What they say is true—not all treadmills are created equal. Speed, incline, belt size, belt type, cushioning, shock absorption, stability and the control panel are all important factors when considering an at-home machine. The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is a motorized treadmill with a traditional (as opposed to a slat) belt. If you’re a frequent treadmill user, either with machines you’d find at the gym or in a workout class, a traditional belt is probably what you’re most used to. It sits on top of a harder surface, known as the deck, and rotates around and around. The belt size on the NordicTrack treadmill is a perfect length for running (22” wide x 60” long) providing even the tallest runners with ample room to open their stride and sprint to the finish line. I also love the inclusive user weight limit (400 pounds) and diverse speed and incline ranges (0 to 14 mph and 12 percent incline to -3 percent decline).
Cushioning & Stability
To save your knees, traditional belt treadmills often include special features to improve cushioning capabilities (thanks to that hard deck I mentioned before). Running itself is considered a high-impact exercise, meaning every step you take puts a good amount of stress on the joints in your hips, ankles and knees. A treadmill that provides good cushioning and shock absorption can help reduce this impact and the risk of injury. Though these cushioning features might not be felt immediately, over time your body will notice a difference. (It also just makes your overall workout much more comfortable, and therefore, more enjoyable.)
The NordicTrack 2450 treadmill features special trademarked RunFlex cushioning technology designed to “absorb impact and provide stability.” According to the brand, “Whether you’re sprinting, walking at an incline or jogging, the cushioned deck will help make your workout more comfortable.” I personally loved the belt mechanism on this treadmill. It felt light and springy beneath my feet, and I didn’t notice any sticking or bouncing while walking or running. (My husband, who weighs more than me, noticed some slight sticking when walking at an extremely slow pace below 2.0 mph, but overall, we both were fans).
The overall stability was also a standout feature. I felt fully supported, no matter what speed or incline I was at, which was extremely reassuring as my center of gravity shifted and my balance waned thanks to pregnancy hormones (curse you, relaxin). Though I always wore the safety key while using the treadmill, which would immediately stop the belt if disengaged from the console, I had a not-entirely-irrational fear of tripping and falling on my belly. The sturdy size, cushioning and overall stability of this treadmill helped quell those intrusive thoughts, so I could zone out and enjoy the latest episode of Running Point or focus on powering through the next hill.
The Touchscreen
The HD touchscreen is a thing of beauty. It’s bright, massive and provides a crystal-clear stream of whatever I’m feeling that day—whether it be Netflix or a coach-led iFIT run around Buenos Aires. I love how minimal the rest of the console is, too. Just a handful of flat buttons that allow you to start, stop and quickly tweak the incline, speed and built-in fan. All of these controls exist within the touchscreen as well, plus so much more. I especially love the jump buttons for speed and incline, so you could quickly (and safely) go from a sprint to a walk without having to repeatedly press the decelerate button. My only gripe with the touchscreen is that sometimes the buttons could be a bit finicky (and at one point they stopped working altogether). Luckily, the backups exist on the console, and I later discovered that a quick software update was all the touchscreen needed to reboot itself.
