Best Incline Treadmills to Conquer the Hills in 2025

Last Update: February 1, 2025

I’ve met a few hills while trail running that I will never forget. They elicit two distinct feelings: absolute despair during the climb and an unparalleled sense of achievement at the summit.
If you view every day as an opportunity to push yourself and conquer extreme feats, no other treadmill will do. These incline treadmills let you ascend to new heights and a better you.

The average fitness treadmill has an incline range of 0 to 12%. If you are looking for something better, we have options. These treadmills are particularly good for hikers, trail runners, and exercisers who want every minute of cardio to count.

Read below to find out which treadmills I recommend for walkers and runners who want to tackle the toughest incline grades.

Here’s Our List of the Best Incline Treadmills for 2025

• Bowflex Treadmill 22
• Sole F85 Treadmill
• Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
• NordicTrack Commercial X24 Incline Treadmill
• ProForm Carbon TLX Treadmill
• NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
• Echelon Stride-6s Treadmill
• Xebex Trekker 4000 Treadmill

Bowflex Treadmill 22

The Bowflex Treadmill 22 has the highest incline we have seen on a folding treadmill and a great decline. It has a large frame and deck to provide maximum stability while training. JRNY provides all the smart training and entertainment content. The Treadmill 22 is one of our favorite treadmills for runners, but walkers will also enjoy the vast range of features it provides.

If you want a great incline treadmill with hydraulic folding, the Bowflex Treadmill 22 might be for you. This treadmill is large and heavy, so don’t plan on moving it often, but the deck uses a unique folding design to reduce the space it takes up. The deck hinges in front of the motor hood, keeping the motor hood parallel to the floor as the rest of the deck folds upright.

The incline and decline range is -5% to 20%. While there are treadmills that incline higher, most runners and walkers should find that 20% is more than enough to meet their training needs. The speed range is 0 to 12 mph, which runners should be able to make full use of with the Treadmill 22’s powerful motor and 22” x 60” running surface.

The Bowflex Treadmill 22 has a 22” touchscreen. It also has Bluetooth speakers, an included heart rate monitor, and multiple handles to support your incline training. These features support training with JRNY, a fitness platform with trainer-led content and entertainment apps. JRNY is an affordable alternative to other digital fitness apps.

The Bowflex Treadmill 22 is a great option for walkers or runners who want to combine their incline training with fun training or entertainment content.

Read Our Full Review Of The Bowflex Treadmill 22 Here

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Sole F85 Treadmill

The competition isn’t so steep (pun intended) when it comes to decline, but we think the F85 makes the best use of the decline feature. It also has an abundance of tech features we love. Additionally, the F85 is one of the best incline treadmills without subscription training content. There is a lot to love about the Sole F85.

The Sole F85 is a folding treadmill with 15 incline levels and 6 decline levels. The console can be deceptive, as it does not have buttons for these maximum values, which is slightly frustrating. Yet, you can easily access the highest and lowest grades by adjusting the treadmill with the incline plus and minus switches.

In addition to a great incline, the Sole F85 has a 4.0 HP motor, so you can make full use of the 0.5 to 12 mph speed range on the regular. The Sole F85 is a great choice for runners as its 22” x 60” running surface lets runners stretch out their strides for faster running. The underfoot feel is firm, which may not suit all runners and walkers.

The F85 uses Sole+ trainer-led workouts, onboard training programs, and third-party apps to direct your run. The onboard programs include speed and hill intervals, military fitness tests, and customizable workouts. The Sole F85 also supports Kinomap, a virtual outdoor training platform.

For entertainment, the Sole F85 has Netflix, Hulu, Prime, YouTube, and more. The Sole F85’s 15.6” touchscreen provides more freedom than we see on almost any other home treadmill. These apps may require a separate subscription to access their content.

The Sole F85 has even more features! It has Bluetooth speakers, a wireless charging pad, and heart rate monitor connectivity. If the options presented onscreen aren’t enough, the F85 also has a tablet rack for viewing any content you might want on your own smart device.

The features are not restricted to the console alone. The F85 has one of the best features on any treadmill, and I do not understand why more treadmills don’t include this: four transport wheels. You don’t have to tilt the F85 to move it; just push it. Sole has done a fantastic job of making the F85 a treadmill that meets walkers’ and runners’ wants and needs.

