Incline treadmills are a great addition to your running routine – they allow you to train from the comfort of your own home, to set specific pace, elevation and distance goals to keep your training on target – and even better, you never have to worry about the weather forecast.
Yet, despite their many benefits, they can be bulky and space-demanding additions to your home – which is where folding treadmills with incline come in.
There are lots of excellent folding treadmills with incline for runners these days, but there are also quite a few subpar machines.
We‘ve done the research and testing to weed out the winners from the duds.
So, if you’re interested in buying a foldable treadmill with incline, keep reading for our picks for the 5 best folding treadmills with incline for runners.
Why Buy a Folding Treadmill With Incline?
Many runners will preach to the fact that nothing beats running outside. Between the fresh air and engaging nature of an ever-changing environment, running outdoors can be a lot more stimulating and gratifying than running on a treadmill.
With that said, treadmills absolutely have their place and merits for runners.
For example, if it’s the middle of a snowstorm or raining buckets outside, you might be safer and more comfortable running indoors on a treadmill.
Similarly, if it’s pitch dark because you have to squeeze your workout in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, running on a treadmill can be safer than struggling to see and be seen running in the dark.
Another often-overlooked benefit of running on the treadmill is that it can help you improve the specificity of your training.
For example, if you are training for a hilly race like the Big Sur Marathon but you live in a very flat area with no readily accessible hills to train on, you can use a treadmill with incline to simulate the terrain you will face on race day.
Using the incline on the treadmill can also provide a fantastic muscle strengthening, cardiovascular, and metabolic workout.
However, while treadmills with incline capabilities can be fantastic training tools, if you live in a small home or simply don’t have a lot of floor space to cede full time to a treadmill, it can be difficult to make the case that it’s worth it to buy one for your home.
The good news is that there are some fantastic folding treadmills with incline, giving you the best of both worlds—a great training tool with a workable footprint.
The 5 Best Folding Treadmills With Incline
Let’s check out our picks for the 5 best treadmills with auto-incline which can be folded up when not in use to save space.
#5: Best Everyday Folding Treadmill With Incline: ProForm Carbon T7 Smart Treadmill
If you have a modest budget such that you can’t afford a top-of-the-line foldable treadmill with incline but you want a decent machine for real running, we recommend the ProForm Carbon T7 Smart Treadmill.
With a 2 HP motor and a sturdy steel frame, the treadmill supports runners up to 300 pounds. It tops out at a decent speed of 10 miles per hour, and can be adjusted up to a 12% grade with quick digital incline controls.
The treadmill comes with 30 days of iFIT Family Membership free, allowing runners to take full advantage of the live and on-demand running workouts filmed both in outdoor locations around the world and in studios.
One nice thing about using iFIT with this folding treadmill is that when you’re following a workout, the speed and incline of the treadmill are automatically as per whatever specifications the trainer dictates. You don’t have to do a thing, leaving you able to focus solely on running.
The well-cushioned running belt is 20 inches wide by 55 inches long and the machine is protected with a 10-year warranty on the frame and a 1-year warranty for parts and labor.
#4: Best Budget Folding Treadmill With Incline: Sunny Health & Fitness Portable Treadmill SF-T7705
For less than $500, the Sunny Health & Fitness Portable Treadmill SF-T7705 is our pick for the best budget treadmill with incline that can be folded.
Despite the low price tag, there are some decent features and specs for the treadmill, including a 2.2 HP motor, speed capabilities up to 9 mph, and heart rate sensors.
The one place in which you will ostensibly notice a difference is in the belt size: this little treadmill has a running belt that is only 16 inches wide by 50 inches long, making it suitable for shorter and petite runners only.
Furthermore, the treadmill only supports runners up to 220 pounds, and it’s not particularly rugged, though it feels sturdy while you run.
The treadmill features 15 levels of automatic incline that can be easily adjusted with the push of a button. For the folding in unfolding capabilities, there is a great pneumatic system with SoftDrop technology for easy storage.
The footprint of the treadmill is nice and small, making it a good option for runners who have a home where space is at a premium.
Certainly, if you are a smaller runner and are looking for an inexpensive folding treadmill with incline, this is a great option.
#3: Highest Reviewed Folding Treadmill With Incline: Schwinn Fitness 810 Treadmill
Runners are raving about the Schwinn Fitness 810 Treadmill. It is one of the most highly reviewed folding treadmills with incline available. Like other Schwinn Fitness products, this treadmill is well-made, reliable, and packed with features.
There are 16 pre-programmed workouts, and runners who purchase the Explore the World can explore international destinations with over 50 global routes that auto-adjust in real time to your speed.
The treadmill has a 1.9 HP motor, supports ‘runners weighing up to 275 pounds, and can reach speeds of 10 mph, making it a great mid-level home treadmill.
The inclined feature is motorized and can top out at a 10% grade. In terms of the folding capabilities, we love the SoftDrop folding technology because it enables a gentle descent without needing to put any muscle into it to fight gravity.
The belt is somewhat smaller, at 20 inches wide by 55 inches long, but it should be large enough for runners up to 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Lastly, there are little perks like heart rate sensors and a USB charging port for your phone so you don’t have to worry about your phone dying and your music cutting out mid-run.
#2: Easiest to Adjust Folding Treadmill With Incline: Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill
When you’re looking for the easiest foldable treadmills with incline to adjust while you run, you can’t go wrong with the Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill.
The incline and speed of this powerful treadmill can be controlled with micro precision with just the touch of the built-in handles right in front of your body.
It’s a fantastic innovation for quick and easy adjustments while you’re pushing the pace. Alternatively, you can also use the digital controls on the console like normal. This treadmill is built for hard workouts and engineered for fitness apps, and nails it.
It features a highly-responsive 3.0 CHP, and Bluetooth connectivity to sync with fitness apps and trackers like Peloton and Zwift.
The 60-inch belt is perfect for even the longest strides and it has three-zone cushioning to protect your joints mile after mile, and the machine is suitable for runners weighing up to 325 pounds.
The treadmill folds up when not in use and can hit max speeds of 12 mph (5 minute mile) and 15% incline.
There’s a lifetime warranty and the frame and parts, and this durable machine is built to last just as much as it is designed to be your greatest training tool.
#1: Best Premium Folding Treadmill With Incline: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
If you’re a serious runner and hoping to get some fast miles in on your treadmill while still saving space, consider the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill.
This is a sizable treadmill, with a deck size of 60 inches long by 22 inches wide, so it’s a great option for taller and bigger runners who need ample room for a long stride and a roomy side-to-side space to run.
The treadmill has a maximum user weight limit of 300 pounds, thanks to the heavy-duty construction.
In terms of its space-saving capabilities as a folding treadmill with incline, the treadmill features an Easy Lift™ Assist, which makes for effort-free folding.
Runners who buy the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill will likely want to take advantage of the IFIT features, which include live and on-demand workouts with top-notch trainers. The treadmill also comes with 30 days of the iFIT Family Membership free.
The running workouts are streamed through the onboard 14” HD touchscreen, which pivots and tilts for maximum visibility.
The speed range of the treadmill is 0-12 miles per hour and best of all, the include adjusts from -3% to 15% Incline, allowing you to train on downhill terrain as well.
Nordictrack backs the frame of the treadmill with a 10-year warranty and the parts with a two-year warranty.
A Little Reminder . . .
When you’re looking to buy a folding treadmill with incline, it’s important to consider the maximum user weight, the running belt dimensions, the maximum speed and incline grade, and warranty, and the dimensions of the machine when folded and flat.
To learn more about how to buy a treadmill for home usage, check out our treadmill buying guide here.
