Best Folding Treadmill for Home: NordicTrack vs ProForm vs Horizon
Folding treadmills for a spare room, basement or garage: deck length for running, lift effort, folded size, ceiling height, iFit vs no subscription.
A folding treadmill only saves space if the fold is one you will actually do. Some decks lift with about the effort of a carry-on bag and lower themselves to the floor; others take a real heave every time. In a spare room, basement or garage, fold effort, folded size, ceiling height and whether the machine works without a membership matter as much as speed and incline.
This guide covers what separates a running treadmill from a walking one, then five NordicTrack, ProForm and Horizon folding models worth buying.
Quick verdict
- Best all-around for runners: the NordicTrack T10 Treadmill. A 20 by 60 inch deck, a 3 HP motor and a light lift. Most training features need an iFit membership.
- Unsure about a subscription: the ProForm Carbon TLX Treadmill. A tablet rack instead of a touchscreen, so skipping iFit loses you less.
- Running with no subscription: the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill, with a 0 to 15% incline and a lifetime motor warranty.
- Serious training: the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill, the only pick with decline. Its deck is the heaviest to lift.
- Small and simple: the Horizon T101, the shortest here (check Horizon directly for availability), for walking and light running.
The folding treadmills side by side
| Treadmill | Shop | Deck | Motor | Speed / incline | Open (L x W x H) | Folded | Lift | Training |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordicTrack T10 Treadmill |  View on Amazon
| 20 x 60 in, adjustable cushioning | 3 HP | Needs about an 8 ft ceiling at full incline | 75.1 x 34.3 x 58.4 in | About 40 in long | About 20 lb feel | Touchscreen; iFit unlocks most features |
| ProForm Carbon TLX Treadmill |  View on Amazon
| Check the listing | Check the listing | Auto adjust via iFit app | 74.3 x 35.1 x 59.1 in | About 45 in long | 20 to 30 lb feel | Tablet rack, no touchscreen |
| NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill |  View on Amazon
| 22 x 60 in, very soft | 4.25 CHP | 12 mph; -3% to 12% | 77.3 x 37 x 59.5 in | About 45 in long | 40 to 50 lb feel | 16 in touchscreen, iFit |
| Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill |  View on Amazon
| Three-zone cushioning | Lifetime motor warranty | 12 mph; 0 to 15% | 76 x 35 x 67 in | 44 in long, 68 in tall | Folding deck | No subscription; two device holders |
| Horizon T101 Treadmill | Check the listing | Lifetime frame and motor warranty | Check the listing | 70.5 x 33.5 x 59 in | 46 in long, 61 in tall | Soft drop; 220 lb machine | No subscription; tablet rack |
Best all-around for runners
NordicTrack T10 Treadmill
A 3 HP motor and a 20 by 60 inch deck in a folding frame that lifts with about 20 pounds of effort and folds to about 40 inches long.
- 3 HP
- 20 x 60 in deck
- Adjustable cushioning
Good for
- Runners who want classes
- An easy daily fold
Skip it if
- Skipping iFit (most training features stay locked)
Running or walking: deck length and motor
For running, look for a belt at least 55 inches long, and 60 inches for a long stride or fast pace. A 50 inch deck handles walking and easy jogging, but a long-legged runner risks stepping off the back. Motor size shows how much running a machine is built for: around 1.75 CHP is a walking treadmill even when the top speed reads 12 mph, while about 3 HP and up handles regular running.
Walking only, mostly at a desk? A full treadmill is more machine than you need; the walking pad guide covers slim under-desk models.
Fold effort, footprint and ceiling height
The T10, TLX, 1750 and T101 all have a soft-drop deck: release it with your foot and it lowers itself slowly, and it won't crash down if your grip slips while lifting. Around kids and pets, treat that as a must-have. Lift effort varies more. The T10 and TLX feel like 20 to 30 pounds, easy after every workout. The 1750 feels like 40 to 50, fine now and then but tedious daily.
Folded, these shrink to roughly 40 to 46 inches long but stand tall: 68 inches for the 7.0 AT, 61 for the T101. Many full-size folding treadmills weigh more than 200 pounds and roll only after you tip them onto front wheels, so choose the spot first. In a basement, check headroom: incline lifts the front of the deck with you on it, and the T10 needs about an 8 foot ceiling for its full range. Read each manual's ceiling guidance before buying for a room with low joists or ducts.
