The best treadmill reviews you can trust
The Peloton Tread brings the fun of a spin class to the treadmill. In this review of the Peloton Tread, I help you decide whether Peloton has reinvented the treadmill for better or worse.
Updated: September 7, 2023
The Peloton brand has shaken up the fitness industry for the past decade and surged in popularity during quarantine. This review of the Peloton Tread weighs in on how this unique treadmill performs in conjunction with arguably the top fitness subscription platform. With fantastic trainer-led classes, a thriving social community, and workouts that match the beat of fun playlists, Peloton’s subscription service is sure to keep you motivated.
The Tread is a premium-priced treadmill with only basic features without the Peloton subscription. Yet there is no arguing that it is one of the best-looking treadmills on the market. The Tread is a trendsetter with its speed and incline rollers and ultra-modern aesthetic.
The Peloton Tread is built on a carbon steel frame. The entire treadmill is black with red accents. There is no crossbar between the two steel uprights, trading aesthetics for a potential reduction in console wobble.
The treadmill arms seamlessly blend into the uprights. The arms have a SoftTouch coating for a velvety smooth feel and improved grip. The uprights attach on the footrails’ side rather than onto a separate base like many other treadmill models. This is why the console rises with the deck during incline. The footrails are wide and textured for good support while getting on and off the treadmill.
The 3.0 HP motor is less powerful than I expected from Peloton. I would have liked to see something closer to a 4.0 HP motor in this model. The Tread is designed with heavy use in mind, so I have high hopes that this motor will hold up, but 3.0 is the lowest motor strength I typically recommend for a running treadmill.
A dashed red line runs down the center of the Tread. It looks like a racing track but is intended to guide your steps toward the belt’s center. Step width tends to narrow as fitness improves and can indicate good balance. Beneath the red centerline is the textured woven nylon belt. No slipping here; I like the traction of this one. It is almost tacky to touch.
The Peloton Tread is not a folding treadmill. This is prevented by the positioning of the motor beneath the treadmill and the attachment of the uprights to the deck. Thus, the Tread requires a dedicated space within your home. With a weight of 290 lbs, I recommend not moving this treadmill often. Delivery and setup are included in the cost of the treadmill, so having the treadmill assembled where you plan to keep it permanently is best.
The Tread inclines to a maximum of 12% and does not decline. This is an underwhelming range as a comparably priced treadmill, the NordicTrack X22i, has a range of -6% to 40%. While the Peloton does not offer automatic speed adjustments, there is the option to allow trainer control over the incline. The console rises with the deck, so the screen stays at a nice level even when the treadmill is inclined.
The Peloton Tread’s features center around the 24” touchscreen that provides crystal clear premium Peloton content. Everything you need to have a great experience in one of their studio classes or guided runs is right there–streamlined and simplified.
The Peloton Tread has a minimal console with only the screen, storage, and safety bar. The Tread uses two knobs attached to the arms for adjusting speed (right) and incline (left). In the center of the knobs are “jump buttons” that round you up to the next whole number. To decrease speed or incline, you must roll the knob back toward you. There are three speed and incline suggestions that pop on the screen. You can customize these three speed options to match your most frequently used settings.
The console’s design helps you focus on the class content with few interruptions or distractions.
The almost 24” HD touchscreen creates an immersive experience with its clear and minimally reflective display. At times, all the various features–leaderboard, feed, and speed suggestions–overwhelmed me. With time, I grew more comfortable navigating Peloton’s content. If you feel overwhelmed like me, you can minimize the onscreen clutter and focus more intently on the trainer.
Peloton is known for its music-integrated classes and energetic trainers. Fortunately, the speaker quality is powerful and clear.
The Tread has Bluetooth connectivity for privately listening to the audio. I had no trouble pairing my Microsoft Surface headphones, and the sound quality was on par with any other device I have used with my headphones. I had no issues with lag or the noise cutting out.
The only storage on the Tread is located on the safety bar. There are two cupholders suited to small water bottles. Between the cup holders is one small pocket. I wish it were bigger so my phone could rest there, but I found my phone fit more easily into the cup holders. I prefer a little more storage in a treadmill. I understand why there is no dedicated storage rack for a tablet or a phone–the 24” screen is the center of attention. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t appreciate it.
The Tread has been my first introduction to Peloton, so I was excited to try the classes. It is hard to separate the Tread from the class experience, because they are designed to work together. Every detail of the Tread improves your class experience.
When I started running, I noticed the lack of a motor hood. I had noticed it before, but now I really started to think about how that would impact my workout. I am notorious for running close to the console and hitting the motor. I hate hitting the motor hood while running on a treadmill, but there is no possibility of that with the Tread.
On the other hand, I got a little in my head about not having the motor hood as a safety net of sorts. I tested it out, and I don’t think there is any way you can unintentionally step off the front. The console is too far forward, and the safety bar is too low. Even if you overstride by a lot, I don’t think it is a risk. That said, I couldn’t stop thinking about it, albeit irrationally.
My first time using Peloton’s content and the Tread was a little overwhelming. There are so many classes, metrics, and features. Peloton does its best to ease you into it by providing short video tutorials on using various Tread components. At the start of the beginner classes, I was reminded how to start and stop the treadmill, speed it up or slow it down, and use the safety clip. (Also, make sure your shoes are double-knotted!) After the recall of the Tread+, Peloton stepped up its safety features.
I like a firmer treadmill for most of my runs, because it challenges my body more. It reminds me to keep good form and not rely on soft cushioning. It also more accurately represents the demands placed on my body by the road. Yet I have come to appreciate NordicTrack’s soft cushioning for my recovery days, and I know why it appeals to so many people. Though the absent cushioning of the Tread is not a dealbreaker for me, I know it could be for many people who expect more premium cushioning from a high-end treadmill.
Peloton handily specifies who the Tread is designed for. The height range is 4’11” to 6’4”. Outside this range, you would likely find the screen’s angle poor or the belt too short for your stride. The 59” length and 20” width were perfect for me, but I am thankful Peloton indicates that the Tread is not suited for everyone. It is almost impossible to make a piece of equipment adjustable enough to accommodate everyone.
I didn’t understand the hype behind Peloton before, but I certainly do now. I have used music to transform my runs many times, but Peloton takes it to a whole new level. The trainer-designed playlists perfectly match the intervals. The tempo of the music encourages you at just the right moment. I wondered if this treadmill would give me as much energy as these trainers have. I want to know their secrets. I have led fitness classes before, but this is something amazing.
The speed and incline knobs allow you to adjust the settings based on your preferences and the trainer’s recommendations. While I missed the convenience of automatic speed adjustments, this setup allows the classes to fit a wider range of running abilities. The real-time leaderboard brought out a competitive side of me, so I constantly tried to hit the highest end of the on-screen recommendations.
The Tread is made for more than just running. The walking workouts are just as hard. I almost felt they were a little harder, because I cannot walk nearly as fast as the upper threshold recommendations. Peloton has motivating content for everyone, and I will be much more likely to use their platform now that I have seen what it is all about.
The Peloton Tread delivers motivational subscription-based content in an elegant package. This treadmill is for those who want to use Peloton’s platform with minimal benefit to those who don’t. Remember that, with the Peloton Tread, you are paying for a machine primed to work with their platform, not for features you get outside of that. If you aren’t planning to subscribe, this might not be the treadmill for you