Read Our Full Review Of The Sole F85 Treadmill Here

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Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill

Horizon treadmills have some of the fastest speed and incline changes of any home treadmill. With the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill, you get a 0 to 15% incline range for a reasonable price. As a part of Horizon’s Studio Series, the 7.0 AT is for runners, but walkers are also sure to enjoy the quality performance and construction of the 7.0 AT.

If you are as interested in interval training as much as you are incline training, the Horizon 7.0 AT might be for you. Tackle a tough 15% incline and then drop to a flat grade for sprints, this treadmill is ready for almost anything. The 7.0 AT has QuickDials and interval keys to get you from one speed and incline setting to the next with a spin or a single press of a button.

The Horizon 7.0 AT’s 3-zone variable response cushioning softens your impact and provides a stable push-off zone toward the rear of the treadmill. The difference is subtle and creates a moderately cushioned underfoot feel.

The Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill has onboard training programs. These are the standard types found on most gym treadmills, such as target programs, fat burn, hill climb, and heart rate training. These programs are nice, but the 7.0 AT really excels at supporting third-party training apps.

Whether you pay for a subscription platform or train with free online content, the Horizon 7.0 AT’s fast incline and speed transitions keep you on pace with your instructor. The integration between the 7.0 AT and specific apps may vary, but all apps can be used in some capacity with built-in features.

The Horizon 7.0 AT has Bluetooth speakers, USB charging, and a tablet rack to keep you supported no matter how you train or stay entertained. The console provides two tablet racks for viewing any content you want.

The Horizon 7.0 AT has assisted folding and unfolding. The deck softly lowers to the ground when released from its upright position. The Horizon 7.0 AT has a low step-up height of only 8.5 inches. All these features converge to keep you comfortable.

Read Our Full Review Of The Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill Here

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NordicTrack X24 Incline Treadmill

The new kid on the block is the NordicTrack X24 Incline Treadmill. It subsumes the spot of the NordicTrack X32i, and honestly? I’m not mad. The X24 has the -6% to 40% incline range we love from NordicTrack’s incline trainers. It also has excellent tech features to pair with the iFIT platform.

I’m always training on the X24. Why? Well, strangely, I’ve discovered that I’m more likely to use it because it doesn’t fold. It’s ready to go, so I am too! But that’s a minor detail compared to the awesome incline range, beautiful display, and soft cushioning. It’s almost winter at the time I’m writing this, and running on the trails in the dark after work is a little scary. So it’s the X24 for me.

The iFIT training classes give you the feeling of being outside without leaving your home. Classes follow an iFIT coach as they tour a location somewhere in the world. They have filmed on all seven continents (yes, Antarctica too!) The X24 adjusts to match the terrain shown on the screen. Because the X24 has such a wide range, it matches iFIT classes better than any other.

Another factor that makes the X24 a go-to treadmill for me is the soft cushioning. The deck is a spacious 22” x 60” with a minimal end cap. The motor is actually under the deck. The console positioning puts you more toward the middle of the deck, ensuring you are less likely to strike the plastic end cap or run out of room. I feel comfortable during all my walks and runs.

Read Our Full Review Of The NordicTrack Commercial X24 Incline Treadmill Here

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ProForm Carbon TLX

Since I tested the ProForm Carbon TLX, I’ve been constantly adding it to our top treadmill lists because its performance was so impressive. The TLX’s relatively low cost made it a great budget pick for so many categories. iFIT, a smart fitness app, connects with the Carbon TLX. With a subscription, you can pick from thousands of treadmill classes that automatically adjust the incline and speed as you train on the TLX.

The ProForm Carbon TLX unseated the previous holder of this award for the best budget incline treadmill because it performed better in our incline testing. The TLX accurately matched its stated inclines, giving you a better range. The ProForm Carbon TLX has an incline range from 0 to 12%. When we measured the top incline, our machine was just over 12%.

There are a couple of negative aspects. The first was how loud the incline sounded. If you are looking for a very quiet treadmill, the ProForm Carbon TLX may not be the best fit. I wouldn’t choose this treadmill for my apartment, but if I lived in a detached house, I wouldn’t hesitate to take this folding treadmill home. The second is how slow the incline adjusts. It took longer than other iFIT treadmills, but I liked the smooth transitions.

iFIT automatically adjusts the incline and speed of the ProForm Carbon TLX. This hands-free operation made the slow incline adjustments less noticeable than slow treadmills that use manual adjustments. You need an iFIT subscription to access the platform’s thousands of smart classes. It’s not mandatory to use the machine, but it elevates your experience on the TLX.

