Peloton Tread Review: Try It for the Workouts, Stay for the Classes

My first impression from the Peloton Tread is that it’s a sturdy machine. This treadmill is nicely sized at 68” length x 33” width x 62” height. The website says the Tread measures smaller than most couches—which I think you can take with a grain of salt because it’s all about whether it’s going to fit in your home, right? So, do your due diligence and measure your space. There is a handy try feature on the site that allows you to virtually place the treadmill in your home using your phone. This Tread also has some serious heft to it, weighing in at 290 pounds, which is another reason why if you buy it, you want to make sure you scope out the perfect spot for it pre-delivery, because moving it around will be a huge hassle.

Ease of Use

Get Started in Four Quick Steps

In case I missed anything during my in-person tutorial, there is also an on-screen one (Peloton 101) that goes through all the basics, including screen adjustment, heart rate monitor pairing, how to start and stop your tread and more. Not only is it easy to use, but it’s easy to get started with right away. Considering I have an aversion to reading owner manuals, I appreciated both my in-person and virtual guides immensely. But honestly, navigating the Tread is pretty intuitive: You tap on the screen, you are prompted to put in your tread lock passcode (more on this later), you select your profile (everyone in your household can have their own under your subscription), you scroll through the thousands of workouts, choose one and then, well, run. 

It has several options for adjusting the speed and incline. There are dials on either side of the arm rails that you turn as well as a button in the center of the dial that you press. Rolling the left dial forward raises the incline, which peaks at a 12.5% grade, and rolling it backward lowers it. If you press the center of the dial, the incline automatically jumps to the nearest whole number. The right dial and button follows a similar pattern, except it’s for speed, and it tops out at 12.5 mph. You also have the ability to change the pace and incline via the touchscreen, which highlights three pace and incline levels at a time—and are easy to manipulate even with sweaty fingers. The ones via the touchscreen can be preset with your preferences. Plus, the nearly 24-inch monitor, which offers a clear, crisp picture, tilts up and down 50 degrees so you can find the perfect position that won’t leave you craning your neck during class).

Noise

You Can Barely Hear It

This treadmill is relatively quiet. FYI: Mine is in a carpeted room, so that may absorb some of the noise you might hear otherwise. At the moment, it’s set up in the back room of my parent’s house in Miami, where I spent the majority of my time from the end of November through the New Year (Plus, having two fitness machines in my tiny NYC apartment would have been a lot to handle). It’s a shared space, so in addition to me running on the Tread, my dad may be watching TV in the room or he could be working on his computer or on a Zoom call. That means, there are several times when my treadmill sesh coincided with him being in the room. Whenever I asked him if I was being too loud he said no. He described the treadmill simply as “background noise.” So, I think that it is a good sign that your Tread can coexist with other activities in the same room at the same time.

Horsepower

It’s Got Some Muscle

When it comes to horsepower—the power and work capacity of the engine—the Peloton Tread has a lot going under the hood so to speak. It has a horsepower of 3, which is what our expert Dan Giordano, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S., CMO of Bespoke Treatments, recommends if you plan to amp up your speed for sprint work. Another reason to consider a horsepower of this magnitude? If you plan on using your treadmill a lot, says Amina Daniels, another one of our experts, trainer, founder, and CEO of Live Cycle Delight, an inclusive fitness studio offering indoor cycling, yoga, TRX, mat Pilates, barre, and virtual classes. And if you are going to invest in one, you should definitely plan to use it for more than an unintentional clothing rack.

Durability

Built to Last

The weight of the carbon steel frame feels solid and stable. It doesn’t rock or wobble, even at high speeds. To measure its steadiness, I placed a water bottle in one of the cup holders (there are two), as well as my iPhone and my keys on top of the polycarbonate tray. There was no rattling or shifting of the items at all.

Fit

Tread Fits a Variety of Frames

According to Peloton’s website, the Tread is for users between 4’11” and 6’4” tall, as well as those weighing in between 105 lbs. and 300 lbs. I am 5’4” (okay, 5’3 and ¾”) and the Tread felt sized perfectly for me. Even when hiking on a super high incline, and holding onto the side rails or the front rail, it felt like my arms and hands were in a natural position. (No size complaints from my dad either who has also been regularly using the Tread during my testing phase as well.)

Belt

The Belt is Basic

There is nothing extraordinary about the belt per se. It’s pretty standard. To be honest, in the last couple of years I’ve gotten used to treadmills with slatted belts, which are said to be more shock-absorbing. Running on this one, I felt the difference (less cushioning) during the first couple of runs, but my body adjusted quickly.