Walking while you work, starting to run at home, preparing for a race or equipping a gym's cardio area—these goals can all lead to buying a treadmill, but they rarely mean choosing the exact same equipment.
Speed, motor power, running surface, cushioning, incline, connectivity, foldability, and intensity of use are just some of the features that vary significantly between models.
In the BOOMFIT Marketplace you will find treadmills for different goals, spaces and usage levels, from brands such as Bodytone, Schwinn, Bowflex, Horizon Fitness, Fitness Tech, Hammer, NorsK and TKO-Europe. From compact walking solutions to professional treadmills, including foldable and curved models, there is an option for different training styles.
Before Buying a Treadmill, Define How You Will Use It
This is probably the most important point in the entire decision. Someone who intends to walk 30 minutes a day at home does not place the same demands on a treadmill as someone who runs regularly at high speeds, just as a treadmill for a gym or professional setting must handle much higher frequency and intensity of use than home gym equipment.
Before comparing models, it's worth answering four questions:
👉 Will you use the treadmill for walking, running, or both?
👉 How many times a week will it be used?
👉 Will it be used by one person or multiple users?
👉 And how much space do you have available?
From there, it becomes much easier to understand the type of treadmill you need.
Walking Pad: For Walking and Keeping the Body Moving
The walking pad is one of the most compact solutions in the treadmill universe, designed mainly for walking and low speeds. It's particularly interesting when the goal is to increase movement throughout the day without creating a permanent training area, and due to its small size, some models can be used beside a desk or stored after use.
Who Is a Walking Pad Suitable For?
It’s a good solution for walking at home, increasing daily steps, interspersing periods of sitting work with movement, for very small spaces, or simply for those who do not intend to use the equipment for running. If the main objective is running or more intense sessions, it’s better to go directly for a running treadmill.
Foldable Treadmill: When Space Is a Priority
Want to run at home but don't want the treadmill to permanently take up a significant part of the room? A foldable treadmill addresses this issue: these machines resemble conventional running treadmills but can fold part of the frame after training, making them especially relevant for apartments, home gyms, and shared spaces where every square meter counts.
A word of caution: "foldable" refers to storage, not necessarily the machine's capacity. There are models with very different specs in this category, so it’s still essential to compare factors like speed, motor, running area, and maximum supported weight.
Running Treadmill: For Those Who Want to Take Training Further
When running becomes the main objective, the demands increase. A running treadmill should offer an adequate surface for stride, stability, and the ability to maintain higher speeds during longer sessions. Some models also add adjustable incline, allowing you to change intensity without relying only on speed.
At the BOOMFIT Marketplace, for example, the Bodytone FIT12, available at €399, reaches 12 km/h and was developed for walking and light running, featuring REACT® cushioning and connectivity with apps like Zwift and Kinomap. Within the Bodytone range there are models like DT12+, DT14+, DT18+, and DT22W, allowing you to progressively upgrade according to training needs.
Curved Treadmill: A Different Running Experience
Curved treadmills stand out immediately by their shape, but the difference goes far beyond design. Unlike conventional electric treadmills, this type of equipment can operate without a motor continuously controlling the belt speed: the user’s movement determines the pace, accelerating or slowing down according to effort.
This characteristic makes curved treadmills especially interesting for functional training, intervals, sprints, and physical preparation, where rapid intensity changes are part of the session. In the Marketplace, for example, the Bodytone ZROTH and ZROT4 are available—two curved treadmill solutions for different usage levels.
Curved or Electric Treadmill?
There is no universally better option between the two. An electric treadmill offers precise speed control and, depending on the model, incline, making it very versatile for walking, continuous running, and structured sessions. A curved treadmill, however, puts pace control in the user's hands and adapts well to interval training and sessions with frequent accelerations and decelerations: the choice should match the type of training you intend to do.
Professional Treadmill: Designed for More Demanding Use
In a gym, hotel, club, or performance center, the equation changes again. A professional treadmill may be used multiple times throughout the day by people with different weights, strides, and speeds, making factors like frame robustness, stability, running surface dimensions, motor capacity, maintenance, and max weight capacity even more important. Naturally, the investment is also generally higher.
