Peloton Tread+ review: big in every way

In all my running — four marathons and counting — and all my training, I have mostly run by myself. There’s something about the solitude with my thoughts that’s appealing. What’s not appealing, however, is doing 10+ mile runs in the rain, or when it’s bitterly dark and cold outside. But, despite using them at the gym, I never bought a treadmill to use at home.

So, when I got the chance to review the Peloton Tread+, I was curious to give it a shot. I was also interested to see how I would respond to running in a group setting with an instructor, and if Peloton’s trainers really lived up to the hype. One of the reasons Peloton’s home equipment is so popular lies in its classes; some instructors have even become brands unto themselves. 

My wife was just as intrigued, so she created her own account and tried out the Tread+ with me. After dozens of miles and countless sessions — both on and off the treadmill — here’s what I think, and how it compares to some of the best treadmills on the market. 

Peloton Tread+ review: Price and availability

The second-generation Peloton Tread+ began shipping in December 2023. It costs $5,995 from Peloton, twice the cost of the standard Peloton Tread. Peloton does offer financing, but not the leasing model it debuted with the Bike and Bike+. Fortunately, delivery and setup is free. 

The Tread+ is an upgraded version of the base model Pelton Tread, with a longer running surface, slat belt, and a 32-inch display (compared to the Tread’s 23.8-inch screen). Because the machine is physically larger, it also weighs more — 455 pounds vs 290 pounds. Fortunately, it has wheels on the front of the machine to make it marginally easier to move around, if needed.  

In addition to the cost of the treadmill itself, you need to sign up for a Peloton App membership, which costs $44 per month. However, everyone in your household can use the same subscription. 

Peloton Tread+ review: Design

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At the very front of the Tread+ is a large 32-inch touchscreen display with an integrated soundbar beneath it. The display can tilt back and forth, so you can get the best view depending on your height. A large clear plastic shelf gives you ample room to place your phone, and there are even two indentations to hold a water bottle.

In front of this is a large horizontal bar, in the middle of which is a big red button that stops the treadmill. Around this is wrapped a cord with a magnet on one end, and a plastic clip on the other. As a safety precaution, you can attach the clip to your shirt, so that if you go flying off the treadmill, it will yank out the magnet, stopping the machine.

On either side are horizontal handrails, each of which has a large circular knob; the knob on the right controls the speed of the treadmill, while the knob on the left adjusts the incline.

Both moved very easily, and the Tread+ responded instantly to my commands, but I wish there were visual cues as to which direction to turn the knobs. The first few times on the Tread+, I would accidentally ramp up the speed when I meant to slow down.

The Tread+’s base looks more like tank treads than the traditional conveyor belt you find on most treadmills; it’s made up of 59 slats, which Peloton says will provide a more cushioned ride than conveyor belt-style treadmills. 

In all, the Tread+ is a massive piece of equipment. It measures nearly 6.3 feet long by 3 feet wide, and stands about 6 feet high, and weighs 455 pounds. Peloton recommends ceilings be at least 7 feet high in whatever room you’re planning to place the Tread+; I can’t help but feel like I’m going to bump my head every time I hop on.

Peloton Tread+ review: Safety features

Peloton has incorporated a number of safety features into the revamped Tread+ to prevent the problems with the first version. The original Peloton Tread+ was recalled in 2021 after the death of a child and numerous other injuries resulting from individuals being pulled underneath the treadmill’s rear roller. The new version has a rear safety guard to prevent similar incidents from occurring. 

In addition, the Tread+ has the aforementioned magnetic clip, which when removed, prevents the machine from working. Sensors in the base of the machine itself can detect when there’s no one on the machine itself, and will lock the machine; you need to enter your passcode twice in order to get the machine going.

Peloton Tread+ vs. Peloton Tread

The Peloton Tread+ costs $5,995 — twice that as the base model Peloton Tread, which costs “only” $2,995. So what do you get for that extra $3,000? Here’s a little comparison:

Peloton Tread+ review: What I liked

After using the treadmill for three months, my wife and I found a lot to like about the Peloton Tread+, as a piece of hardware and as a means to access Peloton’s digital services, like its app, classes, and the brand’s famously motivational instructors. 

The instructors

This is Peloton’s forte: There’s something here for everyone. Whether it’s a live class, training program, or anything else, you’re not lacking for options. And you’re not just stuck with running: there are strength training classes, weight lifting, yoga, Pilates, upper-body, lower-body, Tabata, HIIT, meditation, stretching, walking, and dance music-inspired spin classes.

There are also multi-day and multi-week programs aimed at all of these areas, as well as more traditional programs to get you ready for a 5K, half-marathon, or full marathon. Having trouble finding one you like? You can search and filter classes by music, length, difficulty, and instructor. 

