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Oct 08, 2023

13 Best Foldable Treadmills of 2023

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise. Embracing that ~cozy cardio~ life. Raise your hand if a (one minute turned hour long) TikTok scroll led

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.

Embracing that ~cozy cardio~ life.

Raise your hand if a (one minute turned hour long) TikTok scroll led you to discover #CozyCardio. In case the algorithm hasn't brought this new workout trend to your FYP just yet, it involves dimming your lights, throwing on sneakers with your comfiest jammies, lighting a few candles, queueing up your Netflix watch list, and getting in a lil Hot Girl Walk. The number one ingredient to make the cozy cardio magic happen? A foldable treadmill that you can easily bust out whenever the spirit moves you. But! The magic is it can *also* stow away when you just wanna have, you know, an actual movie night on the couch. It's called balance, girls.

Now, we're fully aware a treadmill is a big purchase, meaning you have to think through the logistics, from deciding to split the cost with a roomie who also wants to ditch their gym membership, to getting a folding treadmill for all out sprints instead of one for daily mental health walks. There's lots of factors at play, I know, and these are all valid things you should consider. That's exactly why we called in Denise Chakoian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner and founder of CORE Cycle.Fitness.Lagree in Providence, Rhode Island, to help you shop for the perfect foldable treadmill for your space—even if it’s the teeny tiniest—and your workout goals.

They say bigger may be better, sure, but with these smaller folding treadmills, you're basically getting a two-in-one, aka you can display them with the guards up or fold them under a desk or bed when you're done. We love ~versatility~! Okay, that's enough from me. Check out our top picks for foldable treadmills that'll totally be able to disappear during your next cocktail party.

If you're a runner at heart and use your treadmill primarily for jogs, Chakoian advises going with this one. You may not be able to get through your watch list, but you can run distances, hills, or intervals with this bad boy.

Reviewer Highlight: "The T101 is just right and perfectly meets my needs. I wanted a quality treadmill for daily walking. It's strong, quiet, and is easy to use."

We highly recommend this bad boy because it has great reviews all-around—over 12,000 five-star (!!) reviews on Amazon, to be exact. If you want a treadmill that'll last you years, go with this one. The interface tracks your time, speed, and distance, and has a panic button in case you need to, well, panic at any time you're using it.

Review Highlight: "I had another treadmill around this price point and this one is much better. It feels like a commercial gym treadmill which is really good at this price point. It is a bit narrow which is fine for me but something to keep in mind if you have a wider stance when you run. I do hour long runs and it holds up pretty well."

Forget a lunchtime workout—you can absolutely hit a brisk walk while you weed through your inbox on a Monday morning. Just plop your computer on the built-in desk and you're good to go. There's a cupholder for your emotional support water bottle too. Oh, and the motor is built to be super quiet so you can even take a Zoom call off-camera.

Review Highlight: "This treadmill saved me! It's easy to fold and doesn't take up a lot of space. I think it took me about 30 minutes to set up. Great purchase."

This selection is Chakoian's top pick for a 2-in-1 foldable treadmill because it's super compact. Plus! It arrives Fully! Assembled! Little wheels on the bottom help you get it out of the way in a pinch.

Review Highlight: "As someone who works from home, I decided to purchase this treadmill for my office with the hope of increasing my daily step count. And let me tell you, it's fantastic! I utilize it during webinars or meetings where my camera isn't required."

This is our pick if you're planning to assemble a foldable treadmill solo. It gets delivered straight to you and comes 95% already assembled...and it only takes 10 minutes to put together the rest.

Review Highlight: "It was very easy to assemble and it's compact."

For anyone who wants to fully embrace the cozy cardio vibe, go with this treadmill. The touchscreen allows you to connect to Bluetooth on your phone or computer to play whatever music, videos, or movies you want during your walk or run. And! If you're typically a pound-the-pavement runner, there's an outdoor on-screen simulator so you can ~get in the zone~.

Review Highlight: "To me, this is a smart digital treadmill machine for running, jogging, and walking. I love the multifunctional touchscreen which allows for music, video, exercise data, and other options of workout programs. This is a very well made piece of equipment that operates beautifully at the highest of inclines and at all available speeds—and it is STURDY. It does not shake when I run and is easily portable."

Hardcore runners who don't wanna run outside when the weather is gross, check this out. This foldable treadmill has a strong shock-absorbing belt, so it won't add to any knee or joint pain. It works just as well for a walk that turns into a jog, though.

Review Highlight: "Let me preface this by saying I am not a runner. I do not enjoy running in the slightest...but, I will say as a 30-something mom of two toddlers this is a gift to me mentally. Even just doing a good speed walk on it feels great. 20 minutes of running can really change my headspace for the better and for that reason alone this treadmill is worth it to me. Treat yourself."

