A lot of home treadmill owners purchase their home gym equipment to avoid dragging their kids to the gym or losing out on family time after work. For all you moms (and dads) out there looking for a machine to add to your home gym that won’t disturb your kids’ quiet time, we have a few suggestions for you.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
After reading through reviews on the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 and seeing the pretty reasonable price point, we decided it was worth a test. There is a more thorough review of the product here and we will soon have a video showing you how the machine works. But we also wanted to review the machine from a parent’s point of view.
The motor noise level while walking is a quiet, background hum. As the speed is increased, the noise level increases only slightly. If you do notice a sharp increase in volume from the machine as you increase your speed, it’s most likely the stomping of your own feet. If you’re a runner who treads pretty heavily, you’ll notice the sound more than someone who’s light on their feet.
The NordicTrack 1750 have multiple fans installed that can be powered by 5 different settings. The highest powered setting is still quiet and at most mimics a constant white noise that is actually great for sleeping babies and kids. So we wouldn’t be concerned at all by the noise this machine puts out if we want to workout while kids are napping or down for the night.
This machine comes with a large speaker system to blast music (when you can) as you run but like most other machines, you can prop your tablet or phone up on the console and listen to music via your headphones. However, if you want to hear the music offered by the NordicTrack treadmill or take part in the coaching apps the treadmill has, you can plug your headphones directly into the machine to maintain some of that quiet we parents find ourselves in need of between 1pm and 3pm most week days.
When you pair the noise level with the added features of the machine, it’s a great buy for parents. The NordicTrack 1750 is not only quiet, it’s foldable and safe. It takes up less space than other machines. It provides a number of customizable workouts, a chest strap heart rate monitor, and it’s the best machine we’ve found at this price point ($1500) for anyone looking to train on outdoor terrain. The Google Maps feature provides real-world running that adjusts to natural incline – no other treadmill brand does this.
Proform Pro 2000 Treadmill
The Proform series has also reviewed well – specifically for mothers. You can read a full review here: Proform Pro 2000 Treadmill. It comes in at a few hundred dollars less than the NordicTrack 1750 which doesn’t reflect in its build. It’s a sturdy machine with a 350 lb weight capacity so even if you have to strap that kid to your back, you’re still going to be able to get a few good minutes in on the machine without worrying about over stressing the components.
The Pro 200 Treadmill by Proform has a 3.5 CHP motor which is a smaller motor than the NordicTrack 1750. This tends to equate to less noise output but may end up costing you more later due to necessary replacements from normal wear and tear. Considering the life of the machine, the motor size plays a big role.
This machine is slightly paired down to offer the consumer a lower price point. So when we compare it to other machines in this price rage ($1200-$1700), you’re missing out on a few extra components that might be worth the small increase in price. With the Pro 2000, you are limited to a back-lit RaceTrack display (not the touch screen LED display on slightly more expensive machines), you have less pre-installed workout programs, zero Google Maps to mimic outdoor running, and a slightly more complicated console.
However, you do still have a heart rate monitoring Polar strap which other machines don’t offer. The heart rate monitoring via a chest strap is one of the most accurate ways to track your calories burned which is great for those who struggle with having growing, snack-loving family.
Horizon Fitness Elite T7
The Horizon Fitness Elite T7 was the last machine to make the cut for our top three best treadmills for parents who need a quiet workout. It fell within our target price range ($1499), and the 2.75 CHP motor comes with a lifetime warranty.
Since the Horizon T7 comes with a motor smaller than the Pro 2000 and the NordicTrack 1750, it has a lower noise output than either. And while the warranty will cover the inevitable replacement of your motor when it wears out, there is no guarantee how long your machine will be out of commission awaiting repairs.
While the Horizon T7 is comparable in price with the NordicTrack 1750, it lacks some of the features. It does not have a touch screen console or the ability to go to a negative decline (NordicTrack 1750 goes from -3% to +15%, while Horizon T7 goes from 0% to +15%).
However, it does come with a Polar heart rate monitoring chest strap and has a weight capacity of 350 pounds. You’ll also get normal accessories like fans, a reading rack, and water bottle holders. It has the surprising bonus of 42 pre-programmed workouts to chose from!
Any one of these machines would make a great addition to your home work outs, but for our money, we are probably going with the NordicTrack 1750. It’s quiet enough and worth a few extra bucks as it’s added features pack a big punch!