The treadmill may be the king of cardio equipment, but they’re also big, chunky, and require a lot of space. However, while you may not have enough room for a regular-size treadmill, you may have space for a folding treadmill instead. These do exactly what their name implies; they fold up when not in use, making them more compact and small-space friendly.
Despite their smaller stature, many models still have the same features that non-folding treadmills offer, including guided workouts, Bluetooth connectivity, and interactive programming. The main thing is that they provide an easier storage solution and are often cheaper too.
Our team here at T3 has tested a wide variety of foldable treadmills to help find one that is suitable for your health goals and home. Whether you’re a keen runner, on a budget, or are after a model that’s top of the game, below is the selection we’ve settled on as being the 'best of the best’.
Also, if you live in a particularly small space and think that even a folding treadmill won't fit, then take a look at our roundup of under-desk treadmills. Although these are considerably smaller and have far fewer features than a folding treadmill, they’re ideal for daily steps and light jogging.
T3's top 3
JTX has created the perfect foldable treadmill for experienced and beginner runners. It comes with 36 pre-loaded workout programs and you can sync it with the Kinomap app and Zwift, which will automatically adjust the incline as you run along the real-life routes on the app.
Despite being an excellent budget buy, the Mobvoi is still packed with lots of great features, including 20 pre-set programs and impressive incline capabilities. We'll admit, it's not perfect, with a comparatively smaller running deck and is slightly lower than the JTX. However, its pros certainly outweigh the cons.
If you have both the space and cash to spend on the Bowflex treadmill, then it’ll be worth it. With excellent incline capabilities of up to 15%, a 10-inch touch screen, and adaptive workout plans, this treadmill can take on pacing, pounding, and everything in between.
Best folding treadmills to buy now
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Best overall
In our review, we said that this folding treadmill feels exactly like running on a gym-based treadmill. It will suit all levels, from beginners to intermediate runners, thanks to the upper incline limit of 12% and max speed of 18kph. It also features 36 pre-loaded workout programs to keep your training varied.
It also syncs with the Kinomap app and Zwift via Bluetooth, so the JTX Fitness Sprint 5 will automatically adjust the incline as you run along the real-life routes on the app. There are also a couple of bottle holders, a fan (although we barely noticed it was on), and a place to hold an iPad or tablet. The interface tech is slightly dated, but we found it easy to use and it keeps track of your time, distance, speed, and calories.
Folding-wise, it folds vertically with a hydraulic assist lift and Soft Drop system. We found it fairly heavy to fold and that it took some heft on the initial lift, but once the hydraulic arm kicked in it slid up and clicked into place easily. The footprint remains on the larger side though, just something to bear in mind if you are short on space.
Read our full JTX Sprint 5 review.
Best affordable
Despite the Mobvoi being significantly cheaper than the other treadmills in this guide, we were highly impressed with its performance. It has a powerful motor and there’s a broad spectrum of potential workouts you can perform on it, thanks to the 25 programs. It also has excellent incline capabilities of up to 15%, but a slightly slower speed than the JTX of up to 14kph. Nevertheless, we found this plenty enough for running.
The LED screen is bright and effortless to operate, and it clearly displays all your health metrics. We also found that the soft drop system worked beautifully too, and folding the treadmill back up was easy.
Our only gripes were that there isn’t a ‘pause’ button, you can literally only stop and start this treadmill, so if you get a call or need to dash to the loo, games over. The running belt is also slightly narrower and shorter than some of the other treadmills listed, so sprinting is out of the question.
Read our full Mobvoi Home Treadmill Incline review.
Best premium
There's no shying away from the fact that this is a beast of a folding treadmill, when it comes to size and price. But it also comes with everything you could want: high speeds and inclines, a library of trainer-led classes, an interactive 22-inch touchscreen, and more.
Its solid construction can manage weights up to 400lbs, so whether you're running, sprinting, or jogging, the T56 can handle it. It's a good thing too, as it can go up to a top speed of 20kph and a 15% incline. This makes it a great choice for weekend warriors, right through to the marathon runner.
The 22-inch HD touchscreen hooks up to Bowflex’s training program JRNY, which provides adaptive workout plans, outdoor video-based content that includes more than 50 global destinations, and trainer-led videos for a monthly subscription.
The folding mechanism includes SoftDrop, making folding easier. However, it hasn't got the smallest footprint when folded, and it’s beefy construction is weighty, so bear that in mind if you’re short on space.
Best supportive
For those looking for a model similar to the Peloton Tread, the ProForm Pro 2000 is a great alternative, with a sleek design and lots of comparable features. It's also easy to quickly shrink it down in size and features EasyLift Assist, which aids you in moving the treadmill once it’s folded.
