Maybe it’s the cult following or the sleek hardware design but Peloton is a brand I get asked about a lot. You will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t”t know someone with one of these devices in their home. Whether it be the O.G. stationary bike or the treadmill, Peloton is a household name that has developed a massive user base. And thanks to the mobile application, you don’t even need the expensive piece of hardware to enjoy the workout classes.
When I started assembling my home gym, the Peloton tread was one of the first purchases I made. I get a lot of clients who ask if I like it and if it’s worth buying. So, I thought I would give you the run down.
Why the Peloton Tread?
So if you are familiar with Peloton and their line of products, you’d know that the tread is their newer piece of equipment that has been riding the coattails of the more famous and OG Peloton bike. While you will probably find that this review applies to the Peloton bike as well, simply put—biking just isn’t my favorite form of exercise. I was a runner in high school and almost college (more on that another day) so the tread seemed more appropriate, plus it offers a more well-rounded workout than a stationary bike would.
Before I bought the tread, I downloaded the Peloton app and started following along with the biking exercises on this somewhat affordable stationary bike I bought on Amazon. The app is only $12.99 per month to use on a tablet or phone. The bike had a nice platform where I would put my iPad and ride away to the Peloton classes. While, I truly hated biking (it seemed like I would be on there forever and only burn a fraction of the calories I would running) I really did start to enjoy the concept of Peloton. The instructors made what I would otherwise consider an agonizing activity fun.
At this point, I didn’t even realize there was a treadmill option but after consistently doing the bike workouts for a series of weeks, I fell into Peloton’s advertising funnel and started getting ads about the treadmill. Seeing as we had just bought our house and were working on putting together the home gym, this seemed like the perfect way to get a good workout at home, so I made the purchase.
How Much is the Peloton Tread?
The Treadmill:
The Peloton tread is quite expensive with a starting price of $2,695 (the bike also starts at the proud cost of $1,995). Comparably, the newer NordicTrack commercial grade treadmill (which also offers interactive courses and experiences) is $1995. You can even buy the T-series at home model for as low as $649. Alternatively, there are countless other treadmills with great reviews that are under $400. All of this is to say that if you are looking for the best bang for your buck, the Peloton tread certainly is not that.
The Software (Classes):
Now obviously the appeal of the Peloton tread is its endless and ever-changing library of classes—that you can choose to take live or stream at your convenience. After all, it was the classes that made me want to get the Peloton tread in the first place. You would think that at the steep price point of the tread, that the classes would be included. However, this is not the case.
Now this is where I really have some beef with Peloton. To use the treadmill (or the bike) as it was designed to be used, you have to subscribe to the classes (nope, it’s not included.) And guess how much it costs? 44 freaking dollars. every. single. month. Yes $44 per month—that is $528 per year! What??
Remember how before I said to access the classes online it’s only $12 per month? Well, apparently, when you actually buy one of their overpriced systems, that price is more than tripled…it’s like they are saying, congrats, thanks for spending almost $3,000 on our equipment, now we are going to charge you even more if you want to be able to use it. I repeat…what??
Is it worth it? We will dive into the details below.
The Treadmill Itself
Let’s get into the specifics of the treadmill—the physical machine that costs almost $2700.
Summary:
The treadmill itself is quite nice, it features a sleek, modern design that makes it look expensive. The screen is large and slightly adjustable which makes it easy to watch while you are running, walking or doing any of the other exercises (more on this later.)
The treadmill has very basic functionality, it goes up to 12.5 miles per hour and raises to the same percentage incline. The handles feature a rollable knob on each side of the tread to help you easily control your speed and incline while you are in motion. These same knobs also have a button in the center that you can use to increase your speed or incline to the next whole number. While this is a convenient feature for increasing intensity, there is not a handy “jump” option for decreasing your speed, you must rely on scrolling to try and reach the desired intensity.