If you like the stability of a treadmill and want to go for a proper run, you can pop up the machine into running mode. Otherwise, you can stick it under a desk or counter and walk while you work or, like, online shop, or whatever.

Review Highlight: "LOVE LOVE LOVE this treadmill. I have had it for over a year now, and seriously, this thing has changed my life as someone who works remotely from home. I use this religiously almost everyday to get my 10,000+ steps in, and still one of the best decisions I ever made was to pull the trigger and buy this for under my desk. Seriously awesome product and most importantly, the best size for someone with a small office like myself."

Shopping for a treadmill with a partner or roomie who wants to go halfsies on it with you? This one's the real deal. You can get a legit gym-grade treadmill, which includes 30 free days of NordicTrack's iFit workout program. It's Chakoain's pick for the best quality foldable treadmill, too.

Review Highlight: "Amazing workouts!! Can't wait for the next one! Great motivation talks."

Hi, Barbie! If you're still obsessed with picking out pink everything for your Dream House, this is the treadmill for you. You can track your time, steps, distance, and speed on the LED screen, and even prop your iPad in the holder if you wanna catch a few episodes of a show during your workout.

Review Highlight: "Came from Tiktok to find this to go on my Hot Girl Walks. For it to be so cute I didn’t think it’ll work that great, but it’s cute and works amazing! I use it to go on runs and love walks!"

For anyone who loves to play around with incline, here's your dream treadmill. This one can adjust the incline up to 15% just by touching a button. Be prepared, this treadmill goes pretty fast, too, friends.

Review Highlight: "You can't beat this treadmill for the price. Easy to assemble and works well. Nice features on the display. ... I am very happy with this purchase. I HIGHLY recommend this to others."

This super sleek foldable treadmill looks great on display, but it can also fold down to an under-desk walking pad. And if you have lots of neighbors, roommates, or other people working around you? The 2-in-1 treadmill is v, v quiet thanks to its low-noise, energy-saving motor.

Review Highlight: "The treadmill is amazing! It is the PERFECT size. It isn’t as small or skinny as some of the other space saving treadmills I looked at, which means it’s a bit sturdier and longer so it’s easier for running and longer strides. That said it isn’t too big at all because of how it folds up. I live in an NYC one bedroom apartment, so space is at a premium. When I want to use the treadmill, I move my table and pull it out, and when I’m done, I fold it against the wall and move things back. I also put a tall standing desk on top to walk while I send emails or have long meetings."

Wanna invest in a treadmill, but think you'll end up moving apartments soon? This treadmill is a safe bet. It folds up so compact and it's lighter than most on this list so it will be a breeze to pack up.

Review Highlight: "The ProGear 190 manual treadmill offers a great workout that is a little more intense than regular walking but not as intense as working out with weights. I really like that I can work up a good sweat after about 10 minutes but I don't feel like I overdid it the next day. ... It's perfect for someone who wants a moderate workout that is in between walking and jogging."

Measuring

The whole point of a foldable treadmill is to save you space, so measuring is key. Make sure you have enough room to move around the treadmill, especially to hop on and off safely, says Chakoian. Now, think about size. "The larger versions of a foldable treadmill have a longer tread to walk or run on, and also have the stability to hold weight better than a smaller version," Chakoian explains.

Incline

Whether you're walking or running, an incline will increase the intensity of your workout, according to Chakoian. And, I mean, who doesn't love an extra challenge for your cardiovascular health and glutes? There's also nothing wrong with a flat run or walk either if that's your jam! If so, opt for a treadmill with a smaller tread deck that may not have an incline.

ValueWe're not trying to break the bank here. The good news is if you don't have $4,000 to drop on a gym-level treadmill, you can still find a solid option for much less, with the cheapest being around $300, per Consumer Reports. Ultimately though, it's up to you exactly how much you want to spend based on how frequently you use the machine and how much space you have to work with.Safety featuresConsumer Reports also recommends that you don't buy a treadmill that doesn't have an emergency stop system. This might look like a safety clip or a panic button, or even a remote control, but it's super important while you're on the moving treadmill.

I'm sure you like what you see, so I'll clue you in on the process. We went through first-hand user reviews, compared top retailers, and considered competitive pricing when rounding up these treadmills. We also took recommendations from a trusted fitness expert. Our goal was to include a range of price point and sizes so that there's an option for all.

Not sure if you noticed, but we kinda sorta care a lot about you, dear reader. And because of that, we only recommend stuff that we actually think will be good for you and your life. There is decades of experience between our editors and writers, and for the off chance we don't have a good rec ourselves, we know the best of the best to tap to get the answers for you.

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