It features a 7-inch touchscreen that links to iFit, which, for an annual extra subscription cost, will supply you with a wide range of live or on-demand workouts (although it comes packaged with a 12-month subscription for free). You can dial the speed up to 12 mph and the incline to 12.5% which will suit most runners. It can also support people up to a max weight of 300lbs, the same as the Peloton.
The belt surface features ReBound Pro cushioning to absorb extra impact, making it one of the kindest folding treadmills on your knees available. The higher price point of this machine means that it’s aimed more at the more serious runners in the treadmill market – those looking to maximise their time on the belt and get the most out of different types of running workouts.
Read our full ProForm Pro 2000 Folding Treadmill review.
Best space-saving
Another foldable treadmill that connects to a training app – in this case, Echelon’s own training app – and offers live and on-demand workout options. In our review, we said "that access to online classes is not via an inbuilt touchscreen but rather via your phone or tablet, adding an extra layer of planning and organisation to your workouts to ensure everything is charged and connected."
It’s a dinky treadmill when compared to some of the others on this list, but it folds up tidily with the press of a button. Once folded, it’s only 10 inches (26 cm) thick, and you can store it upright or lie it down to slide it under the bed, making it a great option if you can only fit it in a small room.
Read our full Echelon Stride review.
Best performance
The NordicTrack Commercial 2950 is on the higher end of the price range for folding treadmills, but if you can afford it, this is a well-designed, high-performing running machine it will last a lifetime. Big on design, performance and features, the NordicTrack Commercial 2950 treadmill offers bang for your buck on every level. Just be sure you have room to house this beast of a machine, which takes up 201” x 99” x 170” floor space.
With the amazing decline and incline ranges (-6-15%), speeds of up to 12mph, and a quiet but powerful 4.25 CHP motor, this treadmill pushes you to your limits, and that’s before you’ve even got started on the thousands of on-demand and live classes via the iFit app (for which a subscription needed). The 22” touchscreen is a huge draw with its crisp graphics and intuitive controls, and you’ll never get bored with the wealth of iFit’s online content to smash through.
Read our full NordicTrack Commercial 2950 review.
How we test the best folding treadmills
Folding treadmills in this guide have been thoroughly tested by T3's fitness experts, including their features, build quality, workout performance and more. For more information on how we test at T3, click on the link now.
What to look for in a folding treadmill
There are hundreds of folding treadmills on the market, so choosing which one is right for you can feel a little daunting. As well as making sure your folding treadmill fits within your budget, there are also a few other features to consider before making your purchase.
Size: Although a folding treadmill is more compact when unfolded it can almost be the same size as your regular treadmill. It’s therefore important to make sure you double-check the dimensions of the model before you buy to make sure it can 100% fit into your home.
Easy collapse: Although folding treadmills fold down, not all of them do this easily. Heavier, bulkier models can be a lot more difficult and may even require an extra pair of helping hands. Some models also come with cleaver mechanisms, such as a soft-drop, to gently lower the treadmill to the floor, or wheels for easy manoeuvring.
Speed: Many folding treadmills can go up to 12mph, which is decent for most casual runners. It all comes down to what type of training you want to use your treadmill for, so make sure you check its max speed before purchasing.
Incline: Not all folding treadmills have incline options, such as under-desk options, but a lot of them do. If you’re looking for challenging runs that replicate running outdoors or even hikes, then you’ll want a folding treadmill that has a decent selection of incline options.
Features: Device holders, built-in touchscreens, bottle holders, pre-set programmes, workout classes, and Bluetooth speakers are just a few of the features you can find on a folding treadmill. Think of what features are essential to you before you hit that buy button.
FAQs
Is a folding treadmill worth it?
Folding treadmills aren’t just a fantastic piece of cardio equipment and there are lots of benefits to purchasing one over a regular treadmill. The main advantage is that they’re easy to store. Treadmills are one of the largest pieces of home gym equipment and one of the biggest drawbacks people face is that they don’t have enough room to store them. A folding treadmill, however, is far easier to store, saving you space. These days, the quality of folding treadmills is also far superior than they once were and many models are just as durable and long-lasting as regular treadmills.
Can you run on a folding treadmill?
You can most definitely run on a folding treadmill, as many can reach speeds up to 12mph, which is a good running pace. However, there are some folding treadmills, such as ones that go under desks, that aren’t designed for running. These often have much slower speeds, often to support a walking pace or gentle jog. Just make sure you check the speed that a treadmill can go up to before purchasing.
What is the best folding treadmill?
Although your own personal goals and budget will come into play here, we think the JTX Fitness Sprint 5 (retailer link) is the best folding treadmill. It's well-built, not overly priced, has great speed variety going up to 18kph, a 12% incline, and has app compatibility. It also comes with a bottle holder, a place to store your iPad or tablet, and a hydraulic assist lift and Soft Drop system. Whether you're training for a marathon or a beginner, it has everything you need to help you hit your goals.