Technogym Run: One-minute review
If I could buy a treadmill for my home, it would be the Technogym Run. It’s a great machine with a quiet motor, comfortable running surface, and unlimited access to thousands of follow-up workouts. The problem is that it’s also the most expensive machine I’ve ever tested.
The crystal-clear 27-inch touchscreen offers a better picture than my actual TV, and the 30-watt sound system eliminates the tinny sound of most treadmills. It also has a slatted belt with sensors that track additional metrics like cadence and flight time. But even these luxurious extras aren’t my favorite aspect of the machine.
The best part for me was the variety of classes offered. In addition to the usual running and interval workouts, there are instructor-led drills and workouts, strength training routines using the machine’s built-in sled feature, and plenty of options off the treadmill like strength training, yoga, and Pilates. If you’re looking to improve your running performance or your fitness in general, this comprehensive approach is a great way to go.
I tried a boot camp session where I alternated between treadmill and dumbbell exercises, building strength and endurance in just 30 minutes. In another class, I alternated running intervals with sled pushing to develop the strength needed to develop speed. In a third class, I took a walking tour of a picturesque Italian town, putting me on track to get 10,000 steps a day.
The ever-growing (Technogym films new content daily) range of classes not only allowed me to focus on different fitness goals, it also made the machine more fun to use and kept me coming back. So if you’re looking for a top-of-the-range machine and money is no object, I highly recommend the Technogym Run.
Technogym Run: Price and release date
- Very expensive
- Access to the Technogym app on the phone and the treadmill included in the price
Launched in 2023 as the “first treadmill for cardio and strength training” (thanks to its built-in sled feature), the Technogym Run has an RRP of $11,850 in the US or £10,340 in the UK, which is around AU$18,000.
That puts it well behind our runner-up treadmill, the still-expensive NordicTrack Commercial 2950 ($3,708 / £2,699 / AU$5,113), and in a completely different league to most commercial exercise machines on the market.
Unlike most of its competitors, however, a free and unlimited subscription to the brand’s app is included in the price. But even with that, it’s a machine for people with big budgets who want the best of the best.
Technogym Run: Design
- Springy slatted belt for excellent support and a racetrack feel
- Large running surface
- Powerful yet quiet engine
The Technogym Run is a large machine. At 78 x 33 x 69 inches and weighing 456 pounds, it requires a dedicated space in the home gym to house it. You can’t move it. But like most of the Italian brand’s products, it’s a worthy centerpiece with an attractive design, at least by treadmill standards.
I found the larger frame served a practical purpose too, as the treadmill benefited from a wide, padded belt that provided a comfortable running surface even for larger users like me (210 pounds and 6 feet 3 inches tall, on a good day). But despite its size and powerful 7.78 horsepower motor, it was still incredibly quiet — 57 dB at about 6 mph speed, according to the company.
In short, the machine handles the basic functions incredibly well, and that’s not all. There are many more clever and useful features, as I discovered while playing around with the machine.
Sturdy handgrips on the sides and front of the machine are ideal for the sled-pushing function, and the slatted belt provides good grip and a slightly springy feel like on an athletics track. The latter addition also allows for the inclusion of sensors that provide more detailed metrics than the average treadmill, such as cadence, mileage, stride length, flight time and contact time.
An easy-to-reach lever on the right of the handlebar cycles through the speed settings, while a lever on the other side of the machine controls incline. There’s a ring of light around each lever that flashes to let you know a change is coming or happening, so you can adjust your stride length accordingly.
The display is also a pleasure to use. It’s a generous 27 inches wide, offers impressively clear images and a 30W sound system, making for a truly immersive experience during studio sessions and virtual runs.
And to top it all off, my Apple Watch connected to the device in seconds by tapping a specific spot on the handlebars (see image below). I was also pleasantly surprised that when I connected to the device in the middle of a class, it automatically picked up the treadmill’s readings instead of tracking the workout from the beginning.
