Peloton Tread vs. Tread+: Is The Slat Belt That Much Better?

Dimensions/Storability

If you need a treadmill that folds up, check this list. The Tread is lighter and more compact than the Tread+, though. Its dimensions are 68” L x 33” W x 62” H. It takes up less floor space than the Tread+, which is 75” L x 36.5” W x 72” H. With both treadmills, it’s a good idea to factor in a few extra feet surrounding the decks to get on and off and use them safely.

Both the Peloton Tread and Tread+ are heavy, non-folding treadmills, so keep this in mind.

Moving these treadmills is possible, but they’re pretty heavy. The Tread weighs 290 lbs, and the Tread+ weighs 455 lbs. The Tread is hard to move, but the Tread+ is significantly heavier and harder to move around.

To move both, you must lift the decks’ back to engage the front wheels. Some will be able to move the Tread, but most people will likely need another hand or two to move the Tread+.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

Peloton’s equipment, including both treadmills, offers streaming from the All-Access Membership. The membership is likely a big reason why you’re considering either of these treadmills. You can use the Peloton Tread and Tread+ without a subscription to Peloton, but the only components on the screen are manual mode to track your metrics and a featured Peloton workout.

There isn’t much functionality or content on the screen without the membership.
With the membership, you’ll pay $44 per month and have access to a growing library of thousands of trainer-led workouts.

Peloton All-Access Membership

Peloton is known for its membership, starting with the classes. The classes are filmed live and on-demand. You can schedule your workouts ahead of time, take them live, or take them whenever you want.

The classes are in various disciplines for the treadmill, including walking, jogging, hiking, intervals, tread boot camp, and running. You can also follow up your workout on each treadmill with a strength training, yoga, or stretching workout on the mat.

The bulk of the workouts are filmed in professional indoor studios.

Peloton does have outdoor filmed workouts in different locations, but the majority of the classes are filmed inside.

The big draw that makes Peloton’s training content stand out is the instructors. Each of them is like a mini-celebrity. They have significant social media followings that help draw in more people to their classes. Plus, they are all world-class, with knowledge and engaging personalities to back it up. They encourage accountability and community in each of the workouts.

Peloton also encourages community among its members with the leaderboard. It is on the right side of the screen on the Tread+ and Tread. You can swipe it away since competing against thousands of other people can be intimidating, but it can also be a good way to connect. Giving and receiving virtual high-fives is fun.

Peloton also stands out with the music. Every workout features a curated playlist of hit songs specifically picked by each instructor. This way, you listen to the music with them. Music is a great way to get extra motivation. Peloton’s trainers plan each workout around the music, so when you sprint during interval workouts, the music matches the intensity to add more energy to the workout.

Peloton features different workouts that often occur around musicians or themes, too.

When you don’t want to follow along with an instructor, you can take Peloton’s Lanebreak workouts. These gamified workouts feature a wheel, your avatar, moving down six lanes to hit targets and collect points.

You change your speed and incline to change lanes to hit the targets. Each Lanebreak workout is a complete workout. There are different times to choose from, just like the trainer-led classes.

Peloton’s library is pretty easy to navigate. You can narrow your search by using the search bar to type in specific keywords or using different filters to find a specific class.

Peloton also has an entertainment section that features streaming apps such as Netflix, Max, Disney+, YouTube TV, and the NBA App. These apps can be streamed directly from each Peloton treadmill’s screen. You’ll just need your login or your mom’s for each app to stream.

Please remember that you must subscribe to Peloton’s All-Access Membership to access these features, including Netflix streaming.

Without the membership, Just Run (also available with the membership) and a featured Peloton trainer-led workout is only available on the Peloton Tread and Tread+ screens.

Peloton Tread vs. Tread+ Console

The Peloton Tread and Tread+ have pretty much the same consoles. The big difference in each treadmill is the screen size.

Peloton Tread Console

The Peloton Tread, which is the lower-end model of the 2, has a 23.8” touch screen.

This is my favorite screen size. It tilts up and down for better visibility. However, unlike the NordicTrack Commercial Series treadmills, it doesn’t pivot to either side. This would be nice for off-the-treadmill workouts.

Both treadmills clearly display your metrics like speed, pace, incline, distance, and watt output in every class. You can also pair a compatible heart rate monitor, like your Garmin or Apple Watch, to track your heart rate on the screen. (This should hopefully be available on the Tread+, too.)

Adjusting the Peloton Tread is pretty easy with the roller adjustment knobs on each handle.

