Best Treadmill Desks: Work And Exercise In One

The history of treadmills stretches much further back than their current incarnation as an exercise tool. The first treadmills were actually known as treadwheels and they were used to harness the energy of moving animals in order to accomplish work. We have certainly come a long way since then, now it is almost the opposite, in the case of electric treadmills, we use power in order to help us exercise and work out our muscles

Treadmills are some of the most popular items of home exercise equipment in the world, with hundreds of thousands if not millions of households having treadmills for exercise purposes. Treadmills are becoming more and more affordable by the day, and you can easily get a reliable treadmill in the sub-$200 range.

Treadmill Desk

There is no reason to think that home gyms are out of your reach, you can easily take the first step towards it with a new treadmill, the reason that treadmills are so popular is they are some of the most general purpose exercise machines available on the market.

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Introduction

Treadmills usually keep track of four main statistics on their computerized panels. The first aspect that they track is your speed. Depending on whether you are using a manual or electric treadmill with a motor, it will either just keep track of your speed for the former or have an adjustable setting between the minimum and maximum speeds for the latter.

The next value which is usually tracked on the information panel is the amount of time you have been exercising. This is always good to know so you can organize your exercise program and so you don’t get carried away in your workout and lose track of time.

Many treadmills can toggle between counting down from a certain time limit or a stopwatch style timer. Other treadmills have programmable workout presets that can vary your speed according to how long you’ve been exercising. For example, you can set a program to alternate between 10 minutes of walking speed and 5 minutes of running speed.

Features To Look For

Many treadmills come with built-in exercise programs of varying warm-up, main exercise and cooldown presets. These programs can vary in length, and some less expensive models can have only built-in programs with no provisions to set up your own exercise regimen, however you can still adjust your speed manually in conjunction with the timer to work out a suitable program for yourself.

Treadmill Desks Features

The next thing which is typically tracked on your information panel is the distance that you’ve walked or run, this gives you a feel for how long you need to go to lose a certain amount of calories, or so you can set personal goals, like how many miles or kilometres you would like to run in a day for your exercise routine.

More expensive machines have the option to switch your distances from the metric system to the imperial system or vice versa, but some of the more affordable options have pre-set unit systems so you may have to do some conversions in order to properly track your exercise regimen, but it’s usually up to where the machine is built and where it is intended to be sold.

The final statistic that is common to most models of treadmill info boards is the number of calories you have burnt during your exercise period. This helps with when you want to know just how much energy your body is using up during your workout and so you can see just how long it will take you to burn off a certain amount of food.

How To Improve Your Workout

Knowing how many calories you burn is also important so you can piece together an exercise routine to accomplish exactly what you want to get done while exercising. If your objective in exercising on your treadmill is to lose weight, then the calorie counter is a great way to track your weight loss and how long you should be exercising and what speed and duration works best for you.

Improve Your Workout

When you’re first putting together your exercise regimen, it will certainly help to experiment a little bit. For example, if you find that you’re getting tired too soon, maybe ease up on the speed and exercise for a longer period until you’ve worked your way up to higher speeds and shorter, more intense workouts.

Working out is a process that you should enjoy and it shouldn’t feel like work to keep yourself healthy. The more you like working out, the more likely you are to work out long-term and regularly, and this is an important step towards keeping yourself healthy and happy. Exercise is not something which you should dread, it can be quite the opposite.

Treadmills are great for exercising and toning your leg muscles but where they truly shine is in maintaining your cardiovascular health. A lot of treadmills even feature heart rate monitors. Keeping your heart healthy is truly one of the best things you can do while exercising. Cardio is necessary in every part of our lives, whether we’re taking out the garbage, playing sports or running late to work.

Exercise At Home

The main obstacle that prevents people from exercise is usually that time is at a premium. It is difficult to fit exercise into a busy work schedule and it is usually the first thing that is sacrificed when time has to be conserved. All of us know somebody who has purchased a one-year gym membership and then stopped using it because of the inconvenience of having to go to the gym every so often.

That is the beauty of home exercise equipment, you do not have to leave your house to get your exercise done. You can easily improve your physical health and your muscular strength from the comfort of your home. This added convenience will highly increase your chances of pursuing your workout goals and maintaining your physical health.

Exercise At Home

It has already been proven that exercising daily improves your physical health by a large margin. The number one cause of death in the developed world is heart disease, and this is directly caused by unhealthy lifestyles and lack of exercise.

Exercising even a small amount regularly drastically decreases the strain on your heart and reinforces your cardiovascular system, reducing your risk of stroke and heart disease and also improving your running ability and other cardiovascular-related functions.

Along with weight management, the health benefits of using a treadmill regularly are not to be taken lightly. So if you’re pressed for time and you want to make the most out of your exercise, there is a great option available.

