Why would you buy a more expensive treadmill with auto incline if you can have a regular treadmill at a much lower price? What does it offer that a plain, flat treadmill cannot provide? Is the difference worth it?
You’re right to ask such questions, and there’s no better place to find your answers than here. So, let’s cut the chase.
You’ll need a treadmill with auto incline if you want intense workouts. One of the benefits of this type of treadmill is that it lets you do HIIT. With this kind of training, you’ll burn more calories per minute than when you exercise on a flat treadmill.
As you will find out in the reviews below, an inclining treadmill has more to offer, and it’s definitely worth every penny you spend on it.
Our Top Auto-Incline Treadmills: A Quick Look
The 3 best incline treadmills in this review has slopes ranging from 0 – 15%. Their running decks are well cushioned to minimize impact and stress on the user’s joints and back. Click on the links below to find out:
1. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7705 Treadmill
2. NordicTrack Commercial Series Treadmill
3. Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill
We highly recommend the Nordictrack treadmill with incline, but if you’re on a budget, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7705 strikes the perfect balance for you.
3 Best Treadmill with Auto Incline
1. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7705 Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness brand has over 2 decades of experience in producing some of the best exercise equipment for home use. For this reviews list, we’ll look at the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7705 treadmill with auto incline.
Features & Specs
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7705 treadmill, which measures 64″ x 27″ x 50.5″ and weighs 112 pounds. It supports almost twice its weight up to a maximum of 220 pounds. A Soft Drop system makes it easy to fold and unfold.
Running deck: With a tread measuring 49.5″ x 16.5″, this Sunny Health fitness auto incline foldable treadmill offers enough space for walking, jogging, and running.
Motor: A 2.2-HP motor powers the deck. Honestly, this motor is ideal for light exercising only, such as walking, jogging and light running. If you’re looking for a treadmill that can handle serious training, we recommend the next treadmill on this reviews list.
Console: It has a large backlit LCD monitor for tracking distance, speed, calories burned, and heart rate. Through this console, you can access 9 preset interval programs, which control your workout time, speed, and incline. It is Bluetooth-enabled and has MP3 and integrated speakers.
Incline: The auto incline ranges from 0 – 12%, adding more challenge to your workouts by replicating hill-climbing and exercising your muscles harder.
Pros
- Bluetooth, MP3 features, and speakers allow you to listen to music or your favorite podcast
- 15 incline levels to create the best workouts for you
- Foldable frame to save space
- Has wheels to make transporting easier
- Shock-absorbing running surface softens the impact
- Nifty and easy-to-reach gadget holder
Cons
- Does not come with cooling fan
2. NordicTrack Commercial Series Treadmill
Purchase Direct at NordicTrack
If you’re a serious runner looking for a treadmill that can handle intense workouts, the Nordictrack Commercial 2950 should be your treadmill of choice.
Features & Specs
Motor: This fitness beast is powered by an efficient 4.0-CHP motor and supports up to 300 pounds, making it the best option for heavy persons. It supports speeds of up to 12 MPH, which is a lot.
Frame: This treadmill has a larger frame, measuring 66.6″ x 39.2″ x 79.5″ (H x W x L), which means you need to set aside more space. You can fold it to save on space, but with its weight and dimensions, I think it’s best to keep it unfolded, so make sure you have the space for it at all times.
- Trending Topic: Why Does NordicTrack Treadmills Have A Cancer Warning
Running deck: I said serious running, right? You can even sprint and do HIIT! That’s why it has a 60″ x 22″ three-ply tread. I bet once you’ve tried this treadmill with incline, you’ll not want to settle for anything else.
Console: You get a large backlit LCD digital monitor for viewing of your workout profile, tracking your stats including your heart rate, and picking a program or incline level.
Here’s more: You get access to iFit, which is a workout app that you can use to customize your workouts by selecting any route in the world via Google Maps workout, iFit coach, video and more.