Unsure about a subscription
ProForm Carbon TLX Treadmill
A tablet rack instead of a touchscreen, so your own apps work as well as anything, and iFit still adds automatic speed and incline changes if you pair it.
- Tablet rack
- Folds to about 45 in
Good for
- Curious about iFit but not committed
- Walkers and runners
Skip it if
- You want a built-in touchscreen
Subscription or no subscription
NordicTrack and ProForm run on iFit, a paid membership with trainer-led classes, entertainment apps and automatic speed and incline changes. On touchscreen models like the T10 and 1750, it unlocks most training features, so the monthly cost belongs in the budget. iFit's membership page lists current plans. Horizon goes the other way: the T101 and 7.0 AT work fully without a subscription, using onboard programs and a shelf for your own device. Horizon promotes its Journey platform, but it is optional.
Garages and non-climate-controlled spaces
Check the warranty before putting a treadmill in a garage. An earlier NordicTrack Commercial 1750 warranty was void if the treadmill was kept in a non-climate-controlled space. Read the current terms for any model, and if the garage is the only option, plan to heat and cool it, for example with a mini-split. Where winters freeze and summers bake, Utah included, an unconditioned garage swings well outside a living-room range. The garage home gym guide covers rubber flooring and layout.
Best for serious training
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
A full-size feel that happens to fold: one of the softest 22 by 60 inch decks, a lifetime-warranty motor and a -3% to 12% incline with downhill running.
- 4.25 CHP
- 22 x 60 in deck
- -3% to 12% incline
Good for
- Marathon training
- Downhill work
Skip it if
- Folding it often (a 40 to 50 lb lift)
The picks in detail
NordicTrack T10 Treadmill
The T10 meets the running checklist in a folding frame: a 3 HP motor and a 20 by 60 inch deck. The cushioning is adjustable, though on and off feel only slightly different; both are comfortable. The fold is the surprise. The deck lifts with about 20 pounds of effort, far easier than NordicTrack's Commercial line, and folds to about 40 inches long. The catch is iFit: without it, most training features stay locked.
Best all-around for runners
NordicTrack T10 Treadmill
A 3 HP motor and a 20 by 60 inch deck in a folding frame that lifts with about 20 pounds of effort and folds to about 40 inches long.
- 3 HP
- 20 x 60 in deck
- Adjustable cushioning
Good for
- Runners who want classes
- An easy daily fold
Skip it if
- Skipping iFit (most training features stay locked)
ProForm Carbon TLX Treadmill
The TLX suits buyers who like the idea of iFit but aren't sold on it. There is no touchscreen and no onboard program library, just a tablet rack, so your own apps and shows work as well as anything. Pair the iFit app and you still get automatic speed and incline changes; cancel and you lose far less than on a touchscreen model. It lifts much like the T10 and folds to about 45 inches. It works for walkers and runners.
Unsure about a subscription
ProForm Carbon TLX Treadmill
A tablet rack instead of a touchscreen, so your own apps work as well as anything, and iFit still adds automatic speed and incline changes if you pair it.
- Tablet rack
- Folds to about 45 in
Good for
- Curious about iFit but not committed
- Walkers and runners
Skip it if
- You want a built-in touchscreen
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
The 1750 feels like a full-size treadmill that happens to fold. Its 22 by 60 inch deck is one of the softest around, the 4.25 CHP motor has a lifetime warranty, and the -3% to 12% incline adds downhill running, rare even on non-folding machines. The 16 inch touchscreen runs iFit classes, streaming apps and map routes. The trade-off is the 40 to 50 pound lift, so it fits a room where it can stay open. Specs have shifted between versions (earlier ones had a 14 inch screen and a different motor and incline range), so confirm the listing.
Best for serious training
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
A full-size feel that happens to fold: one of the softest 22 by 60 inch decks, a lifetime-warranty motor and a -3% to 12% incline with downhill running.
- 4.25 CHP
- 22 x 60 in deck
- -3% to 12% incline
Good for
- Marathon training
- Downhill work
Skip it if
- Folding it often (a 40 to 50 lb lift)
Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
The 7.0 AT is the running pick for people who never want a subscription: 12 mph, a 0 to 15% incline range and a lifetime motor warranty. Thumb dials on the handlebars change speed and incline quickly, which suits intervals and walk-run plans. The three-zone cushioning is softer at the front and firmer at the back. Two device holders take a phone and tablet for apps like Peloton or Zwift over Bluetooth. Folded, it is 44 inches long but 68 inches tall, only an inch below its open height.
