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For most Australian homes, buy the NordicTrack Commercial 1750: it reaches 19 km/h, tilts to 12% and declines to 3%, holds users up to 182 kg and still folds. Buy the Lifespan Fitness Viper Smart for the fastest top speed here (20 km/h) and a 150 cm belt, the NordicTrack T Series 10 for the same incline at a lower list price, and the Lifespan Pursuit MAX 2 if you want a basic folding treadmill on a budget.
Our picks
- 1Best overall
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
A 4.25 CHP motor, 12% incline and 3% decline, a 55 x 152 cm belt and a 182 kg limit, the highest here, on a frame that folds.
- 2Best value smart treadmill
NordicTrack T Series 10
The same 12% incline and 19 km/h top speed as the Commercial 1750, with a 3.0 CHP motor, a 10-inch screen and a lower list price.
- 3Best for running (Australia)
Lifespan Fitness Viper Smart
A 20 km/h top speed, a 3.75 CHP brushless motor, a 150 x 52 cm belt and a 180 kg load rating.
- 4Best budget folding (Australia)
Lifespan Fitness Pursuit MAX 2
Folds, reaches 16 km/h and has 15 automatic incline levels, with a five-year motor and frame warranty.
| Model | NordicTrackNordicTrack Commercial 1750 | NordicTrackNordicTrack T Series 10 | Lifespan FitnessLifespan Fitness Viper Smart | Lifespan FitnessLifespan Fitness Pursuit MAX 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 19.3 km/h | 19.3 km/h | 20 km/h | 16 km/h |
| Max incline | 12 % | 12 % | 9.3 % | 5.77 % |
| Belt | 55 x 152 cm | 51 x 152 cm | 150 x 52 cm | 130 x 48 cm |
| Motor | 4.25 HP | 3 HP | 3.75 HP | 2.5 HP |
| Max user | 182 kg | 148 kg | 180 kg | 130 kg |
| Folds away | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
How to choose a home treadmill
- Running or walking. For running, look for a top speed of at least 16 km/h (10 mph) and a belt of about 150 cm. A walking treadmill can stop at 10 km/h with a shorter belt. Every pick here reaches 16 km/h or more.
- Incline. Incline makes walking harder without going faster, which suits hill training and joints that dislike pace. For hill walking, 10% or more makes a clear difference. NordicTrack also offers 3% decline on the Commercial 1750.
- Motor. Compare continuous horsepower (CHP), not peak. Not every maker publishes it. Heavier users and regular runners benefit from the higher figures.
- User limit. This is a safety rating. Stay under it; the compare table gives the figure for each pick.
- Folding. Check that the maker says the deck folds; the compare table shows which picks do. A folded treadmill still needs floor space and a socket nearby.
- Ceiling and step-up. Add the step-up height (25.4 cm on the Commercial 1750, 21.1 cm on the T Series 10) to your height, plus room for your stride bounce, and check the ceiling.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750: best overall
The Commercial 1750 (sold as the C 1750 in Australia) has a 4.25 CHP motor, a 0 to 19 km/h (12 mph) speed range, 12% incline and 3% decline, a 55 x 152 cm belt and a 182 kg user limit. It folds with NordicTrack's SpaceSaver design and rolls on wheels. The 16-inch screen pivots for floor workouts.
The screen runs iFIT classes. NordicTrack says the treadmill sets speed and incline for you during classes with an iFIT membership; you can still set them by hand. It is a heavy machine, boxed at about 141 kg, so plan delivery to the room you will use it in.
Pros
- 182 kg user limit, the highest of the treadmill picks
- 12% incline and 3% decline
- Wide 55 cm belt, folds with SpaceSaver design
Cons
- Trainer-controlled speed and incline need an iFIT membership
- Boxed weight of 141 kg: plan delivery and assembly
- Premium list price
NordicTrack T Series 10: best value smart treadmill
The T Series 10 keeps the Commercial 1750's 12% incline and 19 km/h (12 mph) top speed but drops to a 3.0 CHP motor, a 51 x 152 cm belt and a 148 kg user limit. It has a 10-inch tilting touchscreen and adjustable SelectFlex cushioning, and it folds.
Its step-up height is 21.1 cm, lower than the Commercial 1750, which helps in rooms with a low ceiling.
Pros
- 12% incline and 19 km/h (12 mph), the same as the Commercial 1750
- 152 cm belt, long enough for running
- Lower 21.1 cm step-up height
Cons
- 148 kg user limit
- Narrower 51 cm belt
- Trainer-controlled speed and incline need an iFIT membership
Lifespan Fitness Viper Smart: best for running in Australia
Lifespan Fitness is an Australian brand, and the Viper Smart is its running pick: a 3.75 CHP brushless motor, 1 to 20 km/h, a 150 x 52 cm belt and a 180 kg load rating. Incline runs over 18 automatic levels to 5.33 degrees, which is about 9.3%.
Lifespan does not say whether the Viper Smart folds, so plan a permanent spot for it.
Pros
- 20 km/h top speed, the fastest pick
- 180 kg max load rating
- 150 x 52 cm belt
Cons
- Incline tops out at 5.33 degrees (about 9.3%), less than the NordicTrack and Horizon picks
- Lifespan does not say whether it folds
- Sold in Australia only
Lifespan Fitness Pursuit MAX 2: best budget folding in Australia
The Pursuit MAX 2 reaches 16 km/h on a 2.5 CHP brushless motor, has 15 automatic incline levels up to 5.77% and a 130 x 48 cm belt, and folds for storage. Lifespan rates it for 130 kg and gives a five-year motor and frame warranty.
It replaces the original Pursuit MAX, which Lifespan lists as discontinued.
Pros
- Reaches 16 km/h
- Folds for storage
- Five-year motor and frame warranty from Lifespan
Cons
- 130 cm belt is short for running strides
- Incline tops out at 5.77%
- 130 kg max load rating
What is the best treadmill in Australia for home use?
For most homes, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750: it reaches 19 km/h, has 12% incline and 3% decline, holds 182 kg and folds. If you mostly run fast, the Lifespan Fitness Viper Smart reaches 20 km/h on a 150 cm belt.
Should I buy a folding treadmill?
If the treadmill has to share a room, yes. The NordicTrack picks and the Pursuit MAX 2 fold. Folding treadmills are still heavy, so check the folded size and that you can lift the deck.
What speed do I need for running?
At least 16 km/h for steady running and intervals. Every pick here reaches that. Walking-only treadmills and walking pads stop between 6 and 12 km/h.
How much incline do I need?
For hill walking, 10% or more makes a clear difference. The NordicTrack picks reach 12%. The Lifespan picks stop at about 9.3% (Viper Smart) and 5.77% (Pursuit MAX 2).
Do NordicTrack treadmills need a subscription?
Not to run. You can set speed and incline by hand. NordicTrack says the treadmill sets them for you during classes with an iFIT membership.
How we chose
We have not tested these treadmills. We compared the makers' own specifications, user limits, warranties and list prices in each country, and kept only models the maker or a retailer inside that country sells new. Where a maker does not state a figure, such as a motor rating or whether a deck folds, we leave it out rather than guess.
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