If your ears perked up at “high-tech features,” you should also consider the Peloton Tread+, an expert-approved workhorse with a long running belt, huge touchscreen display, and the expertise of Peloton’s coaches at your fingertips (you will need a $44 per month Peloton membership to take advantage of the platform’s classes). Katherine Wuestenfeld, a NASM-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach in Chicago previously told SELF that its running deck made her feel comfortable during high-intensity efforts: “On other treadmills I’ve tried, when the speed gets below a 7-minute-mile pace, things get shaky, don’t feel as smooth, and it doesn’t always feel like a safe surface for running fast,” she said. “The Tread+ feels smooth on the slatted belt, even at faster speeds.”
Short on space? Consider ProForm’s Carbon TLX or Sunny Health & Fitness’s Home Fitness Award–winning SF-T4400 model. They both have smaller-than-average footprints and fold up vertically when not in use. The key difference is the ProForm is suitable for higher speeds (up to 12 miles per hour), while the Sunny Health & Fitness is better for walking workouts.
Learn more about how to shop for a treadmill and see all our top picks for best treadmills here.
Best Exercise Bikes
All of these indoor exercise bikes meet you right at your fitness level, with features like adjustable handlebars, seats, and resistance settings. If you want a fully guided experience, Peloton and SoulCycle have what you’re looking for. We tested both models firsthand and were especially impressed by how seamlessly they brought the studio class vibes into our homes.
Cycling newbies, or anyone who just wants to hop on and ride, will love Schwinn’s IC4. One SELF staffer found it easy to assemble and loved that it comes with dumbbell cradles and a tablet holder (because who doesn’t want to stream their favorite show while they pedal?).
And then some models are designed to keep you comfortable while you develop cardiovascular health or rehab an injury, like Merach’s Home Fitness Award–winning recumbent bike. This type of exercise bike works slightly different muscles than standard stationary bikes and it provides an even lower-impact workout.
Learn more about how to shop for an exercise bike and see all our top picks for best exercise bikes here.
Best Ellipticals
Speaking of low-impact workouts, an elliptical machine is another great option. It won’t put stress on your lower body like running will, and it has plenty to offer in terms of versatility: You can focus on the cardiovascular benefits and pedal through your feet only. Or, for a higher-intensity total body workout, you can increase the resistance and engage your upper body by pushing through the handlebars and pedaling with equal effort.
We gave the NordicTrack FS10i a Home Fitness Award last year for its range of resistance settings and immersive iFit classes (“One day I might hike in the Alps, the next day I can ski in Norway, and then the following day I can run on a beach in Hawaii,” our tester said). For a little more money, Bowflex’s splurgy Max Total 16 delivers a luxe, stair stepper-style ride, with grippy handlebars and textured pedals. You can opt into a JRNY membership for $20 per month, which allows you to stream classes as well as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video from its 16-inch display.
For a sub-$1,000 machine that simply prioritizes function, Carla Baccio, an ACE-certified personal trainer, previously recommended Niceday’s elliptical to SELF. “If you’re more self-motivated to work out and don’t need any extra features, all you need is [a] Niceday Elliptical, a good podcast or video, and you can get a great workout while saving some extra money,” she said.
Learn more about how to shop for an elliptical and see all our top picks for best ellipticals here.
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