NORDICTRACK PILATES AND TREADMILLS
PILATES OR TREADMILLS: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Pilates is a low-impact, resistance-based system that emphasizes trunk and pelvic stabilization, controlled movement, and posture. A treadmill is a motorized cardio machine that delivers repeatable aerobic work through walking, jogging, or incline sessions. The two answer different questions. Pilates improves core strength and joint-friendly muscular endurance. A treadmill builds cardiorespiratory fitness and a low-friction daily habit. For most people, the better answer isn’t one or the other. But you don’t need to pick one or the other. You can do both, in sequence. Start with a treadmill to lock in a consistent movement habit, then layer in Pilates to develop the core control to support confidence and efficiency in your other workouts.
HOW TO DECIDE BETWEEN PILATES AND A TREADMILL?
If you have to pick just one, don't just focus on the results expected in a single session. Consider which modality you'll actually do three or four times a week for the next six months. NordicTrack recommends running your situation through these four standards before comparing specs or prices.
Consistency and Habit-Forming Potential
Will you do this three or four times a week without excuses? Will less setup time and clearer daily guidance increase your workout frequency? Adherence is one of the key factors in whether your equipment becomes a tool or a coat rack.
Joint Impact and Recovery Tolerance
Can you train frequently without chronic soreness or recovery downtime? Pilates is low-impact, and reformer work supports the body in most positions. Treadmill walking is weight-bearing, but cushioned decks and slower paces keep per-step impact manageable.
Core and Functional Strength Development
Does the modality build stabilizing strength that supports daily movement and your other workouts? Pilates is built around this. Treadmill work primarily involves walking or running movements, with incline training engaging a variety of muscles to help with lower-body strength.
Goal Alignment by Use Case
Which modality matches your immediate priority? For cardiorespiratory endurance, you may prefer a treadmill. For core control and low-impact mobility work, Pilates may be a better fit.
RECOMMENDED NORDICTRACK TREADMILL AND REFORMERS
Four NordicTrack options: two treadmills and two reformers. Each one is aimed at a specific goal. Pair one from each side to package walking or running endurance workouts with the core building effects of Pilates.
OUR NORDICTRACK PICK FOR WALKING & INCLINE TRAINING
X24 TREADMILL
For serious incline training and long-term progression. The widest incline range in the NordicTrack lineup combined with adaptive training intelligence means the machine is designed to keep challenging you — from beginner walks to steep athletic climbs.
Speeds up to 12 MPH
-6 to 40% incline range
SmartAdjust™⁶ & ActivePulse⁴ for real-time personalization
24” HD touchscreen for immersive iFIT content experience⁶
Built for users who want intensity from incline rather than speed
BEST NORDICTRACK TREADMILL FOR RUNNERS
COMMERCIAL 2450 TREADMILL
Best for runners building endurance, speed, and interval performance with incline-to-decline terrain training.
Speeds up to 14 MPH
-3 to 12% incline range
24” HD touchscreen
Folds and rolls out of the way
Built for those who want an accessible daily cardio routine
BEST OVERALL NORDICTRACK PILATES REFORMER
ULTRA 1 REFORMER
Best for home Pilates practitioners who want a refined slim, minimalist reformer experience that prioritizes precision, control, and consistent guided training.
Integrated 24” HD pivoting touchscreen for guided Pilates workouts⁶
Enclosed spring system for smooth, controlled resistance
Seamless push-button load resistance operation
Precision carriage movement designed for controlled form
SmartSpine™ collects real time biometric data through iFIT⁶
BEST STUDIO-GRADE NORDICTRACK PILATES REFORMER
ULTRA 1 REFORMER RX-S
Best for serious Pilates practitioners who want the closest studio-grade reformer experience at home with professional equipment design.
Studio-grade reformer engineering designed for advanced training
24" HD pivoting touchscreen for immersive guided workouts⁶
Expanded resistance levels for more precise progression
Full-length glide carriage for quiet, precision motion
Adjustable footbar and accessories for expanded exercise variety
PILATES OR TREADMILL: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
If your priority is building a low-friction aerobic endurance habit at home, start with a treadmill. If your priority is improving core control and low-impact movement, prioritize Pilates. Many people do best with both: use the treadmill to establish a repeatable daily movement habit, and use Pilates to build the core strength and movement quality for flexibility.
- Pick a Treadmill If: Your top priority is cardio capacity, and building a daily walking or running habit. Walking is a familiar movement with the lowest learning curve. A NordicTrack treadmill and iFIT membership6 provide progressive workouts and week-by-week plans for steady progress.
- Pick a Pilates Reformer If: Your top priority is core control, or very low-impact training. Reformer work supports the body in most positions and rarely produces repetitive impact
- Pick Both If: You want a complete weekly plan combining walking or running with core work. Two or three treadmill sessions plus one or two Pilates sessions covers cardio, core, and recovery in one rotation.
HOW PILATES AND TREADMILLS BUILD PROGRESS
The two modalities don’t compete on the same axis. They produce different timelines separately but can complement each other when paired together.
Treadmill Training Builds Cardio and a Habit
Treadmill walking, jogging, and incline sessions deliver repeatable aerobic stimulus when you do them consistently. That makes the treadmill a straightforward on-ramp for cardiorespiratory fitness. Incline work increases higher calorie burn without increasing speed or running.
Pilates Builds Core and Movement Control
Pilates is a low-impact, resistance-based system that emphasizes trunk and pelvic stabilization and controlled movement. Controlled studies report improvements in core endurance and functional movement with consistent practice.
