Best Incline Treadmill (2025): We’ve Climbed Up Hundreds of Floors During Testing

If you’re looking for the best incline treadmill without spending too much cash, we’ve got you covered. The $1,000 7.0 AT treadmill from Horizon Fitness fits the bill with an impressive 15 levels of incline—ideal for people who really enjoy feeling the burn in their lower body—plus speeds up to 12 MPH as well. This earns the 7.0 AT a 5-out-of-5 rating in the customizations category (where we evaluate incline and speed capabilities).

The incline and speed levels aren’t the only things to love on the 7.0 AT either. The weight capacity of 325 pounds is above the industry standard of 300, and the deck is generously sized for serious runners. Certified personal trainer and lead reviewer of Garage Gym Reviews Everything Lindsay Scheele adds, “I won’t recommend any treadmill for running if the deck is shorter than 50 inches. The 60-inch-by-20-inch deck on the Horizon 7.0 offers plenty of room for running, even if you’re taller or have a long stride.”

RELATED: Best Treadmill for Tall Runners

Several people on our team have tested the Horizon 7.0 AT. It scored an impressive 4.5 out of 5 on our rating chart for overall workout performance.

In my own use of the machine, I found the machine did not shake while in use. My only gripe is the lack of interactive programming.

Compared to some of the best high-end treadmills, you’ll note that the 7.0 AT falls short when it comes to that kind of tech. We scored it a 3 out of 5 for tech capabilities. The display is pretty basic, and it doesn’t have on-board interactive programming. However, it is compatible (via Bluetooth) with apps like Zwift and Peloton. Plus, there is a handy device holder right above the display for easy viewing.

As a HIIT enthusiast, I especially enjoy the QuickDial™ controls located on the inner handlebars—you’ll be able to easily switch between various inclines and speeds with just the push of a button. Lindsay also loves this feature. “I started running with a run/walk program and I would’ve loved a dial like this to help make my workouts that much smoother!”

Now on to the safety feature on the 7.0 AT: Our tester was able to reach beyond 3/4 of the way back on the treadmill deck before activating the 37-inch-long safety clip. This will catch and stop the treadmill if you begin to tire or suffer a fall. This is a standard result for a treadmill and what we would expect.

Lastly, an important callout for those in small spaces: This treadmill is big. It weighs a whopping 253 pounds. You’ll definitely need an extra set of hands to help you move the 7.0 up or down the stairs. However, it does fold, which could help you save some much-needed room in your home gym.

Want to learn more? Check out our full Horizon 7.0 treadmill review.

And if you’re looking for a more compact incline treadmill, check out the Echelon Stride 6; it will still allow you to run, but don’t go looking to train for a marathon on it!

What if you want to walk more and get your steps in while catching up on your favorite show? Well, that can be a reality since the Peloton Tread connects to Netflix and other streaming platforms. Plus, Peloton has hundreds of walking exercises and other low-impact workouts that can be done on the Tread or outdoors.

Walking regularly has numerous benefits. According to GGR’s chief medical advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, “Walking can improve cardiovascular health, help you manage your weight, improve mental well-being, strengthen bones and joints, enhance muscle tone, lead to better digestion, improve blood sugar control, and improve sleep quality and immune function.”

When it comes to incline, the treadmill goes up to 12.5%. That’s about the industry standard. There are plenty of classes that take advantage of the incline to help strengthen your posterior chain. Peloton gets an easy 5 out of 5 on interactive programming.

The Tread’s running deck is 59 inches long, one inch shorter than the industry standard for runners. You may not think it, but that one inch is noticeable if you have a long stride. Our taller testers say walking on the Peloton Tread is no different than walking on other treadmills, except for when it reaches higher speeds.

Another feature our GGR testers love is the cushioned deck. “Since the deck is so cushioned, I could probably walk on this thing all day long if I had to,” says certified personal trainer Anthony O’Reilly.

The Peloton Tread also earned a solid 4 out of 5 for durability. Dawn Chapman, a friend of GGR, says, “I purchased the Peloton Tread in December 2018, and it still works as well as it did on day one. No other treadmill I’ve used feels as sturdy or durable.”

The biggest drawback is that this treadmill doesn’t fold, and it is close to 300 pounds, making it less compact than Peloton likes to advertise. We rate the footprint and portability a 2 out of 5. If you have a dedicated home gym space, this shouldn’t be an issue, however.

Check out our Peloton Tread review for more information.

If you don’t want to shell out $3,000 for a treadmill, consider our top pick of the NordicTrack Commercial 1750; for about $2,500 you’ll get a great machine for both walking and running on an incline.

For a treadmill with an impressive incline range, check out the Sole F63, with an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5. The Sole F63 is what I’d call a thoroughbred—it is an all-around great machine with quite a bit going for it. The 3.0 CHP motor is powerful enough to support walking or sprinting, and it’s definitely one of the best treadmills for running.