The offer available in the BOOMFIT ecosystem ranges from home-use solutions to high-end equipment, including, for example, the Hammer TR 8000, currently priced at €4,999. For a professional operator, choosing based solely on initial price can be costly in the medium term—the equipment must be sized for actual usage frequency.
7 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Treadmill
What maximum speed do I need?
For walking, a particularly high speed is not necessary, but for running, especially with tempo or interval training, maximum speed becomes much more relevant.
What motor power should I look for?
The higher the frequency and intensity of use, the more attention should be paid to the motor system. It’s worth not only comparing the advertised number but considering it together with the type of use recommended by the manufacturer.
What running surface size is sufficient?
The belt’s width and length directly influence freedom of movement, and as speed increases, a more generous running surface tends to provide greater comfort.
Does cushioning really make a difference?
Cushioning systems aim to manage impact during footfalls, which is particularly important for treadmills used regularly for running.
Do I need adjustable incline?
The ability to change incline adds variety to training and allows you to increase intensity without depending only on higher speeds.
What maximum weight should a treadmill support?
Maximum weight should not be ignored, especially when the equipment is shared by different people—in professional spaces, this feature is even more important.
Are connectivity and technology really important?
Bluetooth, training apps, built-in programs, and compatibility with platforms like Zwift or Kinomap can enhance the experience, but technology should come after the fundamentals—a good treadmill must first meet the physical demands of training.
What Is the Best Treadmill for Training at Home?
The answer depends entirely on the training you want to do. If you mainly want to walk, consider a walking pad or a compact treadmill; if you want to walk and do light running, look for an entry-level electric treadmill with adequate speed and surface. If you run regularly, prioritize stability, running surface, cushioning, speed, and motor capacity; if space is limited, look for a foldable treadmill but still check other specs. And if you do sprints and functional training, a curved treadmill can be a particularly interesting alternative.
And What Is the Best Treadmill for a Gym?
Here, the main question shifts from "How do I want to train?" to include "How much will this equipment be used?" For gyms, PT studios, hotels, and other professional spaces, treadmills designed for more frequent and demanding use should be prioritized.
A cardio area can also benefit from different solutions since not all members want to run, some want to walk, others continuous running, and others high-intensity intervals. Having equipment with different features better meets diverse profiles.
Treadmills from Different Brands at BOOMFIT Marketplace
The advantage of comparing different manufacturers is precisely not being limited to one brand’s philosophy. At the BOOMFIT Marketplace, the cardio offer includes brands like Bodytone, Bowflex, Schwinn, Horizon Fitness, Fitness Tech, Hammer, NorsK, and TKO-Europe, allowing you to find solutions for different goals, usage levels, and budgets: the BOOMFIT Marketplace currently gathers more than 100 brands in fitness, performance, recovery, and wellness.
Whether to start walking at home or equip a professional cardio area, the principle should be the same: do not choose a treadmill beyond what you need, but also do not choose less than your training requires.
Frequently Asked Questions About Treadmills
Walking pad or treadmill: which to choose?
Choose a walking pad when the main goal is walking and you value a compact solution. If you want to run, do longer sessions, or significantly increase intensity, a running treadmill will generally be more suitable.
What is the best treadmill to start running?
To start, look for a model that offers enough speed for your progression, a comfortable surface, good stability, and cushioning. You don’t need to start with a professional treadmill if your use is exclusively at home.
Is a foldable treadmill less durable?
Not necessarily. Being foldable mainly refers to the design of the frame—the robustness depends on the specs and construction of each model.
What is a curved treadmill for?
A curved treadmill allows the user to control the pace through their own movement and is particularly interesting for sprints, intervals, and functional training.
How much does a treadmill cost?
The price varies significantly depending on the type of equipment, features, and usage level. At BOOMFIT Marketplace, treadmills start at €399, reaching professional solutions costing several thousand euros.
Where to buy a treadmill in Portugal?
At BOOMFIT Marketplace you can compare treadmills from different brands and find solutions for home gyms, running, functional training, and professional spaces.
A Treadmill for Every Way of Training
There is no single right treadmill for everyone, but the treadmill suitable for the goal, usage frequency, intensity, available space, and budget. From walking pads to professional treadmills, the BOOMFIT Marketplace lets you compare different brands and solutions in one place.
👉 Discover all treadmills at BOOMFIT Marketplace.