Treadmill desks are a lot like the standard exercise machine, but they include desks so you can get work done while you stay fit. This helps you maximize your productiveness and stay on top of work. You can get a treadmill desk if you work from home or you can even get a small treadmill for your office. Our treadmill desk reviews will take into account all of the factors that you should consider when shopping for the best treadmill desk.

Our Top Recommendations

LifeSpan TR1200-DT5 Treadmill Desk

Specifications

  • Runway size of 20 x 50 inches
  • Desk height is manually adjustable between 41 inches to 55 inches
  • ​Desk size of 29 x 38 inches
  • ​Minimum speed of 0.4 mph
  • Maximum speed of 4 mph​
  • ​2.25 hp electric motor
  • ​Runway has impact-reducing shocks
  • Maximum user weight of 350 lbs
  • ​Console positioned on desk
  • Bluetooth compatible

Overview

The Lifespan TR1200-DT treadmill desk is one of the most impressive models of treadmill desk we’ve seen, with plenty of extras and a great build quality, it is a bit on the pricey side of the spectrum but it is highly reflected in the durability and large number of amenities that come standard with this standing desk treadmill.

This model of Lifespan treadmill includes such amenities such as bluetooth connectivity so you can keep track of your exercise progress on your phone through a companion application. Another nice touch to this model is the adjustable maximum speed. You can program the max speed of this treadmill to 4 mph if you would rather do a little more exercise on it or you can have it at 2 mph if you would prefer just a walking workstation.

LifeSpan Treadmill
4.8

The included step counter is an interesting addition that is not seen often on lower end models, every one of your steps is detected through the runway and displayed on the console for you to keep track of. The assembly process is very simple and the instructions are clear and intuitive. This model is also remarkably compact and will fit in your office or preferred work area quite easily.

The adjustable height of the desk is excellent as it works for people of most heights and the center console is easy to use and access while you’re walking. The treadmill is also remarkably quiet so you won’t disturb your coworkers if you’re using this machine in your office at work. The low noise levels also ensure that your work won’t be disrupted.

This model is actually closer to a standing desk with treadmill because the desk is not connected to the treadmill underneath. They are separate so your desk will not vibrate along to your steps, though they still fit together rather snugly.

Overall, this product is ideal if you want a walking treadmill desk with high build quality and a silent mechanism that won’t make your coworkers take notice or distract you from your work, you needn’t look any further. The only downside is that this model really is quite pricey. This is arguably the best treadmill desk available, if you are willing to pay for it.

Review
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Exerpeutic 2000 WorkFit High Capacity Desk Station Treadmill

Specifications

  • 20 x 40 inch runway size
  • 1.5 hp electric motor
  • ​400 lbs max user weight
  • ​Minimum speed of 0.4 mph
  • Maximum speed of 4 mph
  • LCD display shows speed, distance, calories burned, timer and pulse monitor
  • Powered incline adjustment goes from 0% to 15%
  • Metal tablet stand on desk
  • Desk size of 48 x 24 inches
  • 5 year motor warranty and lifetime frame warranty

Overview

The Exerpeutic 2000 workstation treadmill is a less pricey alternative to the previously reviewed model. This is the best treadmill desk you can find for a mid-range price due to its heavy-duty build quality, and the frame comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The desk has a very large area when compared to many other treadmill desks. This allows you to have your computer and any other accessories you would like to use on your desk like printers, scanners, a phone, notebooks, spreadsheets, etc. The extra large desk also has two cup holders and can fold down when not in use. It also has an 80 lb maximum weight capacity.

Exerpeutic 2000 WorkFit Desk Station Treadmill
4.3

The LCD display in the center of the console is intuitive and easy to use, coming with preset buttons to get you up to speed as soon as you step on your desk and the runway, while small, is made of good quality materials and the motor is relatively quiet, making this a good option if you are looking for a treadmill desk to use at the office without disturbing coworkers.

The metal tablet stand in the middle of the desk is another nice touch, as you can prop up your preferred tablet and read a book, browse the internet, check your messages, or contact associates as you improve your fitness.

There is four feet of height in between the treadmill’s deck and the top of the desk, so make sure that this is a comfortable height for you, otherwise you may find yourself regretting your purchase. One problem that we’ve noticed is that the desk gets a little shaky when you are exercising at a higher speed, which is to be expected due to the way that the desk is attached to the base.