Or you can try workouts with specific themes, such as a 90s run, where the playlist is populated with Britney Spears, Spice Girls, and Haddaway, or a Soul Walk featuring Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind & Fire and Luther Vandross.

My wife and I both used the treadmill, and were more than pleased with the breadth of classes and programs offered. She especially liked the encouragement from the instructors, who motivated her to give that extra bit of effort during workouts. All of the ones we tried were very personable, energetic, and positive. 

One of the workouts I liked the most was the instructor-led runs through cities — it was a great way to explore places I’d never been to. And, when I wanted to run on my own, there were equally breathtaking runs through places like Yosemite and the Dolomites in Italy.

It’s quiet

I don’t have the biggest house, so I was concerned that the noise from the Tread+ — which was going in a room right across the hall from my daughter — would disturb her if I decided to work out while she was sleeping.

Fortunately, with the door closed, you could barely hear the treadmill in the hallway, and she never woke to complain that it was too noisy. I did notice it when I was in the room directly below, though: there was a bit of a rumbling and a steady thrum, but from a room away, it was easily drowned out by a TV.

It works well with other devices and services

I like to track my heart rate during my running, so it was great to see that the Tread+ could sync with my Apple Watch to record my beats per minute during exercises. Hopefully, Peloton will expand its partnership so that it will work with more of the best smartwatches from Samsung and Google; being able to connect with Garmin would be amazing.

You can, however, connect it to your Strava account, so you can get credit for your workouts there. The Tread+ can also connect via Bluetooth to your workout headphones or earbuds, so you don’t disturb anyone else in your house during your workouts. 

Want to Netflix and run? The Tread+ has you covered there, with options to stream from Netflix, Max, and Disney (which includes Hulu, if you have that subscription), NBA League Pass, and YouTube TV. It’s a good start, but I wish there were more streaming services available.

Peloton Tread+ review: What I didn’t like

I found that the Peloton Tread+ was a great way to move my body without leaving the house, whether I wanted a low-intensity walk, high-energy run, or to use the app and do some off-equipment exercise. That doesn’t mean the Tread+ is perfect, though. 

The display

Yes, it’s big — at 32 inches, it’s a lot larger than the 23.5-inch display on Peloton’s entry-level treadmill. But, size isn’t everything.

For one, the resolution of the Tread+’s screen is 1080p — the same as the Tread. If I’m paying $6,000 for something, I would expect that the screen would be 4K. What’s more, the content itself seemed low-res, even though I had a strong Wi-Fi connection to the treadmill.

One of the nice features of the Peloton Bike+  is that its display can swivel to the side, so that you can use it for activities other than biking. Unless you’re sitting directly behind the Tread+, you can’t easily see the screen, so it’s a lot harder to follow along with other types of workouts.  It’s something I sorely wish the Tread+’s display would also do — especially considering one of its chief rivals, the Echelon Stride-8S ($2,799), has a screen that can do just that.

The Tread+’s screen does tilt up and down, though. When I first received the Tread+, the screen would tilt back down on its own. Peloton sent out a representative to tighten the hinge, which kept it in place. For good measure, he also tightened a few other bolts on the machine.

Free Mode isn’t so free

Another feature that separates the Tread+ from the Tread is the “Free Mode,” which unlocks the tread so that it will only move as fast as you’re running; it’s the closest thing you’ll get to running outdoors, so it could be a great option for training. 

However, there’s still enough resistance so that you can’t just run like you would outside — as a safety precaution, you have to hold on to the front bar on the treadmill to create enough downward force to move the belt. So, while it’s a nice feature to have, it may be easier to just head outside. 

It’s wickedly expensive

And here I thought the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro was out of my price range. At $5,995, the Peloton Tread+ is nearly twice that. In addition to the cost of the Tread+ itself, you also need to subscribe to the Peloton All-Access Membership, which costs $44 per month.

Peloton’s other treadmill, the Peloton Tread, costs half as much — and even then, its $3,000 price tag is higher than many of its competitors. And the Tread+ actually has some downgrades compared to the entry-level machine, like an older Bluetooth standard (4.2 vs 5), 2GB less of RAM (2GB vs 4GB), and a USB-A charging port in place of the Tread’s USB-C port. 

Should you buy the Peloton Tread+?

The Peloton Tread+ is a well-built machine, but ultimately, I’m not sure it’s worth the premium over the base model Peloton Tread. The biggest differences between it and the Tread are its larger display and cushioned belt.

Apart from the size of the screen, though, it doesn’t offer any greater resolution, nor the ability to swivel the display, as you can with its rivals, such as the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 ($1,999) or the aforementioned Echelon Stride-8S. I did like the integration with other services and devices, but this isn’t something unique to the Tread+, as it’s more to do with Peloton’s software. 

The Tread+’s belt is nice to run on, but why spend an extra $3,000 on a treadmill when you could get a dozen pairs of the best running shoes instead, and still have access to some of the best instructors around?