Treadmill Brand Guide
Echelon makes one treadmill line, the Stride, and sells it in six versions from a £499 folding walker to a £2,499 commercial-grade runner. They are connected treadmills built around the Echelon Fit app, but every one also works as a standalone machine. Here is the whole range compared, with our pick for each kind of buyer, scored on our RunRank system.
- Motor 2.0 CHP
- Speed 12.5 mph
- Incline 15 levels
- Motor 2.0 HP
- Speed 10 mph
- Incline 12 levels
- Motor 2.0 CHP
- Speed 12.5 mph
- Incline 15 levels
- Motor 3.0 CHP
- Speed 12.4 mph
- Incline 12 levels
- Motor 3.75 CHP
- Speed 12.5 mph
- Incline 12 levels
- Motor 4.0 CHP
- Speed 15.5 mph
- Incline 15 levels
Prices checked regularly and change with sales. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Echelon is a connected-fitness brand, and its treadmills all sit under the Stride name. Across the range they share a family look, folding decks (the 6s auto-folds; the 8s and 9s Pro are designed to stay put), handlebar speed and incline controls, and tight integration with the Echelon Fit app for live and on-demand classes. What changes as you go up the range is motor power, top speed, deck size, and how much screen is built in.
The line splits into three tiers. The Sport model (the Stride 30) is the budget, walking-focused option. The RCX models (Stride 50 RCX and RCX-22) are the value runners, the same strong engine with or without a built-in screen. And the s-series (6s, 8s and 9s Pro) are the premium, screen-led machines, topping out in genuine commercial territory. Every model gets a RunRank score across performance, build, tech and value.
Stride 6, Stride 6s, RCX: what do the names mean?
Echelon’s naming causes a lot of confusion, and it is worth clearing up because the older “Stride 6” name is still what many people search for. The original Stride 6 was the screen-free model; the current Stride 6s adds a 10-inch HD touchscreen and actually carries the strongest folding motor in the line, a 3.0 CHP unit. The RCX models are the value mid-range with a 2.0 CHP engine (3.0 HP peak) and 15 incline levels, sold either screen-free (50 RCX) or with a 22-inch touchscreen (RCX-22). If you came here searching for a “Stride 6”, the 6s is its direct descendant; but for most buyers the cheaper 50 RCX is the better-value machine, while the 6s appeals if you want more motor and a built-in screen while keeping a folding deck.
The Echelon Fit app and membership, the honest bit
This is the most important thing to understand before buying any Echelon treadmill. The machines are designed around the Echelon Fit app and its Premier membership, which unlocks live classes, thousands of on-demand workouts and instructor-led sessions. A 45-day free trial is included, but after that the full connected experience is an ongoing monthly or annual subscription, and that recurring cost is the most common complaint about Echelon.
You do not have to subscribe. Every Stride works as a standalone treadmill without a membership: you can set speed and incline manually and see your basic metrics. The subscription only unlocks the classes and app content. So factor the membership into the true cost if you want the connected side, but know the hardware still earns its keep if you just want to run.
The Stride range at a glance
| Model | Best for | Motor | Speed | Incline | Folds | RunRank | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echelon Stride 50 RCX | Best overall | 2.0 CHP | 12.5 mph | 15 levels | Folds | 4.5 | £999 |
| Echelon Stride 30 Sport | Best budget | 2.0 HP | 10 mph | 12 levels | Folds | 4.1 | £499 |
| Echelon Stride 50 RCX-22 | Best with touchscreen | 2.0 CHP | 12.5 mph | 15 levels | Folds | 4.4 | £1,499 |
| Echelon Stride 6s | Best folding for runners | 3.0 CHP | 12.4 mph | 12 levels | Auto-Fold | 4.3 | £1,499 |
| Echelon Stride 8s | Best premium / studio-grade | 3.75 CHP | 12.5 mph | 12 levels | Folds flat* | 4.4 | £1,999 |
| Echelon Stride 9s Pro | Flagship / commercial-grade | 4.0 CHP | 15.5 mph | 15 levels | Non-folding | 4.5 | £2,499 |
Motor figures are continuous horsepower (CHP) where Echelon publishes it; the Stride 30 Sport is quoted in peak HP. *The 8s folds flat only by removing two screws, so it is best treated as a stay-put machine.
