Peloton Tread Review: Should You Elevate Your Home Gym in 2024 With This Treadmill?
Peloton
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Key features:
- Capable of speeds up to 12.5 mph and 12.5 percent incline
- Quick-adjust knobs to change speed and incline
- Interactive training with thousands of live and on-demand classes
- Compact footprint
Peloton is most well-known for the Peloton Bike, which was a groundbreaking exercise bike when it was first introduced to the home gym equipment market, thanks to its dynamic instructors and interactive workouts. While the Peloton Bike is still a mainstay for many users, the Peloton Tread has also become a popular piece of home fitness equipment for engaging and challenging cardio workouts.
As a smart treadmill, the Peloton Tread is Peloton’s answer to users who want to have interactive training and world-class workouts while running or walking. In this article, we will discuss the features and pros and cons of the Peloton Tread, along with factors to consider before buying a Peloton Tread vs. another type of treadmill.
What we like:
- 3.0 CHP motor runs quietly and smoothly
- Max speed of 12.5 miles per hour and max incline of 12.5 percent
- Large, anti-glare tablet
- Access to thousands of guided live and on-demand workouts
- Leaderboard to aid motivation where you can give virtual high-fives
- Included setup and assembly
- Compact footprint compared to other home treadmills
- Carbon steel construction for durability
- 59-inch running belt length accommodates taller runners
What to consider:
- Expensive
- Must pay ongoing membership fee ($44/month) to subscribe to Peloton All-Access membership
- Can be louder than some treadmills
How The Peloton Tread Works
Peloton
The Peloton Tread is designed for runners of all abilities and can also be used for walking. It is a premium treadmill that is capable of running speeds up to 12.5 miles per hour and an incline of 12.5 percent grade. Unlike most traditional treadmills, the Peloton Tread is an interactive training tool that must be used with a monthly subscription to Peloton classes.
One of the best features of the Peloton Tread is that you can connect any ANT+ heart rate monitor through Bluetooth. The console will display your heart rate zones while you run, and you can review how much time you spent in each heart rate zone after your workout.
You can also sync your Apple Watch or Strava account to the cardio machine, enabling the automatic capture of your performance data so that you can easily keep track of your goals.
Who The Peloton Tread is Best For
Peloton
The Peloton Tread can be one of the best treadmills for beginners and those who have little experience or motivation to run as well as advanced runners with a competitive background in the sport.
Due to the wide range of treadmill workouts and running classes in the Peloton app, runners and walkers of all fitness levels and goals can find appropriate workouts to meet their needs. Many of the user reviews on the Peloton site are from former non-runners who never enjoyed running. These customers often rave about how motivational the Peloton walking and running workouts are, successfully converting them into avid runners who now enjoy running and walking for exercise.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Peloton Tread can also be one of the best treadmills for competitive or experienced runners because the performance specs of the machine afford fast, high-intensity running and the treadmill is well built for heavy use. With a maximum speed of 12.5 miles per hour, runners can clip along at a blistering 4:40 per mile pace, which is significantly faster than most competitive runners train.
Ultimately, the Peloton Tread is intended for runners and walkers who want live and on-demand guided workouts, including HIIT, strength training and running.
The Peloton Tread dimensions make up a particularly small footprint compared to other high-end treadmills for home gyms, so it can be a good treadmill for those who have limited room.
Who The Peloton Tread Is Not Best For
The Peloton Tread is not a good product for anyone who does not want to pay an ongoing subscription fee to use the exercise machine. Because the Peloton Tread cost is quite high, if you are on a budget or have limited interest in following instructor-led running or walking workouts, this is not a good treadmill for you. As a subscription is necessary to get the most out of the treadmill, you will end up paying a lot of money for features that are not your top priorities. Finally, the Peloton Tread has a maximum user weight of 300 pounds, so it is not suitable for users above this weight.
Peloton Tread Specs
- Display: 23.8-inch HD touchscreen with rear- and front-facing stereo speakers
- Speed: 0–12.5 miles per hour
- Dimensions: 68 inches long x 33 inches wide x 62 inches high
- Running Belt Size: 59 inches long x 20 inches wide
- Weight: 290 pounds
- Maximum user weight capacity: 300 pounds
- Incline: 0-12.5 percent, no decline
Factors to Consider Before Purchasing Peloton Tread
Peloton
Here are some of the most important factors to consider before buying the Peloton Tread.