Review
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LifeSpan TR800-DT5 Treadmill Desk

Specifications

  • Runway size of 18 x 52 inches
  • 46.5 x 31 inch desktop size
  • Desk has 16 inches of customizable height
  • Minimum speed of 0.4 mph
  • Maximum speed of 4 mph
  • Max user weight of 300 lbs
  • Made for users from 4’10” to 6’8”
  • Runway has compression shocks
  • Lifetime frame warranty
  • Three year motor warranty
  • Two year parts warranty

Overview

This Lifespan treadmill desk is the Lifespan TR1200’s little brother. Coming in at a far more economical price range than the TR1200, this treadmill desk is still very much worth the money and does not suffer in the crucial aspect of build quality like many other products fall into the trap of doing with a reduced cost.

The large range of height adjustment for the table is ideal to fit users of a large range of heights, all the way from 4’10” to 6’8”. Many treadmill desks make the mistake of not having an adjustable desk height, which can get very uncomfortable after a few miles of exercise.

LifeSpan TR800-DT5 Treadmill Desk Reviews
4.1

The compression shocks which are placed underneath the runway do a very good job of reducing the strain on your joints. They can make a multi-hour long exercise session go by a lot smoother than on a similarly-sized treadmill without compression shocks.

It also comes with Bluetooth connectivity and it can link in with the Lifespan app in order to track your exercise progress which removes a lot of work in making sure you stay on top of your exercise routine.

The assembly process is simple and so are the instruction booklets, unlike certain other brands of treadmills, Lifespan prints very easy instructions to follow. Once you receive your package, you can have your treadmill desk assembled in a very quick amount of time and you can begin working and exercising within a short amount of time.

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Nordictrack Treadmill Desk

Specifications

  • 20 x 55 inch runway size
  • Cushioned deck
  • Maximum speed of 10 mph
  • Maximum power-adjusted incline of 10%
  • 3 hp commercial electric motor
  • Compatible with IFit
  • Maximum user weight of 350 lbs
  • Lifetime frame and motor warranty
  • 1 year parts and labor warranty
  • Desktop display

Overview

The Nordictrack desk treadmill is one of the nicer-looking options on this list. The aesthetics and faux-wood paneling of the desk make this fit in with your office, giving off a classy, sophisticated vibe.

The most unique aspect of this treadmill when compared to other standing desk treadmills is that it is designed for more intense exercise, with a 3 hp motor that can get up to a max speed of 10 mph, whereas most other desk treadmills have a maximum speed around 4 mph.

Nordictrack Treadmill
4.0

When you get to the higher speed settings, it certainly becomes difficult to work on the desk, so don’t expect to be able to use or interact with anything when you are going at a higher speed.

The treadmill itself is also relatively compact, allowing you to fit this in your office even if you are a little pressed for space. This model of treadmill also features a quiet motor at slower speeds, however it gets a little more noisy when you reach the higher end of the speed spectrum.

One of the downsides that we have noticed with this desk is that the adjustable height desk cannot go very high, so it can get quite uncomfortable to work on this desk if you are taller than six feet tall. This is an ideal desk for someone in the high five foot range if you want to be able to work for long periods of time with no discomfort.

The price is somewhat high but the build quality reflects this and the treadmill feels solid and well built. We would recommend the Nordictrack desk treadmill for someone who wants to be able to work at their treadmill but doesn’t want to give up the high speeds of more workout oriented treadmills.

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Buying Guide

Budget

It is important to consider your budget before you embark upon your search for the perfect treadmill desk. The treadmill desks that we have reviewed here vary anywhere from $500 to $2000 so there is a large margin between the upper and lower limits that you can spend on these products.

As with any product, the amount of money you are willing to pay will vary from customer to customer and your workout needs will have to be balanced with the amount of money you have to spend on such a product.

Your budget will have a direct influence upon the number of extras that your desk treadmill will feature, such as cupholders, heartbeat monitors, etc.

Desk Size

Your desk’s size and its height are two other important aspects to consider while making your purchase. You want a desk that is large enough to fit your computer, your workbooks and anything else you would like to fit on your treadmill desk.

Desk Size

The other thing to take note of is the height of the desk in regards to the running belt. You do not want a desk which is either too tall or too short, because it will ruin your walking and running posture and make it very difficult to work.

Noise Levels

The amount of sound caused by your desk treadmill is another aspect to take into account because an overly noisy treadmill will ruin your concentration (and that of your coworkers if you plan on installing this in your office).

Most office treadmills are optimized to have low-noise operation to not inconvenience you or anybody around you, and so you can have a peaceful and enjoyable working experience as you walk and jog.

Conclusion

In our search for the best treadmill desks, we have seen a large number of products on offer from multiple manufacturers and noticed that they all have their pros and cons in their own ways. Some are expensive and come with many extraneous features that more avid workout fans will adore.

Other offerings are more moderate and geared towards customers who may be purchasing their first treadmill desk. We hope we have provided enough information for you to find the best treadmill desk for your needs, after all, only you know best what you need when it comes to combining exercise with work.