Echelon Stride-6s Treadmill Review (2024): Secrets Revealed
Reviewed by TreadmillReviews.com
We are about to tell it all because the Stride-6s fits snuggly in the closet next to all the skeletons.
The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The best treadmill reviews you can trust
We are about to tell it all because the Stride-6s fits snuggly in the closet next to all the skeletons.
Updated: November 4, 2024
At the time I’m writing this review, it is almost Halloween, so I’m in a spooky mood. That’s perfect for the Echelon Stride-6s because it’s so quiet it’s scary! It also folds flat and stands upright, which is super convenient but liable to cast creepy shadows on your walls.
The Echelon Stride-6s is a competitor of Peloton and iFIT treadmills with its premium training service. It’s important to recognize that this treadmill is designed for a subscription service, so you know what you are getting yourself into.
I’m pausing the scary movie I’ve been streaming on the Echelon Stride-6s’s touchscreen to bring you this review. I have all the details on what you must know about its performance and onscreen content. Read my review to decide if this compact folding treadmill suits you.
The Echelon Stride-6s comes assembled. This thoughtful design makes setting up your treadmill much easier. The only initial maintenance you might need to do is to adjust the belt. We also noticed some extra noise when we first turned on the treadmill, but it disappeared after our first workout. Sometimes, treadmill belts make a thumping noise when they are very new.
The treadmill frame has a ten-year warranty, meeting the industry standard. It is durable enough to support a maximum user weight of 300 lbs. The deck frame feels very sturdy for this treadmill’s compact design. However, the uprights on the console support could be sturdier. Therefore, I advise treadmill users to be cautious when using the treadmill handles for support.
The Echelon Stride-6s has a 3.0 HP DC motor, which is the minimum we want to see in a running treadmill. This treadmill should be adequate for light to moderate running. You should consider upgrading to a more powerful treadmill if you are sharing the treadmill with another user for daily exercise or training for a longer duration, such as for a marathon.
The speed and incline adjust on the slower side for a home treadmill. It isn’t ideal for HIIT workouts, but it feels very smooth.
The motor’s biggest strength is how quiet it is. I was very impressed by the treadmill. It is much more practical for use upstairs or in an apartment building compared to other options. The incline was also very quiet, adding very little noise to the drive motor’s sound.
The speed range is 0 to 12.4 miles per hour or 0 to 20 kilometers per hour. We have had some difficulties switching the treadmill from kph to mph. Otherwise, the speed is very accurate.
The running surface is surprisingly spacious for such a compact treadmill. It is 20.5” x 60”. Most home treadmills for running have a 60” long deck and a 20” to 22” wide deck, so the Echelon Stride-6s is a full-sized treadmill. You don’t lose any space with this compact machine.
The cushioning is relatively firm for a treadmill but much softer than running on the road. Softer treadmills are those from NordicTrack and Horizon. Sole is a firmer treadmill brand. I think the Echelon Stride-6s feels very comparable to the Peloton Tread and the current ProForm treadmill line.
The Echelon Stride-6s has a unique folding design. The console folds flat to the deck, and then the treadmill can be stored upright. This feature was a major pro to me, but it wasn’t without issues. The treadmill is heavy, so I had to essentially “clean” it off the floor, as in the exercise called a clean.
The Echelon Stride-6s' step-up height is 8.5”, and it inclines to 12.5%. Thus, the treadmill requires a ceiling height 22” higher than the tallest treadmill user’s height. So, if you are 6’ tall, the ceiling should be about 7’ 10” to accommodate running at the top incline comfortably.
When unfolded, the treadmill measures 65” x 32” x 57”. When folded flat, it is only 12” tall, allowing it to be stored under furniture with a high clearance.
I recommend securing the treadmill to the wall with a strap for vertical storage. It is pretty stable when standing upright, especially if you wedge it into a small space. However, adding a strap provides extra stability, which makes the treadmill safer around children and pets.
For a minimal treadmill console, the Echelon Stride-6s packs in quite a few features. I am mostly happy with the console's features and layout. There weren’t any features that I felt were strongly lacking. Many compact treadmills lack fans or storage, so I’m pleased that Echelon kept these features and made them useful.
The longer I spend reviewing and using treadmills, the more important buttons and speed/incline controls become to me. These features can make or break my experience on a treadmill because they have the ability to make my run effortless or a nightmare. The Echelon Stride-6s performs well in this category.
There are buttons for every speed and incline level if you use the imperial system (miles per hour). I have had some difficulties with the buttons switching to kph without warning, so if the treadmill feels strangely slow, that might be the culprit.
The incline and speed dials on the handles are nice. A button above each dial switches the left dial from incline to volume, changing its color from blue to green. The right dial switches from adjusting the speed by 0.1 mph to 1 mph, also changing from blue to green.
There are LED windows for the speed, incline, heart rate, and total time. The speed window shows the treadmill’s current speed and what you are scrolling the dial to. After you are finished making your adjustment, it shows the real-time increase in the speed. This feature lets you know when the treadmill has reached your desired speed.
The Echelon Stride-6s has a 10” touchscreen display. The screen is definitely a little small for all of the features the Echelon platform offers. While the screen quality is fine, the UI needs a lot of work to make the screen easier to navigate. We’ve tested plenty of other 10” screens, and I can confidently say that many of the buttons on this screen are unreasonably small.