While this is partially a software feature, it also relies on the hardware so I will mention it here. A unique thing about the Peloton tread (and bike) is that when you use the physical equipment (versus the software alone) you can see your output and how it compares to others who are or have taken the class. For people like me, this is certainly a motivator because I tend to be somewhat competitive….so I can see how I am doing compared to others and compete for a higher ranking.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Large, easy-to-use screen
- Quality speakers if you want to play the audio aloud
- Bluetooth capabilities for headphones or speakers
- Standard treadmill functions (speed and incline)
- Handy roller knobs with “jump” buttons
- Includes safety features such as a magnetic clip and password-protected interface
Cons
- The large screen cannot be used for anything besides Peloton classes (sorry, no Netflix streaming or TV)
- No easy way to jump down levels in intensity
- Tends to wobble if you’re running quickly at an incline
- Unnecessary .5 increments for the incline adjustments—instructors only ever call out whole incline numbers so it’s an inconvenience to scroll through the .5 option
- Takes up a lot of space
- I wish it had a fan on the front
- Very expensive
The Peloton Subscription
Summary:
The Peloton classes are hands-down the best part about the treadmill or bike. They offer thousands of classes that range from 5 minutes to 1 hour long. New classes are streamed every day so you never have to do the same class twice (but you can, if you want.) You can take the classes live and the instructors and other people in the class can interact with you (instructors can shout you out or other runners can high-five you.)
The classes are very versatile, they offer things for on and off the tread. For instance, you can do yoga, strength training, barre, shadow boxing, and the list goes on. My personal favorite is the bootcamp—it mimics an Orange Theory or Barry’s concept where you do intervals on the tread and on the floor with weights. But all of this is to say—there is something for everyone.
The instructors also make each class fun and engaging which is a must (especially when some of the classes are an hour long!).
Pros
- Live classes with output and leaderboard tracking
- Ability to stream classes after they take place
- Wide variety of classes available with targeted muscle areas or objectives
- Ability to “just run” or choose from scenic routes which you can walk or run at your own pace
- Fun instructors
- Classes for every skill level
- Tracks progress and awards streaks and milestones for accountability
- Classes are interactive
Cons
- Almost 3 times the price to have the software on Peloton equipment versus on your phone, smart TV or iPad
- Limited library of scenic routes
- I wish there were programs dedicated to certain fitness goals (toning, fat loss, recomposition, muscle gain, etc.) that would give you guidance about which course to take each day
- There are programs that you can take but they are mostly dedicated to becoming a better runner, yogi, etc. rather than achieving a certain physical goal
Is the Peloton Tread Worth It?
Now that we have addressed the fact that owning a Peloton is going to cost you an arm and a leg, we can talk about the looming question—is it worth it? I think the answer here is, it depends. If you realistically don’t see yourself using it on an ongoing basis, I would probably opt for a more affordable treadmill and try streaming the classes through your app or smart TV instead.
However, if you need something more engaging to get you up in the morning and moving, I find the classes super fun and enjoyable. Once you get on the tread or start the class, it’s easy to finish it, but you still need the discipline to put on your sneakers and press play. If you go to Orange Theory or Barry’s, or something of the sort, I think the tread is worthwhile investment because you can achieve the same or similar workouts at home, and in the long run it will end up being cheaper.
If you are a member of a gym and you go consistently, it is probably worth getting the tread, depending on the cost of your gym membership. Especially if you have a family and you are paying for multiple gym memberships, it will most likely be cheaper to get the tread.
Of course, there are some advantages that tread offers that can justify a more expensive investment in your health. For instance, it brings studio-quality live workouts to the comfort of your home and offers fun and engaging guided workouts, that you may not be getting at your current gym.
The Final Verdict
The Peloton tread is very expensive for a treadmill, but it is much more than a treadmill. It can bring high-quality, engaging, and versatile workouts to your home. Whether or not it makes sense for you depends on how often you will use it and what you are currently paying or willing to pay for your health and fitness
Disclaimer: While this post is not sponsored or endorsed by a particular brand, I do make a small commission on some of the affiliate links above. If you chose to purchase any of the items through the links, I appreciate your support in that way.