You just roll your palms over them to adjust the speed (on the right) and incline (on the left). These adjust the speed by 0.1 mph and the incline by 0.5%. It’s a little hard to get to exact speed levels like 3.4 mph, but these are easy enough to adjust the Tread quickly.

You can also press the middle of these knobs to jump to the next whole speed and incline level. You can also set three preset speed levels on the screen to jump to.

The Peloton Tread has Auto-Incline. This feature adjusts the incline level of the deck to match the instructor’s cues in each class, making the incline more hands-free. However, it is not completely hands-free like treadmills from NordicTrack and ProForm when AutoAdjust is used in iFIT workouts, which adjusts the speed and incline settings.

The front-facing speakers project at you and offer plenty of volume. However, you can’t connect your phone or other devices through Bluetooth to listen to content through them. The speakers only play the content available with Peloton’s membership.

There isn’t a fan, so you’ll need your own. There is a storage tray with two cup holders. It’s pretty minimal and not best for large water bottles. There is a small cubby for your phone in the middle, though. Keep in mind that there isn’t a device rack from which to place your device to stream content.

Peloton Tread+ Console

The Peloton Tread+’s console is pretty much the same as the Tread. The Tread+ has a larger 32” touch screen, which tilts up and down but doesn’t pivot. On both treadmills, though, you should be able to see Peloton’s training content from the back. So, you can utilize each of the treadmills’ screens for training off the decks.

The Tread+ screen is one of the largest we’ve seen on fitness equipment. It’s easy to use and navigate Peloton’s content. The display in each class and feature is the same on the Tread+ as it is on the Tread.

All of the software is the same, which means that the metrics tracked are the same. We also assume that the Tread+ can be used with Garmin and Apple Watches and that the Auto-Incline feature is available.

The Tread+ has the same roller adjustment knobs as the Peloton Tread. These work the same as the Tread; you roll them forward to increase the speed and incline and back to decrease them. When you press them, you can jump to even metrics, and you can set 3 preset speed settings on the screen.

The speakers are a soundbar that points at you with plenty of volume. The console also doesn’t have a fan. It has a storage tray, but it is a little flimsy. There are two cup holders, but your water bottle will probably rattle a little while running.

There is also a spot for your phone. I like the cubby on the Tread for your phone; it’s better than the spot on the Tread+. There isn’t a device rack on the Tread+, either.

The Peloton Tread+ and Tread have a Tread Lock feature that locks the screen to put each treadmill to sleep after 45 seconds of inactivity. For safety, each treadmill requires a 4-digit passcode to unlock and use.

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Build Quality

The Peloton Tread and Peloton Tread+ have similar designs but different features and functionality. The Tread+’s flat, slat belt offers more training features.

Both treadmills have a 300-lb weight limit. We expected this limit for the Tread, but we hoped the Tread+ would be able to handle a little more weight, considering it weighs 455 lbs.

Peloton Tread vs. Tread+ Frame

The Tread and Tread+ are similar to the carbon steel uprights to the console. However, they have different decks.

The decks are both supported by a carbon steel frame.

The handles on both treadmills are made of carbon steel. The Tread has a silky texture overtop that feels luxurious, while the Tread+ has a “molded grip” on the handles. Neither feels slippery when you’re sweaty.

Both screens tend to shake when running at high speeds, though. Both screens are only attached to the console by a single steel bar, so this design is less stable than other treadmills, like the NordicTrack Incline Trainers.

We expect some shake with how large both screens are, but both Peloton treadmills have a bit more screen shake than other treadmills we’ve tested with similar screens.

Peloton Tread vs. Tread+ Motor

They vary greatly in their motors. The Peloton Tread has a 3.0 HP DC motor, and the Peloton Tread+ has a 2.0 HP AC motor. The Tread doesn’t have a better motor than the Tread+ because it has a higher horsepower, though. AC motors are made for commercial-grade treadmills used in public gyms, and DC motors are made for home treadmills.

This doesn’t exactly mean the Tread+ is made for commercial use, but it has a more powerful motor than the Tread. It is a home treadmill, just like the Tread. AC motors are typically louder than DC motors. The Tread+ is definitely a louder treadmill than the Tread, so the Tread might be better for more homes.

Both can handle running and a lot of use.

When we had the Tread+, it handled regular running well. We have had the Peloton Tread for over two years, and it has handled regular use.

