Invest in Your Fitness (2025)

This year, the average American will receive approximately $3,200 in income tax refunds, with their Canadian neighbors getting about $2,300. As I watch the price of treadmills bounce downward this year, great deals emerge, and that’s more than enough to get yourself a brand-new jogging buddy. Financing deals remain strong this year, so you could always apply your check toward the purchase of a spectacular model full of features, or frankly you could buy a lower-priced treadmill and perhaps an elliptical, rower, or exercise bike too.

Your income tax refund, no matter how great or small, can go a long way to securing you a new treadmill. Photo by Shutterstock

Cardio training on a treadmill is a time-tested way to lose weight and improve your health. I can’t see a better reason to invest your tax refund in a new unit, particularly now that many are qualified for purchase with your health insurance HSA/FSA plan. Below are five picks I see as being worthy of the sacrifice this year due to their pricing and all features offered.

Whether you’re getting back $8,000 or $800, there’s a treadmill here for you.

Top by Category

Best Treadmill for $3,000 -4,000– NordicTrack X24
Best Treadmill under $2,000 – $3,000– Bowflex Treadmill 22
Best Treadmill under $1,500 – $2,000– Horizon 7.8 AT
Best Treadmill under $1,500– Sole F80
Best Treadmill Under $1,000– Horizon T101

Is a Treadmill the Right Purchase for My Tax Refund Check?

If you’re up in the air about whether spending your refund check on a treadmill is the right decision, I can understand. There are lots of things you can have brought to your house with the click of a mouse, making the decision is hard. However, several considerations to support the treadmill investment include:

• The average gym membership is $720 per year, or $60 per month. If the only reason you’re going is for a treadmill run, then buying one makes sense.
• As few as just 15 minutes per day of physical activity can increase your life expectancy by up to three years. 
• The whole family can use it, eliminating the time spent travelling to the gym. 
• You can use it in the privacy of your own home. 
• Products with built-in workout plans and other tools help push your limits or, on the other end of the spectrum, prevent overtraining.

The investment in fitness equipment pays back in overall quality of life, so let’s break down the top five treadmills I’ve picked for 2025 so you can get fit with your check!

1. Go All-In with the Best Treadmill for $3,000 – $4,000- NordicTrack X24 Treadmill

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The NordicTrack X24 treadmill sports a whopping 40% incline and 24″ high-definition screen. Photo by Roman Kim

It’s the top model of the year from NordicTrack, priced between $3,199 and $3,999 the X24 Treadmill sports the biggest incline/decline stretch on the market, at 40% to -6%. Built to work with the iFit program and chock full of AI programming, this model is certainly a showpiece.

• 20″ x 60″ deck
• 24” Smart HD touchscreen
• 4.25 CHP motor with lifetime warranty
• -6%-40% incline range
• iFit capability for unlimited workouts and Bluetooth heart rate training
• 10-year warranty on frame, 2-years on parts and 1-year for labor
• Audio auxiliary port with 2″ Bluetooth speakers.

If you’re into hardcore hill climbing, it just doesn’t get any better. To read my in-depth review, check here.

Key Specs

2. Best Treadmill for $2,000 to $3,000 – Bowflex Treadmill 22

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The Bowflex Treadmill is a a full-size boat of a treadmill with a terrific 22″ high-definition touchscreen designed to work with the JRNY Fitness App. Built with a 4.0 HP motor, the treadmill comes with a whopping 20% incline and -5% decline, the unit sports speeds up to 0-12mph on a 22″ x 60″ track. A big solid treadmill, you can run, jog, or hike with this one.

For more information, read my review here. 

Key Specs

3. Best Treadmill for $1,500 to $2,000 – Horizon 7.8 AT

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The Horizon 7.8 AT tops the brand’s lineup of Studio Series treadmills and brings a wide range of programming options, along with a handy media rack for your own tablet or smartphone. Equipped with a 9.3″ LCD screen for data readout from the eight built-in programs, it also syncs with eight different apps and features the Sprint 8 training program. With a 22″ x 60″ cushioned deck, this folding treadmill is tricked out the max in terms of features.

You can read my hands-on review here.

• 8 built-in training programs and syncs with Bowflex JRNY
• Up to 15% incline
• Integrated speakers with connections via plug-in or Bluetooth
• Weight capacity of up to 375 pounds
• Lifetime warranty

Key Specs

4. Best Treadmill Under $1,500- Sole F80

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The Sole F80 proves you don’t have to sacrifice quality to get a bargain. A mid-sized unit in their lineup, it’s one of the reviewers’ favorites for good cause. With a 10.1″ touchscreen and media rack, the machine has 12 built-in programs and syncs with the cost-free Sole+ App as well featuring other pre-loaded apps. The treadmill measures 82.5″ x 38″ x 66″ with an 8″ step-up height and 3.5 HP motor, as well as 22″ x 60″ deck. 

• 3.5 CHP motor
• 350-pound weight capacity
• Lifetime warranty on frame and motor

For my hands-on review, read here. 

At $1,899, you’ll probably have some tax money left over for mats and maybe even dumbbells.

Key Specs

5. Best Budget-Friendly Stimulus Treadmill- Horizon T101

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If you’re shopping for a great treadmill priced between $599 and $999 depending on the sale, the Horizon T101 is long a fan favorite among budget-shoppers. Built with a 20″ x 55″ deck, this folding treadmill can incline up to 10% and reach speeds of 10mph. New for this year, the Horizon treadmills can sync with Bowflex JRNY Fitness app, and the T101 also six built-in workouts. In addition to a handy media rack, the unit has four LED windows for data readout.

You can read my full review here. At this price, you’ll have plenty of money left over to deck out your gym with other gear.

Key Specs

Want to compare these models to see which one is best for you? Try our comparison tool. To use it, just check off any treadmill you want to look at in more detail and then click ‘compare’. Learn more about what to look for when shopping for a new home treadmill below.