Using the screen while running fast is quite hard. I am much more comfortable using the off-screen buttons while running. Fortunately, all the necessary features are off the screen, but I still hope Echelon updates the interface in the future since the platform is so integral to this treadmill’s performance.
The console is adjustable, allowing you to tilt it up or down. It should be easy for most walkers and runners to view regardless of their height. The only time I had difficulty seeing the screen was when a poorly lit scene showed during a workout or show.
The front-facing speakers are loud enough to hear over any foot and motor noise. You can control the volume from the dial on the handle, which I found super convenient. The audio quality isn’t as good as iFIT or Peloton machines, but I would put it on par with Sole machines.
The Echelon has Bluetooth compatibility for training with a heart rate monitor. My watch paired without me having to do anything on the treadmill. Once I set my heart rate to broadcast from my Garmin, the Stride-6s picked it up immediately.
The treadmill also has Bluetooth audio, so you can connect headphones to listen quietly.
The Echelon Stride-6s has two cup holders and trays for small items or a smart device. I wasn’t expecting this much storage on this compact treadmill, but I was very pleased to have it. Though the console shakes while you run, I am not worried about anything falling out unless it is an oversized item.
The Echelon Stride-6s has a small fan. The fan strength is weak. You can change the angle of the vent, but it doesn’t change too much because you can’t feel the air more than a few inches away from the fan anyway.
I have two marathons and one ultra-marathon under my belt, so I must admit that I am not Echelon’s target audience as a runner. However, I am just as confident that this is a good treadmill for new runners, walkers, or anyone who wants to train for up to one hour per day. The Echelon subscription service has a ton of content that incentivizes walking or running on the treadmill.
The Echelon Stride-6s is also a great treadmill for apartment or condo living. Even before we measured the noise level, I could tell from my treadmill testing experience that this treadmill was an outlier in terms of quietness. The flat folding design also makes it easier to carry (with the help of a friend) upstairs. It’s heavy, but the shape is much less awkward to maneuver.
Echelon calls the folding mechanism “Auto-Fold,” but in reality, it is a three-step process. You must first tip the console/screen back. Then, release the handles and console with the two buttons at the joints of the handles and uprights. There are two buttons, which you have to press simultaneously. Finally, press the pedal on the left side of the treadmill and gently push the uprights down toward the deck. They will then softly lower to the deck.
The folding and unfolding process isn’t too difficult, but it’s not quite as effortless as I thought it might be.
Overall, I like the Echelon Stride-6s’s performance. Ignoring all of the console features, I think the treadmill is pretty good on its own. However, this treadmill needs an active membership to unlock its content options.
In my reviews, I used to share a way to purchase Echelon treadmills without a subscription. Unfortunately, my method no longer works. Echelon has doubled down on the need for a subscription with any Echelon equipment. And honestly, I agree with them. You need an Echelon membership for the best experience with the Stride-6s.
Echelon offers a variety of content: trainer-led classes, third-party apps, and a virtual running game. We’ve never seen a treadmill with so many app options, from streaming apps to games to social media apps and more. My favorites are Netflix, Spotify, and 234 Player Mini Games.
An instructor leads each class. There is a huge on-demand library of classes, but Echelon also has live and encore classes every day. These classes are similar to Peloton, but they do not fully incorporate music into the class. Feed.FM radio provides a themed playlist for the class, but I wish it were more integrated like Peloton.
The incline and speed do not automatically adjust in any of the content features. Echelon is beta-testing some of the content, and it seems there may be a goal to support incline adjustments in the future, but the Stride-6s does not have it yet.
The third-party apps are great, but I wish it were easier to navigate between them without stopping your workout. I also wish you could use the apps while in an Echelon class. NordicTrack and ProForm recently added this feature with iFIT, and I love it! I am hopeful that Echelon will continue to improve its membership platform.
The virtual running game, Echelon Worlds, is similar to Zwift in that you follow a running avatar through different virtual routes, but the similarities end there. I love Zwift because you can see other users, schedule meetups, and follow workouts. Echelon Worlds is not on par with Zwift yet, and I don’t think I will use it often moving forward. More features are needed to make it fun.
My overall impression of the Echelon membership is that it has great potential. Echelon costs about the same as iFIT and Peloton, two competitor services. While those platforms have hit the nail on the head with their specific niches, Echelon is still finding its footing. The platform has a lot of content diversity, but it doesn’t feel as strong in any one category.
If you are open to using a platform that is still in beta, I think Echelon is worth checking out. It has a lot of promise and is usable as is. It just needs a little more refinement!
The Echelon Stride-6s Treadmill folds flat and stands upright for compact storage. Most treadmills with this design sacrifice running surface size, incline capabilities, or motor power. Echelon has not. The Stride-6s preserves my most sought-after features: a 20” x 60” running deck, a quiet 3.0 HP motor, and an electronic incline range.
You need an Echelon membership to use this treadmill. In fact, you cannot purchase the treadmill without signing up for the subscription plan. The platform has a lot of training options, but it is a premium price that not all users may be able to justify. I like that Echelon has so many content options, from Netflix to classes to games, so the value is there for the right exercise.
