TOTAL: 84/100

Like many people in 2023, my job is online. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. (and sometimes well after), I’m typing away, answering emails, editing stories, writing my own and doing other various tasks associated with my title as PureWow’s Commerce Director. And, just like many of you, when I’m done, I tend to keep the computer party going, checking my numerous social media accounts, working on my personal blog and catching up on my daily news of choice (fashion, fashion and and more fashion). Needless to say, all of those hours logged online adds up to a lot of sitting at a desk, or worse, on a couch or the bed. During my most sloth-filled day in August, my phone recorded a measley 285 steps (let the cringing begin). I could try to defend myself and say that I just didn’t carry my phone a whole lot that day (I’m living in the stone ages without an Apple watch or Oura ring), but the truth of the matter is that many days, I simply spend too much time working or surfing the web and not enough time moving.  Enter: The Echelon Stride treadmill 5S ($1,700).

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The Echelon Stride treadmill 5S is a Bluetooth-connected treadmill with a large HD touchscreen display and integrated heart rate sensors.

Like a standard treadmill, you can use it to walk, jog or run (it goes up to 12.5 miles per hour) as well as adjust its incline (it has 16 levels) to offer more resistance. Unlike your typical treadmill, however, its touchscreen connects to the internet or Bluetooth with an Echelon membership plan (from $29 per month with a two-year plan that’s paid annually, $33 per month when paid annually or $40 per month when paid monthly), allowing you to enjoy live and on-demand classes, rankings and more. You can even use its patented 90-degree rotating touchscreen to try other workout classes offered with your membership, like yoga or Zumba.

At checkout, you’ll have the option to select free delivery or to purchase a $300 in-home delivery assembly add-on. As tempting as the “free” choice may be, trust me when I tell you that you’re going to want to pay for the in-home service.

For starters, this baby is a whopping 315 pounds (!). That means wherever the delivery man sets it down is likely where it’s going to stay, unless you happen to keep a forklift on hand.

We wound up keeping ours right where it was delivered—in the air conditionless garage. On the one hand, this deters me from using it as much as I’d like too, since we live in Florida and it heats up quickly. It also makes it difficult to use the rotating screen for other workouts (There’s not too much space to try out a downward dog inside the garage.) On the other hand, it has such a large footprint, I’m not sure it would have actually fit inside our house—at least not without taking up a good chunk of living space.

Beyond its size, there's the setup to consider, which includes mounting an oversized HD screen and arms and manipulating a good number of cords while holding up some cumbersome parts. In short? This is one best left for the pros. Even my super handy boyfriend, who can typically put furniture and guitars together in a jiff, conceded that this was difficult enough to be a two-man (or woman!) job.

I received an Echelon Stride 5S to try in May 2023. That means I’ve had a good four months to really test this guy out, play with its features and utilize its various classes.

To start, I (or rather, my boyfriend) connected the machine to our Wi-Fi network. I also set up two profiles on the Echelon Fit app, entering in my own stats, including my age, height and weight, as well as my boyfriend’s, so that we could keep our workouts separate.

From there, I was able to use the machine’s touchscreen to make my class selections and get moving.

Now, let me be clear: I am not a runner. I am not pounding this thing’s cushioned running deck super hard on the reg. I typically use it for 30 minutes at a time at a brisk walk (around 3.5 to 4 on the speed scale). I am also not as dedicated as I’d like to be to it (because again, hot garage in Florida, but also, if I'm being totally honest, laziness). If you’re a heavier treadmill user than myself, you may experience different results.

I am also experimental. To keep things interesting, I’ll play with the speed and incline (I’ve gone up to 12), switch up the modes (I vary between the freestyle programs, the scenic rides and the live classes) and analyze my stats. I’ve also put the oversized fan to good use.

There are two elements I haven’t tested, however. The first is the 90-degree rotating screen due to my aforementioned space constraints.

The second is one of the biggest draws of the treadmill: its Bluetooth feature. Try as I might, I was unable to get my equipment to connect to my phone (to be determined as to whether this is an actual equipment issue or simply user error). While this was a bummer, as connecting would have allowed me to link the treadmill to my Spotify playlists, Apple Health stats, Fitbit device and Strava account, as well as to select and start my classes right from my phone, it didn't prevent me from using the apparatus and most of its features.

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