its running surface. Cushioning can be found in the running deck itself, the area where the deck connects to the frame or both. This generally consists of a cushioning layer, but its location on the running deck can differ. Some running decks have the same cushioning all around, while others provide cushioning in the front region, or the area where your feet hit the hardest.

There is also variable cushioning, which is a type of cushioning for treadmills that includes three zones of different cushioning levels. These vary based on where they’re located on the running surface (there’s usually more cushioning in the front, and less as you get closer to the back end, which is where your feet lift off of and where you need the most stable, secure surface).

Benefits of a Cushioned Treadmill

A cushioned treadmill offers a number of benefits. First, it’s significantly more comfortable for treadmill workouts than exercising on a regular treadmill. Studies also show that running on a cushioned treadmill tremendously decreases the amount of force, or impact, your foot encounters. This same study found that in addition to reducing stress on your feet, a cushioned treadmill can actually increase metabolic energy consumption, which influences how hard you’re able to exercise. All in all, a cushioned treadmill can reduce fatigue and improve exercise ability.

Cushioned Treadmill FAQs

What makes a cushioned treadmill different from a regular treadmill?

A cushioned treadmill has a cushioning system in the running deck with shock absorption technology or material. This can allow you to exercise for longer periods of time, and puts less stress on your joints. Instead of shock traveling up your legs and spine, the impact goes back down into the running deck.

How much should I pay for a cushioned treadmill?

Cushioned treadmills have a wide price range that starts as low as $600 and goes up to $3,000 or more. In general, you can expect to pay around $1,000 to $1,500 for a high-quality cushioned treadmill for home use that includes some extra features, like cooling fans or accessory holders. Any treadmill with a cushioned deck above $2,000 will likely be a higher-end or luxury buy.

Can you add cushioning to a regular treadmill?

Since cushioning is a built-in feature that relies on special shock absorption technology and materials, it can’t be added to a regular treadmill. However, there are some treadmills that have adjustable cushioning functions, so you can turn cushioning on or off as you’d like. If you have a regular treadmill at home and want to add more cushioning to your workouts, you can invest in a good pair of comfortable running shoes instead that have shock-absorbing padding or design.

Are cushioned treadmills better for walking or running?

Since cushioned treadmills use shock absorption technology, they absorb some of the shock for you that’s caused by your feet hitting the running deck. As running is a more intense workout that creates greater impact than walking, you may get more cushioning benefits for that reason. However, that doesn’t mean cushioning can’t be helpful for walking as well.

Final Thoughts

Investing in a cushioned treadmill for home use comes with many benefits. Not only does a cushioned treadmill provide a more comfortable workout, it also absorbs some of the shock caused by running and walking so you can exercise for longer without feeling fatigued. Plus, depending on the brand, you can get a cushioned treadmill for a similar price range as regular treadmills without cushioning - and some cushioned treadmills even come with a function that lets you turn cushioning on or off as needed. If you’re considering a cushioned treadmill, be sure to review our list for our top picks and how to determine which fitness equipment is right for you.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.