The top treadmills for a home gym, according to Consumer Reports

A treadmill that wears out fast or feels flimsy underfoot makes a home workout routine harder to stick with, no matter how good the intentions were at purchase. Motor power, incline range and workout programming vary widely even among folding models priced well under $2,000.

Consumer Reports tested budget folding treadmills for construction, ergonomics, ease of use and exercise range, so shoppers can find one built to last.

Credit: The Fitness Shop

The Horizon 7.4 AT costs $1,600 and earned Consumer Reports' top rating among folding treadmills, holding its own even against nonfolding models in CR's tests. CR found excellent scores across build quality, comfort, how easy it is to operate and the breadth of its exercise settings, powered by a 3.5-horsepower motor stronger than many competitors at this price and capable of a 14.2 percent max incline for plenty of room to keep challenging a workout. Testers highlighted Horizon's Sprint 8 high-intensity interval program alongside more standard options like heart rate targeting and hill climb, plus complimentary streaming workouts accessible via the company's AtZone app. CR noted it also works with third-party exercise subscription services for anyone who wants more variety.

Credit: Sole

The Sole F80 costs $1,700 and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for supporting users up to 375 pounds, higher than the 300- or 350-pound limit typical of budget folding treadmills, with a 60-by-22-inch belt wider than average. CR found it shares the same 3.5-horsepower motor as the Horizon 7.4 AT and ranks among the top folding models in its tests, coming close to some nonfolding treadmills that cost more than twice as much. Testers praised the intuitive readout with large raised buttons and a touchscreen option, along with Bluetooth pairing for the included heart rate strap that lets the machine adjust speed or incline automatically. CR noted it also pairs with Sole's companion running app for smartphone tracking.

Credit: Horizon Fitness

The Horizon 7.0 AT costs $1,000, priced lower than every other treadmill in this lineup, and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for a max incline of 14.8 percent, appealing to anyone who wants to simulate hiking indoors. CR found very little wear after simulated testing equivalent to six months of use, pointing to strong durability, and testers liked the oversized buttons for easy control during a workout. This model skips a bundled heart rate strap but still pairs with one purchased separately, automatically adjusting incline or speed to hit target heart rate zones. It also lacks the Sprint 8 program found on the pricier 7.4 AT, though CR noted it still connects to third-party exercise subscription services for anyone who wants more workout variety.

Credit: Flaman Fitness

The Bowflex BXT8J costs $1,300 and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation as one of the more affordable folding treadmills in its ratings, while still offering plenty of versatility across different workout styles. CR found up to four users can track progress over time using data stored directly on the machine, without needing any subscription. Testers noted Bowflex heavily promotes its JRNY exercise app for on-demand workouts, which requires a monthly fee, though CR confirmed using it isn't required to operate the treadmill. CR counted 26 built-in workout programs, giving users a wide range of options without paying extra.

Credit: Sole

The Sole F65 costs $1,500 and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation for offering plenty of power and versatility despite skipping the F80's touchscreen, ranking on par with several nonfolding treadmills CR recommends. CR found controls available both on the front console and along the handrails, giving users flexibility in adjusting speed and incline mid-workout. Testers counted seven built-in workout programs plus two customizable slots for building a personal routine. CR noted it pairs with Sole's free Sole+ app, unlocking access to hundreds of additional on-demand workouts.

Credit: Xterra

The Xterra TRX3500 costs $900, priced lower than every other treadmill in this lineup, and earned Consumer Reports' recommendation as one of the few folding treadmills in its ratings available for less than $1,000, provided shoppers buy from a third-party retailer instead of Xterra's own website, where prices often run about double. CR found strong scores across all its tests and a weight capacity up to 350 pounds, with a max incline of 11.1 percent lower than every other treadmill in this lineup, still enough room to intensify a workout as fitness improves. Testers counted 30 onboard workout programs, along with compatibility for third-party exercise subscription services if users want to pay for additional variety. CR noted the savings on the machine itself leave plenty of room in the budget to shop around for a subscription service worth trying.