Nautilus T626 Motorised Home Treadmill

Low-Cost Treadmills With High-Tech Features

The Nautilus T616 is the most impressive of these new smart machines

By Daniel DiClerico

Last updated: March 21, 2016

It wasn't so long ago that you had to spend thousands to get a treadmill that could do things like track your workout prog­ress and connect to the Internet. But this kind of interaction has made its way to the entry level. In fact, three budget folding models from Consumer Reports' latest treadmill tests feature some form of connectivity, including the category's new top-rat­ed machine, the Nautilus T616, which sells for $1,000. 

Of course, you can have the "smartest" treadmill in the world, but if it doesn't have sound ergonomics, sturdy design, and all the requisite safety features, it won't do you much good in the long run (and it could even cause you harm). So let's start with what impressed us about the Nautilus T616 during our perfor­mance and safety tests. 

Among its roomy 61-inch-long belt, well-positioned console controls, and combination front and side handrails, the machine should comfortably accommodate a wide range of users and body types (though we always advise trying any exercise ma­chine in the store before buying, be it a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike). 

The Nautilus T616 also showed little sign of wear after six months

of simulated usage during durability testing. And in terms of safety, the plastic tang style safety-key 
disengaged without issue and the belt came to a stop after the key was removed in 3.7 seconds on