The best home treadmills strike the right balance between reliable performance, useful features, and a competitive price. That last part is particularly important given how saturated the market is, meaning buyers have plenty of options at their disposal.
While there’s nothing wrong with shopping for a budget treadmill, higher-end models typically offer more tech capabilities and conveniences than their cheaper counterparts. But as the home gym community knows all too well, just because something costs a lot doesn’t mean it’s worth breaking the bank for.
In this Echelon Stride-8s review, I’ll peel back the curtain on a premium-priced treadmill that certainly looks good on paper (and in photos). But does it deliver the type of performance that justifies its nearly $3,000 price tag? Read on to find out about our team’s experience with the Stride-8s so you can decide whether it’s the right fit for your home gym.
Our Echelon Stride-8s Review, Summarized
The Echelon Stride-8s has a bevy of user-friendly features, including heart rate sensors, a 10-watt wireless charging pad, dynamic LED lighting, and a swiveling 22” HD touchscreen. With a top speed of 12 miles per hour, this treadmill works well for running workouts, especially with the softer, more forgiving quad cushioned deck. Although it didn’t blow us away in any one area, the Stride-8s stands out for its dynamic programming via the Echelon premier membership.
How We Tested
In addition to its dimensions, we evaluate how easy it is to move and store a treadmill, awarding higher scores to folding treadmills that take up less space when not in use. To earn a 3 in this category, one or two people can easily move the machine around. Heavier models that are difficult to move receive lower marks.
To meet our threshold for a 3 out of 5, a treadmill must offer an incline range of at least 10% and top speed of 10 miles per hour. Higher scores go to models with more expansive speed and incline ranges, or if a treadmill offers decline training. Although the Stride-8s doesn’t check that last box, it exceeds our standards for speed and incline settings.
We evaluate a treadmill’s built-in programming to determine if it provides enough variety. In addition, we look for compatibility with apps or platforms like iFIT that offer structured workout programs, trainer-led classes, and more. Treadmills earn a 3 in this category when they have at least a few built-in workouts you can easily access from the console or an app.
We utilize our proprietary treadmill testing methodology to rate these cardio machines on a 1-5 scale across categories such as tech capabilities, dynamic programming, customizations, and more. Our testers put each model through a variety of steady-state and interval training workouts to evaluate its performance at different speeds and intensities.
The Garage Gym Reviews team includes certified personal trainers, marathoners, and recreational runners who understand how everything from the motor to the running surface can impact your experience. After testing more than 50 treadmills—including several from Echelon Fitness—we’re confident we can help you find the right one for your home gym.
Before You Buy
- Although the Stride-8s has an MSRP of $2,999, you should be able to find it on sale for around $2,500. You can also check out our Echelon discount code page for more ways to save throughout the year.
- Unlike the similarly priced NordicTrack Commercial 1750, the Stride-8s does not offer decline training capabilities. However, it can reach up to a 12.5% incline.
- While the 22” HD touchscreen looks impressive, our tester had a problem with the screen tilt capability not staying in place.
- The Echelon Premier Membership costs $39.99 per month, $399.99 for an annual plan, or $699 for a two-year plan. An active membership includes an additional four years of warranty coverage on top of the standard one-year policy.
Echelon Stride-8s Video Review
Is the Echelon Stride-8s Worth It?
Even if you find it on sale for less than its $2,999.99 MSRP, the Stride-8s requires a significant investment that may simply be too steep for some folks. While it boasts an impressive set of features, not all of them function as expected. From a delayed speed response to a less-than stellar workout fan, this machine left our tester a bit frustrated (at times), particularly when trying to use the titling touchscreen display.
However, our tester liked the Z-shaped design (she even says it’s as sleek-looking as the Peloton Tread) and the cool dynamic LED lights on the treadmill deck. However, these nice-to-have features may not outweigh some of those notable drawbacks.
While the Stride-8s has a long running deck, a motor powerful enough to support a wide range of speeds and distances, and a multitude of user-friendly conveniences, it has its share of shortcomings. Once you learn more about what we discovered during our in-depth testing process, you’ll be better-equipped to decide if its strengths outweigh its weaknesses.
Let’s dive into the key metrics, as well as our testing experience with the Stride-8s.
Echelon Stride-8s Treadmill: Key Features & Specs
| MSRP | $2,999.99 |
| Dimensions | 67″ L × 33.1″ W × 63″ H |
| Running Belt | 60” L x 20” W |
| Foldable? | No |
| Step-Up Height | Not listed |
| Product Weight | 220.4 lbs |
| User Weight Capacity | 300 lbs |
| Speed Range | 0-12 MPH |
| Incline Range | Up to 12.5% |
| Motor | 3.75 CHP motor |
| Display & Programming | 22” swiveling HD touchscreen; on-demand and live classes through Echelon Fit App |
| Warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
Workout Experience/Using the Echelon Stride-8s
Former GGR Everything Lead Reviewer Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC, used the Echelon Stride-8s treadmill for several workouts and followed along with five different on-demand classes, including an endurance run, walking session, and a few interval classes.