Every Echelon Stride, reviewed
Echelon Stride 50 RCX
£999Folds · 2.0 CHP (3.0 HP) · 12.5 mph · 15 incline levels · no built-in screen
The Stride 50 RCX is the pick of the range for most people, and the one we would steer a treadmill buyer towards first. It pairs a 2.0 CHP motor (3.0 HP peak) with a 12.5 mph top speed and 15 levels of powered incline, so it genuinely handles running and hill work rather than just walking, on a roomy 22 by 57 inch cushioned deck. It folds away for storage, and adds LED deck lighting, a wireless charging pad and Quick-Speed and Quick-Incline keys. Max user weight is a generous 150 kg.
The clever part is what it leaves out. There is no expensive built-in touchscreen: you prop your own phone or tablet on the console and run the Echelon Fit app from there, which is why it undercuts the screen-equipped RCX-22 by £500 while running the same engine.
- 2.0 CHP motor (3.0 HP peak), 12.5 mph, 15 incline levels
- Roomy 22 x 57in cushioned deck, 150 kg capacity
- Folds for storage, LED lighting, wireless charging
- Same engine as the RCX-22 for £500 less
- No built-in screen, you supply a phone or tablet
- Echelon Fit classes need a paid membership
Echelon Stride 30 Sport
£499Folds · 2.0 HP · 10 mph · 12 incline levels · 5in LCD console
The entry point to the range at £499, the Stride 30 Sport is built for walking and steady jogging rather than fast running. A 2.0 HP motor, 10 mph top speed and 12 levels of incline cover incline walking and easy runs comfortably, on a compact 40 by 127 cm deck, and it folds away like the rest of the range. The console is a simple 5-inch backlit LCD rather than a touchscreen, so you again bring your own device for the Echelon Fit app. Max user weight is 113 kg.
- Lowest price in the range
- 12 incline levels for incline walking
- Folds for storage
- Well reviewed at 4.6 stars
- 2.0 HP and 10 mph suit walking and light jogging, not fast running
- Compact 40 x 127 cm deck and basic LCD console
Echelon Stride 50 RCX-22
£1,499Folds · 2.0 CHP (3.0 HP) · 12.5 mph · 15 incline levels · 22in HD touchscreen
This is the Stride 50 RCX with a 22-inch HD touchscreen built in. Same 2.0 CHP motor (3.0 HP peak), same 12.5 mph and 15 incline levels, same folding deck and 150 kg capacity, but instead of propping up your phone you get a large built-in display for the Echelon Fit classes. If you want the immersive screen experience while keeping a deck that still folds, this is the one.
- Same engine and deck as the 50 RCX
- Large 22in built-in HD touchscreen
- Still folds, unlike the non-folding 9s Pro
- £500 more than the screen-less RCX for the display
- Classes still need a membership
Echelon Stride 6s
£1,499Auto-Fold · 3.0 CHP (3.5 HP) · 12.4 mph · 12 incline levels · 10in touchscreen
The 6s is the model behind most of the “Echelon Stride 6” searches, and it is more capable than its price-mates suggest. It runs the strongest folding motor in the range, a 3.0 CHP unit (3.5 HP peak) that out-muscles even the RCX-22, reaches 12.4 mph with 12 levels of incline, and uses Echelon’s patented Auto-Fold to lift the deck up and out of the way. It also has a 10-inch HD touchscreen plus an LED display, and a 136 kg capacity.
- Strongest folding motor in the range (3.0 CHP / 3.5 HP)
- Auto-Fold deck for easy storage
- 10in HD touchscreen plus LED display
- 12.4 mph and 12 incline levels
- 12 incline levels, three fewer than the RCX
- Smaller 10in screen than the RCX-22 or 8s at a similar price
Echelon Stride 8s
£1,999Folds flat (disassembly) · 3.75 CHP (6.0 HP) · 12.5 mph · 12 incline levels · 22in swivel touchscreen
The Stride 8s is the studio-style step up: a 3.75 CHP motor (6.0 HP peak), a generous 20 by 60 inch quad-cushioned deck and a 22-inch HD touchscreen that tilts and swivels for off-machine workouts. It is built for frequent, heavy use, with a 10-watt wireless charging pad, adjustable cooling fan and an LED deck strip. It is not a quick-fold treadmill: it can be folded flat by removing two screws for storage or moving, but in everyday use it stays put.