Read Our Full Review Of The ProForm Carbon TLX Treadmill Here

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NordicTrack 1750 Treadmill

My legs felt dead when I hopped on the NordicTrack Commercial 1750. Fortunately, the cushion in the deck helped me get through my second run of the day without too much suffering. When I control the speed and incline on days like that, I avoid increasing the speed and keep the incline at 0. With iFIT, the trainer gets control. iFIT pushes me when I feel like giving up.

I’ve used a lot of iFIT treadmills. My essential iFIT experience features include an incline and decline, a screen size of at least 10”, Bluetooth audio and heart rate, and soft cushioning. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 checks those boxes and more.

The NordicTrack incline trainers offer the most premium experience, but the 1750 is a great compromise for shoppers who don’t have the budget for those treadmills. You won’t miss out on any iFIT features with the 1750.

iFIT has an endless amount of trainer-led classes for the treadmill. Their content is on-demand, and there’s no way you will ever run out of content. My favorite iFIT feature is the ActivePulse option. When you pair a heart rate monitor to the 1750, you can enable ActivePulse, allowing the treadmill to adjust the speed to keep you in the target heart rate zone.

The soft deck cushioning is my favorite non-tech feature on the NordicTrack 1750. It makes easy runs, recovery walks, and longer distances more comfortable. I regularly run on the pavement when not reviewing treadmills, and the 1750 provides a much-needed break.

The deck is 22” wide by 60” long, so I have enough room even when I’m running fast. Trust me; the 1750 will have you walking or running faster than before because the cushioning assists you.

Read Our Full Review Of The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill Here

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Echelon Stride-6s Treadmill

Echelon is a brand that is truly innovating the way treadmills fold. Traditional folding treadmills still take up much space, and most ultra-compact treadmills don’t incline. The Echelon Stride-6s gives you the best of both worlds. When I first learned about Echelon, I was skeptical of their treadmills’ performance capabilities, but the Stride-6s proved its suitability for running.

The Echelon Stride-6 improves on traditional treadmill folding, making it much easier to store this treadmill compared to many others. The Stride-6’s console folds down to the deck. You can then roll it underneath furniture or stand it upright.

The one caveat I have concerning this folding treadmill is how hard it is to stand it upright. I’m pretty small and not the strongest, so I have to get some momentum to get it upright. Basically, instead of deadlifting this treadmill, I have to clean and press it. It weighs 182 lbs, so consider how difficult that might be for you.

Echelon is a Peloton competitor with a similar class structure. An Echelon instructor leads the class while the music radio backs the class. The quality isn’t as refined as Peloton’s in my opinion, but it was much less intimidating. The Stride-6s is far more affordable than the Peloton Tread, so it’s a great budget option.

The Stride-6s has a 10” touchscreen. It also has built-in speakers and Bluetooth for connecting headphones. In addition to the classes, you can also access tons of third-party apps and a running game from the touchscreen. Echelon has a wide range of content options for walkers and runners who want to switch things up.

Read Our Full Review of the Echelon Stride-6s Treadmill Here

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Xebex Trekker 4000 Treadmill

The Xebex Trekker 4000 Treadmill couldn’t be further from the type of treadmill I want as a runner. That’s because it is designed for exercisers who hate traditional cardio. The Trekker 4000 is the treadmill of your nightmares, not your dreams. Just 10 minutes on the Trekker 4000 will have you pouring sweat and ready to call it quits. If you are looking for a challenging incline treadmill, I think you’ve found it.

I remember the day the Trekker 4000 Treadmill arrived. I’m used to bulky incline treadmills, but the Trekker 4000 had me saying, “Is that it?” It’s much smaller than you would expect and so easy to move around. The deck folds up. It weighs only 101.4 lbs. But for such a compact treadmill, it delivers a killer workout and feels sturdy. I was only disappointed by its 265-lb weight capacity.

The Xebex Trekker 4000 has a fixed incline. You can raise a bar underneath the rear of the deck to adjust it from 27% to 22%. Lighter-weight exercisers may notice a bigger difference in the two incline levels because they may have a harder time moving the belt at 22%. The belt moves manually, so you and gravity set the pace. There are 10 speed levels, numbered 0 to 9. 0 has the most resistance and is the slowest. 9 has the least resistance and is the fastest.