“I was so excited about this treadmill because there were some features I was eager to try,” says Lindsay. “However, there were quite a few misses for me.”
She says the controls for incline, speed, and volume were confusing and took away from her experience. She also notes the programming was nothing to write home about. “The instructors were enjoyable, they did well setting you up for whatever journey or class you’re about to take, but it was just a middle-of-the-road workout for me. It didn’t really stand out,” she says.
That said, the Stride-8s still earned at least a 3.5 in all but one area (durability), meaning it exceeded our threshold for an average score. Let’s go category by category so you can get a more complete picture of where this treadmill stood out and where it fell short.
Though the Echelon Stride-8s failed to impress our testers compared to other treadmills in the same class, the features on this machine exemplify the benefits of a home treadmill compared to running on a treadmill at a gym. Not only can you run whenever it works for you without a commute, you also get access to instructor-led classes, which can help with consistency and motivation.
GGR Editor Amanda Capritto, CPT, CNC, CES, CF-L1
Echelon Stride-8s Treadmill Rating
Footprint & Portability
Don’t expect a portable and foldable treadmill with the Echelon Stride-8s (it’s not like the ultra-compact OG Echelon Stride we gloated about for its portability). Tipping the scales at 220.4 pounds, the 8s is a non-folding treadmill, but with minor disassembly you can get it to lay flat. Still, it’s not nearly as convenient as a true folding treadmill like the Echelon Stride 6s-10 or Horizon 7.4 AT.
“Even when I have a treadmill set up in my home gym, there are days where my kids are outside playing basketball or on the swings, and I like to drag my treadmill out to walk or run so I can keep an eye on them,” Lindsay says. “Even though it’s around 200 pounds, I just wouldn’t want to move it when it’s not a foldable design.”
Lindsay says rolling the treadmill on turf was much harder than smooth gym flooring (like the kind we feature in our best home gym flooring roundup) or concrete.
“I think most active people could move this machine,” she says. “It’s not super heavy and it has transport wheels, which makes it possible to move around. I personally prefer folding treadmills, so this is a miss for me.”
Because it’s not crazy heavy or a massive machine, Lindsay awarded a respectable 3.5 out of 5 for footprint and portability.
Delivery & Setup
Assembling a treadmill can be a time-consuming task, especially if the manufacturer doesn’t provide clear instructions and the necessary tools. Thankfully, you can look forward to a straightforward setup process.
According to Lindsay, it should only take about an hour to get the Stride-8s up and running.
“All you really need to do is attach the arms and the screen,” she explains. “If you’re looking for something that’s easily assembled, I do think this is a good one.”
Like many treadmill manufacturers, Echelon offers premium in-home delivery and assembly service. For $299.99, you get delivery to the room of your choice, full unpacking, light assembly and installation, and disposal of all packaging materials. While we think most folks should be just fine with putting the Stride-8s together themselves, the premium service is a nice option to have if you prefer to let the pros handle it.
Durability
We evaluate this key category by looking at the machine’s weight capacity, stability, and overall build quality. The Stride-8s has a powerful (and brushless) 3.75 CHP motor, decent weight capacity of 300 pounds, and stable base—all things that we look for when scoring durability.
Lindsay’s main concern about durability is the touchscreen display, which is why we docked a few points.
“The uprights, handlebars, and touchscreen wobble more than they should, and at higher speeds the screen does not stay in place,” she says about the 22-inch display’s tilt-and-swivel capabilities.
While running at top incline levels, she tilted the screen for a better view, but the impact of running on the treadmill slammed the screen back down to the original position. “This really irked me because it’s important to see the screen on a cardio machine with on-demand classes,” she says.
While the screen gives Lindsay pause, she isn’t concerned about the running deck or motor. She actually mentioned how quiet the 3.75 CHP DC motor was compared to other treadmills.
“This is an ultra-quiet machine, and you can really tell the difference as you are transitioning to incline or increasing your speed,” Lindsay explains.
Customizations
While many treadmills have standard buttons for adjusting the speed and incline settings, one of the unique design features about the Stride-8s is its innovative trackball system. Marketed as a precise way to make instant adjustments, the track ball didn’t exactly live up to all the hype.
“It’s really fun to use but not super intuitive and takes some getting used to,” Lindsay says. “Now that I’ve used the treadmill about four or five times, I’ve gotten the hang of it. Initially, though, I hated it.”
