NordicTrack Commercial 1750 vs. Peloton Tread Flex: Foldable Treadmill Comparison

Two of the biggest names in home fitness now sell a folding treadmill in roughly the same price bracket. NordicTrack's Commercial 1750 has been a staple of the connected-treadmill market for years, while Peloton's Tread Flex, which launched on October 1, 2026, is the company's first folding treadmill. Both target shoppers who want guided, trainer-led workouts but don't have a room to dedicate to a treadmill full time. Here's how the two actually compare on hardware, training platform, monthly cost, and footprint, using only what NordicTrack and Peloton have published.

At a Glance

Here's a quick side-by-side look at how these two folding treadmills compare on the numbers most shoppers check first.

Hardware Comparison

Where these two folding treadmills really part ways is in how they're built, not just what they cost.

A few real tradeoffs come out of this once the numbers are side by side. The 1750 adds a -3% decline on top of its 12% incline, something the Tread Flex doesn't offer, and it includes a cushioned deck where the Tread Flex uses a standard, non-cushioned belt. Both machines fold to a published footprint, with the 1750 folding to a larger footprint than the Tread Flex.

Training Experience

The 1750 runs on iFIT, and most of what makes it feel "smart" comes down to two features layered on top of the hardware. SmartAdjust personalizes a workout to a runner's fitness level, while ActivePulse leans on a connected heart rate monitor to keep intensity in a target zone.² Both are company-stated capabilities tied to an active iFIT subscription rather than something independently tested here.

Peloton spreads a similar idea across several named features instead of two. The Tread Flex runs on Peloton IQ, which the company says delivers Performance Estimates, Personalized Recommendations, and Insights and Analysis, along with IQ Pace Targets, pace ranges based on a member's own recent running performance that adjust as fitness improves.³,⁴ Speed and incline on the Tread Flex are adjusted with physical control knobs, without a "jump to the next whole number" button.³ Peloton is also rolling out non-instructed Heart Rate Zone Workouts across its whole Tread lineup, Tread Flex included, which use a connected heart rate monitor or wearable to give real-time feedback for staying in a target zone.⁴

Where the two ecosystems diverge most is in what the Tread Flex doesn't include. Peloton's own feature comparison shows the Tread Flex has no Rep Tracking, Form Feedback, built-in fan, Weight Rack and Suggested Weights, Workout Generator, Self-Paced Strength, Run Analysis, or Sled Mode.³ ReRuns, which replays a previously recorded outdoor route and reproduces its incline changes, is included on the Tread Flex.⁴

Subscription Comparison

Neither machine does much without a membership running in the background, and the two cost structures aren't identical.

iFIT's entry-level monthly plan runs $39, while Peloton's All-Access Membership runs $49.99.⁶ Since All-Access is the only way to use most of what makes the Tread Flex "smart," that difference compounds every month the machine is owned, on top of whatever the hardware itself costs.

Space and Home Gym Considerations

For a folding treadmill, footprint is usually the deciding factor, both set up and stored away. Set up and ready to run, the two machines occupy noticeably different footprints. The 1750 measures 77.3 inches long, 37 inches wide, and 59.5 inches tall.¹ The Tread Flex is smaller in every dimension while in use, at 70.5 inches long, 33.6 inches wide, and 66.1 inches tall, or roughly 6 feet by 3 feet as Peloton rounds it.³

Both treadmills fold for storage, and both now have a published folded footprint to compare. The 1750 folds via its EasyLift™ Assist mechanism, which uses hydraulic assistance to raise the deck after a workout and lower it back down with a light push of the foot, down to 44.2"L x 37"W x 69"H.¹ Peloton says the Tread Flex folds down to 37.8"L x 33.6"W x 66.1"H on built-in swiveling wheels, reclaiming almost 50% of its floor space in the process, enough to bring it shorter than a Peloton Bike when stored.³ Peloton also recommends at least 24 inches of clearance on each side and in front of the Tread Flex, and 79 inches behind it, for workouts that move off the belt.³ Folded, the Tread Flex occupies meaningfully less depth and height than the 1750.

Notable Brand-Specific Features

NordicTrack Commercial 1750:

• RunFlex cushioned deck, which NordicTrack describes as reducing joint impact during walking, jogging, and running²
• A -3% decline built in alongside the 12% incline, for simulating downhill terrain¹
• EasyLift™ Assist, a hydraulic mechanism that raises the deck for folding and lowers it back down with a light foot press¹
• Lifetime motor warranty, plus a 10-year frame, 2-year parts, and 1-year labor warranty¹

Peloton Tread Flex:

• An ultra-quiet motor Peloton says peaks at 70 dB, even at the machine's top running speed³
• A 21.5" swivel display for off-tread classes like Pilates and strength work, though without a camera³
• ReRuns, which replays a previously recorded outdoor route and reproduces its incline changes⁴
• Peloton Entertainment, which streams services like Disney+, YouTube TV, and NBA League Pass through the console³

Who NordicTrack Commercial 1750 May Appeal To

• Shoppers who specifically want decline training alongside incline, since the Tread Flex doesn't include a decline feature
• Runners who want a cushioned deck, since the Tread Flex uses a standard (non-cushioned) belt
• Households already using iFIT on other equipment, or who'd rather pay the $39/mo membership tier

Who Peloton Tread Flex May Appeal To

• Shoppers who want the smaller folded footprint, since Peloton's published folded dimensions are smaller than NordicTrack's in every measurement
• Households that want to use the same display for off-tread classes like Pilates or strength, via the swivel design
• Households already comfortable with Peloton's training platform and All-Access Membership model

References

1. NordicTrack. Commercial 1750 Treadmill

2. NordicTrack. Commercial 1750 Treadmill product information.

3. Peloton. Peloton Tread Flex (full feature comparison).

4. Peloton. What Is New With Peloton's 2026 Treadmill Updates.

5. Peloton. 30-Day Home Trial.

6. Peloton. Compare Membership Tiers For Apps and Equipment.

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