Folding vs. non-folding treadmills

[Misty]

What are the benefits of a non-folding treadmill versus a folding treadmill?  I'm not concerned with space as much as I am about a quality machine.

[Kristen - Guru Team]

Non-folding treadmills tend to be sturdier and can offer a few features you won't find on a folding treadmill. For example, non-folding treadmills often have the motor at the base of the deck rather than the top. Since you don't need to lift and fold a non-folding treadmill, it doesn't matter where the motor is located. This reduces the size of the motor hood on the front. Incline trainers such as the Nordictrack x22i or x32i have little to no motor hood. The same is true of manual treadmills such as the Assault Runner Elite. Non-folding treadmills can often be longer and/or larger since they don't need to fold up. The Nordictrack x32i is 22" wide and 65" long - compared to most folding treadmills which are 20-22" wide and max out at about 60" long. 

If you have the space and budget, we recommend non-folding treadmills since they are heavier and studier. Just be aware they can take up quite a bit of space and are difficult to move.