The commercial-quality treadmills you find in a gym are built to withstand constant use from a variety of users. Most home treadmills have somewhat lighter-weight frames, smaller motors and a wider variety of entertainment options that you'll find in the gym -- but the basic function remains the same. You can subdivide most home treadmills into three categories, with an additional consideration for whether the treadmill folds.
Motorized Treadmills
On all commercial treadmills and the majority of home-use treadmills, a small motor powers the walking belt. You adjust the motor's speed, then walk or run to keep up with the moving belt. The more powerful the motor the better, and although there is no firm consensus on the best motor size you should look for at least a 2- to 2.5-horsepower continuous-duty motor for running workouts; you can get away with a slightly smaller motor for walking workouts. Most motorized treadmills also offer motor-adjustable incline settings, although some require you to adjust the incline manually and the lowest-end motorized treadmills don't offer adjustable incline at all.
Manual Treadmills
Manual treadmills make up a small portion of the home-use treadmill market. You power the manual treadmill yourself instead of a motor; each step pushes the tread belt back so you have room to take another step. You can use manual treadmills for both walking and running workouts, but as you get fatigued the treadmill's motion often becomes choppy along with your stride. Manual treadmills usually have a resistance knob for adjusting the tread belt's resistance, and if the treadmill is incline-adjustable, you must dismount and make all adjustments manually.
Incline Trainers
Incline trainers are a specialized subset of motorized treadmills, designed to give you an intense workout without the repeated high impact of running. Incline trainers adjust to a much higher incline than regular treadmills, as high as 40 degrees as compared to the 15-degree maximum on most treadmills. Because you're expected to walk instead of running on an incline trainer, these machines often have a shorter deck than most treadmills and may have lower maximum speeds, too.
Folding vs. Non-folding
Most but not all home treadmills fold for storage when not in use. The most compact of machines, which usually translates to manual treadmills or underpowered motorized treadmills, may fold flat enough to store beneath a bed. On sturdier home treadmills, the deck hinges up against the console, reducing the treadmill's footprint. Many treadmills also have transport wheels so you can move the folded treadmill to a convenient storage location, but don't expect any substantial treadmill to fit in your closet or under the bed. The folding deck also makes cleaning beneath the treadmill, as you should do regularly to prolong the motor's life, much easier.
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