Peloton Tread review

A 24-inch swivel touchscreen and 15 plus workout types, behind a membership the hardware is built around.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Peloton's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• The class library is the product. A treadmill is a treadmill; what makes people use one is having somewhere to be at a set time and someone telling them what to do.
• A screen that swivels 360 degrees turns the machine into a base for strength, yoga and mobility work, which is what stops a treadmill becoming a clothes rail.
• Personalised weekly plans address the actual failure mode of home fitness equipment, which is not knowing what to do today.
• Peloton's build quality and the running feel of the belt have a strong reputation, and the deck and cushioning are the parts you notice after six months.
• Bluetooth 5.2 means heart rate straps and headphones connect without a hub, which sounds trivial and is where cheaper machines annoy people.

Where it falls short

• The membership is the story. At $49.99 a month, five years of use costs roughly three thousand dollars on top of the treadmill, which doubles the real price. Budget for the total, not the hardware.
• The hardware without the membership is a much less capable machine, because the screen is built around the service. That is a deliberate design decision and it is worth understanding before buying.
• It is 68 by 33 by 65 inches and extremely heavy, and Peloton themselves advise lifting aids for moving or assembling it. Measure the room, the doorways and the route.
• Three hundred pounds is the stated user weight limit and the height range stops at 6 ft 4 in. Check both against who will use it.
• Treadmills need clearance behind them for safety, and manufacturers publish a figure. Do not place one against a wall with no run-off space.

What owners report

Owner reports on Peloton hardware are consistently positive about build and about the classes, and the recurring criticism across the entire connected fitness category is subscription cost and lock-in. People who use the classes describe the money as worth it; people who bought the hardware intending to ignore the service generally regret it.

Our best treadmill guide and treadmill testing guide cover the category and what to check on delivery, including belt tracking and deck noise, which are the things that go wrong.

Before buying any connected fitness equipment, run our cost per use calculator with the subscription included. That number, rather than the sticker price, is what decides whether this is a good purchase. This is a consumer product review and not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting a new exercise programme, particularly if you have a heart condition, joint problems, or have been inactive for a long period.

Who it suits

• People who know they need structure and accountability rather than equipment.
• Households where several people will use it, since one membership covers the machine.
• Anyone who has tried running alone and stopped.

Who should skip it

• Anyone who will not use the classes, where a mechanically good treadmill without a screen costs far less.
• Rooms without the space and the clearance behind the belt.
• Buyers who have not costed five years of membership into the decision.

Alternatives worth considering

Common questions

Do I have to pay for the membership?

To get the classes and the connected features, yes. The All-Access Membership is $49.99 a month and it is what the screen and the experience are built around. The hardware functions as a treadmill without it and you lose most of what distinguishes it from a cheaper machine.

What does it actually cost over five years?

The treadmill plus sixty months of membership. At $49.99 a month that is roughly three thousand dollars of subscription on top of the purchase price, so the real five-year cost is closer to six thousand than to three. Run the cost per use calculator with that number rather than the sticker price.

How much space does a treadmill need?

The machine's own 68 by 33 inch footprint plus clearance behind it for safety, which manufacturers publish and which people routinely ignore. You also need ceiling height for a running stride on a raised deck. Measure the room, the doorway and the route in before ordering.

Is it safe for me to start running?

That is a question for a doctor rather than a product review, particularly if you have a heart condition, joint problems or have been inactive for a long time. Home fitness equipment does not come with a screening process, which is the one thing a gym induction gets right.

Peloton or NordicTrack?

Both are subscription-first machines with large screens. NordicTrack is cheaper hardware with a cheaper subscription and folds away; Peloton's classes and community have a stronger reputation. The choice is really about which content library you will actually use, since that is what you are buying.

Keep reading

• Best treadmills
• Treadmill testing guide
• Best rowing machines
• Cost per use calculator
• NordicTrack Commercial 2450 review
• Hydrow Origin review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.