You can use this system to adjust the speed up to 12 miles per hour (the industry standard is 10 mph) or set the incline up to 12.5% (the industry standard is 10%). Unfortunately, it’s a bit better in theory than in practice. As Lindsay learned the hard way, the trackball system isn’t the most responsive.
“When I used the track ball for incline, it responded super fast, quiet, and smooth, but when I tried to change the speed, it took a while to catch,” she explains. “It felt like it wasn’t going to work—I’d move the ball, wait, and wait—then suddenly it would shoot up in speed. There was no buildup; it just jumped. I didn’t love that.”
So, even though the Stride-8s provides sufficient speed and incline capabilities, we settled for a 3.5-out-of-5 customizations score due to the finicky trackball system.
Adjustability and Ergonomics
When it comes to ergonomics and comfort of running, we think most people will have the space needed for a natural and full running gait. The deck is 60 inches long and has an integrated motor, so you’ll never kick the motor hood while running or walking on max incline settings.
Despite a spacious running deck, Lindsay gave the Stride-8s a 3.5 out of 5 in this category. She has a few callouts when it comes to ergonomics and adjustments, including the fact the deck isn’t a super cushioned deck—even though it’s advertised as Echelon’s “DuroFlex Quad Cushioned Suspension.”
RELATED: Best Cushioned Treadmill
Plus, as I touched upon earlier, the controls weren’t as responsive as you might expect. “I liked the idea of the speed and incline controls,” says Lindsay about the trackball-style controls located on the handlebar for easy access while running or walking.
“There were several times I thought it was broken, so I would hit it again and again. Because of the delay, it would increase my speed way more than I wanted when it finally kicked in,” she says.
Tech Capabilities
Yet another area in which the Stride-8s posted an above-average score, you get solid tech capabilities with this machine. Here’s a quick overview of some of those key features:
- 22-inch swiveling HD touchscreen
- 10-watt wireless charging pad
- Dynamic LED lighting
- Pulse heart rate sensors
- Bluetooth connectivity
On the surface, that looks like the total package. After all, a swiveling display should allow you to perform off-treadmill workouts with relative ease. However, Lindsay pointed out that the large touchscreen presents some problems.
“When I go ahead and set it up to the highest placement and I start running, it automatically falls down,” she explains. “It does not stay in place. We have tightened the screw, we have tightened the knob, we’ve done everything we can to make sure the screen stays where you want it while you’re running, and it just won’t do that.”
That said, we do appreciate the convenience of a wireless charging pad so you don’t have to worry about your phone dying mid-workout. The dynamic LED lighting adds an immersive layer to your training experience, especially since you can adjust the colors to your liking and sync the lighting to your music.
However, the display issues forced us to go with a 3.5 out of 5 instead of a higher score.
“It’s a huge miss for me because if I’m walking at a high incline, then I want the screen to tilt up so I can follow along with the programming and see everything clearly, and it just doesn’t do that,” Lindsay says.
Dynamic Programming
While the best NordicTrack treadmills are built for iFIT workouts, Echelon equipment works with the brand’s proprietary programming platform. We appreciate that they add classes routinely, including HIIT, boxing, barre, and even meditation, which has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and lower your resting blood pressure1. But while we’re big fans of iFIT, the Echelon Fit App isn’t quite as impressive.
RELATED: iFIT Reviews
“The Echelon programming was kind of a miss for me, although I do like it better than Sole’s,” Lindsay says. “My biggest callout was that there’s no way to mix the volume of the instructor and the music. Depending on the class, sometimes I could hear the music well but had to strain to hear the instructor, and other times it was the opposite.”
It’s also important to weigh the cost of an Echelon Premier Membership. Here’s how the pricing structure works:
- Monthly: $39.99
- Annual Plan: $399.99
- Two-year Plan: $699
One of the perks about a Premier Membership is that you can get up to five users per account. Plus, you get four additional years of warranty coverage.
Alternatively, you can go for the cheaper FitPass, which costs just $11.99 per month. However, while you get access to unlimited live and on-demand off-equipment workouts, classes for equipment-based workouts are not included with FitPass, and you’re only allowed to have one user profile.
Value
Let’s face it: the Stride-8s is by no means a budget-friendly treadmill. Even if you find it on sale for closer to the $2,500 mark, that’s still about $600 more expensive than the average treadmill we test. When you factor in some of the design flaws, we rate the value at a solid-but-unspectacular 3.5 out of 5.
“Would I spend that much money on it? I don’t know,” says Linday. “For me, it might not be the best fit. However, for someone looking for a really quiet treadmill and a solid motor size, this might be a good fit.”
