Echelon Stride Review (2024): This Compact Treadmill Is Ideal For Small Spaces

Using The Echelon Stride Treadmill

I was prepared for a really shaky run on the Stride. With a 1.75 continuous horsepower (CHP) motor—which is less powerful than we like to see on treadmills designed for running—I expected it to feel like a cheap treadmill, but it really doesn’t.

The Stride has a max speed of 12 miles per hour and a max incline of 10%. I tested the extremes on these, and even then, the machine really doesn’t shake. The belt isn’t super cushioned, but our GGR tester Kate found the cushioning to be sufficient. 

“It offers just enough cushioning, which also dampens the noise,” says Kate. “Even while jogging quickly, the Echelon Stride belt slides effortlessly across the deck and isn’t overly noisy.”

I also decided to see what the machine would be like without using the app. There are eight built-in treadmill workouts, including standard options like hills and intervals. So really, if you don’t want to pay for a subscription, you don’t have to. The machine would work just fine without it but I’ll get into the details of the Echelon app in a bit. 

Footprint And Portability

The Echelon Stride is a leader in treadmills when it comes to the best compact exercise equipment. When unfolded, it’s 69.3 inches long, 31 inches wide, and 49.2 inches tall. However, these dimensions lead to a smaller running surface than we prefer for runners.  

The belt on the Stride is just 55 inches long by 20 inches wide. This shouldn’t matter for most users, but if you’re taller than the average home gym owner you may find that you can’t get into a good stride on it.

RELATED: Best Treadmill For Tall Runners

This is a folding treadmill. However, unlike other treadmills that fold, this one folds completely flat. The folding mechanism of the Echelon Stride folds the console down toward the deck into a totally flat position, making the machine stand about 10 inches tall.

Folding and unfolding is simple. “The handlebars fold down on hydraulics with the push of two different buttons,” says our tester Kate. “There is a handle on the back you can use to lift it and roll using the transport wheels. It also stores it vertically, which is my favorite thing about it.”

At just 156 pounds, this is pretty lightweight compared to other treadmills. I had no problem folding the Stride and moving it around my space. Kate reports a similar experience. 

“I’ve rolled it under my bed and stored it vertically against the wall. I have a small house, so the flat storage design is awesome,” she adds. For this reason, the Echelon Stride earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating for portability. 

Durability and Construction 

When it comes to durability, we’re looking for a few things that help a treadmill last a long time. First, during use we don’t want to feel shaking or shifting. Too much movement leads to unnecessary wear and tear on the mechanical parts. 

Second, the most durable treadmills we’ve tested offer a 275-pound user weight limit (or more). And last, we look for a motor of 2.5 horsepower (or stronger) to ensure the motor is powerful enough to keep up with incline changes, running speeds, and prolonged use. 

Both myself and Kate find the Echelon to be pretty solid with very little feedback. It’s certainly not rock-solid but for how lightweight it is, it’s not bad. We also approve of the user weight capacity of 300 pounds. 

The Echelon Stride has a steel deck with plastic parts. Usually plastic gives me pause because it means certain parts can crack and therefore decrease a piece of equipment’s durability. But the Stride feels solid during use and, if well cared for, should last for many years. Although small, it’s not shaky.

The downside is the 1.75 continuous horsepower motor. I really like to see at least a 2.5 CHP rating on treadmill motors for a few reasons. First, higher-powered motors are better for people who run frequently, as in more than a few times a week. Second, a weaker motor means the machine usually doesn’t withstand heavier people. Lastly, stronger motors break down less often and require less maintenance than weaker motors.

The Stride doesn’t have the strongest treadmill motor, but for a machine of this size, it gets the job done. It should be said that if you’re a serious runner who plans on using this everyday then you should probably find something with a stronger motor.

The Stride has a max user weight of 300 pounds. However, you have to keep in mind that with a CHP of just 1.75 on that motor, you’re better off buying this machine if you are lighter in weight and don’t plan on heavy use.

Customizations and Ergonomics 

Despite its small size, the Echelon Stride treadmill earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for both customizations and ergonomics. When we score and review the customizations on a treadmill, we’re analyzing the speed and incline range. 