Running with no subscription
Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
12 mph, a 0 to 15% incline, handlebar thumb dials for quick changes and Bluetooth for apps like Peloton or Zwift, with no membership needed.
- 12 mph
- 0 to 15% incline
- Lifetime motor warranty
Good for
- Intervals and walk-run plans
- Your own training apps
Skip it if
- Low ceilings (68 in tall folded)
Horizon T101 Treadmill
The T101 is the shortest of the five at 70.5 inches, folding to 46 inches long and 61 inches tall. It needs no subscription, with onboard programs, a tablet rack and third-party app pairing, and it carries a lifetime frame and motor warranty. It has stayed in Horizon's lineup a long time. It is best for walking with some light running. The details here describe an earlier version; the current T101 has a redesigned console with most of the same features.
Others worth knowing about
- Echelon Stride 6S: folds flat to 8.5 inches and stores upright, but standing it up feels like lifting 90 pounds or more, and it offers little without Echelon's membership.
- Sole F63: durable, simple and easy to push a short distance, with a firm deck that sits at about 3% incline even when set flat.
- WalkingPad X25 and Deerrun A1 Pro: tiny units for occasional use. The X25 folds in half and has no incline; the A1 Pro has a 16.5 by 44 inch deck, an Allen-key fold and a one-year warranty.
Who should buy which
- Runners who want classes and an easy fold: the NordicTrack T10.
- Curious about iFit but not committed: the ProForm Carbon TLX.
- Marathon training or downhill work: the NordicTrack Commercial 1750.
- Serious running, no subscription: the Horizon 7.0 AT.
- Walking and light running in a small room: the Horizon T101.
Posted by Kristopher Larson
Frequently asked questions
What is the best folding treadmill for running?
Look for a belt at least 55 inches long, ideally 60, and a motor around 3 HP or more. The NordicTrack T10 meets both with a 20 by 60 inch deck and a 3 HP motor and is easy to fold. For heavier training, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 adds a 22 inch wide deck, a 4.25 CHP motor and decline, but its deck is much heavier to lift.
How long should a treadmill belt be for running?
At least 55 inches for running, and 60 inches for taller runners, long strides or fast speeds. A 50 inch belt works for walking and easy jogging, but at higher speeds a long stride can reach the back edge.
How much ceiling height do you need for a treadmill?
More than most people expect, because incline raises the deck with you standing on it. The NordicTrack T10 needs about an 8 foot ceiling for its full incline range, and taller users can need extra headroom. Check the ceiling guidance in the manual before putting a treadmill in a basement with low joists or ducts.
Do you need an iFit subscription for a NordicTrack treadmill?
Not to walk or run, but on touchscreen models like the T10 and Commercial 1750 the membership unlocks most of the training features, including trainer classes and automatic speed and incline changes. The ProForm Carbon TLX depends on it less because it uses a tablet rack. Horizon's T101 and 7.0 AT work fully with no subscription.
Can you keep a treadmill in a garage?
Check the warranty first. An earlier NordicTrack Commercial 1750 warranty was void if the treadmill was kept in a non-climate-controlled space, so read the current terms for the model you buy. In a garage that freezes in winter or bakes in summer, plan on heating and cooling, such as a mini-split, and rubber flooring under the machine.
Which folding treadmill is easiest to fold?
A soft-drop deck that lowers itself is the feature to look for, and lift effort is the second. The NordicTrack T10 and ProForm Carbon TLX feel like lifting about 20 to 30 pounds. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 feels closer to 40 to 50 pounds. Flat-folding designs like the Echelon Stride 6S store very small but can feel like lifting 90 pounds or more to stand upright.
Keep reading
More from the blog
Best Space Heater for Safety: Dreo vs. Lasko vs. Amazon Basics vs. Heat Storm
Amazon Prefab Houses, Tiny Homes and House Kits: What Arrives, What Doesn't and How to Avoid Scams
How to Choose a Robot Lawn Mower: Mammotion vs Ecovacs vs Navimow
