I’m an all-weather outdoor runner. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, snowing, or 95 degrees — I’ve always opted to run outside rather than inside. But the more serious I’ve gotten about my training, the less realistic it's become for me to now do every run out in the elements (you try doing a speed workout when your local track or running path is covered in a slick coating of icy snow!). Sometimes, a treadmill is just the safer and better option.
With the right tread, you can actually get a more effective workout. Sure, you won’t have to contend with slippery surfaces or suffocating heat, but a more controlled environment lets you more accurately dial in your goal pace, as well as time your intervals and recovery periods so you can optimize every minute of your workout.
Thinking of buying a tread? This is the month to do it: January 2021 was the biggest month of last year for treadmill purchases, with demand up 64%, according to a new data analysis from Pattern, a global e-commerce accelerator.
If you’re considering the Peloton Tread, here’s everything you need to know about its updated features and what sets it apart from all the other machines out there.
What’s New
Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: Yes, the Peloton Tread+ (FYI, that was the original machine, which rang up at a hefty $4,295 and got a name change when the company released a more affordable version) was recalled last summer after one death and over 70 reports of adults, children, pets, and/or other objects being pulled underneath the rear of the treadmill; the newer and more affordable Peloton Tread was also voluntarily recalled because the touchscreen console could detach and fall, posing an injury risk.
In late August 2021, Peloton announced the all-new Peloton Tread, which comes with new safety features integrated into the experience (Tread+ sales are on hold for the foreseeable future, according to the company). Now, the $2,495 Tread comes with a required Tread Lock, a four-digit digital passcode that each authorized user needs to enter to unlock the belt before a workout — or if you’re stopped and haven’t touched the screen for at least 45 seconds. There’s also a new removable safety key that helps you come to a quick stop during class if needed; it can be stored away from the Tread to prevent unintended use. Finally, the touchscreen is more carefully secured to the treadmill so that it doesn't detach and potentially injure the user.
Even though the new Tread weighs in at 140 pounds less than the OG Tread+, it certainly feels sturdy. Even when pushing and pulling at the machine, there’s absolutely no movement at the feet (to relocate it, you have to lift from the back and the front wheels will engage, allowing you to steer it). My main complaint: lots of jiggling at the arms and screen during a run. I never worried anything was going to fall off, but it was somewhat distracting.
The Specs and Tech
Part of the appeal of Peloton is how aesthetically pleasing the machines are — you almost don’t mind that it’s taking up space in your bedroom, living room, or wherever, because, as far as treadmills go, the Peloton Tread is pretty nice to look at. It’s actually quite compact: With a footprint of 68x33x62 inches, it’s smaller than most couches (that doesn’t mean it’s great for a tiny NYC studio apartment, but I was able to fit it in a home office without sacrificing any work space).
The moving belt is 59 inches long, which the company recommends for users between 4-foot-11 and 6-foot-4, with a weight range of 105 to 300 pounds. (The Tread+ had a 67-inch belt, but 60 inches is a pretty standard size within the industry.)
Another area the Tread slimmed down is the screen. The original one was a whopping 32 inches and helped create that immersive experience Peloton is now synonymous with, but shedding nearly 10 inches — the current screen HD touchscreen is 23.8 inches — hardly feels like a sacrifice. I still felt like I was right alongside instructors like Rebecca Kennedy and Becs Gentry, especially thanks to the front-facing speakers (during workouts, you can adjust the volume to make the music or the instructor’s audio louder or softer).
My major gripe with the Peloton Tread's screen was that it can’t be moved further away from the belt; after staring at a phone and computer all day, I wanted more distance between my face and another screen. And while it does tilt up and down 50 degrees, it doesn’t swivel to the side to make viewing during off-treadmill portions of the Tread bootcamp classes or any other floor-based workouts very easy (you’d need to have enough space to set up a mat behind the Tread, which I did not).
What I like most about the Peloton Tread was one of the features that made it so unique when it first debuted: the speed and incline knobs conveniently placed on the side rails. Instead of jabbing at the screen to adjust your intensity — from 0 to 12 miles per hour and a grade of 0 to 12.5% — in the middle of a workout, all you have to do is roll the knobs up or down as you naturally swing your arm during your stride.
There’s also a jump button in the middle of each knob that lets you quickly increase your speed or incline to the next whole number. That’s an especially helpful feature during a hill-based interval class, where you’re jumping an entire percentage (or 3) every minute.
As someone who has no problem running in the elements, this was the feature that was most important to me — to get in quality speed and tempo workouts (especially when that was impossible outside), I needed a machine that let me make speed and incline adjustments without breaking my stride. But here’s an important caveat for diehard outdoor runners: The lack of wind resistance and variability in terrain will make running faster paces on a treadmill feel easier than inside. So if you’re using the Tread to train for a race, you’ll want to make sure you get some outdoor workouts in to replicate race day!
The Workouts
The reason Peloton outperforms so many of its competitors is its studio-style workouts with trainers that have reached celebrity status (see: Cody Rigsby on Dancing With the Stars). Peloton adds around 12 live classes per day, and users can tap into a massive library of on-demand workouts any time they want.
With the All-Access membership, you get live and on-demand indoor running, cycling, stretching, yoga, cardio, meditation, outdoor audio-guided running and cycling, tread bootcamp, bike bootcamp, walking classes, multiple new and existing programs (including Road to Your 5K), and challenges. For treadmill classes, expect options that suit every skill level from beginner and low-impact to advanced, as well as high-intensity interval training, hills, progression workouts, endurance training, and tempo runs.
If you aren’t interested in studio-style classes, you can opt to “Just Run,” which allows you to work out at your own pace and track your metrics (and, no, you don’t need an All-Access membership to do this). But, TBH, if you don’t want the studio-style classes, you’re better off opting for a cheaper machine.
No idea where to start? Use the smart filtering tool that suggests classes based on your interests. For example, after using the Tread for several speed workouts, my “daily picks” included a 45-minute progression run, a 20-minute interval run, a 10-minute core strength workout, and a 10-minute full-body stretch. Before you commit to a class, you can view a brief description, a short preview, and the playlist.
During each class, you can view a leaderboard that shows how your total output stacks up to everyone else who is currently in the class or who has ever taken the class (if this doesn’t motivate you, you can show or hide this panel at any time mid-class). During live classes, instructors will shout out runners — a point of pride and motivation among the community (no, I have not gotten a shout-out). Another fun feature: the 8MP front-facing camera (with a privacy cover) for mid-workout video chats with your friends (what’s up, #BecsBeasts!).
And, of course, you can track your effort via metrics like speed, mileage, elevation, heart rate, and more at the bottom of the screen. If you track your workouts on apps like Strava, you can sync your Peloton runs directly to that platform. The machine also syncs easily with wireless headphones via Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, which is a nice bonus if you’re working out while someone else is at home working (unlike the bike, the Tread is NOT whisper-quiet).