The Stride slopes to 10% in inclination levels and can run up to 12 mph. These customizations help you create variation to your cardio routine to reduce your risk of overuse injury. Plus, Kate notes the incline and speed buttons on the handlebars are super convenient  and easy to use. 

For ergonomics, the Echelon Stride was mainly scored on the running deck and running belt material. The running deck is suitable for a variety of people, but it’s a bit short at 55 inches long for tall runners. The running belt offers minimal cushioning, but Kate says, “It’s better than running on pavement.”

Technology and Conveniences

The Stride doesn’t have the fancy HD touchscreen that you’ll find on treadmills with bigger price tags. Instead, you have a basic LCD panel that shows all your workout metrics, like time, speed and distance. 

Our tester Kate thinks it’s worth noting that the small LCD display shows either a dot (to represent incline settings) and lines (to represent speed). “I would rather actually see which segment I’m using, but you don’t get this because the display is so basic,” says Kate. 

Kate and I agree that the incline and speed controls on the handlebar is a super convenient touch. This feature is similar to how Peloton put knobs on the Tread handlebars to adjust speed and incline, which is one of my favorite features of that treadmill. 

RELATED: Echelon Treadmill vs Peloton

Although you need to use your own device to stream your workouts (or movies), there is a USB port on the Stride for charging. Plus, a heart rate monitoring strap is included with your purchase. Using Bluetooth, you connect the strap to the machine for your readout. This was an easy process and in comparing my heart rate on my Fitbit or Apple Watch with the heart rate sensor on the Stride, the strap seemed accurate.

While it’s not the most high-tech machine, this smart treadmill still earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for both technology and conveniences because of the connectivity features. And speaking of conveniences, you can also expect a media shelf and water bottle holder on the Stride. 

Echelon Fit App

Before we dive into the Echelon Fit app, here’s what you need to know: You’ll need your own phone or tablet to use the app. The treadmill itself will sync up with the app via Bluetooth once you get going. This is one reason the Stride is cheaper than treadmills from Bowflex, Proform, or NordicTrack: Essentially, you save a few bucks by providing your own technology.

RELATED: Proform Pro 9000 Review

Now, on to the app: Like many other top brands, Echelon Fitness has developed an interactive programming platform with thousands of on-demand workouts including everything from bootcamps and HIIT to strength training and yoga. 

There are two main options pricing options for the Echelon Fit membership:

• Monthly subscription: $39.99 per month
• Annual subscription: $399.99 per year

The instructor-led running classes feature a coach on a Stride guiding you through the workout, telling you when to increase your speed and/or incline, which you have to do manually. You can choose between live classes and on-demand classes.

This is a great function, though it does pale in comparison to the Peloton Tread and iFit-enabled connected treadmills like the NordicTrack Commercial 1750, which auto-adjust incline and speed for you. Also, all the Echelon Fit workouts are just studio classes, whereas Peloton and iFit actually take you on a journey somewhere scenic. However, Echelon Fit does offer leaderboards like those other brands do.

RELATED: NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Customer Experience 

The treadmill warranty on the Echelon Stride is just one year, which is well below industry standard. In fact, warranties that I would consider subpar typically cover the frame for at least five years. Echelon Fitness offers the ability for you to purchase a three-year extended warranty for $150, which may be worth it, given the weaker motor and already manageable price point for this machine.

Because you’ll be purchasing the Stride treadmill through a third-party website like Amazon, you’ll want to double check the return policy. From our experience with Amazon, we know that the Echelon has a 90-day window for returns, refunds, and replacements. To start a return on Amazon, navigate to the top right corner of your browser to find the “Returns and Orders” button. 

Ordering and Assembling

After ordering the Echelon, you will not have to dread for one second about the assembly process because this machine earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating when it comes to assembly. Our tester Kate says, “It’s so freaking easy.”

The Stride comes completely assembled, which is a huge perk. Honestly, getting it out of the box is the hardest part. Even that’s really not so bad if you use a blade to cut through the tape and unfold the box around the machine. The only thing you have to do is unfold the arms, which is simple, and plug in the emergency stop.

“It took me less than 10 minutes from the time I started opening the box to when it was ready to go,” says Kate. “My only callout is that because it’s 156 pounds, it’s a bit heavy to pick up out of the box on your own.”