There are built-in training programs on the Trekker 4 as well as target programs. I did not expect onboard workouts, but I was grateful for them. They are 5 minutes long with automatic speed level adjustments. The Trekker 4000 is perfect for adding intense bite-sized workouts into your daily training routine.

Read Our Full Review Of The Xebex Trekker 4000 Treadmill Here

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What to Look for in an Incline Treadmill

Incline

How high of an incline do you really need? 12% is the standard, which may not seem like that much but it is pretty challenging. To get a good idea of what might be best for you, try finding a hill near you and using an online map (like AllTrails) to measure its average grade. Treadmills like the NordicTrack X22i have a maximum 40% grade, which is a lot rarer than you think it is unless you live in a very mountainous area. Another consideration to make is your personal goals. If you are a serious hiker or trail runner looking to take on very steep climbs you may want that 40% incline. The three trails that make up the triple crown of long-distance hiking (the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail) range from a 20% to 40% average incline at their steepest points.

Decline

Uphill running is quite difficult, but did you know that it is downhill running that makes you so sore afterward? In fact, researchers often used downhill running to elicit soreness in experienced runners who otherwise don’t experience soreness after their runs. Why does this matter? Because running on a treadmill with a decline can better prepare you for the demands of downhill running. Over time, your body becomes more adapted to this type of stress and less likely to get sore. A decline may not be something you need if you aren’t overly focused on performance or meeting the demands of outdoor activities. Yet, it can be a great way to create a more realistic run compared to road or trail running. Fun Fact: the Boston Marathon is a net downhill race!

Adjustment Speed

Most walkers and runners have probably encountered a hill that never ends. Meeting that neverending hill on a treadmill is a nightmare when the treadmill deck just isn’t adjusting fast enough. If you are trying to do swift intervals, faster incline changes will make a big difference, especially if you are moving at a quick pace. Horizon, NordicTrack, and Peloton have some of the fastest incline changes, while Sole and Bowflex are slower.

Cushion

Cushion doesn’t affect the incline/decline too much, but it is worth your consideration. A firmer treadmill is more comparable to road running while a softer treadmill might feel more like trail running. If the deck is also bouncy, this won’t translate as well to outdoor running, but it may help you log more miles and run faster. The cushion is personal preference, because all types have their benefits. Consider which type will suit you and your training the most.

Bottom Line – Best Incline Treadmills

Incline training is a great way to add intensity to your treadmill workout without upping the speed and, consequently, the impact on your body. Incline treadmills prepare you for trail runs, hikes, and challenging road routes. Home treadmills have a wide range of incline capabilities. Some may even include decline capabilities.

Brands like NordicTrack and ProForm use the incline/decline settings to create a realistic virtual running experience that keeps the treadmill from getting too boring. Others like Bowflex and Echelon revolutionized what is possible with an incline on a folding treadmill. Incline treadmills take training to the next level, literally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are incline treadmills worth it?

Incline treadmills allow you to increase the intensity of your workout without increasing the pace. Training at an incline is also great for working the calves, quads, and glutes. You certainly don’t have to have an incline treadmill to reap the benefits of walking or running on a treadmill, but it adds a fun and effective training variable. Runners or walkers training for outdoor events should consider incline training to be better prepared. Whether or not it is worth it is up to you and your training goals, but we recommend it!

What is a good incline for a home treadmill?

It has become a common practice and saying in the running community that you should add a 1% incline to the treadmill to replicate the demands of training outdoors. This shows that even just a slight incline can be beneficial.

12% is the most common incline maximum on home treadmills, and most users should be able to get a difficult workout done with this setting. Trail runners and hikers may benefit from more advanced treadmill inclines.

What is the best treadmill for incline walking?

The best treadmill for incline walking (or running) is up for debate, but the NordicTrack X22i and X24 have the largest ranges of any home treadmill. The Bowflex Treadmill 22 has the best incline range on a folding treadmill we have seen. The Echelon Stride-6s Treadmill has the best incline on a very compact treadmill.

Yet, many other great incline treadmills may suit your needs better. For instance, the Sole F85 has some of the best non-subscription-based training content for an incline treadmill. Horizon has the fastest incline adjustments at affordable prices.

Read More Treadmill Reviews:

• Best Treadmills
• Best Treadmills For Running
• Best Folding Treadmills