Peloton Tread Review (2024): One Tester’s Journey to 1,564 Workouts

The Peloton Tread is similar to Air Jordan 1 Mids and the exercise dresses from Outdoor Voices in that they’re hyped up to the max; but, do they really deserve all the praise? I’m here to find out, and with my in-depth Peloton Tread review, you, too, will discover if this treadmill is worth the chatter (and the cheese). 

In-depth reviews are my specialty, especially about equipment like treadmills. I could tell you the industry standards on things like warranty, deck size, and features in my sleep. I’ll be evaluating the Peloton Tread using this investigative lens, and I want you to come along for the ride. 

Exercise Bikes, Treads, and Programming, Oh My!

What Peloton supplies, we try. We’ve reviewed the Peloton Bike, the Bike+, and the app. At GGR, we’re well-versed in all types of cardio machines (and their respective interactive programming), so trying the Peloton Tread was a natural next step. 

Oh, and we’re also knowledgeable fitness professionals. Our team of expert product testers and reviewers are certified personal trainers, former NCAA D1 athletes, and nutrition coaches. We know fitness, and want to share our wealth of knowledge with you.

Peloton Tread Review

Peloton Tread+

GGR Score: 3.74

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Product Highlights

• Soft, cushioned treadmill
• Tilting touchscreen
• Can be powered via electric motor or manually
• Incline up to 15%
• 67-inch running deck

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Cushioned slat belt
• 67-inch running space is well above the industry standard
• 32-inch tilting touchscreen
• Can be used as a manual treadmill in "Free Mode"
• Adjustable incline up to 15%

Cons

• Expensive
• Weighs 455 pounds

Bottom Line

The Peloton Tread+ is a luxury cardio machine that features a cushioned slat belt, tilting touchscreen, and the high-quality interactive that made Peloton a household name. The downside: A very steep price tag.

A Quick Look at the Peloton Tread

Currently, the Peloton Tread is the only treadmill the brand has on the market. Peloton did previously make the Tread+, an upgraded version of the original Tread. However, it was pulled from the site (along with the original Tread) due to safety concerns. 

Luckily, they have since remedied the situation by adding additional safety features to the Tread, and it is back on the site for sale. The Tread+ has yet to make a second appearance, but we’ll be watching closely for its return. 

Before You Buy:

• Take a look at the Peloton promo codes for the best deals on all Peloton products.
• Don’t want to pay $3,000 all at once? Consider taking advantage of the financing options offered by Peloton.
• Check out the large variety of playlists Peloton offers in their classes. Whether you’re into rap, rock, or pop, you’ll likely be able to find a class that suits you. 

Peloton Tread Video Review

Is the Peloton Tread Worth It?

The Peloton Tread can be a great option for some, but it isn’t the best cardio machine for everyone. Check out who I think should spring for this treadmill and who should leave it behind.

Ordering and Assembling the Peloton Tread

You can order the Peloton Tread online or in-person at one of the showrooms across the country. My local mall actually has a very nice showroom where you can try the Bike, Bike+, and the Tread before you purchase. However, the financing options offered online make it enticing to make your purchase over the web. If you qualify, you can pay as little as $67 per month with 0% APR for 43 months. 

There isn’t an option to assemble the Tread yourself––shipping and professional delivery are included in the purchase price.

Peloton Tread Workout Experience: A Pelo-Ton of Fun

Although I am the self-proclaimed queen of treadmills (and a Peloton app lover), I could think of one person who is more obsessed than me with the Peloton experience: a friend of GGR Dawn Chapman. Dawn has completed over 1,500 workouts combined on her Tread and Bike, which blows my 200 on the app out of the water. Who better to speak on the Tread than someone who uses it every single day?

Dawn says the Peloton Tread is very stable and durable and feels as good today as it did on Day One.

“I love how sturdy and durable the Peloton Tread is,” Dawn explains. “I’ve had several other treadmills in the past and this one surpasses the others on every level. I purchased the Tread in December of 2018. It’s the best piece of exercise equipment I’ve ever owned.”

I’ve used the Tread myself and I do agree that it is a sturdy machine with a nice design. Lindsay Scheele, GGR’s cardio equipment expert, adds that it’s not overly bulky and has a modern-looking design.

The shape of the handlebars reminds me of the AssaultRunner Elite, although the Tread is motorized. According to the Peloton website, the handlebars are made with “Carbon steel with soft-touch coating,” which feels durable and, as Lindsay points out, makes it really comfortable to hold onto during your workout. Other handlebars may feel clammy, especially after you start sweating, but not the Peloton Tread.

Plus, the well-spaced slats are also reminiscent of those on the Elite. This is a feature that can help the user improve their running form, since they are forced to use the correct step pattern. 

Although neither Dawn nor I have had issues with the Tread shaking while being used, other reviewers have when setting the machine on carpet. I’d recommend placing your Tread on a hard surface or purchasing a treadmill mat to steady your machine.

