Echelon Stride 6 Review

The Stride 6 is Echelon's entry-level treadmill that comes without a dedicated display, but it doesn't skimp on features that count. Foremost is the treadmill's ability to fold to just 12" tall. This allows users to store it under a bed, against a wall, or even behind a door.

Exercise Quality

After testing several high-end models, we were impressed by the Stride's comfort and power. Although some compromises in stability have been made compared to non-folding models, the Stride still delivers relatively high exercise quality. We could hit sprint speeds, yet still found it enjoyable for walking.

The Stride has a large running surface due to its waterfall design, which conceals the motor beneath the deck. Measuring 60.5 inches in length and 20.5 inches in width, it provides ample space for running at any pace without worrying about catching the side rails or kicking a motor cover. The absence of a conventional motor cover makes it ideal for tall users with long strides and fast runners who require extra space. The console's upright supporting arms mount to the tread deck, rather than the frame. This is nice because the console maintains a consistent height from the running surface; on some treadmills, the steeper you crank up the incline, the further away you are from the screen and controls. The downside to mounting the console to the running deck is that vibration from your steps is transmitted to the display and controls. This can blur your view of a connected tablet, particularly at higher speeds and inclines.

With a top speed of 12.4 mph, I found it suitable for everything from walking and jogging to high-intensity speed workouts. The deck is incredibly comfortable, with above-average cushioning, and the Stride 6 measured 98.8% distance accuracy, which should suffice for all but competitive track runners. The machine's incline is adjustable from 0 to 10.5%, but oddly, the console controls only allow you to go as low as 1%; reaching flat requires using the handrail controls.

How comfortable is this machine? The Stride 6's DuroFlex Cushion Deck measured 658 Newtons of force to flex the deck 0.5 inches. This flexibility and compliance provide comfort and relief for your joints without making you feel like you're running on a couch. Incline running is especially comfortable on this surface as your footfalls sink in; it feels a bit like running uphill on a dirt trail. We've long relied on our testers' feedback, blind tests, and adjectives to describe the comfort of a treadmill's running surface. The data we collect from our custom jig and force meter coincides with our testing impressions, but also gives us hard data to analyze and compare models.

Companion App/Connectivity

The Stride 6 can no longer be used without the Echelon app; this update was made in July of 2025 and changes our opinion of this otherwise impressive machine. There is no screen, so you must pair your tablet or smart TV to access the Echelon classes. The Echelon app includes a deep library of pre-recorded workouts for Running, Riding, Rowing, Yoga, Pilates, and more. A Premier membership costs about $40/ month and can be used by up to 5 members. Scenic runs that take you to some beautiful locations worldwide; these are amazing in theory, but I felt that many of them were of low quality, resembling dash cam videos. The Premier membership provides an extension to your machine's warranty coverage, and by paying annually, you receive a slight discount. If a year-long commitment sounds like too much, Echelon also offers a Fit-Pass for $12/ month, including unlimited pre-recorded classes for one member. Fit-Pass includes off-machine classes in Core, Yoga, Boxing, Meditation, and much more. If you enjoy the motivation and coaching an instructor provides, the Echelon app offers a wide variety of options.

User Interface/Ease of Use

Using the Stride 6 is pretty simple. To begin a manual workout, hop on the machine, clip on the safety key, touch the start button, and wait for the countdown timer to start. Increasing and decreasing speed and incline are easily done on the console's ascending buttons. If you're using the app for a connected workout, there are a few more steps, including selecting your workout and connecting to the machine via Bluetooth.

The handlebars feature scroll wheels that adjust speed, incline, and volume on the fly. Each scroll wheel has two functions, and switching between them requires pushing a button located in front of the scroll wheel. The wheel's color changes from blue to green to indicate which mode you're in. The left wheel adjusts the incline when it's blue or the volume when it's green. Rolling the wheel forward increases the incline / volume, and rolling it backward decreases the incline / volume. However, sometimes rolling it a single detent has no effect, while at other times, the adjustments occur readily. The right scroll wheel functions similarly, controlling speed in 1 mph increments when green and 0.1 mph increments when blue.

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Features

The adjustable angle console measures 20.75" x 13.5" and can hold a tablet in a low or high position. In the lower position, it can hold a tablet as wide as 15". A small fold-out shelf and expandable clip create an upper position for a tablet with a maximum height of 7.25". Integrated LED screens display workout metrics, with lower screens showing current speed and incline and upper screens displaying alternating information every 5 seconds: distance/pulse on the left and elapsed time/calories burned on the right. To read your pulse, rest your palms on sensors located on the handlebars. You can also connect an Echelon-compatible heart rate strap to the Echelon app if you want to see your heart rate in the display you're using. The console also features a cooling fan, a USB-A charging port, two drink holders, and an accessory tray. There is no Bluetooth FTMS, so speed and incline adjustments must be made manually instead of being initiated by a class or instructor; this is a feature that would have made the treadmill even better.