Both treadmills have a 12.5 mph max speed. The Tread+ inclines a little more than the Tread. It has a 15% incline, while the Tread goes up to 12.5%. Both feature good incline ranges, but if you want to really amp up your training with the incline, I would check out the NordicTrack X32i and X22i. They incline up to 40% and decline to -6%. Neither Peloton declines.

Peloton Tread vs. Tread+ Deck

The decks are where these treadmills differ the most. The Tread has a standard belt with a red centerline down the middle. The Peloton Tread+ has a rubber slat belt. Both decks are 20” wide, but the Tread+ is 67” long versus the Tread’s 59” long deck.

These lengths support all stride lengths, so walkers, joggers, hikers, and runners of all abilities will have room on both. The Tread+ belt disengages from the motor. In “Free Mode,” you can control the pace of the belt yourself. The belt is heavy, so this creates resistance for your legs in order to move it.

You’ll most likely have to hold the front handle on the Tread+ as leverage to get the belt moving and keep it moving. However, this feature is only available when the deck is flat. It adds another element to your training.

These treadmills also differ in how they feel overall when running on them.

This is because of the different decks. The Peloton Tread has a regular belt and deck with cushioning. The cushioning is the amount of give in the deck underfoot when each foot lands while running on it. The Tread feels firm underfoot, but there is still give in the deck to help lessen the impact on your joints.

The Tread+ doesn’t have any give in the deck. The rubber slats are absorbent, but since there isn’t any give in the deck underfoot, it feels very firm to run on. In fact, when we had the Tread+, it caused a lot of our team to fatigue faster while running on it. It feels more like running outside on an outdoor track, than other treadmills with regular cushioning.

The Tread+ also has a safety guard at the back of the deck. This is a new feature that was added after the treadmill was recalled for safety issues. The guard is designed to immediately stop the belt once it is pulled. Slat belt treadmills, especially motorized ones, run the risk of fingers, paws, hair, shoelaces, or other small items getting caught in between them. The guard helps prevent anything or anyone from getting pulled underneath the deck.

The Peloton Tread+ isn’t a new treadmill. This safety guard was added to the previously recalled treadmill.

It’s important to note that all treadmills, especially motorized treadmills, can be dangerous. It is important to keep the area where you’re using either of these treadmills, as well as others, clear from small children and pets.

Overall, the Peloton Tread is going to be the best option for most people. If you are looking to do serious training on a treadmill, you might want to look into the Peloton Tread+.

Warranty

Peloton includes less of a warranty with both treadmills than most other popular brands. The Tread has a 5-year frame, 3-year motor and belt, and a 1-year touch screen and original components warranty.

The Tread+ has a 5-year frame, motor, and belt, and 1-year touch screen, and most components warranty. We like to see treadmills, especially ones that cost a few thousand dollars to have at least a 10-year+ frame warranty.

Should You Buy The Peloton Tread Or Peloton Tread+?

Our overall recommendation between the Peloton Tread and Tread+ is the Peloton Tread. The Tread is the treadmill that will make sense for most people. It has a traditional belt and a quieter motor. It also has smaller dimensions and is a little lighter if you need to move it.

If you want a treadmill that uses Peloton’s training content and features like the leaderboard and Lanebreak workouts, you’ll need to buy either the Tread or Tread+. The Tread+ is better for serious training and those who want (and can afford) an expensive, challenging treadmill. The flat, slat belt will probably fatigue you faster than the Tread’s deck, but it disengages from the motor for more training options.

Both treadmills have large touch screens to stream Peloton’s subscription workout classes. The content is one of our favorite things to train with. Peloton nails trainer-led studio fitness classes.

Suppose you are only interested in following along with Peloton’s star-studded lineup of instructors. In that case, you can use the Peloton App on your device while running on a non-Peloton treadmill. We have plenty of recommendations here, including many that come with engaging trainer-led content.

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Peloton Tread vs. Tread+ Q&A / FAQ

What happened to the Peloton Tread+?

The Peloton Tread+ was recalled for safety reasons after several reports of injuries and the death of a small child. Peloton has re-released the Tread+ with new safety features to help prevent injuries.

We want to note that treadmills, especially motorized ones, can be dangerous. To avoid problems with any treadmill, you need to keep it and the area where you’re using it clear of pets and small children. You also need to practice general treadmill safety and maintenance.

Does the Peloton Tread fold up?

The Peloton Tread does not fold up. It is a fairly compact, non-folding treadmill, but the deck doesn’t fold to help save you extra space.

Can I just walk on my Peloton Tread?

The Peloton Tread is powerful enough to withstand plenty of use, including walking, running, and interval training.

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