The Peloton Tread is surprisingly easy to operate, and I think most individuals would quickly figure it out. I like that the controls are uncomplicated, and you simply turn a dial to increase or decrease your speed and incline. 

“I think my eight-year-old could use it without any problems,” says Lindsay.

Speaking of speed and incline, both have options between 0-12.5 MPH and 0-12.5 percent respectively. This is pretty standard and would allow you to complete a variety of workouts, including the popular 12-3-30. 

At 59 inches, the deck length itself is also a pretty average size, albeit one inch smaller than the industry standard. This won’t make much of a difference in most people’s running stride unless you’re super tall, but I thought it was worth pointing out. 

Lindsay says she didn’t notice the difference while running on the machine, and she’s pretty tall. “I don’t think tall runners or people with long strides should have a problem using the Peloton Tread,” she says.

RELATED: Best Treadmill for Tall Runners

Peloton Tread Construction

Frame

Like many other higher-end treadmills, the Peloton is not foldable. This will definitely limit who will be able to purchase this machine since it cannot be compacted in any way. If you’re okay with leaving it out all the time or have a designated home gym, this might not matter to you. However, for those in a condo or apartment, the Tread may not fit properly into your space. 

Peloton claims the Tread has a “compact footprint”, but I would disagree. A compact footprint (to me) looks like foldability and the Tread doesn’t have this feature. Plus, the tread is close to 300 pounds. Treadmills that are compact don’t weigh anywhere near this amount.

Deck

The Peloton Tread’s deck is 20 inches wide by 59 inches long, which is just about the industry standard for treadmills.

Safety Features

The company has built in a number of Peloton Tread safety features to ensure all users and other people are safe on the treadmill. There’s a safety key that you can attach to yourself to automatically stop the treadmill if you fall off and textured side rails to prevent slipping.

There’s also TreadLock, a safety feature that locks the treadmill belt in place after 45 seconds of inactivity to prevent anyone from accidentally stepping on a moving treadmill or any children from injuring themselves. If you fall in the latter camp, you’ll be happy to know reactivating the machine requires a four-digit code. (You might need to update your Peloton Tread’s software to access this feature if you don’t already have it).

Cushion

The Peloton Tread does not have a cushioned deck. It does, however, have shock absorption. Lindsay says her knees felt alright while running on the Peloton Tread and Dawn has had little to no issues either.

Belt

Although the deck is not cushioned it does have a shock-absorbing belt that reduces joint impact and increases stability.

Side rails

The side rails are not textured like you see on some treadmills, which could be a problem if too much sweat accumulates on them. We’d recommend wiping them down every now and then to ensure safety.

Motor

The Peloton Tread has a 3.0 CHP motor, which is about the industry standard and should last several years with little to no maintenance.

Peloton Tread Spec

Peloton Tread Console

The technology aspect is where the Peloton Tread shines the brightest.

Screen

A 23.8-inch touchscreen comes standard with the Tread and high-quality speakers frame the display. In my experience on the Tread, I was impressed with the sound emanating from the front-facing stereo speakers. It really helps hammer home the feeling Peloton is known for creating with their classes––a boutique exercise experience. 

If you have an Apple Watch, you’ll be able to connect it to the screen of the treadmill to view your heart rate. It also tracks your workout as you’re doing it without you having to actually select the type of exercise you’re doing on your watch. I think this is a super convenient feature that a lot of people will find useful.

Cup Holders

Although the Tread does have a cup holder, you won’t be storing any of those chunky Nalgene water bottles from your days as a YMCA camp counselor in it––she’s thin. It is also worth noting that there isn’t a device holder or cooling fans. I think this is pretty surprising, especially considering the price. However, there is a small tray that can hold your keys and maybe a pint-sized wallet.

Peloton Tread Classes and Peloton App

Although I don’t own the Tread myself, I do use the Peloton app on my phone, which I love. If you’re just using the app on your phone, the price is $12.99. However, if you own the Peloton Bike or the Tread, you’ll have to pony up $44 a month for programming. You do get additional features, but I don’t love the price disparity between the two options. Regardless, most people that purchase the Tread want to use it for the programming, so this may not bother you. 

The main differences between the Peloton app and the regular programming have to do with the integration and ability to interact with other members. You’ll be able to see all of your metrics on the screen as you complete a Tread class, versus if you were using a non-Peloton treadmill and your app. You’ll also be able to view a leaderboard, give other participants high-fives, and join groups that match your interests. A lot of people enjoy Peloton for the community aspect, which was especially popular during COVID when many of us couldn’t workout with others in-person. 

That, in our opinion, is what makes it one of the best personal training apps.

Classes Offered

Although the Tread is the main focus here, there are a variety of classes (on-demand and in real-time) that you can take both on and off the machine. Check them out:

• Strength training
• Yoga
• HIIT
• Boxing
• Meditation
• Outdoor running
• Cycling
• Stretching
• Tread bootcamp
• Bike bootcamp
• Walking
• Running

“I really like the option to take live classes, but I prefer taking a class anytime I feel like it on-demand,” Dawn explained.

