Best treadmills for home workouts

If you're checking your summer health and fitness goals and just noticed summer is halfway over, now is the perfect time to shake things up, assess those fitness goals and hit the treadmill.

Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of home-gym fitness equipment. Makes sense, right? They take up a relatively small amount of space (surprise!), they can suit the fitness needs of anyone from a slow walker to a die-hard marathoner and having a treadmill means you can workout on your time. No excuses.

You got this. And we got you. Your new treadmill awaits.

Easy to use interface: You'll be moving, sometimes at high speeds, and you'll want your treadmill's interface to be easy to use (and easy to read). Look for well-sized buttons that are easy to read and easy to use while you're in motion.

Study construction: Look for a well-constructed, solid treadmill that can quietly support your body weight in motion, even if that means spending a bit more.

Does it have a soft road? Part of the reason runners choose a treadmill over street running is the damage asphalt can do to your knees over time. Make sure your treadmill has cushioning and shock absorption that makes for a comfortable run that protects your joints.

What's the footprint? Most treadmills have an average footprint of 77 inches long by 35 inches wide. Make sure you have enough space around yours so you can easily get on and off. And don't forget you'll need to plug your treadmill, so allow for an easy-to-access socket.

Versatility: Whether you plan to walk or run on your new treadmill, look for a machine with varied speed and incline settings.

From under desk treadmills that keep you moving while you work to curved treadmills that put your glutes and hamstrings to work, the treadmill market is rich with choices and possibilities. Durability and variety were most important to us and we heavily considered certified buyers' reviews. Brand trust was important to us here knowing a treadmill needs to be build to last while keep users safe at any speed.

If you're the kind of shopper who sees a trusted name and presses "add to cart" without much more research, you wouldn't go wrong here. Nordic Track's commercial treadmill series is at the top of list after list for a reason (or ten).

NordicTrack Commercial Series treadmill, $1,747 (reduced from $2,500)

Want to spend less, but trust Nordic Track as a brand? Treadmills don't have to break the bank. You can still get quality on a budget. We like NordicTrack T Series of treadmills and reviewers did, too. Reviewers liked the incline settings, quality and durability of the machine itself, and really like the space saving option after use. Rated 4.4 stars.

NordicTrack T Series treadmill, $999

Runow's 4.3-star rated foldable treadmill offers a wider, longer running area for increased stability in motion.

Top features of Runow 3305EB treadmill:

Runow Foldable Treadmill, $459 (reduced from $700)

For a small and relatively inexpensive treadmill, Sunny Health's electric treadmill packs a punch. A bestseller on Amazon, this one is incredibly popular with reviewers, the price being just one favored featured. Rated 4.4 stars.

Sunny Health & Fitness electric treadmill, $343 (reduced from $379)

Need a few more features, but like Sunny Health's lower price point? Take a look at Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Incline treadmill, $650. Still foldable and easy to store, this model has 15 incline levels, giving more resistance to your run (or walk) and added variety to your training. Rated 4.4 stars.

Sunny Health & Fitness folding incline treadmill, $610 after coupon (reduced from $650)

Urevo's under desk treadmill is one of the more versatile options for buyers on a budget. It works as both as a under desk walking treadmill and a running treadmill. Rated 4.4 stars.

Top features of the Urevo 2-in-1 Under Desk Treadmill:

UREVO 2 in 1 Under Desk Treadmill, $360

We also like Redliro's Under Desk treadmill, currently a great deal on Amazon at $296, (reduced from $380). Sturdy and slim, this treadmill boats absorbing technology to manage stress on your joints.

Redliro Under Desk treadmill, $296 (reduced from $470)

We'd be remiss if we didn't discuss curved treadmills, the 4.2-star-rated Assault Runner Pro in particular. Curved treadmills get glutes and hamstrings, which can often go neglected on treadmill runs unless working at a steep incline. The curve of the belt can balance out your workout, replicate rolling hills, and take the pressure of your knees, which are often overtaxed especially by treadmill runners.

We chose the Assault Runner Pro for two primary reasons. One, you'll be hard-pressed to find a treadmill roundup that doesn't include this model. It's pricey, but a great product. Second, with a max speed of 20 mph, this is a great model for speed demons who don't want to run outside or for taller, broader runners who want a sturdier machine and a great workout.

AssaultRunner Pro, $2,999 on Amazon

We liked that Bowflex's treadmill series requires no assembly (goodbye Allen wrench) and that it could sustain speeds up to 12 mph. Users have access to Bowflex's JRNY platform (2-months free with purchase), featuring on-demand workouts or access to your favorite streaming shows.

Right now you can score a serious Memorial Day deal on this treadmill -- it's on sale for $2,500, a savings of $1,100.

Bowflex Treadmill Series, $2,999 (reduced from $3,599)