Folding Treadmills

Our tests included 35 Folding Treadmills models that we evaluated on ease of use, ergonomics, construction, exercise range, and safety. We found 12 models to recommend, including three CR Best Buys. And since lower-priced treadmills are so popular, we added a section for budget models to our Ratings.

The best folding treadmills for the third year running is also the priciest: the excellently constructed Precor 9.31, now $4,000 (up from $3,300 in our last test). People on tighter budgets can find solid choices in the nonfolding Sole S77, $1,900, and the folding ProForm Performance 600 and Horizon T202, both $800.

We found that some higher-end perks such as Internet connectivity are trickling down to more wallet-friendly machines. Hie $800 NordicTrack T7.0, for example, offers an optional $99 iFit Live module, which includes customized workout plans from celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels, virtual running and walking routes from around the world, and the ability to track your workouts online. (You need Wi-Fi for the module to work, and the subscription is $120 a year after the first year.)

Choose the right Folding Treadmill

Budget and midpriced treadmills and ellipticals are sold at large retailers such as Dick's Sporting Goods, Sears, Sports Authority, and Walmart. For more expensive brands, you'll generally need to hit a specialty fitness store. If you want to shop online for the best price, be sure to try the machine in person first. You might notice a problem—your knees bump against the elliptical's framework or components, or the deck is too short on a treadmill—that you couldn't detect by sight or reviews alone.

Here are other criteria to consider:

Size. Most treadmills are about 6.5 feet by 3 feet. Folding treadmills are about half the length when folded. Don't assume that because you buy a folding treadmill you'll actually fold and stow it. If that feature is important, try folding the machine before buying to see how easy it is to do and whether folding it indeed makes it easier to store.

Safety features. All tested treadmills have a safety key that clips onto clothing and turns the machine off if you fall off. Hie recommended Lifespan TR4000i, $1,700, has a feature that beeps for 5 seconds after 20 seconds of nonuse and then pauses the machine.

Ergonomics. If running is more your speed than walking, check treadmills' deck length, since you'll need a longer one to accommodate your stride. If you want the space-saving that a folding treadmill provides, make sure the deck isn't too heavy to lift.

High-tech features. Docks for iPods, USB ports, and wireless Internet connectivity are popping up on many treadmills. The recommended ProForm Power 995 and Lifespan TR4000i treadmills allow access to an online program that tracks your exercise. The Live-Strong LS13. 0T and LS 8. 0T also include an online tracking program.

Adjustability. Most tested treadmills incline to at least 10 percent; some go as high as 14 or 15 percent. Check to see whether it's automated, as on the Horizon EX-79, or requires you to manually adjust it, as on the Horizon EX-69. (We didn't test those features.)

Assembly. A treadmill can weigh up to 400 pounds, so ask about delivery and check whether assembly is included or available at an additional cost. It might be worth it if you're not particularly good with a toolbox. It generally takes our experienced engineers about 1 to 2 hours to put together treadmill, depending on the number of steps. Lifting heavy parts, adding grease, and working on your knees are part of the process. Some of the steps require two people.

Warranty. Look for one that provides two to three years of coverage on major moving parts and a year on labor. Our surveys suggest that an extended warranty probably isn't worth it.

Best folding treadmills models over $1,000:

1. Lifespan $1,700
2. Smooth $1,600

Both have quick speed and incline controls and come with chest-strap heart-rate monitors and heart-rate control programs. Lifespan lacks a shelf for magazines or books, but it has a longer, 60-inch running surface.

Best for tight budgets:

1. NordicTrack $1,000
2. ProForm $1,000
3. ProForm $800 CR Best Buy
4. Horizon $1,000
5. Sole $1,000
6. Horizon $800 CR Best Buy

All have quick speed and incline controls. None has a chest-strap heart-rate monitor except Sole, which also has heart-rate control programs.