Peloton Tread Price

The Peloton Tread varies in price depending on what package you purchase, with the most basic starting at $3,000 and the Ultimate package being $3,340. An all-access subscription to the Peloton app costs $44 per month.

Customer Service 

Customer service with Peloton seems to be wildly hit-or-miss. Dawn has only interacted with a representative once and had a good experience.

“I really haven’t had to use customer service much because I haven’t had problems,” Dawn explained. “I did upgrade to the larger monitor when it became available and customer service was excellent. It was easy and quick.”

However, GGR has actually had the Peloton Tread sitting in our testing facility for months. After receiving the Tread, it wouldn’t turn on at all, and it took customer service a while to come out and fix the problem (or so we thought). 

Even after they replaced the screen, the machine still wouldn’t turn on. It has been over six months since we initially received the treadmill without the brand remedying the situation. This is our personal experience with our Tread, and based on reviews, others have also had trouble getting the brand to fix their machines. 

Warranty-wise, the Peloton honestly misses the mark. The industry standard for a treadmill frame warranty is 15 years to life, and the Tread only offers five years. Although Dawn hasn’t had issues with the durability of her Tread, I wonder if they will pop up with time. This may sound harsh, but for the starting price of $3,000, I would expect Peloton to hit industry standards for the warranty offered.

Luckily, if you don’t love your Peloton after trying it for 30 days, the company will refund your entire order and pick the Tread up for free. This is an excellent perk, because most companies will only allow you to return the machine if you haven’t used it (and you’re generally on the hook for shipping costs). 

Peloton Tread vs. Tread+ — What’s the Difference?

The Peloton Tread is the only commercially-available Peloton treadmill as of this writing. Peloton recalled the Tread+ in May 2021 after some people were dragged under the machine, resulting in multiple injuries and one child’s death. It’s unclear when the Tread+ will be rereleased, though published reports indicate it might take as long as 2024.

The difference between the Peloton Tread and the Peloton Tread+ is that the latter is slightly larger and has a wider running area and has a bigger touchscreen. The Tread+ also had more incline levels than the Peloton Tread, though both have the same maximum speed (12.5 MPH).

It’s unclear what safety features the Peloton Tread+ will have when rereleased. The Peloton Tread comes with textured side guardrails to prevent slipping, a safety key, and TreadLock.

Peloton Tread vs NordicTrack Commercial Series X32i vs. Bowflex Treadmill 22 

The Peloton Tread isn’t the only high-end treadmill on the market. Both NordicTrack and Bowflex offer machines equipped with large touchscreens and interactive programming. I thought it would be interesting to do an in-depth look at the similarities and differences between the Peloton Tread, the NordicTrack Commercial X32i, and the Bowflex Treadmill 22. Take a look at the specs: 

The Basics

Comfort

Tech

Policies

Customer Reviews of the Peloton Tread

The Peloton Tread has over 650 reviews with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. 

Happy customers reported that they love the programming, speed and incline knobs, and overall integration between the app and the machine. 

“We’ve had the Tread now for two weeks and so far we are very impressed,” pleased customer James explained. “The Tread is very comfortable and feels solid; I have no worry running at speed on this and it feels better than many of the gym treadmills I have used in the past. The screen is excellent and the overall design is very ergonomic. Setting up profiles is easy and is seamless to switch between when using the Tread.”

On the other hand, there were a few less-than-thrilled Tread purchasers. Most complaints revolved around customer service issues or the machine not working properly.

“The Tread died after about a week,” customer Anand Parikh said. “It’s been 2 weeks of back and forth with customer service, which proved to be useless. Decided to return it, as we’re in the 30-day window and buy an entirely new one.”

Final Verdict of our Peloton Tread Review

The Peloton Tread can be an excellent investment for the right buyer. If you enjoy interactive programming or feeling like you’re in a boutique fitness studio, the Tread will appeal to you. If you’re into making up your own workouts or don’t care much about the offered classes, there are other treadmills that will fit your needs better for less money. 

Peloton Tread Rating

Peloton Tread

Curious about one of the hottest cardio machines? Check out our Peloton Tread review to get the 4-1-1.

Product Brand: Peloton

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 3625.00

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
3.74

Peloton Tread FAQs

Caroline Lubinsky, CF-L1

Caroline is a former NCAA D1 Women’s College Soccer player who also played in the WPSL, the second highest level of professional women’s soccer in the United States. Although soccer was her first love, Caroline eats, sleeps, and breathes all things fitness. She credits her high school’s football coach, Jason Estep, with teaching her how to properly use a barbell at 15 years old and inspiring an enduring love for strength training. Caroline is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. Content wise, Caroline has a background in Public Relations and previously worked in the Communication department at Appalachian State University. When Caroline isn’t writing or working out, she works with dachshund rescue groups and listens to way too many true crime podcasts.

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