Setup and assembly
Arguably, one of the major benefits of buying a Peloton Tread rather than a treadmill from many competitors is that Peloton Tread setup and assembly is automatically included with the purchase of the machine. The assembly team will deliver and assemble the treadmill and then show you how to use it.
Programming options
The Peloton All-Access Membership has thousands of live and on-demand workout classes, from guided treadmill runs to walking workouts, treadmill bootcamps and HIIT classes to outdoor runs. There are also live workouts and on-demand classes for strength training. You can buy a Tread package that includes Peloton dumbbells or use your own dumbbell set during strength training classes.
The treadmill’s programming is heavily interconnected with classes and your fitness tracker, working in sync to track heart rate, muscle groups worked and progress history. This also includes the standard metrics you see with treadmills, such as speed, pace, incline and heart rate via your tracker.
If you do not want to do a live class or an on-demand running workout, you can always just select a “Just Run” workout. The Just Run options display scenic run courses from sites around the world. For example, you can run along the streets of Tokyo or along the gorgeous California coast. You can select from a Peloton music playlist or use your own Spotify or Apple playlist or podcast.
Design
The treadmill belt on the Peloton Tread is 59 inches long and 20 inches wide. This is suitable for most runners and walkers, even taller runners. Budget treadmills tend to have a shorter belt, more along the lines of 55 inches, which can be limiting for runners over six feet tall. One nice feature about the belt is that there is a red centerline, which is intended to help users improve their running form and stay even and centered in their running stride. There is a water bottle holder, USB-C charging ports and a 24-inch anti-glare tablet that tilts.
Safety features
There are a few different safety features built into the Peloton Tread. There are step-off side rails on either side of the moving belt so that you can quickly hop off if you need a break. These side rails are textured to prevent slipping. There is a safety key that you should attach to your clothing that will immediately stop the treadmill belt from moving if you fall off. The Tread Lock feature automatically locks the treadmill after a few seconds of inactivity, requiring a four-digit passcode to reactivate the machine.
Controls
There are several ways to control the Peloton Tread. When you are following a guided run led by a Peloton instructor, you can set the treadmill to automatically adjusted based on the speed and incline dictated by the Peloton instructor. In other words, you don’t have to adjust anything on your machine; you simply keep running or walking to keep up with the workout.
Additionally, there are standard speed and incline up-and-down arrows on the console as well as on-screen shortcut buttons to jump up to common speeds and incline grades.
One of the best design features of the Peloton Tread are the knobs or dials at the ends of the treadmill’s arms that allow you to quickly adjust the speed and incline of the treadmill. Rather than repeatedly pressing the up or down buttons on the treadmill console to increase or decrease your speed and incline, you can seamlessly roll the knobs on the arms of the treadmill to quickly adjust the machine mid-run. These controls are located right in front of your body where your arms naturally land as you run, so you barely need to break stride or adjust your form to change things up.
You can also press on the knobs, which allows you to instantly jump up in speed or incline in increments of one mile per hour or 1 percent grade. This is super convenient during interval workouts because you can focus your efforts and energy on running rather than adjusting the machine. There is also a stop button.
Monitoring and body stats
The console displays in-workout metrics such as speed, current and average pace, incline, power output, distance, heart rate and workout time. Plus, you can monitor various personal best, workout streaks, milestones and badges earned in the Peloton app. There is also a leaderboard for each of the Tread classes, which encourages social interaction in the Peloton community and is great for those motivated by competition.
Peloton Tread vs. NordicTrack
The Peloton Tread is similar in terms of performance specs and quality to a treadmill like the NordicTrack Commercial 2450, but about $1,000 more expensive. The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 also has the ability to adjust the incline from -3 percent up to 12 percent, so you can replicate running downhill with the decline.
Related Post: Peloton Tread vs. NordicTrack Treadmills
With that said, the NordicTrack screen is only 14 inches compared to 24 inches on the Peloton treadmill, and the footprint is somewhat larger. NordicTrack treadmills use the iFit app for treadmill workout classes and Explore the World scenic run courses.
Peloton Tread Customer Reviews
The Peloton Tread has overall positive customer reviews. Currently, the Peloton Tread has 959 reviews with an overall rating of 4.4/5 stars on Peloton's site.