If you’re on a tighter budget, you can explore more cost-effective options by checking out our list of the best treadmills under $2,000.
Customer Experience
Echelon provides a one-year warranty for this treadmill. However, investing in a Premium Membership extends that to five years—a valuable perk that can provide additional peace of mind and protection.
We awarded the company a rock-solid 4-out-of-5 customer experience for several reasons, including:
- Echelon offers a military and essential workers discount
- This product is HSA/FSA eligible, meaning you can use pre-tax dollars to help fund your purchase
- Financing available through Bread Pay®
We’d also be remiss not to mention the company’s generous 60-day return policy. This lengthy in-home trial period allows you to test the machine and decide if it’s the right fit. As long as you reach out to Echelon within 60 days of delivery, you can request a full refund.
The machine will be picked up from your home within five to 10 business days, and after it passes a warehouse inspection, your refund will be processed within 10 business days.
Customer Reviews
The Stride-8s has earned an average rating of 4.9 stars based on 32 reviews on the Echelon website. Customers appreciate the quiet motor, cushioned running deck, and large touchscreen display for streaming on-demand workouts.
Here’s some direct feedback from folks who invested in the Stride-8s.
Echelon Stride-8s Vs
If you’re not fully sold on the Stride-8s, I’ll offer two compelling options in the same price range.
First, you can’t go wrong with the tried-and-true NordicTrack Commercial 1750. A favorite among the GGR team, this well-built treadmill offers incline and decline training, a more robust weight capacity of 400 pounds, and a more powerful 4.25 CHP motor. Plus, it offers iFIT integration.
Earning a strong overall score of 4.4 out of 5 from our team, the middle sibling of the Commercial Series is a viable alternative if you’re considering spending about the same amount on the Stride-8s. You can read more in our NordicTrack Commercial 1750 review.
If the lack of a folding design gives you pause about going the Echelon route, take a look at the Sole F89. Featuring a 21.5” touchscreen and robust incline and decline capabilities (-6% to 15%), this folding treadmill comes with a lifetime frame and motor warranty. For more on our experience with this machine, check out our Sole F89 Review.
|  |  | |
| Echelon Stride-8s | NordicTrack Commercial 1750 | Sole F89 Treadmill | |
Rating | |||
| Speed Range | Up to 12.5 mph | 0 – 12 mph | 0.5-12 mph |
| Incline Range | 12 levels | -3% – 12% | 15 incline levels, 6 decline levels |
| Deck Size | |||
| Foldable? | |||
| Programs | Echelon Premier | iFIT | Sole+ |
| Display | 22″ HD touchscreen | Pivoting 16″ touchscreen | 21.5″ touchscreen |
| Warranty | 10-year frame, 5-year motor, 1-year comprehensive | Lifetime treadmill motor warranty | Lifetime frame warranty |
Final Verdict of Our Echelon Stride-8s Review
The Echelon Stride-8s has desirable features like a powerful motor, spacious deck, and interactive LED lights, but it had some quirks Lindsay didn’t appreciate, including the monitor not staying in place, the response time on the trackball controls, and the non-folding design.
Based on Lindsay’s experience, we think the Echelon Stride-8s is best suited if you are someone who struggles to get a full stride on other home treadmills. Because there is no motor hood and the brushless motor is integrated into the deck, the front end of the running belt is completely open, allowing for a better experience for anyone who regularly kicks the hood.
- You’ll need an Echelon Premier Membership to unlock all the functionality of the Stride-8s.
- Folks looking for a quiet treadmill will appreciate the minimal noise level of the motor.
- Take advantage of the 60-day trial period to test out the touchscreen and trackball system—two areas that proved problematic during our evaluation process.
Echelon Stride-8s Review: FAQs
How does the Echelon Stride-8s compare to Peloton?
The Echelon Stride-8s offers similar connected fitness features at a much lower price, though Peloton provides a larger class library, better display, and overall more polished experience.
What are the key features of the Echelon Stride-8s treadmill?
The Echelon Stride-8s features a 22-inch HD touchscreen, max speed of 12.5 mph, incline up to 12.5%, and compatibility with Echelon Fit classes and streaming apps.
Is the Echelon Stride-8s good for running?
The Echelon Stride-8s has a 3.75 CHP motor and top speeds of 12.5 mph. You’ll certainly be able to run on the Stride-8s, but be sure to read our review for our experience about the lag on the speed controls.
References
- Jamil, A., Gutlapalli, S. D., Ali, M., Oble, M. J. P., Sonia, S. N., George, S., Shahi, S. R., Ali, Z., Abaza, A., & Mohammed, L. (2023). Meditation and Its Mental and Physical Health Benefits in 2023. Cureus, 15(6), e40650. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40650
