This Is the Best Treadmill for Your Walking Workout This Winter

We have reached the time of the year wherein the temperatures in the morning are so chilling that the thought of the frigid air wrapping around you as you head out for a walk might prevent you from unwrapping yourself from that toasty blanket you’re in altogether. I get it—and I’m right there with you. However, having access to a treadmill in my ever-growing home gym has changed my desire to squeeze in a cardio workout in the winter months before my day takes hold.

Needless to say, this is a net positive all around. At a time when the long, dark days can produce feelings of anxiety and depression,  running—or walking—comes with a host of well-documented mental and physical benefits. Studies have connected it to the prevention of cardiovascular disease,the strengthening of your pulmonary system (aka your lungs), the benefit of mental health and self-esteem, and the list goes on and on (and on). So, let’s unwrap ourselves from the blankets and we’ll hop on the treadmill for a walk.

If you’re in the market for a treadmill, there’s a ton of variation in what you can buy out there today—some treadmills, like Peloton, have screens that allow you to take classes right from them; others are meant to be compact and fold up to fit under your bed or sofa; and others are built with adaptability in mind so that you can use them in myriad different ways.

Such is the case with Horizon Fitness treadmills, which are built with Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to pair the audio from workouts that you’re playing on your phone or tablet through the speakers of the machine. This enables you to use whatever app—Zwift, obe, Apple Fitness+—is your favorite at a given moment, which is a big plus in my book. These treadmills are also smartly engineered with technology that helps to speed up and slow down quickly—as in 33 percent faster than other treadmills.

Ready to get moving? Keep scrolling for our top picks from the line.

T303 — $1,099.00

For the serious power walkers who want all of the bells and whistles, the T303 allows you to program in intervals so that you can up your speed for certain segments and slow down for other ones. The size of the running and walking areas is 60 inches long by 20 inches wide so you have plenty of room to work with if you’re a taller person. The belt has “3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning,” so while walking is less harsh on your joints than running, this tread will help to absorb any impact you might feel. It also has an incline of up to 12 percent.

T202 — $798.00

All of the benefits mentioned above, save the interval programming, this tread is a great option if you know you want to be in control of your run.

T101 — $649.00

If you’re someone who is just looking for a basic treadmill, this is your best bet. It comes complete with a 20 inch wide by 55 inch long deck, so if you’re a taller person, you might want to confirm this would work with your stride ahead of time. It has a 10 percent incline and still plays music and shoes through the bluetooth speakers built in.

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