The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The Stride 4-S is your gateway into Echelon’s diverse and extensive content options. Read our review of the Echelon Stride-4S treadmill to learn more.
Updated: April 10, 2024
The Echelon Stride-4S is a compact folding treadmill that supports running, walking, and more. The 22-inch touchscreen display pivots so you can view off-treadmill content easily. Echelon treadmills, including the Stride-4S, support their studio and virtual training content. The Stride-4S is for the walkers and runner who want a subscription service with varied viewing options from training classes to entertainment. Our review of the Echelon Stride-4S Treadmill includes a look into the subscription content along with an analysis of this machine’s build.
The Stride-4S has a rather large screen for a minimal frame. While it looks extremely compact, I wonder how stable the Stride-4S would feel during running. It can support a maximum user weight of 325, which is higher than the industry standard. The frame beneath the deck appears to be very supportive, but I would like to see the uprights and console reinforced a little more, perhaps with thicker uprights.
Echelon has multiple frame designs. Because the Stride-4S is priced at a premium, I would like to see it with one of Echelon’s more robust frame options.
The Echelon Stride-4S has a 3-horsepower motor with a 5.4-horsepower peak. It is a DC brushless motor. This motor rating is good for light to moderate running, and of course, you can walk on the Stride-4S. Horsepower doesn’t tell the whole story, so without testing the Stride-4S, we can’t be sure how it will last. For reference, the Sole F85 and the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 have a 4.0 and 3.5 HP motor respectively. These treadmills are priced really close to the Stride-4S. However, the Peloton Tread is more expensive and has only a 3 HP motor. One thing that is clear about all of these treadmills is that they are designed for running, so we expect them to hold up to the use prescribed by their respective training programs.
The Stride-4S has a 20” x 60” running surface with a 1.6mm thick running belt. This belt size is suitable for running. It has plenty of space to run the full speed range. It uses Echelon’s DuroFlex Cushioned Suspension. While the running surface appears very sturdy, we aren’t sure of how soft or firm the treadmill deck is.
Echelon is really good at making compact folding treadmills. The Stride-6 and Stride-6S have consoles that fold down to their decks. The Stride-4S has a traditional folding mechanism, where the deck folds up to the console. It also has a kick-release lever that allows the deck to fold softly to the ground.
The Echelon Stride-4S has 12 levels of incline. Note: levels of incline do not necessarily equal percent grade. Other Echelon Stride treadmills have 12 incline levels with a maximum incline grade of 10%. Echelon does not state what the top incline of the 4S is.
The Echelon Stride-4S has quite a few features. Unfortunately, there are a few we aren’t sure if the Stride-4S has. While I suspect that the Stride-4S has Bluetooth connectivity to pair with headphones and heart rate monitors, I am not sure. It may have other connectivity options, but I cannot confirm yet. Check out the below features to find out what we think of the features we know the Stride-4S has.
The console of the Echelon Stride-4S does not appear as stable as I would like it to be. However, without testing the treadmill, I can’t be sure if this will impact the performance of the treadmill. Peloton and NordicTrack treadmills shake a bit during running, and while it is noticeable to users not training on the treadmill, it doesn’t really impact your viewing experience on the treadmill. As for the Stride-4S, more testing is required before I can speak to its stability.
There aren’t quick-adjust buttons for speed and incline on the console. Instead, users can control their performance settings from the screen or the rolling dials. I like the dial controls on Peloton and Horizon treadmills more than buttons, so this is a huge plus in my book.
The Stride-4S has a 22-inch touchscreen display. This screen rotates 180 degrees so you can view it while performing Echelon’s non-treadmill classes. The screen quality looks very nice. It doesn’t lift when you incline the treadmill, so the height might not be as nice for tall users when the treadmill is fully inclined.
The screen has front-facing speakers. Typically, this speaker positioning creates clearer audio than rear-facing speakers. There’s one speaker on either side of the bottom of the screen.
The Echelon Stride-4S has a removable storage tray. It has a lightly textured flat space, two cup holders, and a device slot. You can keep this tray attached to your treadmill for convenience or remove it.
I am eager to test out the Echelon Stride-4S and will update this review when I am able. The Stride-4S appears to be best for the serious exerciser but not necessarily the serious runner. If running is just one part of your training regimen, the Stride-4S is a great high-tech option. I like it best for runners and walkers who are using their treadmill for boot camp-style training. The Stride-4S is also a fit for new runners who want guidance throughout their workouts.
Echelon treadmills are best for subscribers. Their features are very limited without a subscription, and you will need a free account to use the treadmill even if you don’t subscribe.
Echelon has tons of walking, hiking, and running content. In my experience, these classes are best for beginners and intermediate runners. Advanced runners may have to make some modifications to create an intense enough workout. I typically jog during the walking segments. There aren’t as many long treadmill workouts. All of the running workouts over 60 minutes are boot camp classes. I would like to see more content from Echelon tailored toward dedicated long-distance runners.
Echelon has tons of classes for off of the treadmill. There are other cardio classes for the bike, cycling, elliptical, and rowing. There’s one class for the stair climber right now, but Echelon adds more classes regularly. The classes are live and on-demand.
Classes are not the only content option available on the Stride-4S. You can also use entertainment apps from Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Spotify, and more. The Stride-4S’s screen is a great size for viewing any of this entertainment content.
Then, you get Echelon Worlds. This is a real-time competition similar to Zwift. It’s another great addition to Echelon’s service. We are really impressed with how versatility these offerings are. Whether you want a gamified race, a studio class, or to watch your favorite shows, Echelon has an option for you.
Boot camp trainers, walkers, and runners will like the Echelon Stride-4S Treadmill. It has a large touchscreen display that works with Echelon’s subscription content. The Echelon traning service has really stepped it up compared to the competition by offering something for every sort of exerciser. It has studio classes, a Zwift competitor, and entertainment apps. The content may not be as suitable for advanced runners, and I hope to see Echelon expand their training content for this group. However, the Stride-4S is best for new to advanced users with its 3-horsepower motor.
