If you have to raincheck a run, the quality of your treadmill makes a huge difference in whether you’re down for some indoor mileage—or desperate to rationalize taking a zero day. While the bare-bones, noisy treadmills of yesteryear were all more or less the same, the best cushioned treadmills have a wide range of smart features, like interactive training programs. Above all, they have padding that’s designed to make you feel like you’re striding your way across a supportive surface akin to a track, which is better for your joints.
“Cushioned treadmills are lower-impact, helping reduce risk of injury,” says Raj Hathiramani, USA Track & Field-certified running coach. “They often provide a quieter running experience by absorbing more shock and providing the runner with more energy return, helping them maintain better form and improve their efficiency.”If you’re in the market for one of the best cushioned treadmills money can buy, check out our list of picks. Whether you’re looking for something high-end with on-demand workouts and a giant LCD touchscreen or just the best budget option that won’t crap out in a year, we’ve covered the miles to offer our confident recommendations.
Our Favorite Overall Cushioned Treadmill
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 brings an elevated experience to running or walking indoors, thanks to its ultra-quiet build, easy-to-use controls, and “Runners Flex” cushioning that softens the feel of the belt, all of which puts this on top of our other top picks. This smooth-running tread raises up to 12%, lowers to -3%, and reaches a top speed of 12 mph for near-infinite workout possibilities.
The Best Cushioned Treadmills, According to GQ
Here’s the rundown on our nine favorite cushioned treadmills for every pace.
- Best Cushioned Treadmill Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750, $2,499
- Best Cushioned Treadmill for Training Hills: Bowflex Treadmill 10, $1,999
- Best Cushioned Treadmill for Running: ProForm Pro 9000, $2,299
- Best High-End Cushioned Treadmill: Peloton Tread+, $5,995
- Best Cushioned Treadmill for Walking: Echelon Stride-6s, $1,899
- Best Cushioned Treadmill with Incline: NordicTrack X22i, $2,999
- Best Under-the-Desk Cushioned Treadmill: WalkingPad P1 Foldable, $499
- Best Budget Cushioned Treadmill: Sunny Health And Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill, $500
- Best Cushioned Treadmill for Speed: Horizon 7.4 AT, $1,599
We enlisted our most devout walking and running coaches to find the best cushioned treadmills on the market and then tested each model based on its customizability, programming, ergonomics, durability, speed, incline, and—of course—cushioning. After miles and miles of testing, we returned to debate which models deserve a spot on our list—and which work best for every type of runner and walker.
What ended up being our best cushioned treadmill, also took the top spot of best treadmill overall (which you can read more about here). The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 ran away with our number-one spot, thanks to its quiet operation; crisp, 14-inch tiltable screen, and signature “Runners Flex,” a cushioning system made from coil springs mounted over adjustable rubber dampers—which lets you alter the running surface for a softer or firmer impact. Bonus: It folds up nicely, so you don’t need to commit to a home gym aesthetic for your living room.
Our Tester’s Take
What if we told you that you could actually look forward to your indoor workout because the NordicTrack is that nice? We loved this cushioned treadmill for its 14-inch tiltable screen, which is equipped with iFit interactive training programming that leads you through walking, running, HIIT, and strength training workouts taught by instructors who are truly on top of their game. This whisper-quiet machine gives you a 60-inch runway, twelve speed settings, and toggles between -3% incline and 12% incline in 22 seconds.
That said, we don’t take our top recommendation lightly. What puts this treadmill over the top is that it works for so many different types of workouts. Whether you want to go for a casual stroll or sprint through an intense interval workout, the NordicTrack’s solid frame and cushioned base will make you feel like you’re floating through your mileage, thanks to a little assist from Runners Flex. Plus, it’s cool that the treadmill can adjust its intensity based on your heart rate (which is tracked through the handlebars) to keep you in the right heart rate zone. ”The treadmill had a little bounce to it that took some of the pressure off of my worn-out knees,” notes one of our expert testers, a former high school and collegiate football player and high school football and track coach. “I would recommend this to anybody looking to purchase a new treadmill,” says our tester. “Whether you’re a high-performance athlete or looking to lose a few pounds, this piece of equipment is definitely going to help you reach those fitness goals.”
Whether you’re a new runner or a seasoned ultramarathoner, training uphill and downhill can help you become a more well-rounded athlete (and prep for those race-day highs and lows). The Bowflex Treadmill 10 offers one of the widest range of inclines we tried: from -5% all the way up to 15%.
Our Tester’s Take
There’s no doubt about it: Training hills can be tough on your joints, especially your knees. Bowflex’s well-cushioned belt provides plenty of padding so you won’t hop off the treadmill with shaky, aching legs. Our testers loved that this high-quality treadmill folds up quickly and has a roomy 20-inch by 60-inch running belt, which allows runners over six feet to maintain a full stride. The treadmill’s durable and stable construction holds up to 400 pounds, making it the sturdiest unit we tried. Even if you kick this baby up to top speed, you won’t feel like you’re about to fall off.