Technogym Run: Performance
- Huge selection and variety of courses
- Friendly lecturers
- Pleasant running feeling like on the athletics track
There is nothing to complain about when it comes to the performance of the Technogym Run. In the name of thorough testing, I ran several classes in a row on the machine and (apart from a brief loss of internet connection when selecting a class) it ran flawlessly throughout.
Running on the belt is an absolute joy, there is no jolting. Unlike smaller treadmills I’ve tried, like the Echelon Stride, I was always able to put my feet on the ground without worrying about getting caught on the sides or ends of the machine, and the placement of the handgrips never felt constricting.
The slatted belt design is also something I’d like to see on more treadmills. Technogym says it’s designed to “provide the same responsiveness and elasticity as a running track,” and after trying it out several times, I’d say that comparison is well worthy. It offers excellent support and a good balance between firm and springy feel.
The top speed of 25 km/h will appeal to those looking to go faster over shorter distances—most machines max out at around 19 to 21 km/h—and the maximum incline of 15% is more than most people need (though it doesn’t come close to the NordicTrack’s -6% gradient).
When we look at performance, we next have to look at the Technogym platform. Like it or not, Peloton has earned the right to be the benchmark here and Technogym can hold its own against the class streaming giant that is constantly releasing new content with its various studios around the world.
This content is divided into seven sections: Sessions, Programs, Custom, Routines, Third-Party Apps (like TrainingPeaks and Netflix), Strength, and Outdoor. Inside, you’ll find bootcamp classes, coach-led running workouts, virtual runs, virtual tours, skills and drills, and more. You can also use the Technogym app on your phone to access strength, cardio, mindfulness, Pilates, yoga, boxing, and stretching sessions, which you can filter by factors like difficulty, equipment, and duration.
TL;DR, there are a wealth of easily navigable classes that cover a variety of workout styles. The trainers I encountered were all affable (I liked that some classes had two trainers so they could inspire each other) and the videos are vivid, polished and easy to follow. You can also keep an eye on everything you’re doing via the Technogym app, which connects your phone to the machine in seconds via Bluetooth or by scanning a QR code on the screen.
The app has something for everyone, but I particularly liked the offering for runners. The range of strength training sessions, skills and drill classes, and workouts to improve other running characteristics such as power are a welcome alternative to the usual “run x distance in x time” approach of most treadmills. These sessions can also help you break through training plateaus and improve your running performance if that’s your goal.
These alternative classes make clever use of the treadmill. The sled push feature is the star for building strength (although I found it maxes out at 55kg, which is below what Hyrox fans are used to) and the trainers also had me perform exercises like Carioca drills and A-skips on the belt.
Bootcamp classes are also convenient for people with hectic schedules. The class I tried used the Technogym Run and Technogym Bench (pictured below, although a couple of dumbbells will work too) to build full-body strength and conditioning simultaneously within 30 minutes. This was achieved by alternating running intervals with a short circuit of resistance exercises for two rounds. Of course, this isn’t as effective as 60 minutes dedicated to each activity, but it still offers plenty of bang for your buck, as it offers a time-efficient dose of both.
To sum up, this is an excellent treadmill and the best commercial option I have tried, so if you have the money and space for it and want the best of the best to support your running or fitness ambitions, this is the direction I would point you in.
However, if you’re an avid runner on a tighter budget, you can enjoy many similar features and still solid performance in cheaper options like the NordicTrack Commercial 2950, the ProForm Premier 900, or even the Peloton Tread.
Technogym Run: Scorecard
category | comment | Score |
Value | Outrageous expensive, but that’s the point, right? | 3/5 |
design | Every aspect was taken into account. Full marks. | 5/5 |
Performance | Gym quality treadmill and perhaps the best we’ve ever tried. | 5/5 |
Technogym Run: Should I buy it?
Buy it if
Do not buy it if
This is how I tested
A visit to Technogym’s Italian factory and its UK ‘Experience Center’ secured the Technogym Run’s place at the top of our guide to the best treadmills. I spent a whole day playing around on the treadmill, trying out as many of its features and workouts as I could, and ended up regretting my paltry bank account.