Unlock Your Training With the Best Manual Treadmill: Strive Series Tread

You know REP® brings the heat with innovative strength equipment like power racks, cable systems, benches, dumbbells, and more, but the Strive Series is here with a manual curved treadmill to shake your cardio routine up. 

Whether you're looking for the natural overground feel of free running, reduced impact on joints, or you're interested in equipment that allows you to to tackle cardio then switch gears for sled push/pull strength work, the self-propelled Strive Series Treadmill provides with a wide range of functionality, ergonomic touch points, and even... magnetic resistance and incline adjustments. We'll tackle everything you need to know below about the best curved treadmill on the market.

Strive Series Treadmill Runner Overview

Engineered for athletes, weekend warriors, and anyone looking to level up their cardio, the Strive Series Treadmill — the best treadmill for home and commercial use — elevates the concept of a manual tread by providing intensity and training adjustability.

Training Capabilitites

The Strive Series Curved Treadmill was designed with innovation front of mind — taking the functionality of popular manual treadmills on the market, but including features and upgrades to give users a wider range of training capabilitites. Here are some key callouts of what you can expect when training on this tread:

ADAPTIVE DECK CONTROL: Switch easily between walking, jogging, and sprinting with a tread belt that moves at the pace you move. 

FREE RUN MODE: Utilize the clutch disconnect to eliminate any sled resistance, providing a completely free running experience — unlike other manual treads which can feel like you're still working against resistance.

SLED PUSH MODALITY: Turn this running machine into a strength powerhouse with sled push design and functionality. With ergonomic hand holds so you can drop down and drive, resistance adjustment to dial up the workload, and a mini heads-down display so you can see the training metrics you need without having to lift your head out of position.

REVERSE TRAINING OPTION: The tread belt can travel in reverse, providing you with the opportunity to walk backwards and do sled pulls — awesome options to improve and maintain knee health. For this backwards functionality, the Belt Squat Belt and Treadmill Strap accessory add-ons are advised to keep you safe and secure on the belt deck.

RESISTANCE ADJUSTMENTS: Manual treadmills don't typically feature resistance functionality, but here you'll find 8 levels of adjustability. This can mimic an uphill walk, or increase sled work intensity — ideal for those training for HYROX comps or wanting to target their glutes, quads, and calves with strength and endurance work.

Strive Series Sled Treadmill Specs

This non-electric exercise machine is built to handle far more than just a jog. You can walk, run, sprint, train backwards, or turn it into a strength tool with sled pushes and drags. Its Bluetooth and ANT+ compatible LCD console tracks vital training metrics — distance, speed, power output, calories, deck angle, and sled resistance — and even includes a mini heads-down display by your feet so you can keep an eye on your stats while pushing hard with sled work.

With 8 levels of magnetic resistance and two incline adjustments, you can dial in everything from easy recovery walks to high-intensity strength sessions. Choose the low deck angle for low intensity steady state cardio, or the steep deck angle for high intensity work. It also features ergonomic multi-grip handls, providing stability for upright runs and solid, comfortable leverage for sled pushes.

Built-in phone and cup holders keep your essentials within reach — whether it's a quick check-in or a little sip of wa-wa. Optional accessories like the Belt Squat Belt and Treadmill Strap open the door to advanced backwards sled work and walks. And transport wheels allow you to tip it up and roll it away when you want to change your scenery or clear out the living room because guests are coming over.

And, yes — it's backed by a warranty for peace of mind: 10-years for frame, 3-years for the belt and moving parts, and 2-years for the console. For commercial use, you can upgrade this warranty for an additional fee that provides 5-years on the belt and 1 year for labor. Return shipping costs will be the responsibility of the customer.

Who Is The Strive Series Non-Motorized Treadmill For?

This self-powered workhorse is built to support any person looking to up their cardio and endurance, with walking, running, sprinting, and sled work.

BEST FOR:

• Athletes looking to tackle explosive sprints, intervals, and sled work.
• Endurance runners wanting to improve running form.
• HYROX competitors interested in mimicing movements they'll see in comps.
• Home gym owners with limited space who still want the functionality of a treadmill and sled push.
• Knee-health focused users who want to do reverse training to strengthen stabilizing muscles.

MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR:

• People with balance or mobility issues may prefer a motorized treadmill which requires less stability and control.
• Entertainment seekers who want a large screen to stream shows and follow on-demand workout programs from should consider a high-end electric treadmill with subscription service and a built-in touchscreen.
• Hikers and casual walkers may want a wider range of incline and decline functionality or a set pace that's controlled by the treadmill.

Manual vs. Motorized Treadmills: What's The Difference?

The motorized treadmills often seen plugged into a power source in commercial gyms are large machines that allow you to input a speed for your desired training intensity. They also typically offer incline (and occasionally decline) capabilitites, and the higher-end models even feature large touch screens that provide entertainment viewing and workout programming with an added subscription.

Non-motorized manual treadmills, in comparison, tend to be smaller than motorized options, and since they don't require electricity to run — you power the tread belt with your feet — you can move them to tackle your workout from wherever you'd like: home gym, living room, even the backyard to show off when you're having people over for a BBQ. What's more, manual treadmills support a more natural running form and can be less impactful on your joints compared to some motorized models, as your stride and pace are entirely self-controlled.

Most motorless manual treadmills also don't offer any incline or resistance adjustability, however the Strive Series Manual Treadmill said, "uhhh, how 'bout no" to that — engineered with belt deck tilt adjustability to closer mimic an outdoor run or an incline tilt for dialed in sprints, uphill walking (when paired with resistance), and sled work. There are also eight levels of resistance, a rare find on manual curved treadmills, for when you're ready to switch gears from cardio to strength sled work.

Strive Series Treadmill Workouts

Before starting any workout, be sure to take around 10 minutes to properly warm up your body and stretch tight muscles.

HIIT Training Routine

How To Set Up On The Strive Series Treadmill:

• Adjust the tilt of the tread to be angled in Work Mode and engage the Clutch Disconnect to disable any resistance.
• As you start to move on the belt, lean forward and land on the balls of your feet.
• Keep your core engaged and shoulders relaxed as you build momentum, allowing the belt to move with each stride.
• Start out with a light jog to build familiarity with how the belt responds to your movement, then gradually increase your pace as you get comfortable.

HIIT Workout:

Sprint: 30 seconds x 5 -6 rounds.

Recovery Walk/Jog: 1 minute between reps.

Sled Workout Routine

Adding a sled workout to your routine can build strength and endurance, improve speed, burn calories, support body recomposition, improve knee health, and so much more. Here's a quick sled workout to tackle on the Strive Series Treadmill.

How To Sled Push On The Strive Series Treadmill:

• First, adjust the tilt of the tread to be angled in Work Mode and increase the resistance so the belt only moves when you use the grip for leverage.
• Place your hands forward, comfortably on the grip, and drop your chest — maintaining a neutral spine and a tight core. 
• Keep your shoulders engaged as you drive the belt back.

Sled Workout:

Sled Push: 30 seconds x 6 - 8 reps.

*Recovery Walk: 30 seconds between reps.

*Be sure to lower the resistance for your recovery walk, so you're able to catch your breath and be ready for your next sled push.

Takeaway

The Strive Series is the best manual treadmill on the market, thanks to the innovative minds and creative engineers at REP. It's a responsive running experience built for everything from sprints to sled pushes, with features unseen in the competition: incline, resistance, a heads-down display, and more.

Its versatile design helps you train smarter, move better, and push your limits — all without relying on a motor.

FAQs

How does a treadmill work when it's powerless?

Unlike motorized treadmills, a manual treadmill's belt deck is propelled forward by your own feet. This means you power the treadmill, giving you control over your speed and pace and allowing you to switch between a walk, jog, and sprint with ease.

What's the difference between a motorized treadmill and a manual treadmill?

As the name implies, a motorized treadmill relies on a motor to power the tread belt. Because it works on electricity, you choose a speed and the treadmill maintains your pace. On the other hand, a manual treadmill doesn't have a motor and doesn't require electricity to work — you move the belt with your feet and you choose the pace with every step you take. 

Rosie Borchert is a NASM-CPT, former Nike Volleyball coach, and writer whose work has appeared on BarBend, Tonal, Netflix, Amazon Studios, and ABC. If anyone would like to hire her to play beach volleyball, snowboard, binge watch TV, or go climbing, please get in touch.

This article was reviewed by Ashley Boyer, ACE-CPT, for accuracy.