User Barbara says, “One of the best purchases I have ever made. The tread offers so many classes for running, walking, hiking and combinations of all three. I enjoy all the instructor's classes. I appreciate the coaching each of the instructors provide.”
Peloton Tread customers seem to love the interactive Tread classes and find them a motivating way to encourage working out. Customer Ben left a review on the Peloton site that says, “Getting the tread has literally changed my life, and that of my wife as well. We love this thing so much. We've had it for eight months and use it more now than when we first got it. I actually thought when we first got it that my wife would like the classes, I just want to run in the winter. Nope, I love the classes too. They motivate and inspire. It's got me waking up at 5 a.m. so I can use it for a long time before having to get kids going. We've joked about buying two so we can use it at the same time.”
The Peloton Tread workout classes can be especially helpful for beginners. A customer review on the Peloton site notes, “The Peloton Tread is amazing. The giant screen is beautiful, the instructors are fun and inspiring and I never realized how beneficial a "guided run" could be. All the small reminders to focus on your form, to adjust your shoulders, utilize your arms while running and to adjust to a pace that fits you and your fitness level.”
The biggest complaints do not seem to be about the function or performance of the treadmill itself, but rather the high monthly subscription fees that are required to use the Peloton treadmill.
Peloton Tread FAQs
Can the Peloton Tread fold up?
The Peloton Tread’s current design does not support the deck to be folded up.
Can the Peloton Tread go on the carpet?
You can put the Peloton Tread on a low-pile carpet, but it is not recommended to place the treadmill in an area with high, fluffy carpet because you want the surface to be as flat and stable as possible. If you are putting the Peloton treadmill on a hard floor, you should use a mat between the treadmill and floor.
Is Peloton coming out with a new treadmill?
The original Peloton Tread and Peloton Tread+ were recalled for safety issues. However, there is a repair for the Peloton Tread models that were affected, and Peloton has fixed the safety issue with the current version of the Peloton Tread available for purchase. At this time, you cannot purchase a Tread+
Can you use the Peloton treadmill without a subscription?
No. You must pay for the Peloton All-Access Membership, which is $44/month in order to use the Peloton treadmill.
Do you need special shoes for the Peloton treadmill?
No. You can run or walk in any shoes that you prefer.
Can you just walk on the Peloton treadmill?
Yes. The Peloton Tread can go as slow as 0.5 miles per hour, so you can walk at any pace that feels comfortable to you. There are also many walking and hiking workouts in the Peloton app to choose from.
Can you watch tv on the Peloton treadmill?
You cannot watch TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime or other streaming services directly on the Peloton Tread tablet. The integrated tablet only streams Peloton classes and workouts. Therefore, if you want to watch TV on the Peloton treadmill, you need to have an external TV or tablet positioned in a way where you can see it while on your Peloton tread.
Is the Peloton Tread noisy?
Most users report that the Peloton Tread runs fairly quietly and smoothly, although some say that it can be noisy when running at high speeds. Some sites report that the Peloton Tread runs at about 80 decibels, which is approximately 10 decibels higher than most home treadmills.
Also, if you are not wearing earbuds or over-ear headphones while streaming the workouts, you will have the added noise of the instructor and music coming through the front-facing stereo speakers.
Where do I put the Peloton Tread in my house?
You can put the Peloton Tread anywhere in your house where you have access to an outlet and strong WiFi connection. You also need to have ample floor space and headroom. Allocating a floor area of eight feet by five feet‘ should be more than adequate for the machine. The deck height of the Peloton Tread at 0 percent incline is 11.5 inches and it gets as high as 18 inches at the maximum incline grade. You will want to have at least six to 12 inches above your head when you are standing on the treadmill for safe clearance while running.
Before your Peloton Tread arrives, the assembly team will call and ask questions about your intended location to make sure that you have chosen a workable area in your home.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Peloton Tread is well-received by customers who appreciate the performance of the treadmill itself as well as the instructional and motivating treadmill workout classes. However, the Peloton treadmill cost comes at a premium, and with an ongoing subscription fee of $44 per month, it definitely makes sense to consider how important having on-demand and live classes and guided workouts are to you before buying the Peloton Tread versus another high-quality treadmill.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