The main feature and highlight of the Stride 6 is its patented Auto-Fold feature, allowing it to collapse to just 12 inches tall in seconds. A full-sized machine that can be tucked away when not in use almost overshadows everything else.

Ease of Assembly

There are very few treadmills that I've assembled that aren't at least somewhat frustrating. The ability to open the box, remove packaging, unfold the machine, and start exercising puts the Stride in a class of its own. There are some smaller models you can set up this quickly, but none are even remotely as capable as the Stride. Our shipping box on the pallet had a stated weight of 195 lbs, so moving it was the hardest part.

After opening the treadmill box, there is a small amount of packaging to remove. I recommend cutting the box open at this point and rolling the treadmill out on its wheels. Once you have it in place, simply fold the arms up, expand the console, and plug it in. It's important to check the belt's alignment and ensure it's centered on the tread deck. You can use the included 6mm Allen wrench to adjust the rear roller if it isn't.

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Storability

Unless you have an enormous home gym space, adding a treadmill may limit your ability to engage in other activities. While this is still a full-sized treadmill, it folds up faster and more compactly than any other model we've tested. The four wheels on the front of the treadmill enable it to be easily moved in multiple directions, making storage exceptionally easy. This is a game changer for a piece of fitness equipment of this size. I live in the mountains and enjoy trail running; this machine gets stashed away for six months of the year and pulled out of a forgotten closet when snow covers the ground.

Pushing the buttons beneath the handrails allows the console to fold forward. Then, stepping on the release pedal collapses the support arms, allowing the entire machine to be folded in just seconds. The Stride is still a substantial piece of equipment with a footprint of almost 65 inches long and 31.5 inches wide, but its impressive 12" height gives it unrivaled storage capabilities. This may allow it to be stored beneath a bed or under a couch, where most treadmills wouldn't fit even when disassembled.

A steel handle under the back of the tread allows it to be lifted and doubles as a safety bar, preventing anything from being sucked underneath the machine. When it's lifted vertically, the stride balances on its end, and the forward transport wheels allow you to roll it sideways, making it easy to maneuver behind a door or against a wall. An included strap allows the machine to be securely attached to the wall, providing additional vertical storage options.

Noise Level

With its brushless motor tucked beneath the belt, the Stride 6 is one of the quietest treadmills we've tested. The previous Stride was also low on the decibel meter, but I attributed that, at least partially, to its underpowered motor. This machine uses a 2.5 CHP motor but emits the same amount of noise while running. There isn't a huge variation in noise levels amongst the machines we've tested, but sometimes just a few decibels can make a difference to a sleeping baby or a downstairs neighbor.

Should You Buy the Echelon Stride?

When we first tested the Stride 6, it could be used with third-party apps or used without an internet connection and the Echelon app, but that is no longer the case. While this is a very impressive machine, it's now locked behind Echelon's paywall, so carefully consider whether you want to only use Echelon classes before purchasing this machine. With a massive running deck, quiet motor, and handrail controls, we found much to love about this machine. The Stride's impressive storability has a small trade-off in high-speed stability, which should be a consideration for fast runners and those over 250 pounds. However, running the app through a smart TV or not using a console-mounted tablet makes the console vibration less annoying. Echelon offers a 1-year comprehensive warranty; extending this warranty requires payment of the Premier Membership cost. If you want to commit to running without dedicating a massive amount of space to a machine, I recommend the Stride. Even for folks who have the dedicated space and don't need its folding functionality, I still think the Stride 6 is a great way to get your miles in.

What Other Treadmills Should You Consider?

If your priority is solely exercise quality and you have the budget and space for a commercial-sized machine, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 is a spectacular machine. Its tread surface is an inch wider, with a higher incline position and a decline feature for downhill running. The integrated touchscreen and Auto Adjust speed and incline help you immerse yourself in its iFit workouts. If the folding functionality of the Stride appeals to you but you're not ready for the financial or space commitment, give the UREVO 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill a look. It doesn't have any incline adjustability or many features, but it can accommodate light running at speeds of up to 7.6 mph and folds flat for easy storage. It can also be used under a desk and costs a fraction of what most treadmills sell for.