- Related Topic: Will NordicTrack Work Without iFit
Pros
- Frame is equipped with Soft Drop system for easy unfolding
- Bluetooth-enabled
- Provides access to iFit, which widens your workout choices
- Has a USB charging port for your devices
- Built-in wheels means a lot when transporting this large treadmill
- High weight capacity (300 lbs) to accommodate heavier users
- Can handle intense workouts, sprints, and speeds up to 12 MPH
- Has pulse monitoring
- Impressive 10-year warranty on frame, 2 years on parts, and 1 year on labor
Cons
- Quite heavy to move around
Read Next: Best treadmills with decline
3. Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill
The Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill with Power Incline is our third best treadmill for home use. It is competitively priced, making it perfect for anyone on a budget.
Features & Specs
Dimensions & Weight: You’ll need to assemble the handrails, but it’s not difficult to do. When fully assembled, this incline treadmill measures 73″ x 36″ x 56″ inches, so it’s not small. It also weighs 203 lbs, so make sure you have the space for it and some elbow room.
Transportation wheels: It’s good to know that it is built with transportation wheels to make it less hefty when transported, but you’ll want a permanent place for it, like the NordicTrack.
Warranty: It is covered by a 25 year warranty on the frame and 1 year on parts and labor.
Deck & Incline: You’ll love the Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill with Power Incline’s deck. Measuring 55 x 20 inches, it’s slightly smaller than what the T216 offers but still large enough for most exercises.
This fitness treadmill is equipped with AirStride cushioning technology to ensure it minimizes impact on joints by up to 25%. You can exercise without worrying about long-term injury.
Motor: The Gold’s Gym 720 treadmill has 2.6 CHP motor that allows you to exercise for close to 1 hour without chocking or overheating. The motor allows for speeds of up to 10 mph and operates quietly. You can control the speed range via the console.
This particular Gold’s gym model comes with a digital monitor and LCD display indicating distance, speed, calories, incline, and heart rate. You’ll have 18 preset interval programs to choose from.
Pros
- Has a lifetime warranty on the frame
- Bluetooth-enabled
- One-touch control makes it easy to change speed and incline
- High weight capacity (300 lbs)
- Large running area
Cons
- The monitor is not very user-friendly
Related Post: How much does the average treadmill weigh?
How to Choose a Treadmill with an Incline
Factors to Consider
Here are 3 things you should look out for when choosing a treadmill with auto incline.
- Frame: Most inclining treadmills are heavy, roughly between 200 and 350 lbs. A large frame ensures user stability while using the incline function.
- Tread: There are two important aspects to consider for the running belt – size and cushioning. For jogging or light running, treadmills with smaller surface (40 x 16 inches) are okay, but for serious exercising, you should choose something like 50 x 17 inches or larger.
- Motor: Treadmills with CHP from 1 to 2.75 are limited to walking, jogging, and light running. For serious training, the best incline treadmill have over 3.0 CHP, which should be capable of operating without overheating and higher speeds.
Final Thoughts
Inclining treadmills feature either powered incline or manual incline. Both offer more challenging workouts because they mimic hill climbing, so why should you choose one with an auto incline?
Good question! There are at least two advantages to a treadmill with an auto incline over one that goes with manual adjustment.
First, you don’t need to get off your treadmill or stop the momentum of your workout just to manually adjust the incline. Second, a treadmill with the automatic option has the incline integrated in the workouts so you’re sure that you get the intense workout as designed in the program.
While shopping for a treadmill, check out the features first and then ensure that it is within your budget.
The treadmills above offer varied levels of incline and are well cushioned for comfort. Each offers something unique, so we’re sure that any treadmill you choose from this reviews list will be a worthy pick.
Walk, run, or sprint your way to good health! Enjoy your journey!
Written by Alisha Wishart – TheHealthPot.com
Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Writer and Contributor
Alisha, is a Mother, Wife and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). She understands how demanding everyday life can be and takes great pride in working with individuals and groups to help them achieve their desired fitness goals. Read more about Alisha here.