- Powerful 3.75 CHP motor (6.0 HP peak), stable stay-put frame
- Large 20 x 60in quad-cushioned deck
- 22in swivel touchscreen, charging pad, cooling fan
- No quick fold, only a flat-pack disassembly for storage
- Trackball console controls can feel fiddly
- Premium price
Echelon Stride 9s Pro
£2,499Non-folding · 4.0 CHP (6.0 HP) · 15.5 mph · 15 incline levels · 22in 1200p touchscreen
The flagship. The Stride 9s Pro is a genuine commercial-grade treadmill: a 4.0 CHP continuous motor (6.0 HP peak), a 15.5 mph top speed and 15 levels of incline on an extra-long 22 by 61 inch quad-cushioned deck, with a 136 kg (300 lb) user capacity and a home-and-commercial-use warranty. The 22-inch 1200p HD touchscreen, integrated pulse sensors and Bluetooth round it out. If you run fast, or want a machine that will shrug off years of daily use, this is it.
- Commercial 4.0 CHP motor (6.0 HP peak)
- 15.5 mph top speed, the fastest Echelon
- Extra-long 22 x 61in quad-cushioned deck
- Sharp 22in 1200p HD touchscreen, internet connected
- Most expensive in the range
- Does not fold and is heavy (164 kg)
- Far more treadmill than most home users need
Which Echelon Stride should you buy?
If your space is tight or you want to compare Echelon against other brands, see our best folding treadmills and best home treadmill guides, or our roundup of treadmills with incline.
Frequently asked questions
Do Echelon treadmills need a subscription?
No, not to run. Every Stride works as a standalone treadmill with manual speed and incline and basic metrics. The Echelon Fit membership (45-day free trial included, then a monthly or annual fee) unlocks the live and on-demand classes and the app content. Factor it in if you want the connected side.
Which Echelon Stride is best for running?
For value, the Stride 50 RCX: a 2.0 CHP motor (3.0 HP peak), 12.5 mph and 15 incline levels handle proper running. For the fastest running, the commercial-grade 9s Pro adds a 4.0 CHP motor and a 15.5 mph top speed. The 6s is the strongest folding option at 3.0 CHP. The Stride 30 Sport is better suited to walking and light jogging.
Do Echelon Stride treadmills fold?
Most do. The Stride 30 Sport, 50 RCX and RCX-22 fold for storage, and the 6s uses Echelon’s patented Auto-Fold. The 8s only folds flat by removing two screws, so it is best treated as a stay-put machine, and the 9s Pro does not fold at all.
What is the difference between the Stride 50 RCX and RCX-22?
They share the same 2.0 CHP engine (3.0 HP peak), 12.5 mph top speed, 15 incline levels and folding deck. The only real difference is the screen: the RCX-22 has a built-in 22-inch HD touchscreen, while the cheaper 50 RCX expects you to use your own phone or tablet with the app.
How fast do Echelon treadmills go, and how much incline?
It depends on the model. Top speeds run from 10 mph (Stride 30 Sport) through 12.4 to 12.5 mph (6s, 8s and RCX models) up to 15.5 mph on the 9s Pro. Incline is 12 powered levels on the Sport, 6s and 8s, and 15 levels on the RCX models and the 9s Pro.
Is the Echelon Stride 50 RCX worth it?
For most home runners, yes. It runs the same motor, speed, incline and deck as the £1,499 RCX-22 but skips the built-in screen, so you get the full running experience for £999 and supply your own device. It is our pick of the range.
Our pick of the Echelon range
For most people the Stride 50 RCX at £999 is the sweet spot: a proper running engine and a folding deck, without paying for a screen you may not need. Step up to the 9s Pro only if you want commercial-grade power.
We research and compare products independently using our RunRank system. If you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are checked regularly and change with sales and discount codes, so always confirm the current price on the retailer’s site.