They’re Better Together
A practical weekly plan is two or three shorter treadmill sessions plus one or two Pilates sessions. Opt for Pilates for a lighter day when you're feeling tight and want to work on movement patterns to prepare for aerobic sessions. Hop on the treadmill when you want to focus on cardio to a greater extent than you get with Pilates alone.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Pilates is a low-impact, resistance-based modality that builds core stability and movement control.
- A treadmill is a motorized cardio machine that delivers repeatable aerobic sessions, and it’s a lower-friction for beginners.
- Treadmill walking and incline work build cardiorespiratory fitness. Pilates builds muscular endurance and joint-friendly strength. They complement each other.
- The right pick is the modality you’ll actually do 3 to 4 times a week. Consistency matters more than calorie burn for long-term results.
- NordicTrack treadmills and NordicTrack reformers both connect to iFIT6, which provides trainer-led works for progressions and takes the planning step off your plate.
Talk to a NordicTrack Expert. Chat or call 1-888-308-9616
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BENEFITS OF BUYING FROM NORDICTRACK.COM
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EXPLORE MORE
1. Warranty terms and conditions apply. For details, see https://www.nordictrack.com/terms.
2. Source: Circana, US Sports Equipment, Treadmills, Dollar Share, 2021-2024
4. iFIT subscription and compatible heart rate monitor required (sold separately). Available with treadmill only.
5. Continuous Horsepower (“CHP”) is a term used in the treadmill industry for consumer comparison purposes. The CHP rating is measured in laboratory testing using a dynamometer, which measures the mechanical power of the motor. The CHP rating does not denote the operational horsepower of the treadmill in ordinary household use. In ordinary household use, the motor does not operate at the horsepower shown.
6. iFIT Pro Membership required to access full content and features on equipment.
7. The third-party product and company names referenced on this page are trademarks or registered trademarks and remain the property of their respective owners. Individual streaming services may require subscriptions to their services to view content on iFIT.
8. A Randomized Trial Testing Alterations in Biomechanics Due to Treadmill Design Final Report from the University of Kentucky BioMotion Laboratory with Noehren showed an average of 52% greater reduction in tibial shock with the same materials and design used for Ultra 1 compared to a flat surface.
9. NordicTrack is the Official Treadmill of the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America.
10. Based on maintaining a fixed speed of 1.5 mph at each grade. Yeo D, Carlson AR, Johnston J, Ziegler BL, Wentz RJ, Downs JH, Kim CH, Johnson BD. The Metabolic Cost of Steep Incline Treadmill Walking, Sports Medicine and Health Science, 2026.
11. 30-Day Home Trial Promotion ("Offer") for residents in Canada and the United States who are at least the age of majority in their jurisdiction. To initiate a return, contact Customer Service within 30 days of delivery to schedule your pickup. Eligible returns will be refunded at the purchase price less a $249.99 return shipping charge. Allow 30 days for verification for eligibility before you receive your refund. iFIT’s Return Policy applies, with restocking fees waived under this offer. Offer is not transferable or substitutable, not redeemable for cash or account credit, may not be combined with other offers, has no cash value, and will not be applied retroactively. Void where prohibited by law. iFIT reserves the right to end, revise, modify, or extend the Offer or its terms at any time without notice. iFIT shall not be responsible for any Offer errors, including tech errors. iFIT memberships will continue until cancelled. Cancel at any time at ifit.com/cancel. For more details, see iFIT’s Terms. Offer only on select products.
12. NordicTrack Price Match Guarantee (“Offer”) for residents in the United States, 18+. Offer applies for qualifying purchases made directly on www.nordictrack.com. Offer applies to new, standalone equipment purchases only and excludes backorders, pre-sale or out-of-stock items, pricing or typographical errors, financing-only offers, coupon stacks, limited-quantity doorbuster or lightning deals, bundle offers, free items, and open-box or refurbished products. To qualify, the NordicTrack equipment must be an identical model and immediately available from a qualifying authorized retailer at a publicly listed price (including shipping costs) that is accessible and verifiable online at the time of request. Price match requests must be submitted before purchase via live chat on www.nordictrack.com or by calling 1-888-308-9616. A direct link to the authorized retailer’s product website must be provided; screenshots do not qualify. NordicTrack reserves the right to verify the advertised price and product availability and may decline requests that cannot be verified. Limit one (1) Offer discount per person. Offer does not apply to taxes or other charges, excluding qualifying shipping costs. Offer is not transferable or substitutable, not redeemable for cash or account credit, may not be combined with other offers, has no cash value, and will not be applied retroactively. Void where prohibited by law. NordicTrack reserves the right to end, revise, modify, or extend the Offer or its terms at any time without notice. NordicTrack shall not be responsible for any Offer errors, including tech errors.
13. Based on ACSM guidelines estimating the metabolic cost of running at 6 mph. . The Metabolic Cost of Steep Incline Treadmill Walking, Sports Medicine and Health Science, 2026. Yeo D, Carlson AR, Johnston J, Ziegler BL, Wentz RJ, Downs JH, Kim CH, Johnson BD.
14. Based on maintaining a fixed speed of 1.5 mph at each grade. The Metabolic Cost of Steep Incline Treadmill Walking, Sports Medicine and Health Science, 2026. Yeo D, Carlson AR, Johnston J, Ziegler BL, Wentz RJ, Downs JH, Kim CH, Johnson BD.
15. Assumes rider maintains same RPM and resistance setting at 20% incline.
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