Thanks to the handy gas shock, this machine can be easily (and safely) folded and unfolded. You won’t have to worry about suddenly crushing toes or fluffy paws when you’re ready to use your F63. Plus, the folding mechanism makes it an ideal choice for people who need to be able to store their treadmill while it isn’t being used.

Lead reviewer at Garage Gym Reviews Everything Lindsay Scheele agrees, saying “This is the machine I’d recommend for someone who wants to do a lot of running and wants a great value.”

Continuing on, I also enjoy the large 20-inch-wide-by-60-inch length deck, which is ideal for people of various heights. You even get an exceptional lifetime frame warranty when you purchase the F63. Definitely the kind of horse—er, treadmill—you’d want sitting in your home gym.

Kate Meier, a GGR editorial team member, rated this a 4 out of 5 for durability. While it does have a high weight capacity at 325 pounds, she did find it shakes a little when you take it to top speeds. “It’s not a dealbreaker, though,” Kate adds. “For the price, I would expect a little wobble at top speeds.”

The machine is really heavy. I’m talking 254 pounds of hulking metal and plastic. As Kate found out during assembly, you may need a friend (or two) to help move the machine to your desired space. This is why we rated the portability category a 4 out of 5—although the F63 folds, it’s not necessarily easy to move around.

The Sole F63 meets the mark for safety: The safety clip is a 35-inch-long string and clamp, and our testers reached 3/4 of the way back to the end of the deck before activating the clip. This trends with most other treadmills, designed to stop the treadmill during a fall to minimize any injury.

In terms of technology, this earned a 4.25 out of 5 from our team. Why? You have a USB charging port, Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth heart rate monitoring, connectivity to apps, and an LCD screen to monitor your metrics. “The Bluetooth speakers pair seamlessly with my phone,” Kate adds. “They work shockingly well.” The only reason it didn’t get a perfect score is that the F63 doesn’t have a touchscreen.

Read our full Sole F63 treadmill review to learn more about one of the best folding treadmills with incline.

And if you can shell out the extra cash, consider the NordicTrack 1750; it also folds but provides decline training options as well.

If you want an incline for long-distance jogs or shorter sprint sessions, you’ll likely enjoy the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 treadmill. It scored a perfect 5 out of 5 on several of our testing categories, including conveniences, durability, and ergonomics. Plus, the foldable nature of this impressive machine means you can save some space when not in the throes of a training session.

One reason this treadmill is great is that it has a 0% to 12% incline and a 0% to -3% decline for a challenging uphill or downhill run. “It’s really easy to adjust the incline—either on the side of the touchscreen or underneath—and the machine is quiet while it’s adjusting,” says Lindsay Scheele, CPT and lead reviewer at Garage Gym Reviews Everything.

In addition to the great incline and decline abilities, the 22-inch-wide-by-60-inch-long foldable deck is sizable enough for most cardio enthusiasts to take long strides. That said, in our testing, the 37-inch safety clip only came out when our tester was about three-quarters of the way back on the running deck, allowing for plenty of room to run until you tire.

Kate Meier, a GGR editorial team member and former marathon runner, used the 1750 for long, steady-state runs as well as short sprints. “I found no shaking, no wobbling, just an incredibly sturdy machine,” she says.

We love the 14-inch touchscreen, which is compatible with iFIT programming. Next to Peloton, iFIT has the most well-produced and engaging on-demand classes. You’ll be able to follow along with world-class instructors as they encourage you to run, walk, and sprint. The Commercial 1750 earned a 5 out of 5 for dynamic programming.

Even though the 1750 is almost $2,300, NordicTrack does offer excellent financing options. You can pay as little as $54 per month with 0% APR for 39 months. 

The 10-year frame warranty isn’t bad, but for the price, I’d expect to see at least a 15-year guarantee. It is also worth noting that you cannot store this machine in your garage for any reason. If you do, your warranty will be voided by the company. 

Kate assembled the 1750 herself. “This is a heavy machine, so you may need to enlist the help of someone else for tasks like attaching the large console,” she warns. “The entire process took me around 90 minutes, but the instructions are clear. If you have a socket wrench, use it; it will save you a lot of time!”

It’s still a hefty machine, weighing about 340 pounds. Because it’s foldable, however, we still rate the footprint and portability above average, with a 3.5-out-of-5 score.

Take a look at our full NordicTrack Commercial 1750 review for more information.

And, if you’re looking for an incline treadmill that’s great for walking or running, check out the Peloton Tread, which is cushioned to perfection.

Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a home treadmill, which is why the MERACH T12 Folding Treadmill is among the best budget treadmills. Clocking in at just under $400, the MERACH T12 has some good features, but you’ll also note some sacrifices. It gets a 3-out-of-5 rating overall, which is pretty solid for a machine of this price.

For example, there are three levels of incline, but they require a manual adjustment. Therefore, you’ll have to get off the machine and stop the workout in order to make changes. 

