REVIEW – I’ve tried to get into running at least a half dozen times in my life, and I haven’t been able to persist for more than a few weeks at a time except for one setup: a treadmill with a TV/tablet/game console to keep me distracted while working out. I blame my ADHD, but knowing that I need that distraction to maintain a healthy lifestyle means I need a decent treadmill or similar workout equipment to complete the workout setup. I had been using the TODO Under Desk Treadmill (which lasted years) but got tired of lifting and moving the heavy treadmill every time I wanted a workout at my standing desk. In addition, it didn’t have the stride length I need for my 6’4″ frame for real running, I used it for walking primarily while working. When THERUN offered to let me try out their incline treadmill I happily accepted, hoping that it would help me to get some better cardio workouts while catching up on TV and game time.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $499.99 ($469.99 with instant coupon)
Where to buy: Amazon
What is it?
The THERUN Incline Treadmill is a shock-absorbing walking/running treadmill with a variety of adjustable incline workouts and an optional app connection for coaching/tracking/workouts. It folds up for storage and transport so it can fit into tighter spaces than some other treadmills, and has a powerful 3.5 horsepower electric motor that can go up to 15% incline for punishing workouts (if desired).
What’s included?
- THERUN Incline Treadmill
- Power cord
- Safety cutoff clip
- Manual and installation guide
- Tools and bolts for installation
- Belt lube
- Plastic side covers (x2)
Tech specs
- Dimensions (unfolded): 60″D x 31.5″W x 51″H
- Dimensions (folded up): 29.5″D x 31.5″W x 54.7″H
- Weight: 145 lbs
- Max speed: 10 mph
- Min speed: 0.6 mph
- Motor power: 3.5 HP
- Max incline: 15%
- Max weight: 300 lbs
- Cupholders: 2
- Phone/remote holders: 2
- Belt running area: 47.2″ long x 17″ wide
- Heart rate detection: Yes
- Bluetooth app connection: Yes (Zwift)
- Display: LCD
- Statistics tracked/displayed: speed, incline, time, distance, heart rate, calories burned
- Warranty: 1 year
- Shock absorption: Yes
- Folding for transport/storage: Yes (hydraulic lift assisted, wheels for moving)
Design and features
The THERUN Incline Treadmill is a pretty typical-looking treadmill, with styling and design features that remind me of the many treadmills I’ve used at college and local gyms over the years. It’s available in “Black Orange” (reviewed), “Black Red”, “Black”, and “Carbon Black” colorways. Most of the trim pieces are rugged plastic around a metal frame.
The bright LCD display gives you all the important information I think you’d need for a treadmill workout including distance travelled, time spent, calories burned, and heart rate. You can adjust speed and incline via buttons near the bright red safety clip, and there’s also buttons on each side handle for speed and incline control as well.
In addition to the handy extra buttons on the side handles, there are silver sensors that pick up your heart rate if you grip them with your hands. I tested these against my Google Pixel Watch 3, and they regularly under-reported my heart rate, so I’d go for a fitness tracker or heart rate band if you really want to track heart rate while working out.
The treadmill is a large machine, but not overly so considering the functions like incline, folding, and a large running pad area.
The bulge on the front of the machine hides the 3.5 horsepower motor and the incline lifting mechanism.
A power switch and circuit breaker button are next to the power cord attachment point.
When folded up, you can see the hydraulic lift assist and the wheels for easier transport.
The machine still takes up a fair amount of space when folded, but in a tight space like our guest room where it now lives any little bit helps.
If the belt needs to be adjusted/centered, the included hex wrench will do the trick. My unit seemed to be perfectly adjusted upon arrival, so I didn’t bother messing with this.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Setup on the THERUN Incline Treadmill was fairly easy, with about 8 bolts to be inserted and tightened and a single cable to be attached for the display and control buttons.
The manual is easy to understand and also includes quite a bit of fitness training advice as well. The assembly portion contained quite a few typos (see above), but was still easy to understand.
After installing the Zwift app (suggested in the manual and on the product pages), I filled out a survey to create my account, but was disappointed that 4 steps into the process it requires a monthly subscription. I quickly uninstalled, as I personally do much better just distracting myself with TV or movies while working out. Some of the marketing material looks fun for Zwift, showcasing what looks like multiple users racing together in cartoonish picturesque trails. I could see this gamified workout app stuff being very useful to some people, but it doesn’t push my buttons.
Performance
The THERUN Incline Treadmill worked as well as any of the many treadmills I’ve used in multiple gyms throughout my life. The running pad area is wider and longer than most, which is great for my long legs and occasional distracted drifting while multitasking. The shock absorption seems to be really good compared to other treadmills; I typically have knee pain by mile 2 or 3 of a long jog but didn’t have any knee issues in longest ~4-mile workouts I did.
The controls are easy, and I like the phone and drink holders built in. You can’t really see your phone screen (or at least you can’t when you’re a taller person), and there’s no spot to insert or rest a tablet while working out. This would be my biggest criticism, especially if we didn’t have a perfectly placed TV in the room where we’re using the treadmill. It seems like an oversight in 2025 to miss a tablet holder, especially when the treadmill is marketed as compatible with a subscription-based gamified workout app. This could be mitigated a bit if the top of the machine worked well for a 3rd party tablet mount, but the thick construction with curves all over the place makes even that a challenge (I think if I had to add a tablet mount, I’d need to clamp it to one of the upright posts, which would be a long gooseneck style tablet mount which would then wobble all over while running).
Final thoughts
Despite the missing tablet holder, the THERUN Incline Treadmill is a great treadmill for me and my partner. It works well for everything from short slow walks to brisker jogs, and when you add 10+% incline you really feel it the next day. The variety of programs built in is nice to spice things up, even without using the mobile app. We’ll definitely get some good use out of this machine for years to come (and hopefully add years to our lives if we can stick with it)! The 1-year warranty is a fraction of what some of the better-known treadmill companies offer (up to 10 years or even lifetime on some of them), but the price is also a fraction of their price, so we’ll see how it holds up. I’ll update this review as time goes on.
What I like about the THERUN Incline Treadmill review
- Good performance and incline range
- Large running area
- Good shock absorption
- Folding is easy and handy for tight spaces
What needs to be improved?
- No tablet holder or easy place to attach a tablet mount
- Companion app is $$$
- Bigger travel wheels would make transport a bit easier
Price: $499.99 ($469.99 with instant coupon)
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by THERUN. THERUN did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
Sole F85 Treadmill, Foldable Treadmills for Home Use, Bluetooth, Touch Screen, Treadmill Foldable, Treadmills with Incline and Decline, Home Exercise Treadmill (Sole F85)
$2,299.99 (as of November 11, 2025 19:00 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