It may seem like a pain to have to manually change your incline, but it is a small price to pay to save a lot of cash. Plus, the rest of the T12 is extremely simple to use. The display is user-friendly and there is a variety of preset programs to choose from when it is time to get your sweat on. 

The machine’s speed range goes up to 7.5 MPH, which may not be good for serious runners but should be enough for general trainees trying to do some physical activity. Also, be aware that the weight capacity is 265 pounds. That and the 2-horsepower motor are lower than what we typically like to see on cardio machines, earning it a 2 out of 5 for durability.

A nice perk is that the T12 is pretty compact. When not in use, it takes up less than 5 square feet. Along with the hydraulic folding system and wheels for moving it around, this piece of compact exercise equipment earns a 4 out of 5 for its footprint and portability.

If you can up your budget to about $1,000 on a treadmill, consider either the Horizon 7.0 AT or the Sole F63; both of these machines have great specs, including automatic incline, and you can use them for logging some serious miles.

One of the main selling points of the Echelon Stride-6 is that it is one of the best folding treadmills, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 on our footprint rating chart. It actually folds to just 10 inches flat, which means it is easily stowed. “I push it up against the wall on my porch, but it also fits under my bed,” says certified personal trainer and GGR editorial team member Kate Meier.

For around $1,300, you’ll get a treadmill with 12 levels of incline and a lifetime warranty. We’ve tried both this machine and its predecessor, the Echelon Fitness Auto-Fold Stride, and overall, think it’s a good purchase for the right person.

Kate has had the original Echelon Stride on her screened-in porch for months. She uses it primarily for morning walks, having logged hundreds of miles on it.

“This is best for walking, as it doesn’t feel as stable when I jog,” she points out. Since the Echelon Stride-6 has similar specs, we rated the durability a 3 out of 5.

The Stride-6 comes with a basic LCD screen and a device holder, earning it another 3-out-of-5 score for conveniences. If you want to upgrade slightly, the Stride-6s has a 10-inch touchscreen.

Lindsay Scheele, lead reviewer at Garage Gym Reviews Everything, says her biggest gripe with the Stride-6s is the small screen. “When you’re running the screen is a bit hard to see, particularly since there are a bunch of metrics just below the screen,” she explains. She says the screen size isn’t a dealbreaker for her, but it’s something to be aware of if you plan to upgrade.

If you have an Echelon membership, you can access thousands of live and on-demand cardio classes via your smart device. “I just use it in manual mode,” Kate admits. “There are buttons on the handle where you can quickly adjust the speed and incline, so I just use those.”

Although this machine does fold and store really nicely, there are limitations. “This isn’t super portable,” Kate points out. “It weighs more than 150 pounds, so getting it up over the step from my porch inside is difficult.”

The running deck is 60 inches long, which is the industry standard for most treadmills and long enough for even the tallest runners to get a full stride.

For more, check out our Echelon Stride review.

If you can make permanent space for a treadmill with better specs, consider the Horizon 7.0 AT—not only is it a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Echelon Stride-6, but you’ll also be able to log some serious miles on it without worry.

Want to really challenge yourself on extreme incline levels? The NordicTrack Commercial X24 treadmill features a -6% decline and goes up to a whopping 40% incline. We rated the machine a 4.25 out of 5 overall with a solid 4 out of 5 for customizations and ergonomics.

Admittedly, a 40% incline is aggressive. There are handlebars, which you’ll likely need for stability when training at high inclines. However, when GGR’s expert product tester Lindsay Scheele tested the X24 treadmill, she noted that the handlebars weren’t her favorite. “It’s nice to have the handlebars for a little extra security, but they are slippery,” she notes.

This is a high-end treadmill, clocking in at around $4,000 and making it the most expensive piece of equipment on this list. However, it’s also fully loaded with features, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 on our scoring chart for technology benefits (there is a 24-inch touchscreen) and for dynamic programming (this treadmill offers interactive iFIT workouts with a paid subscription).

The cushioned deck is spacious at 22 inches wide by 60 inches long. That makes for one of the biggest running surfaces we’ve ever run on. “The deck seemed small to me when I first saw it, but it really is quite large. Taller runners should be able to run on it with ease,” Lindsay says.

This machine also has a 4.25 HP motor so it’s pretty powerful, and we expect the X24 treadmill to last for a long time. It has a high weight capacity of 400 pounds, but the step-up height is 13.66 inches, which may pose a challenge for users with mobility restrictions.

In terms of footprint, this isn’t a small or light machine. We rate it a 1 out of 5 for footprint and portability. You’ll need plenty of room for the X24, which weighs over 400 pounds and doesn’t fold. Also, if the assembly is anything like the X32i treadmill, the process will be quite challenging. We recommend springing for professional assembly.

Check out our in-depth NordicTrack X24 treadmill review.

There aren’t many people who would absolutely need a 40% incline for their training; if you can get by with 12% incline to -3% decline, check out the NordicTrack Commercial 1750.